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
Shemshak Ski Destination ALBORZ SKI REGION Shemshak is the name of a village, and also a ski destination, in Rudbar-e Qasran District, in Shemiranat County, Tehran Province, Iran. It is a mountain village located in the southern part of the central Alborz Mountains in northeastern Tehran province. Shemshak is one of the highest villages in Iran, situated at an altitude of 2500 m to 2650 m, and is surrounded by mountains above 4000 m. Around a few hundred years ago, many people who bred stocks in the Plateau of Iran in the southern part of Tehran province came to this region with their sheep and goats during the summer as this region has rich pastures, perfect for them for their seasonal migration. They slowly migrated to this region about 100 years ago where they followed their traditional lifestyle. However, at the beginning of the 20th century, they noticed the soil on some mountains in the area was black. The locals realized this was coal. This discovery brought the Germans to the region to extract it, where they created many coal mines approximately 100 years ago. At that time, about 3000 people were employed in the mining industry where the area developed rapidly. This brought change for the locals working and living there with their families. Simultaneously, they had an electrical factory (power station) in the area designed by German engineers. Besides that, they built accommodation for their employees, a hospital, and a cinema. The change came when other fuels became available which replaced coal causing the mine to close. This had quite an impact on the people. At that time, a number of them who used to ski in Abali piste (the first Iran ski area), and a few foreigners who worked in the mine, brought their skis to
Shemshak Ski Destination ALBORZ SKI REGION Shemshak is the name of a village, and also a ski destination, in Rudbar-e Qasran District, in Shemiranat County, Tehran Province, Iran. It is a mountain village located in the southern part of the central Alborz Mountains in northeastern Tehran province. Shemshak is one of the highest villages