Badab-e Surt Natural Springs in Iran Consider a stepped spring, surrounded by wild trees and barberry bushes, where the color and fragrance of the water on each step is different from the previous one. Looking down from above the spring, you will see forests of coniferous trees. Isn't that fascinating? If you haven't guessed so far that we are talking about Badab-e Surt, you must read this article to the end to find out why this impressive and strange spring has been registered on the Iran National Heritage List. Mazandaran province in Iran is located between the magnificent Caspian Sea and the Alborz Mountain range. Due to its unique beauty and pleasant weather, this province hosts millions of Iranian and foreign tourists every year. Badab-e Surt Spring, Mazandaran province, is south of Sari city, and west of Orost village. It is considered to be one of the most breathtaking and unbelievable spectacles in the area. It is situated at a height of 1,841 meters above sea level. It is commonly assumed that the spring was formed during the Paleocene Era, simultaneously with the most recent folds in the Alborz Mountain range. Badab is the Persian combination of two words; Bad means ‘gas’ and ab means ‘water’. So, Badab means ‘gassed water’ which implies that the spring water is actually carbonated mineral water. Surt is a former name of the nearby Orost village. The Persian word means intensity. Badab-e Surt was created a few thousand years ago by a variety of stepped travertine terrace formations. Over the years, the running water from the two very warm mineral springs cooled and placed carbonate minerals on the mountainside. The Badab-e Surt Spring in Iran is made up of two detached springs with thoroughly contrasting colored and scented water. The first spring has
Badab-e Surt Natural Springs in Iran Consider a stepped spring, surrounded by wild trees and barberry bushes, where the color and fragrance of the water on each step is different from the previous one. Looking down from above the spring, you will see forests of coniferous trees. Isn’t that fascinating? If you haven’t guessed
Ultra Trail Mount Damavand in Iran UTMD (Ultra Trail Mount Damavand) is an Ultra Trail Marathon in Iran conducted in the Lar National Park and on the west side of volcanic Mt Damavand (5,610 meters, the highest mountain in the Middle East). Adventure Iran started organizing this approximately 100 km race in 2017. It is an annual summer competition, with many runners from all over the world participating in this contest, simultaneously enjoying the race itself, and the experience of being in the foothills of Damavand Mountain. The race takes place in the beautiful Lar National Park, run by the Mountaineering Federation of Iran. This is a race for everyone: UTMD 100 km, PLP 61 km, and PGP 22 km. Both the start point and finish point are at the Polour Mountain Federation hut. The race route covers some of the most stunning scenery of Lar National Park and Mt. Damavand, including remote and unspoiled grasslands, nature trails, Lar reservoir, and exquisite steep hills. This is a unique, unparalleled, and challenging running competition for trail running enthusiasts. It is also a great opportunity to participate in an unforgettable event. The race has a website that is organized by Adventure Iran and other co-organizers since 2018. For further information please visit the UTMD website.
Ultra Trail Mount Damavand in Iran UTMD (Ultra Trail Mount Damavand) is an Ultra Trail Marathon in Iran conducted in the Lar National Park and on the west side of volcanic Mt Damavand (5,610 meters, the highest mountain in the Middle East). Adventure Iran started organizing this approximately 100 km race in 2017. It
Shemshak Village in Iran Shemshak village is one of the highest villages in Iran, situated in the heart of the Central Alborz Mountain, at 2,700 m altitude. It is only 65 km from the center of Tehran, about a 1 ½ hour drive to reach through a mountainous road. There is also a ski resort beside Shemshak village called Shemshak Ski resort. This ski resort is famous as it was the first to open in Iran in 1958, and is now the third largest ski resort in the country after Dizin and Darbandsar. Shemshak village is surrounded by numerous mountains above 3,000 m and 4,000 m, which makes the area ideal for hiking and mountain biking in Iran during spring, early summer, and summer. It is perfect for skiing in the winter. The 3,000m mountains are just right for easy and moderate hikes and are close to the village. For strenuous and challenging trekkers, the renowned mountains above 4,000 m. are perfect. There is a 15 Km mountain ridge above Shemshak village, stretching from Kolon Bastak (4,170m) in the west to Sarakchal (4,210m) in the east. Between the two peaks, there are even more mountains over 4,000m (Sarakchal 2 & Sarakchal 3), making this ridgeline very challenging. In the south, there is Mt Abak (3,520m) which is above Shemshak Ski Piste. If the weather is clear, you can view a number of Iran’s high mountains such as Kholeno (4,387m), Azadkuh (4,350m), Borj (4,326m), and the roof of Iran, Mt Damavand (5,610m). On the Adventure Iran website, we have a variety of hiking, mountain biking, and ski tours in this region, with different difficulty levels suitable for all travelers. We will briefly introduce some of these tours so that you can get a general idea. Shemshak Wall and Abak Mountain tour
Shemshak Village in Iran Shemshak village is one of the highest villages in Iran, situated in the heart of the Central Alborz Mountain, at 2,700 m altitude. It is only 65 km from the center of Tehran, about a 1 ½ hour drive to reach through a mountainous road. There is also a ski resort
Azad Kuh Mountain in Iran Azad Kuh Mountain, with a giant rocky summit, is one of the highest peaks in Iran and is located in the high central Alborz mountains. Azad means ‘free’ and Kuh means ‘mountain’. The free mountain might be the local name, due to it being cone-shaped, so dissimilar from the other surrounding mountains. If you assume a line from Tehran city to the north, in the direction of “Noshahr city”, Azad Kuh is located somewhere in the middle. The three faces of the summit, north, east, and west, are surrounded by steep rocky walls that are more than 500 meters tall. In the summer, there is no need to use any technical equipment for climbing. The mountain is located in the Alborz Markazi protected area where there are different types of flora and fauna, various species of birds, and a broad range of wildlife. MT. Azad Kuh Ascend is one of the treks we prepare to reach the peak, suiting the most experienced hikers during summertime.
Azad Kuh Mountain in Iran Azad Kuh Mountain, with a giant rocky summit, is one of the highest peaks in Iran and is located in the high central Alborz mountains. Azad means ‘free’ and Kuh means ‘mountain’. The free mountain might be the local name, due to it being cone-shaped, so dissimilar from the other
Alfons Gabriel and Iran Alfons Gabriel (1894 – 1976) was an Austrian geographer and travel writer who made several trips to Iran’s deserts. Gabriel wrote five books about his trips and findings in Iran. His book, Durch Persians Wüsten (1935, meaning Through Persia’s Deserts), has been translated into Persian. On his second trip to Iran in 1933, he crossed Dasht-e Kavir (the Central Desert) where he discovered the flagstone road dating back to the time of Shah Abbas, the Safavid King. He made his third trip to Iran in 1937 crossing the southern part of Dasht-e Lut. Not many pictures of Gabriel survived but it is said that one of them, taken with his wife in front of their tent, is of Aroosan village in the Central Desert. Gabriel has written many beautiful things about this village in his books. The Dasht-e Kavir Desert trekking route in the Tehran to Yazd trek is based on the one followed by the great pioneer, Alfons Gabriel.
Alfons Gabriel and Iran Alfons Gabriel (1894 – 1976) was an Austrian geographer and travel writer who made several trips to Iran’s deserts. Gabriel wrote five books about his trips and findings in Iran. His book, Durch Persians Wüsten (1935, meaning Through Persia’s Deserts), has been translated into Persian. On his second trip to Iran
Sven Hedin in Iran Sven Anders Hedin, the Swedish geographer, topographer, explorer, photographer, and travel writer arrived by paddle steamer in 1886. He journeyed to Persia twice in 1886 and 1890. In 1887, Hedin published a book about these travels entitled Through Persia, Mesopotamia, and the Caucasus.Sven Hedin is Sweden’s greatest explorer and adventurer of all time. He was born in Stockholm in 1865 and decided to follow this path in his early teens. The first step in his career was in 1885 when he was just 20 years old. He had the opportunity to travel to Baku, Azerbaijan, to work as a private tutor for the son of a Swedish engineer in the Nobel-owned oil industry. When Hedin had fulfilled his duties as a tutor, he set out on a three-month journey through Persia – today’s Iran. This was the beginning of a lifelong love affair with Iran’s rich nature, history, and culture so much so he returned twice (Wahlquist 2007). Hedin’s second visit to Iran was as a member of the Swedish King Oscar II’s diplomatic mission to the Persian King Naser al-Din Shah in 1890. After the formal assignment was completed, Hedin followed the Shah to the Alborz Mountains and made a successful attempt to ascend Mount Damavand – a snow-capped volcano reaching 5,671 meters above sea level and also the highest mountain in the Middle East. This achievement constituted the basis for Hedin’s doctoral dissertation two years later. Before returning to Sweden, Hedin set off on a reconnaissance trip from Tehran towards Central Asia that took him all the way to Kashgar in westernmost China. Along this route, he got his first glimpse of Iran’s central salt desert, the Dasht-e Kavir. In the following decade, Hedin conducted two extended scientific expeditions focusing on the deserts of
Sven Hedin in Iran Sven Anders Hedin, the Swedish geographer, topographer, explorer, photographer, and travel writer arrived by paddle steamer in 1886. He journeyed to Persia twice in 1886 and 1890. In 1887, Hedin published a book about these travels entitled Through Persia, Mesopotamia, and the Caucasus.Sven Hedin is Sweden’s greatest explorer and adventurer of
Highlands of Talesh in Iran Talesh also spelled Talysh and Talish, is a region in northwest Iran, west of the Alborz Mountain range along the southwest of the Caspian Sea. The Talesh area is believed to be the place where the Aryan People first settled (They are Indo-European people who moved down from, what are today, the Russian steppes to Europe, Iran, Central Asia, and northern India in the second millennium BC). It is also said to be the birthplace of Zoroaster, the prophet of the ancient Persian religion, Zoroastrianism. Talesh has a sub-tropical climate with a lush green landscape. The region can be divided into two parts, the lowlands, and the highlands. The lowlands lie along the fertile coastal plain of the Caspian Sea and are abundant with rice paddies and orchards. The highlands constitute almost three-quarters of the area of Talesh and are covered by dense deciduous forests and meadows. The Talesh massif forms a 300 km long natural barrier against the drier climate to the south and west. Its highest peak, Bagharo Dagh, is at an altitude of 3,200 meters. The people of Talesh have their own distinct language and culture which have been preserved over the centuries by the remoteness of their land. A great number of them are pastoralists and semi-nomadic. They migrate to the highlands with their herds of sheep and goats every spring to pasture. They live in wooden houses or a kind of fixed tent, called Kapar, in their summer encampments. During this undiscovered superb trek, we will experience their genuine hospitality firsthand by staying and eating with them or camping next to them. Talesh has wonderful mountainous areas and its virgin and intact nature is a charming place for those eager to immerse themselves in it. Talesh is situated 140 km
Highlands of Talesh in Iran Talesh also spelled Talysh and Talish, is a region in northwest Iran, west of the Alborz Mountain range along the southwest of the Caspian Sea. The Talesh area is believed to be the place where the Aryan People first settled (They are Indo-European people who moved down from, what are
Train Traveling in Iran Iran Train Journeys is one of the special interest tours that attract many visitors. As you may know, there are numerous railroads in Iran in each corner of the country. The train traveling in Iran will allow you to enjoy both exciting adventures as well as amazing attractions across the country. The trains can take you everywhere you may wish to go. There are a lot of stations along the railway line, where you can either get on or off the train to visit the area. In addition, Iran has very high-quality daytime and night trains that cover most of the popular routes. There are seven main railroad tracks going in different directions, starting from Tehran. Other major cities also connect with each other via these railroad lines. The first Iran train track was from Tehran to Gorgan city going to the north and southeast of the Caspian Sea. This route is one of the most beautiful of Iran’s railroads, which passes through spectacular landscapes, canyons, the stunning Alborz Mountains, and the Hyrcanian Forests. The second route is from Tehran to Mashhad city in the northeast. As Mashhad is one of the principal cities of Iran, as well as a religious destination, many pilgrims and locals use this train track throughout the year. The third railroad track is to the northwest of Iran, between Tehran and Tabriz city, which conveniently connects to the Turkish railroad. The fourth route to the southwest runs from Tehran to Khorramshahr city. This train passes Ahvaz city, the capital of Khuzestan province, and is one of the earliest rail routes in Iran. This city was also home to one of the oldest and major oil reserves. To make this train journey even more interesting and appealing, it passes through the famous
Train Traveling in Iran Iran Train Journeys is one of the special interest tours that attract many visitors. As you may know, there are numerous railroads in Iran in each corner of the country. The train traveling in Iran will allow you to enjoy both exciting adventures as well as amazing attractions across the country.
Iran Ski Touring Iran, with its numerous high peaks in the Alborz and Zagros mountains, is absolutely the loneliest destination for skiing and Ski touring in the Middle East. Having a high snowfall starting from November till June in the towering mountains on the one hand, and having 150 mountains above 4,000 m on the other, makes Iran an ideal destination for Ski Touring. There are many pistes above 2,500 m level and the amount of snow is also perfect for winter activities. Adventure Iran operates many ski touring trips in Alborz and Zagros mountains in Iran. Depending on your ski level and time of travel, we advise different locations and paths for professional and amateur skiers. One of the most popular ski touring adventures which has attracted many ski enthusiasts is Mount Damavand (5,610m), the highest mountain in Iran and the Middle East. The Mount Damavand Ski Touring in Asia’s highest volcano mountain tour is a one-week trip that Adventure Iran conducts in the spring. We also combine Damavand Ski Touring with Dobarar mountain range, which makes the best combination for powder skiing, leisure trips, views of other mountains and Mount Damavand, and acclimatization at the summit. Ski Touring in MT Damavand and Dobarar Mountain chains is a ten-day trip covering both these mountains. Damavand is only 100 km away from the capital and is within easy reach of the base of Damavand where you can start your ski tour. The Alam Kuh Mountain is the second mountain in Iran in terms of altitude at 4,850 m above sea level. It is also one of the most challenging peaks in Iran. Sometimes, you can ski in Alam Kuh Mountain till June, depending on the snowfall during the year. Mount Alam Kuh Ski Touring is a one-week tour that is
Iran Ski Touring Iran, with its numerous high peaks in the Alborz and Zagros mountains, is absolutely the loneliest destination for skiing and Ski touring in the Middle East. Having a high snowfall starting from November till June in the towering mountains on the one hand, and having 150 mountains above 4,000 m on the
Nomadic Tribes in Iran Iran is a multi-ethnic country, made up of different ethnic groups who live in every corner of the land. There are also umpteen types of nomadic tribes living in the various regions of the Alborz and Zagros mountain ranges in Iran. They consist of Bakhtiari, Qashqai, Shah Savan (Ilsavan nomads), Mamiand, Boier Ahmadi, Khamseh, Behmaiee, Mamasani, Kord, Taiebi, Jalali, Zalaki, Baluchi, and Afshar. Their customs, language, culture, and food are dissimilar to each other. They are supported by the Nomads Affairs Organization of Iran, a government organization responsible for supplying services to mountain climbers by managing the migration and relocation of nomads. It regulates the essential guidelines and schemes in coordination with the superior organizations such as parliament, government, and the Nomads supreme council. The nomads with their families and herds generally move from lower altitudes to higher mountains during the hot season, moving again to lower altitudes during the cold season. The majority start moving from early spring “depending on the region” till mid-autumn with their families and sheep. The biggest and best-known nomads are the Bakhtiari who live mainly in the provinces of Esfahan, Khuzestan, and Chaharmahal with the remaining ones (approximately 200,000 people), located in the west. Qashghais with around 120,000 people are the second most populous nomads, who have a seasonal life in Bushehr, Fars, and a small part of Esfahan, Chaharmahal, and Bakhtiari provinces. Shahsavans are the third most populous nomads in Iran with around 500,000 people. They live in the northwest in the provinces of East Azarbaijan, Gilan, and Ardabil. The lifestyle of the indigenous people is set to be changed. Iranian nomads are also changing with the times. Comparing the first Adventure Iran nomadic trips (in 2000) with current nomadic tours, we can see the dramatic changes that took
Nomadic Tribes in Iran Iran is a multi-ethnic country, made up of different ethnic groups who live in every corner of the land. There are also umpteen types of nomadic tribes living in the various regions of the Alborz and Zagros mountain ranges in Iran. They consist of Bakhtiari, Qashqai, Shah Savan (Ilsavan nomads), Mamiand,
