Best Iran National Parks and Protected Areas This Iran Most Beautiful National Parks helps adventurous travelers who are interested to explore Iran's Natural Wonders. Iran with different wet and dry lands with a combination of high mountains, desert lands, forests, and seas has created a special ecosystem in the Middle East and the east of Asia. It is located in the southern part of the Caspian Sea and north of the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. There are two long mountain ranges named Alborz (900 km) and Zagros (1400 km) located in the north and west of Iran. In addition, the two main deserts of Dasht-e Kavir (77,600 km2) and Kavir-e Lut (51,800 km2)- the first Natural UNESCO site in Iran- are other natural attractions of the country. Rivers and lakes, wildlife, and the Hyrcanian Forest (UNESCO Natural Site), besides the different types of birds, a wide range of medical and therapeutic plants, Islands, and lagoons create the protected areas and national parks all over Iran. Here, we have listed the ten most beautiful ones below: 1. Golestan National Park Golestan National Park: Iran’s Natural Treasure Golestan National Park, located in the northeastern part of Iran, is one of the country’s oldest and most diverse protected areas. Established in 1957, this vast park spans over 1,800 square kilometers and is home to a rich variety of ecosystems, ranging from dense forests and rolling hills to rugged mountains and meadows. The park’s unique location, where the Alborz Mountains meet the plains, provides a habitat for an extraordinary range of flora and fauna, including several endangered species. Golestan is famous for its wildlife, with the Persian leopard, wild boar, and brown bear roaming its expansive landscapes. Birdwatchers will also be delighted by the many migratory species that pass through the park.
Best Iran National Parks and Protected Areas This Iran Most Beautiful National Parks helps adventurous travelers who are interested to explore Iran’s Natural Wonders. Iran with different wet and dry lands with a combination of high mountains, desert lands, forests, and seas has created a special ecosystem in the Middle East and the east of
Cycling in Iran : Questions & Answers 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 28 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 would like to know about cycling in Iran. They are the main Iran attractions, Iran classic Route, all Iran's UNESCO Sites, the most popular Iran UNESCO sites, the best cycling routes in Iran, the best time of cycling in Iran, the rules
Cycling in Iran : Questions & Answers 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
Travel to Iran for Photography in Turkmen Plains Iran offers plenty of unexplored regions which are perfect for photographers who would like to travel to Iran for photography, and Iranian Turkmen regions and especially Golestan province is one of them. The Turkmen region of Iran is a part of Golestan province which is located in northeastern Iran in the south of Turkmenistan country. Turkmens speak the Turkic language and they have different sub-branch tribes speaking different dialects. Turkmen people live in different countries of Turkmenistan, northeast Iran, northeastern and northwestern Afghanistan, and neighboring parts of Central Asia. Their population is about 6 million at the beginning of the 21st century and about one-third of the total population lives in Iran. Turkmen Sahra is the name of the Turkmen territory of Golestan province which is an ideal destination for those who travel to Iran for photography. The most important cities of Turkmen Sahra is Gonbad, Aqqala, Kalaleh, Maraveh Tappeh, Gomishan, and Bandar Torkaman. There are many important reasons that attract travel photographers to travel to this part of Iran. Here are some of the main ones. Climate and Weather of Golestan The territory of Turkmenistan reminds us of arid weather while the Turkmen region of Iran has a different climatic condition. The climate of this region is affected by the Caspian Sea weather system from the west, surrounded by the eastern part of the Alborz Mountain range from the south and east, and connected to the arid weather of Turkmenistan in the north. In addition, the dense Hyrcanian forests (UNESCO) in the southern part of Golestan, between the plain in the north and the Alborz Range in the south, have provided favorable weather for traveling to this strategic point in Iran. The pleasant weather of this region enables a longer
Travel to Iran for Photography in Turkmen Plains Iran offers plenty of unexplored regions which are perfect for photographers who would like to travel to Iran for photography, and Iranian Turkmen regions and especially Golestan province is one of them. The Turkmen region of Iran is a part of Golestan province which is located in
Top Tehran Mountains and Trekking Trails Top Tehran Mountains are located in the central Alborz mountain and has a lot of amazing and Trekking Trails. 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
Top Tehran Mountains and Trekking Trails Top Tehran Mountains are located in the central Alborz mountain and has a lot of amazing and Trekking Trails. 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
Iran Photography Photography in Iran can be one of the most important reasons for your trip to Iran if you have enough information about the biodiversity of the country and the various ethnic groups in Iran. Depending on the type of photography, the travel time, and the duration of your trip to Iran, you will have different choices. Most photographers have no idea about the opportunities Iran offers for photography compared with other neighboring countries in the Middle East and west of Asia. If you are interested in anthropology, a great variety of ethnicities living in Iran would provide you with amazing opportunities to capture various portraits for people photography. If you are interested in Nature and Landscape Photography, the huge size of the country and the variety of climates create multi-type landscapes for photography. Encircling numerous spectacular mountains above 4000 m with spectacular landscapes, vast two deserts of Dsht-e Kavir and Lut, thousands of kilometers of coastlines in the Persian Gulf, Oman Sea, and the Caspian Sea, Hyrcanian UNESCO Forests, Turkmen plain, and huge size of Iran plateau give an extraordinary example of the varied landscapes of Iran for your favorite type of photography. In this article, we explain the opportunities and the best regions for people and landscape photography in Iran. People/ Portraits Photography Iran has 7 various destinations for photography of people which is equal to traveling to 7 different counties for people photography. If you see the map below, you will understand this fact for your special travel photography. Iran is the only destination in the world that allows you to have different ethnicities and nations all together in one country. In western countries, many people immigrate from different countries to make cosmopolitan cities, but the people do not belong to those countries. Here
Iran Photography Photography in Iran can be one of the most important reasons for your trip to Iran if you have enough information about the biodiversity of the country and the various ethnic groups in Iran. Depending on the type of photography, the travel time, and the duration of your trip to Iran, you will
How to Create a Successful Travel Itinerary for Iran? One of the main questions for many tourists, travel agencies, or tour operators is : How to make an efficient travel itinerary to cover the most important Iran attractions on a short trip? Please continue reading this very useful article if you would like to have the Best Iran Tour during your holiday. Most travelers don’t have much information about the huge size of the country. The distance between main touristic cities, the number of UNESCO heritage sites, the diversity of Climate and Weather in Iran, or the types of activities they could have in Iran have variations too. Persian arts, type of transport, the best time for traveling in Iran for different regions, Persian cuisines and Iranian home foods, and off the beaten track destinations of Iran are important in this list too. Especially for those who are first-timers in Iran, having this information could be beneficial in creating a perfect travel holiday for Iran. Instead of proposing a couple of template travel itineraries to answer the above question, we try to explain a few essential topics to help you in finding the answer. 1. Huge Size of the Country and the Distances Iran is a very vast country that is much larger than most European counties. To have a better image of the country, Iran is around the size of Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands, Belgium, Czech, Slovakia, Austria, Switzerland, Croatia, and Slovenia together. We give you another example for you to understand this better. There is a famous route from northwestern Iran to Southeastern Iran called the One-Month Classic Overland Route of Iran, which starts from the Turkish border and finishes at the Pakistani border in the southeast of the country. The direct distance of that route from
How to Create a Successful Travel Itinerary for Iran? One of the main questions for many tourists, travel agencies, or tour operators is : How to make an efficient travel itinerary to cover the most important Iran attractions on a short trip? Please continue reading this very useful article if you would like to have
The best Off the Beaten Track Villages of Iran Iran has 29 UNESCO registered world heritage sites (till July 2025) and it is the 10th country in the world with the most UNESCO sites on the list, but it is still an unknown destination for the world compared to the other touristic countries. As you know, Iran is a 4 seasons country with a long list of untraveled and unknown routes in different region of the country. So for this list, we have chosen different villages from varied climates in the country. From Alborz and Zagros mountains to Caspian Sea and Persian Gulf to forest and desert regions there are many terrains to visit. Below are the 10 Off the Beaten Track villages you should visit on you trip to Iran. 1. Makhunik desert village, South Khorasan province (Best Travel Time : Autumn, Winter and early spring) Makhunik: A Hidden Desert Village in South Khorasan Tucked away in South Khorasan Province, Makhunik is a remote desert village offering a unique glimpse into traditional desert life. Surrounded by the vast Dasht-e Kavir desert, the village’s mud-brick homes are designed to blend with the harsh desert environment, providing shelter from the extreme heat and cold. The residents of Makhunik still live much as they have for centuries, relying on agriculture and herding livestock. Makhunik’s stunning architecture, unique culture, and the opportunity to explore the surrounding desert make it an ideal off-the-beaten-path destination. For those looking to experience Iran’s desert heritage, Makhunik is a hidden gem worth discovering. 2. Darak coast-village, Sistan and Baluchistan province (Best Travel Time : Winter) Darak: A Hidden Coastal Village in Sistan and Baluchistan Nestled along the Gulf of Oman in Sistan and Baluchistan, Darak is a serene coastal village offering pristine beaches and crystal-clear waters.
The best Off the Beaten Track Villages of Iran Iran has 29 UNESCO registered world heritage sites (till July 2025) and it is the 10th country in the world with the most UNESCO sites on the list, but it is still an unknown destination for the world compared to the other touristic countries. As you
Sistan and Baluchestan Travel Guide If you wish to travel to Off the Beaten Track destinations in Iran, do NOT miss this Sistan and Baluchestan Travel Guide! Introduction Read this short article as Sistan and Baluchestan Travel Guide and see the photos and videos of this untraveled route of Iran to understand why you should travel to Sistan and Baluchestan and put it on your bucket list. Sistan and Baluchestan is one of Iran's provinces located in the southeastern corner of the country. Baluchestan, also spelled Balochistan or Baluchistan as well. Iran has 31 provinces, each one with its own special tourist attractions. The Main Tourist Cities, well-known among travelers, are located on the major traveling route of CLASSIC IRAN. There are also other tourist cities off the main route, which have also been mentioned in most travel guides to Iran like Lonely Plant, Bradt guide, and Petit Futé. Apart from the main tourist destinations, there are also Off the Beaten Track destinations with special attractions in Iran. Some of those are unknown to travelers, and they have not been mentioned in the guide books or popular traveling sites. Sistan and Baluchestan province is definitely on top of this list that could be considered an independent destination in Iran. According to the time of your travel to Sistan and Baluchestan, your interests, and the types of activities you would like to do during your holiday, you can stay from at least one week to one month in this region. General Information Sistan and Baluchestan province comprises two large sections, Sistan in the north and Baluchestan in the south. The Farsi name “Sistan” comes from Old Persian Sakastana, meaning "Land of the Saka". The name Baluchestan- also written “Baluchestan”- means "Land of the Baluch" in the Persian language and is
Sistan and Baluchestan Travel Guide If you wish to travel to Off the Beaten Track destinations in Iran, do NOT miss this Sistan and Baluchestan Travel Guide! Introduction Read this short article as Sistan and Baluchestan Travel Guide and see the photos and videos of this untraveled route of Iran to understand why you should
Iran Turkmen Plains Golestan Province Tourist Highlights Stretching across Golestan Province in northeastern Iran, the Turkmen Plains (Dasht-e Turkmen) offer a captivating blend of vast grasslands, nomadic traditions, and unique biodiversity. This lesser-known region is home to the Turkmen people, whose vibrant culture—seen in their handwoven carpets, spirited horse games (Buzkashi), and distinctive yurt dwellings—adds rich authenticity to the landscape. The plains merge seamlessly with the Golestan National Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, where visitors can spot rare wildlife like the Persian leopard and wild sheep. Ideal for off-the-beaten-path adventures, the Turkmen Plains invite travelers to experience horseback riding, nomadic homestays, and the annual Turkmen Silk and Spice Festival. Whether you’re a culture enthusiast or a nature lover, this frontier region promises an unforgettable glimpse into Iran’s diverse heritage. Golestan province is one of the untraveled routes of Iran offering a wide range of attractions, activities, and tourist highlights. It is located in the southeast of the Caspian Sea, and southern part of Turkmenistan country. Golestan means the land of flowers. The rural parts of this province are rich in flora and fauna, and you will be amazed at its variety of animal and plant species. In fact, Golestan province is one of the greenest parts of Iran. Golestan Main Tourist Highlights Golestan National Park Golestan National Park is one of the tourist highlights of Golestan province which enjoys remarkable ecosystem diversity. There is a large variety of wildlife in the park, and a huge variety of birds live there. Golestan National Park is the largest and oldest national park in Iran. The park is a protected area managed by the Iranian Environmental Organization. Along with the natural attractions, there are many other historical and cultural attractions in Golestan province too. Gonbad-e Qabus (UNESCO) Gonbad-e Qabus also
Iran Turkmen Plains Golestan Province Tourist Highlights Stretching across Golestan Province in northeastern Iran, the Turkmen Plains (Dasht-e Turkmen) offer a captivating blend of vast grasslands, nomadic traditions, and unique biodiversity. This lesser-known region is home to the Turkmen people, whose vibrant culture—seen in their handwoven carpets, spirited horse games (Buzkashi), and distinctive yurt dwellings—adds
Kurdish Festival of Pir Shaliar Introduction Pir Shaliar, also written Pir-e Shalyar, is one of the historical Iranian ceremonies which take place in the Kurdish region of Iran. Iranian Kurdistan is one of the most active provinces with a lot of activities. The instruments of Daf and Tanbor (Tanbur) were born in the Kurdish regions of Iran and music and dance are the two major elements in the Kurdish culture. Every year, there are different celebrations and music festivals performed in the mountain region of Hawraman (Uraman) which is a huge valley located in Kurdistan and Kermanshah provinces. Nowrooz (Nowruz) celebration or “Persian New Year", Palangan Daf Music Festival, and the Kurdish Festival of Pir Shaliar in Oraman Takht are the most famous Kurdish ceremonies which annually attract tourists from different countries. Location & history of Pir Shaliar Kurdish Dance and Music Festival of Pir Shaliar in Iranian Kurdistan is an old traditional ceremony that goes back to over 950 years ago. It is still alive in Oraman-e Takht village located in Uraman valley (UNESCO) which is 65 km (1.5 hours) from Marivan. Pir Shaliar's Festival Date It is held on two different dates; the 1st festival is held on the 40th day of winter and the 2nd is held on the 40th day of spring. The festival is celebrated for three consecutive days in each season. The winter festival shows the social participation of people in the ceremony. It symbolizes getting rid of material attachments and salvation. The spring festival, named Komsai, is known as the ceremony of breaking the holy stone. The celebration is accompanied by more Daf drumming and ritual dances. People chip a small piece from a large stone at Pir Shaliar’s tomb. They believe the chip can heal the ill and it will
Kurdish Festival of Pir Shaliar Introduction Pir Shaliar, also written Pir-e Shalyar, is one of the historical Iranian ceremonies which take place in the Kurdish region of Iran. Iranian Kurdistan is one of the most active provinces with a lot of activities. The instruments of Daf and Tanbor (Tanbur) were born in the Kurdish regions
