Travel to Iranian Kurdistan Kurdistan Introduction 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. Kurdish Region locations The Kurdish region of Iran is a geographical area in northwestern Iran that has been historically and is presently inhabited by a predominantly Kurdish population. This region includes parts of three Iranian provinces; the Kordestan Province, the Kermanshah Province, and the West Azerbaijan Province. These three Iranian provinces share borders with parts of Iraq and Turkey that are also inhabited by the Kurds. West Azerbaijan Province location in Iran Map Kurdistan Province location in Iran Map Kermanshah Province location in Iran Map Kurdish People The Kurdish people have inhabited the northwestern region of Iran for centuries – dating back before the Islamic conquests of the 7th century. It
Travel to Iranian Kurdistan Kurdistan Introduction 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
Photography Travel in Iran Iran is an amazing destination for photography and depending on your photography type there is so much to offer for experts in this field. The most important type we could mention are as below: 1- Landscape photography in Iran 2- Iran portrait photography 3- Architecture photography in Iran 4- On the Road Photography 5- Iran’s Tribes and nomads (and their lifestyle) Photography Along with the above main categories, there is also another topic for special interests like bird-watching and wildlife adventure photography in Iran and a much unrelated subject, Persian historical houses. Photography of events or special festivals is also another specific topic that many travelers come to Iran for. Some travelers are interested in these events but for photographers it’s a whole different story. Ashoora and Tasooa are the two main important religious ceremonies which are in the summer this year. On the 7 and 8 of August 2022. But every year those date move 12 days forward so, on 2023 the event would be 20 and 21 of July. In some towns, Ashoora and Tasooa ceremony and their special customs are totally different which is amazing for taking some out of this world shots. Along this ceremony, there are other historical ceremonies in Iran which is amazing for event photography as well. Pireh Shaliar is a traditional dance festival of Kurdish people in Howramanat and it is one of the best locations for traveling for photography. In Adventure Iran, we have done photography in all main categories and we have performed a few photography tours in different regions. Also, another important matter for photography is that you have to visit places when it’s not crowded and you have to have local information or special guides for the destination and the topic of your
Photography Travel in Iran Iran is an amazing destination for photography and depending on your photography type there is so much to offer for experts in this field. The most important type we could mention are as below: 1- Landscape photography in Iran 2- Iran portrait photography 3- Architecture photography in Iran 4- On the
Iran 5 Best Touristic Destinations In this article, you can read about Iran best touristic destinations and all the activities you can do in them in detail. These tourist cities are in the most popular travel itinerary of travellers during the spring season and is on the Best Iran Tours list. Iran has proudly secured its place among the top 10 countries with the most UNESCO World Heritage Sites, a remarkable achievement that highlights its rich cultural and natural heritage. Iran, with 29 UNESCO world heritage sites, (as of JULY 2025), is the tenth country in the world with regard to the number of such sites. Contrary to the perception of many tourists who haven’t read about Iran, it’s too much to even see its major highlights in a month. For this reason, most travelers prefer to make the main touristic cities of the country their main priority which includes Tehran, Kashan, Esfahan, Yazd, and Shiraz. Also, Lonely Planet’s travel guide book, which is a reference for many travelers, has chosen these cities for Iran’s first-time visitors. Also, Lonely Planet uses the term “CLASSIC” to describe a short travel itinerary for each country where travelers wish to visit a famous site. CLASSIC IRAN route is an overland journey that includes the main 5 urban tourist destinations of Tehran, Kashan, Esfahan, Yazd, and Shiraz with 7 UNESCO World Heritage Sites along with a couple of other attractions on the route. You need two weeks to visit these 5 major cities but depending on the holiday time you have available, the season of travel and your interests, you may want to extend your visit to see more attractions or even if time is a problem, make it shorter. Along with the historical and cultural attractions of this major cities, this route
Iran 5 Best Touristic Destinations In this article, you can read about Iran best touristic destinations and all the activities you can do in them in detail. These tourist cities are in the most popular travel itinerary of travellers during the spring season and is on the Best Iran Tours list. Iran has proudly secured
Nowruz The Persian New Year Nowruz in Iran marks the first day of Farvardin and the Iranian New Year. In the Gregorian calendar, Nowruz mostly occurs on March 20 or 21 and rarely on March 22 if it’s a leap year. This day in Iran and Afghanistan makes the New Year. UNESCO has registered Nowruz on its list of Intangible Cultural Heritage as a World Heritage in 2009. The International Day of Nowruz (21th March) became well-know for the world. The United Nations officially accepted the “International Day of Nowruz” in 2010 and Iran has 29 UNESCO sites as of July 2025. More than 300 million people around the world, mostly in central Asia and IRAN, celebrate this day as the first day of the year and the New Year. Nowruz is officially a holiday celebrated in many countries such as Tajikistan, Russia, Turkmenistan, India, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, Syria, Iraq, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Albania, and Uzbekistan. Iranians have inherited this ancient celebration from different ethnic groups in the region; a celebration with special colors and fragrances, which has a Persian identity and symbolizes the unity of Iranians. Nowruz is known as the beginning of the revitalization of nature, the timing of its growth, and the emergence of plants. Also, they believe they have to start the first day of the year by being in good spirits and wearing new clothes. The word NOWRUZ (Novruz, Navruz, Nooruz, Nevruz, Nauryz, Norooz, Nowrooz, Nowroz, Noruz, Novrooz, Novroz), means new day; its spelling and pronunciation may vary by country. Nowruz customs and traditions in Iran Chaharshanbe Suri (before Nowruz) Nowruz is a collection of celebrations and events. Nowruz celebrations first begin with Chaharshanbe Suri. On the last Thursday of the year, Iranians visit the graves of their forebearers to spend some time with their
Nowruz The Persian New Year Nowruz in Iran marks the first day of Farvardin and the Iranian New Year. In the Gregorian calendar, Nowruz mostly occurs on March 20 or 21 and rarely on March 22 if it’s a leap year. This day in Iran and Afghanistan makes the New Year. UNESCO has registered
Top 5 Caravanserais in Iran to Stay at Iran (Persia) was on the main way of the Silk Road and this region was the host of many caravanners (traders, travelers, and writers) who traveled along with the Caravan. The word caravan historically comes from the Persian language meaning "group of desert travelers". But, the first historical caravanserai dates back to more than 2500 years ago during the Achaemenid era. Persian caravanserais got more popular when Shah Abbas ordered to make 999 caravanserais in Iran about 400 years ago. The usages of the caravanserai were like inns between two regions. They were temporary living quarters and also the hub for traders and a safe place to meet people. Nowadays many of those caravanserais are destroyed and the remaining are under renovation for usage in the travel industry. Some of them are renovated as boutique hotels which are a perfect choice for staying as your lodging in Iran. Here is the list of the most famous Iran Caravanserais to stay in: 1-Abbasi Caravanserai, Esfahan- Luxury Boutique Hotel Abbasi Caravanserai was built in 1750 by the order of Sultan Hussain one of the Safavid dynasty Shahs. He gave the Caravanserai as a gift to his mother. As of then the name of it was changed to Madar Caravanserai (Madar is mother in Persian). For some time in the Qajar dynasty, the national sugar company rented the place. They used it as storage and the transportation of cargo made significant damage to the building. But in the year 1958, this Iranian Caravanserai was restored by a private company. Under the watchful eyes of André Godard, it became the Abbasi Caravanserai. Some years later the company bought the near field to expand the business. Abbasi Caravanserai is located in the middle of Esfahan city.
Top 5 Caravanserais in Iran to Stay at Iran (Persia) was on the main way of the Silk Road and this region was the host of many caravanners (traders, travelers, and writers) who traveled along with the Caravan. The word caravan historically comes from the Persian language meaning “group of desert travelers”. But, the first
Lar National Park Mountain Biking Lar National Park MTB video is about one of Adventure Iran’s mountain biking trips in one of the most beautiful national parks of Iran. it is located in the northeast of Tehran province, only 70 kilometers (43 mi) from the capital. Lar national park is a protected region so it is not open to the public. About Lar National Park It’s managed by the Iranian Environmental Organization. Travelers need to get a permit for entering the park and the mentioned organization issues them for interested travelers. We apply for the certificate one month in advance as it takes a couple of weeks of paperwork. The gates of the park are open only during the summertime. Stockbreeders and cattlemen enter for their summer KOOCH from lower altitudes to upper altitudes, their seasonal move. KOOCH is a Persian word meaning seasonal relocation of accommodation and most tribes, nomads, and villagers of Iran still do this to this day. They relocate with their hordes of animals like sheep, jotas, dogs, hens, and roosters along with their family for better weather conditions and food for their animals. Lar is the key location for most tribes around Tehran capital during the summertime. At the end of the summer when the weather is getting cold, they will move again to warmer locations in lower altitudes till the end of spring of the next year. Lar National park with 30,000-hectare pf property is home to a wide range of flora, fauna, and wild animals. Along with its rich nature, there is a big dam inside of the park called Lar dam. it is created by the high mountains of central Alborz and is fed by many spring waters of the surrounding region. This reservoir of water is a source for a huge
Lar National Park Mountain Biking Lar National Park MTB video is about one of Adventure Iran’s mountain biking trips in one of the most beautiful national parks of Iran. it is located in the northeast of Tehran province, only 70 kilometers (43 mi) from the capital. Lar national park is a protected region so it
Shemshak village and ski resort 4 seasons of life in the Alborz mountains This clip is about one and half years of photography and life of Shemshak village and ski resort in the Shemshak village after Coronavirus from February 2020 till August 2012. The photos and time lapse were taken with Canon EOS-R camera and a few of them recorded with Go pro. The original reason for this was to have an archive of photos from this amazing place and use it in the Adventure Iran website as the Shemshak photo gallery section. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tl-KLG7tqc After a while when I saw that I have a good collection of photos from different aspects of the region like nature, landscape, people, night photography and the changing seasons, I made the decision to make a photo book for the region as well as making a short clip of the slides of my photos. I hope you enjoy it and would be useful for your information. Shemshak village and in it Shemshak Ski Resort which is one the main three ski resorts of Iran, is about 55 km away from the north east of Tehran. Darbandsar village and the ski resort are also nearby Shemshak which is 4 km away and it’s one of the other ski regions in the area. The third is Dizin ski resort which is Iran's largest ski resort and its 14 km away from Shemshak village. These three villages are located in the valley and many mountains above 4000m in the Central Alborz surround these regions. Shemshak village has an altitude between 2600-2800 m and As it was an important coal mine in the region (about a 100 years ago) which was about the beginning of 20 century, the majority of locals worked in the mine. Afterwards
Shemshak village and ski resort 4 seasons of life in the Alborz mountains This clip is about one and half years of photography and life of Shemshak village and ski resort in the Shemshak village after Coronavirus from February 2020 till August 2012. The photos and time lapse were taken with Canon EOS-R camera and
UNESCO sites of Iran: Bam and its Cultural Landscape Bam is based in Kerman province in south east of Iran. it was placed in the UNESCO world heritage sites of Iran in the year 2004. It is 1050m above sea level and have a warm and dry environment. It covers about 5175 square kilometers of Iran. You can reach it from Tehran by car in about 12 hours. Domestic flights and trains are more quicker. When you reach Bam the first thing you’ll notice are the beautiful palm trees across the city. In every house and every park you can see one. The economy of the city depend on these date palms as well. Dates produced in Bam are exported to nearly 15 countries in the world. They are also a known delicacy in all the regions of Iran. Historically Bam was famous for being the exchange point for goods and cargo. Near the end of Lotf Ali Khan's time (the last Shah of Zand dynasty) he escaped to Bam. For a short while the Capital of Iran was Bam. Bam was in the spice road (one of the routes of the Silk Road for spices and fabrics) and connected the west civilization to Sistan and ultimately to the population of the Indus River in India. The gate of the east of Iran on the Silk Road was Bam. Also it was the central exchange point between Khorasan and Kerman in the boarders of the country. Historical sightsees of Bam the earthquake rocked and destroyed the city and most of the buildings, but it reveled the Tal-e Atashin site. Tal-e Atashin is from the Neolithic era. The decayed old city gave its place to the new city and was forgotten. the house like structures underneath are still
UNESCO sites of Iran: Bam and its Cultural Landscape Bam is based in Kerman province in south east of Iran. it was placed in the UNESCO world heritage sites of Iran in the year 2004. It is 1050m above sea level and have a warm and dry environment. It covers about 5175 square kilometers of
Winter Trekking in Shemshak Alborz Ski Region Shemshak is mostly famous for skiing in Iran and many people (especially Tehranians) know of Shemshak Ski Resort. It’s a destination for skiing during winter and an amazing region for trekking and mountain biking during the summer. Along with ski and ski touring activity many adventurous hikers are interested in winter trekking and mountaineering which has its own attraction as the scenery in the winter is much different and it’s perfect for photography. Shemshak is located in the heart of central Alborz Mountains surrounded by many high peaks above 4000m. In winter it has high volumes of snow, in some canyons more than 3 meters. Shemshak is only 50 km away from the capital but the winter takes 6 months as it is located at 2700m altitude. The video is made of a trek in winter times in Shemshak that was planned to ascend Abak Peak with 3500 m altitude. Our group did this trek on the 8th of December of 2020. They had a day trek to ascend another small peak and take the ridge line towards the top of Shemshak ski resort. They started the trek from the village and after a few hours reached the pass which has an amazing view of Mt Damavand, the highest mountain in Iran. From there they took the ridge towards the peak where they had an amazing view of many mountains in Alborz like MT Sarakchal 4210 m, MT Kolonbastak 4160m, MT Touchal 3960m and MT Kholeno 4400m which is the highest peak in Tehran province and central Alborz mountains. As you can see in some parts of the video, the weather changes a lot but it made a spectacular view of the high mountains and Shemshak valley. They descended from another side of
Winter Trekking in Shemshak Alborz Ski Region Shemshak is mostly famous for skiing in Iran and many people (especially Tehranians) know of Shemshak Ski Resort. It’s a destination for skiing during winter and an amazing region for trekking and mountain biking during the summer. Along with ski and ski touring activity many adventurous hikers are
Trekking in Darbandsar This video is about a private trekking trip in the heights of Alborz ski region in north of Tehran province with some friends in covid times. As the central Alborz Mountains has a lot of peaks, we generally choose one of them for our trekking or mountain biking trip as it is not that far from the capital. This video is in Darbandsar region which is the name of a village and ski region in north Tehran. Central Alborz is located in the protected area of Alborz-e Markazi which is under the management of Iran Environmental organization. This region has rich plants that locals use for their foods and infusions (Damnoosh in Farsi). Also there are a wide range of flowers that grow in this region which have medical and therapeutic properties for example, you can see hogweed (Golpar in Farsi) that is famously used in Persian traditional medicine. Hope you enjoy the video and if you like it subscribe to our channel to see more of the beauty of our country. Photo Gallery
Trekking in Darbandsar This video is about a private trekking trip in the heights of Alborz ski region in north of Tehran province with some friends in covid times. As the central Alborz Mountains has a lot of peaks, we generally choose one of them for our trekking or mountain biking trip as it is
