Duration

9 Days

Activity Level

Challenging

Best Months

Jun, July, Aug

Activities

Mountain Biking

Travel Styles

Adventure Travel

Expedition adventure MTB tour through Lar National Park towards Mont Damavand and ascend to the Peak (5610 m)

TOUR CODE

115-STN-TRK

START

Tehran

FINISH

Tehran

REGION(S)

Tehran, Mazandaran

INCLUDED

MEALS: 8 Breakfasts, 6 Lunches, 6 Dinners
ACCOMMODATIONS: Hotel: 2 Nights, Camp: 4 Nights, Local House: 1 Night, Shelter: 1 Night
TRANSPORTATION: Private vehicle, Support Veichle
All transportation according to the itinerary Accommodation as mentioned in the itinerary Meals as indicated in the itinerary English speaking tour guide

NOT INCLUDED

Entry fee for the sites not mentioned in the itinerary
Travel insurance
International airfare
Excess baggage charges
Airport and departure taxes
Any extra hotel costs such as early check in or late checkout
Laundry
Mini bar used in the room
Meals not stipulated in the itinerary
Tips (optional)
Cost of medical immunizations
Bottled water
Phone calls
Any other service not mentioned in the itinerary

Adventure mountain biking on the highest Asia volcano mountain
Passing Lar National Park with bicycle
Visiting nomads and shepherd areas on the trail
Camping in heights of the national park
Crossing the vast valley of Lar protected area
Adventure cycling through canyons, rivers and single track roads
Untouched landscapes, rivers, sounds and colors of nature in a non-touristic area
Spectacular view of central Alborz mountains, ideal for photography
Ascent Mt Damavand with bicycle

This is one of the most challenging Adventure Iran mountain biking tours. Participants MUST be very fit and have had a lot of mountain biking experience. The tour entails crossing rivers and canyons, unstable weather of Mount Damavand, long-day cycling, high altitudes and cold temperatures at the summit. These factors make the trip strenuous and challenging and you must be prepared both physically and mentally. The trip consists of two stages.
Stage 1 difficulty level is “challenging” based on our rating system. During this stage, which takes two days, we will cycle for 100km through the Lar National Park crossing mountains, passes, canyons and rivers.
Stage 2 difficulty level is “strenuous” based on our rating system and we will use an MTB to ascend Mount Damavand. With acclimatization this stage will take 4 days. We will transfer you and your bicycle to the 2nd camp and you will start ascending the summit therefrom. Most of our experienced cyclists carry their own bicycles but we can arrange for mules to carry yours from the 2nd to the 3rd camp, from where you would need to carry your own bicycle up to the peak as mules cannot go any higher. The most scenic part of the trip is the Lar National Park – one of the most beautiful protected areas of Iran, famous for its variety in flora and fauna, beautiful lake and many rivers. The journey starts and ends in Tehran.
As visitors to the Lar National Park require a permit, advanced booking is mandatory to ensure that all paperwork and arrangements are completed in time for the trip.

Day 1: Arrival in Tehran and hotel check-in

Pick you up in the Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport and transfer to the hotel. Overnight in Tehran.

Day 2: Transfer to the Central Alborz Mountains

As most flights arrive very late the night before, we do not make any specific plans before noon to ensure that you can have a good rest, unpack and assemble your bicycle before the trip. In the afternoon we will transfer you and your bicycle to Shemshak, north of Tehran. Located at the altitude of around 2,700m, Shemshak is a pleasant mountain village, where we overnight in a local homestay (shared room sleeping on traditional Iranian mattress). (B, D)

Day 3: Lar National Park

After an early breakfast, we set off at 07.00 in the morning and cycle for 50km through mountain dirt roads, single tracks, canyon and rivers. where have dinner and camp for the night. (B, L, D)

Day 4: Lar protected area to Polor – Mount Damavand 1st camp

After breakfast at 07:30, a 4×4 vehicle will transport our heavy luggage and we will start mountain biking towards mountain Damavand’s 1st camp. Today is another full day of mountain biking, starting from the mountain’s western and proceeding to its southern slope. Today, we have to ascend approx. 45km to the altitude of 1,500m. En route we will enjoy beautiful views of the Damavand’s western slope. The highest altitude today will be around 3,200m. The route is mainly ascending and lies entirely along dirt roads with a lot of adventure. We will have a picnic lunch before arriving in Polor in the late afternoon. Overnight in Polor in mountain hut. (B, L, D)

Day 5: Driving to the 2nd camp and ascending to the 3rd camp

After an early breakfast (at approx. 06.00), we pack and load our bicycles unto the 4×4 vehicle to drive to the 2nd camp (Goosfand Sara). The drive takes less than two hours. We will then start ascending from the 2nd camp (altitude: 3,000m) to the 3rd camp (altitude: 4,250m). The ascent (1,250m) will last between 8-10 hours depending on your level of fitness and the speed of the group. We will have a dinner and overnight at the 3rd camp. (B, L, D)

Day 6: Acclimatization Day

Today we spend mainly acclimatizing and getting used to high altitudes. It is not recommended to rush the ascent to the peak. We will hike from the shelter base at 4,200m to the frozen waterfall located at the altitude of 5,000m and will return thereafter. We will then descend to the 3rd camp. Today’s hike will take between 7 to 8 hours, depending on your level of fitness. Overnight in the 3rd camp. (B, L, D)

Day 7: Summit day

Early morning start! After breakfast at around 4 am, we start ascending from 4,200m to the summit (5,610m). Today will be the hardest day on the tour, taking 12 to 14 hours to ascend and return to the base. The terrain is difficult with loose rocks and scree. We continue hiking to the waterfall and will then collect our bicycles to carry them up to the peak. Be prepared for the weather to change (including a snowfall in the middle of summer). Approx. 500m below the summit, we pass by the ‘Sulphur Hill’ (Dood Kooh) where sulphurous fumaroles rise up from the earth. Making the final ascent to the top, we aim to reach the summit around midday, which will give us an opportunity to enjoy breathtaking views before the clouds surround the peak (conditions permitting). From here, we will start descending and have a very hard slope ahead of us to the 3rd camp. Today we will ascend and descend approx. 1,521m. We will reach the camp area in the late afternoon or evening. Dinner and overnight in the camp. (B, L, D)

Day 8: Descending and driving back to Tehran

After breakfast in the camp, we pack and start descending towards the second camp (Goosfand Sara). The hike downhill will take approx. 3-4 hours until we reach the altitude of 1,250m from where we drive back to Polor and then to Tehran. Overnight Tehran. (B, L)