Cycling in Iran – Questions Iran is a perfect and unknown destination for cycling for a variety of reasons. Iran is a vast country, located in a special geographical region between the Caspian Sea and the Persian Gulf, with a diverse climate and four seasons of weather which made a special climatic condition in the country. In addition, the two long mountain ranges of Alborz and Zagros with numerous high mountains above 4000 meters have created a specific mountain route for cyclists. Embracing plenty of national parks and protected areas alongside the mountain regions with rich wildlife and flora and fauna has increased the attractions of Iran for nature-loving cyclists. In addition, the deserts of Iran are well known among desert lovers and travelers who are the world's desert fam. The Dasht-e Kavir and Kavir-e Lut are the two famous Iran vast deserts that are amazing destinations for cycling. Passing through the rural regions, the villages, historical regions, and caravanserais that used to be on the route of the ancient Silk Road make an authentic journey for cycling in Iran. Iran is absolutely one of the most popular destinations for cycling in West Asia and the Middle East. All the mentioned attractions, along with the culture, history, and civilization, with 26 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, have made Iran an amazing destination for cycling activities in tourism. Yet, there are common questions about cycling in Iran for most cyclists and travelers who wish to travel to Iran. There are some important points that all cyclists should know about cycling in Iran. They should know the main Iran attractions, Iran classic Route, the most popular Iran UNESCO sites, the best cycling routes in Iran, the best time of cycling in Iran, the rules and regulations of the country, the dress codes,
Cycling in Iran – Questions Iran is a perfect and unknown destination for cycling for a variety of reasons. Iran is a vast country, located in a special geographical region between the Caspian Sea and the Persian Gulf, with a diverse climate and four seasons of weather which made a special climatic condition in
Tehran Trekking Tours in Iran Tehran is the capital city of Iran and it is the first entry point for the majority of travelers who visit Iran. The IKA airport in Tehran is the most important Iran airport where the majority of international planes land. Moreover, access to other cities from Tehran with buses, domestic flights, and trains is more convenient compared to the other parts of the country. Tehran is also on the list of 5 Major Iran cities located on Iran’s most visited path of Classic Iran, and most travelers spend a few days in this metropolitan capital. For all mentioned reasons, many travelers pass Tehran but they do not have any idea about potential trekking regions near the capital. The majority of Iran’s visitors travel far away from the capital to experience trekking tours in Iran while Tehran is one of the most important mountain regions of the country for trekking activity giving you many choices in different seasons for various Levels of Difficulty. The reason is that most of Iran’s guide books didn’t attention to this important fact and they offer other mountain regions in different mountain regions of the country. In this post, we will explain the most important trekking regions and National Parks around Tehran to give you a better image of the possibility of short and long hiking in Tehran province. Alborz Mountains range, as you may know, is Iran’s major mountain range located in northern Iran with 900 km in length. It begins in the northwest of Iran and stretches to the northeast of the country. This range has made a massive wall between the Caspian Sea and Iran Plateau. This range is divided into three sessions of West, Central, and East range. The central part of the range is called
Tehran Trekking Tours in Iran Tehran is the capital city of Iran and it is the first entry point for the majority of travelers who visit Iran. The IKA airport in Tehran is the most important Iran airport where the majority of international planes land. Moreover, access to other cities from Tehran with buses, domestic
Iran Top 10 Off the Beaten Paths You Should Visit! Iran is a vast country with a wealth of impressive tourist attractions. You will be amazed at the long list of famous destinations on the Classical Route of Iran, the UNESCO world heritage sites, the most famous Off the Beaten Track villages, and the most famous tourist villages of Iran. But you may still wish to add other exciting destinations to your Iran Adventure tour. Iran off the beaten paths could be the best option if you are interested in a thrilling adventure. Iran offers many untraveled routes for explorers around the world. You may not know much about these paths, but they are filled with cultural and natural attractions, scenic sceneries, and the potential for lots of exhilarating activities such as photography, biking, mounting, and trekking, as well as boating and other sea activities. Since these off the Beaten Paths are scattered in various districts with different climatic conditions, the time of the visit varies in different seasons or months. Traveling through these paths, you will enjoy an authentic experience of less-known parts of Iran. Besides picturesque landscapes in different seasons, as well as cultural, historical, and even ancient sites, you will have the opportunity to socialize with rural people whose hospitality is well-known among all tourists who traveled to these Off the Beaten Paths of Iran. Here is a list of Iran's top 10 Off the Beaten Paths you should visit during your Iran’s tailor-made journey: 1. Shush (Susa), Khuzestan Province 2. Minab town, Hormozgan Province 3. Savadkuh County, Mazandaran Province 4. Kong port, Bandar Abbas, Persian Gulf 5. Anzali Lagoon & villages around, Gilan Province, Caspian Sea 6. Siraf port, Bushehr Province, Persian Gulf 7. Chabahar port, Sistan and Baluchistan Province,
Iran Top 10 Off the Beaten Paths You Should Visit! Iran is a vast country with a wealth of impressive tourist attractions. You will be amazed at the long list of famous destinations on the Classical Route of Iran, the UNESCO world heritage sites, the most famous Off the Beaten Track villages, and the most
Photography of Iranian Bakhtiari Nomads Iran with many different ethnicities and nomad tribes is home to various types of people who have different races, faces, cultures, and languages. Iran Nomadic Tribes is one of Iran’s traveling highlights compared with their neighbors in the Middle East. It's very fascinating for photographers who are looking for an unusual destination. Bakhtiari Nomadic Tribe is one of the main tribes of Iran’s nomads who live in the west of Iran in the central part of the Zagros mountains range. This special region of the country belongs to the three provinces of Khuzestan, Lorestan, and Charmahal and Bakhtiari in Iran. The region is wonderful for the Photography of Iranian Bakhtiari Nomads for the two types of Landscape and People photography in Iran. People Photography Bakhtiari people are one of the major nomadic tribes in the country still living in the mountains with their families and animals. They still have their own traditional style that is very interesting for photography. The first subject of your photography will be Bakhtiari clothes, which will attract the photographers as soon as they enter the Bakhtiari region. The men have similar clothes with black loose pans “Dabit”, a black hat, a white jacket “Choogha” with special striped black lines that provide unique pictures for people photography. Taking pictures of the men is easy and they are so friendly with photography. The old men are the best for photography. Most of them have special photogenic faces that are very suitable for portrait photography. Their very serious and rough faces show their hard life in the mountains, which will create a different photograph in your photography. Women's clothes are very different and beautiful. They have colorful costumes and dresses that are made up of different components. They use a lot
Photography of Iranian Bakhtiari Nomads Iran with many different ethnicities and nomad tribes is home to various types of people who have different races, faces, cultures, and languages. Iran Nomadic Tribes is one of Iran’s traveling highlights compared with their neighbors in the Middle East. It’s very fascinating for photographers who are looking for an
Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Tourist Highlights Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari is the name of a small Province in the southwest of Iran, situated in the west of Esfahan province. Geographically, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari is located among the central Zagros Mountain Range, full of tourist highlights for adventure seekers. In this part of Zagros, the Zardkuh mountains chain is the most famous sub-range, making it the best spot for adventurous travelers. Zardkuh “yellow mountain” has a few important peaks above 4000m. Zard in Persian means yellow and Kuh means mountain. MT. Kolonchin (4200 m) is the most famous one, perfect for summer ascent. These mountains have huge volumes of snow in winter, and they are the main sources of water for the two main Iran rivers of Karun and Zayande-Rud. Moreover, there are a lot of springs, waterfalls, and underground water reserves in various parts of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province in different parts of the mountains. The weather and climate of this province along with the high-altitude mountains and geographical features of this region made this land a perfect place for livestock breeding for the local tribes. The highlight of this province is the nomadic lifestyle of Bakhtiari tribes who live in a different part of the Central Zagros Mountains. Bakhtiari Lifestyle, The Most Prominent Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Tourist Highlight The most important tourist highlight in Chahar Mahal and Bakhtiari province is visiting the Bakhtiari tribes who are living in the mountains with a very basic life. They have a long history and for thousands of years, they have been living with their traditional culture in this land. Seeing their tribes and staying in their houses in villages or their basic nomadic tents in the mountains would be one of the most unforgettable experiences that you could have in Iran. The
Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Tourist Highlights Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari is the name of a small Province in the southwest of Iran, situated in the west of Esfahan province. Geographically, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari is located among the central Zagros Mountain Range, full of tourist highlights for adventure seekers. In this part of Zagros, the Zardkuh mountains chain
Photography Travel in Sistan and Baluchistan, Iran Iran with vast properties along different ethnic groups and tribes is one of the most amazing countries for Photography travel. Traveling to Iran as a photographer gives you a special opportunity to see what is not possible as a general Iran visitor. Traveling to non-touristic areas, meeting original people who still keep their culture and clothes, seeing the spectacular landscape of mountains or deserts, and the historical monuments of ancient places, which date back to a few thousand years ago, provides an amazing subject for your photography travel in Iran. Sistan and Baluchistan province is one of a few Iran destinations you could travel to as a photographer and experience something different. The province is one of the biggest Iran states with 11% of the property in the country. But many people have no idea about the highlights of this amazing destination. In our travel blog, you can read about this destination in the post named Sistan and Baluchistan Travel Guide and Advises. Along with the attractions in this province for general visitors, you could also travel to this corner of Iran to capture and complete the photo gallery of your travel. After a few years of organizing different active tours, we traveled to this province in February 2020 and March 2021 only for research and photography to find the spots for photographers for their adventure travel. Our first photography trip was based on general photography in the two regions of Sistan in the northern part of the province, and Baluchistan on the southern side of this province. The photography type was a combination of Landscape Photography, monuments, and photography of people. But the second trip only focused on portrait photography in the Baluchistan region. We have visited many different regions
Photography Travel in Sistan and Baluchistan, Iran Iran with vast properties along different ethnic groups and tribes is one of the most amazing countries for Photography travel. Traveling to Iran as a photographer gives you a special opportunity to see what is not possible as a general Iran visitor. Traveling to non-touristic areas, meeting original
Bakhtiari Nomadic Land Bakhtiari is the name of one major Iranian nomadic tribe living in the central part of the Zagros mountain range. Bakhtiari nomadic land is very remote and far from civilization. It embraces the last remaining original and authentic nomadic tribes in Iran. Livestock raising is their profession, and their life is divided into two different periods: the hot and cold seasons. Iranian Bakhtiari nomads live in the low lands during the cold season and move to the high mountains with their families and animals during the hot season. In Persian, there is a special world of KOOCH for this kind of movement and lifestyle. The lifestyle based on Kooch is still alive and it is very fascinating to see. This traditional lifestyle would, unfortunately, disappear very soon in this artificial world. The people still live in basic tents with their ships and goats without facilities and electricity. For those who are interested in anthropology, this nomadic region would be one of the most impressive parts of Iran. The nomads still keep their original clothes and customs. Their wedding ceremonies and traditional dance are enchanting as well. The villages and the nomadic camps are other highlights of this region. The Bakhtiari nomadic tribe, their lifestyle, traditions, costumes, and their territory as a whole are must-sees for those who wish to experience them during their travel to Iran. All the abovementioned attractions have made this place one of the destinations for adventurous travelers who are looking for Off-the-Beaten-Track destinations in Iran. Travel to Bakhtiari nomadic region is full of experiences. Depending on your interest, you could have different travel styles and activities. If you are interested in Bakhtiaris’ Kooch and traveling along with them in early spring, " Kooch with Bakhtiari Nomadic Tribes” is a very interesting 15-day trip
Bakhtiari Nomadic Land Bakhtiari is the name of one major Iranian nomadic tribe living in the central part of the Zagros mountain range. Bakhtiari nomadic land is very remote and far from civilization. It embraces the last remaining original and authentic nomadic tribes in Iran. Livestock raising is their profession, and their life is divided
Photography Travel to Iran: Kurdistan & Hawraman Valley Iran is a vast country with many special destinations for travel photography. Depending on the type of your photography and your travel time, there are so many places you could travel to. Kurdish regions of Iran in the two provinces of Kurdistan and Kermanshah are the most exotic destinations in Iran for Photography. The amazing landscape of the mountains, the architecture of the houses in the villages, and the people with special costumes create a perfect destination for photographers around the world. Kurdish people's culture and lifestyle in the mountains in Hawraman valley in the heart of Zagros mountains have attracted many travelers' attention. Moreover, UNESCO registered the Cultural Landscape of Hawraman/Uramanats on the Iranian UNESCO world heritage sites in 2021. This destination is noticeable regarding three main aspects of photography: Landscape photography Portrait Photography Architecture photography In addition to the three above photography types in Iranian Kurdish regions, people's lifestyle who are living in the mountains, the Kurdish dance, their very famous musical instruments of Tanbur and Daf, and their long stories of Kurdish histories are other highlights of this region. There are a couple of annual festivals such as Pire Shaliar and Daf music performed in the Hawraman region. These traditional festivals are very interesting and attract many people from different countries annually for photography travel to Iran. The Kurdish women work together with men in the fields. They have had a hard life in the mountains and have fought against enemies for years. Besides all the above elements of the Iranian Kurdistan region, the hospitality of Kurdish people in the mountains, their simple life, their clothes, customs, food, and old traditions have made this region one of the new destinations of Iran for those who would like to explore
Photography Travel to Iran: Kurdistan & Hawraman Valley Iran is a vast country with many special destinations for travel photography. Depending on the type of your photography and your travel time, there are so many places you could travel to. Kurdish regions of Iran in the two provinces of Kurdistan and Kermanshah are the most
Shemshak Winter Mountain scenery Shemshak is the name of a touristic village before the revolution which has now turned mostly into a small town. Shemshak became famous because of the famous Shemshak Ski resort and a lot of old wealthy people before the revolution came to Shemshak for skiing and it was a hub for many active people in the past years. It’s located in the heights of central Alborz Mountains 50 km away from north east of the capital. The video that you see is a collection of 6 months of photography and timelapsing in the winter season from November 2020 till April 2021. Shemshak village is located between 2600 m – 2800m above the sea level surrounded by a lot of mountains above 4000m and it has about 6 months of winter. There is a long story behind this short video and these pictures as it happens after the pandemic situation when I moved from Lavasan to Shemshak to be far from the population. I had decided to make a short documentary about this special lifestyle that can happen in Iran and the things that happen in the village, but I couldn't make it fully and the end result was the aforementioned video. There were two reasons for that. The first was I didn't have much material and footage to make this video and the second was that I needed a crew and a lot of professional equipment to record this live life happening in the village. So I cut short the plan I had in my mind and only took the most special moments that happened during that winter and I asked our editor to make a nice slide show of the magnificent nature that happens in the high mountains of Alborz. Most of the footage
Shemshak Winter Mountain scenery Shemshak is the name of a touristic village before the revolution which has now turned mostly into a small town. Shemshak became famous because of the famous Shemshak Ski resort and a lot of old wealthy people before the revolution came to Shemshak for skiing and it was a hub
Travel to Iranian Kurdistan Iranian Kurdistan with 21137 sq./m is located in the west of Iran with a joint border with Iraq. It’s one of the destinations of Iran that offers you a lot of Off the Beaten track for those who are looking for new experiences. Depending on your travel style and the type of activity you would like to do, you could travel to Iranian Kurdistan from one week up to one month. Most Iran visitors who already visited the Main tourist destinations of Iran travel to Kurdistan as a cultural tour. They only visit a couple of spots mentioned in the guidebooks. Also, most of the tours designed to visit Kurdistan are two to three-week tours of northwestern and western Iran, which spend only one or more days in this province and actually pass through this province and cannot explore the attractions of this region and understand the intangible highlights of this exotic destinations. Kurdistan has a long list of attractions for travelers and in this article, we try to mention the main important highlights of the province. Attractions Sanandaj is the capital of Kurdistan province and with a distance of 458 km from the capital city of Tehran. Sanandaj is a touristic city with many attractions. The old bazaar of Sanandaj, Asef monument “the Cord house”, Jameh mosque, Khosro Abaad historical monument, Sanandaj museum and the Kurdish wooden artworks are the most important tourist attraction of this city. UNESCO has chosen Sanandaj as the Creative City of Music in Iran and Tanbor and Daf are the very important instruments made in Iranian Kurdistan. Music and instrument both have a special relation with the culture of Kurdish people. Marivan city is another highlight of Kurdistan and it’s located at the border of Iraq. Zarivar Lake
Travel to Iranian Kurdistan Iranian Kurdistan with 21137 sq./m is located in the west of Iran with a joint border with Iraq. It’s one of the destinations of Iran that offers you a lot of Off the Beaten track for those who are looking for new experiences. Depending on your travel style and the
