Protected Areas and National Parks in Iran 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 2. Kavir National Park 3. Lar National Park 4. Turan National Park 5. Tandoureh National Park 6. Dena National Park, 7. Khar Touran National Park 8. Khojir National Park 9. Jahan Nama Protected Park 10. Alborz Markazi Protected Area
Protected Areas and National Parks in Iran 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
Golestan Province Tourist Highlights Turkmen Plain 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 northeast of the country, 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 written Gonbad-e-Kavos is the tallest brick tower in the world registered on the list of Iranian UNESCO sites in 2012. It is a good example of historical highlights of Golestan province. This region used to be a part of the Ancient Silk Road many years ago, and there are still a few Iranian Caravanserais left in different parts of the province. Gorgan (the Provincial Capital) Gorgan, the capital of Golestan province, embraces charming historical attractions as well. The remains of the old part of the town, as well as a few historical houses back to a few hundred years ago, located downtown, are worth visiting. A couple of them were renovated as boutique hotels which are proper for
Golestan Province Tourist Highlights Turkmen Plain 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 northeast of the country, southeast of the Caspian Sea, and southern part of Turkmenistan country. Golestan means the land of flowers. The rural
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
Top 10 Iran Tourist Villages Iran is a vast country with varied climatic conditions and different weather systems with mountain regions, desert terrains, forests, lakes, and seas which create many tourist villages in different corners. Each tourist village is distinct from others regarding the climate, natural beauties, landscapes, plants, and geographical features, as well as the indigenous culture, architecture, traditions, and customs. The differences between Iran's tourist villages are so amazing that you think you have traveled to a different country! If you pay attention to the Iran map below, which is spotted with the locations of the villages, you will see the tourist villages are scattered in different provinces all over the country, and the visiting time of each one is different from the others. With an astonishing variety of geographical and cultural distinctions, villages provide a wide variety of activities and tourist destinations in Iran for all adventure seekers and culture lovers who travel to Iran with special interests, from landscape photography or hiking on the off-the-beaten-path trails, to those who are into rural tourism and plan their trips based on sustainable tourism principles. The villages on the highlands overlooking snow-capped peaks, in the desert oases with an extended desert landscape, or at the foothills of spectacular mountain forests offer ideal opportunities for trekking, hiking, mountaineering, skiing, photography, and most of all communicating with the hospitable local communities in the rural areas and Iran off-the-beaten paths. Whether you are the kind of traveler bored with the common tourist hubs and in seek of some adventure in the less known attractions in a new destination, or a second-time visitor who already visited the Iran Classic Route and now plans for a deeper experience of the ancient Persia, we advise you to put Iran tourist villages on your bucket list.
Top 10 Iran Tourist Villages Iran is a vast country with varied climatic conditions and different weather systems with mountain regions, desert terrains, forests, lakes, and seas which create many tourist villages in different corners. Each tourist village is distinct from others regarding the climate, natural beauties, landscapes, plants, and geographical features, as well as
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
10 Best Off the Beaten Path Hiking Trails in Iran Iran’s geographical location has made it one of the most exceptional countries in the world for hiking. There are two seas in the north and south of the country, as well as the two long mountain ranges of Alborz and Zagros. Moreover, a lot of sub-ranges and mountain chains, high-altitude peaks in each corner of the country, the famous Hyrcanian forests (UNESCO), and two vast deserts of Dasht-e Kavir and Lut (UNESCO) plus numerous springs and lakes have made Iran unique. Iran, with so much to see as well as numerous Off the Beaten hiking trails, is perfect for all types of hikers who wish to experience an unusual and exciting journey. The varieties of terrain and climate have created amazing opportunities for freak (atypical) hikers to hike in different regions all year round. Having excellent information about the Off the Beaten hiking trails in Iran and knowing the right regions in the right month is one of the main steps to have a memorable trekking holiday. Another advantage of Iran is enjoying a varied climate and ecosystem simultaneously in its different regions. To give you a better idea, we will explain a few of Adventure Iran’s tours during spring. While we perform hiking tours in the forests, south of the Caspian Sea, we also have other hiking tours in the central Alborz mountains, north of Tehran. At the same time, we have another hiking tour in the Dasht-e Kavir desert located in central Iran. We have had a lot of experience performing these tours. As there is still snow on the high-altitude mountains in the central parts of the country, you will see a lot of flowers and trees in bloom while people in the south of Iran, in
10 Best Off the Beaten Path Hiking Trails in Iran Iran’s geographical location has made it one of the most exceptional countries in the world for hiking. There are two seas in the north and south of the country, as well as the two long mountain ranges of Alborz and Zagros. Moreover, a lot of
Iran Ski Resorts Iran is a vast country with different weather conditions on every corner. Some areas are desert and dry, some humid and mild, and others are mountainous. The two mountains of Alborz and Zagros, with their high peaks, are covered with snow most of the year. This weather is perfect for those who are passionate about skiing. Ski resorts in Iran host a large number of ski enthusiasts each year, which come from different cities, as well as different countries. Here is a brief introduction to some of Iran's ski resorts. Tochal Ski Resort Tochal complex, located in the north of Tehran city, consists of many recreational and sports facilities. This piste is open for at least 7 months of the year depending on the snow (Tochal is one of the last resorts to be closed in Tehran). It is situated near the summit about 3800m to 1900m. The piste is equipped with a gondola for reaching the middle of the mountain (station No.5) and another one for reaching the summit (station No.7). Then, you can ski from the summit. There are 2 chairlifts and 1 ski lift in the resort. There used to be another piste on the other side facing Tehran city that is now closed. One of the advantages of this resort is the Tochal Hotel near the summit in 3500m alleviation. It is perfect for a ski holiday with a restaurant and easy access to the resort. Darbandsar Ski Resort This ski resort, located in Tehran province, is one of the largest ski resorts in Iran. Equipped with a snowmaking machine, the quality of the snow is almost good and it is one of the best ski areas for some maneuvers and actions. It has also hosted international ski competitions several
Iran Ski Resorts Iran is a vast country with different weather conditions on every corner. Some areas are desert and dry, some humid and mild, and others are mountainous. The two mountains of Alborz and Zagros, with their high peaks, are covered with snow most of the year. This weather is perfect for those
Best time for Cycling in Iran (A Cycling Guide for Traveling in Iran by Bicycle) When is the best time to travel to Iran for a cycling holiday? You can cycle all year round as every corner of the country has something to offer, depending on the season and the region, and it is a great advantage. This means there is not a high season, low season, or off-season for cyclists like in many other countries. To answer this question, we need to explain a little more about Iran to find out when is the best time for cycling in Iran. Iran is a vast country with a lot of high mountains, deserts, rivers, many national parks, and natural protected areas. It has a varied climate with two seas, the Caspian Sea in the north and the Persian Gulf in the south, and has different ecosystems. It means when we have winter in the north, people are skiing in the Alborz mountains, north of Tehran, whereas other people in the south are swimming in the Persian Gulf. Moreover, when people in the southern part of Iran, or around the desert, are experiencing a very hot temperature between 50-60 centigrade in summer, other people in the north enjoy a pleasant temperature of 20-25 centigrade in the Alborz mountains. These varieties make ideal conditions for cycling tours in Iran, so depending on your time of travel and your interests, you can cycle all year round. Iran is not yet a well-known cycling destination among cyclists because of the lack of information for travelers and marketing for cycling tours. There aren’t any cycling maps or specific official trails for cycling either. Adventure Iran is a pioneer company that has started serious official research concerning the potential cycling routes of Iran. We
Best time for Cycling in Iran (A Cycling Guide for Traveling in Iran by Bicycle) When is the best time to travel to Iran for a cycling holiday? You can cycle all year round as every corner of the country has something to offer, depending on the season and the region, and it
Shemshak Ski Resort Shemshak is a village and a ski resort located in Alborz Ski Region, 65 Km away from Tehran city in the northeast. The piste is in the Central Alborz Mountains and is one of the three largest in Iran. Shemshak was a small and unknown village, lost in the mountains, before the beginning of the 20th century. Soon after discovering coal deposits in the region, Shemshak’s importance grew so much that a road was built to connect it to Tehran. After a few years, at the end of the mining operations, the village became a leisure resort for wealthy people due to the heavy snowfall in winter and the beautiful mountains surrounding it. In 1958, the Shemshak ski resort was built, offering Tehran’s upper class a place to learn and practice this trendy sport from Europe. Today, Shemshak is a well-known venue for people to visit for relaxation and to enjoy its invigorating weather. Even though the resort has not expanded since its opening, it is still one of the largest in Iran. The proximity of Shemshak to other ski resorts such as Darbandsar and Dizin makes it the Ski Capital of Iran! The ski resort's base elevation is about 2,550 meters with the top elevation being about 3,050 meters. There is a hotel, some restaurants, as well as ski, snowboard, and sleigh rentals available in the vicinity. Moreover, there are electric lights, including LED lamps along the piste allowing better visibility for night skiing. The ski season in northern Tehran changes year by year, but generally, the best time for skiing in Shemshak is early December to late March. Darbandsar and Shemshak Skiing are two of the easy ski tours we offer. Shemshak winter weather and climate change time lapse https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tl-KLG7tqc&t=18s
Shemshak Ski Resort Shemshak is a village and a ski resort located in Alborz Ski Region, 65 Km away from Tehran city in the northeast. The piste is in the Central Alborz Mountains and is one of the three largest in Iran. Shemshak was a small and unknown village, lost in the mountains, before the
Cycling in Abyaneh & Maranjab Desert Iran has a lot of region in the deserts for cycling and in some part of the desert you can see the icons of the ancient Silk road like caravanserais and historical castles and forts. On this trip we have chosen a desert region in the south of Tehran province which is in the north side of Esfahan province. Maranjab desert is the name of a region in the north west of Dasht-e Kavir desert and Abyaneh is a historical famous village located in the west of it. May is the end of season for desert activity and cycling as well. So the group reached the desert on the edge of the hot season but fortunately the weather was a bit breezy and it was not difficult for our cyclist to endure. They started this trip from Esfahan and passed a couple of mountain regions to reach Abyaneh village. The village is located in the mountains with cool temperatures in spring and sometimes snow in the winter but it is very close to the desert which has such a different temperature. They slept a night in the village and the next day continued cycling toward the Maranjab desert. They passed through different landscapes and terrains on their way to there. The tour started via a paved road from Abyaneh which was an amazing road without any cars or vehicles passing and then crossed gravel roads when they entered the desert and then dirt and sand roads in the middle of the desert. In some parts they passed the sand dune hills and in one region crossed the edge of the flat desert area which was a part of the Salt Lake of the desert. At the end of the day they reached the Maranjab
Cycling in Abyaneh & Maranjab Desert Iran has a lot of region in the deserts for cycling and in some part of the desert you can see the icons of the ancient Silk road like caravanserais and historical castles and forts. On this trip we have chosen a desert region in the south of Tehran
