Iran Off the Beaten Track Iran is a vast country with a lot of untravelled routes. Many adventurous travellers would like to visit pristine places with natural wonders. Iran has numerous destinations not mentioned in any guide book or travel blogs. In fact, second and third-time visitors usually prefer to explore the hidden spots of the country to witness the real lifestyle of people and experience something exceptional. Depending on when you travel to Iran, time available, and the type of attractions you are interested in, there are many Off the Beaten places to choose from and explore. In addition, if you like to have an action-packed travel or combine it with your cultural-historical exploration, you have even more choices. One of the quite unexplored regions is Sistan and Baluchestan province located in the southeast, the largest province of Iran containing the only active volcano mountain, (MT Taftan), meaning ‘Burnt city’, (a UNESCO site). Along the coast of the Persian Gulf which accesses the Indian ocean, special Baluchi people live who have a distinctive culture and lifestyle compared to the rest of the country. Unique music, spicy sea food, mangrove forests, fishing villages, a mud volcano, banana farms, and Mars mountains are special attractions. Baluchestan, Chabahar port and the Indian ocean coast is one of the short and famous tours that we offer in Adventure Iran for some parts of this region. The Iranian Kurdistan region is also one of the regions where people don’t often travel. Most tourists visit a couple of villages which are just mentioned in the guidebooks without having much of an idea about the rest of the region. Kurdistan is a large province with numerous villages scattered in rural areas. People are one of the main attractions here and, of course, the most pure
Iran Off the Beaten Track Iran is a vast country with a lot of untravelled routes. Many adventurous travellers would like to visit pristine places with natural wonders. Iran has numerous destinations not mentioned in any guide book or travel blogs. In fact, second and third-time visitors usually prefer to explore the hidden spots of
Iran Deserts Iran DesertsThe deserts in Iran are probably its main attraction. These deserts are vast and spectacular covering 25% of the entire country. The two main ones are Dasht-e Kavir and Dasht-e Lut, both being gigantic. Dasht-e Kavir, also called Kavir Desert, Iran Central Desert, or in Persian Kavir Markazi-e Iran is situated to the south of the Alborz Mountains approximately in the center of Iran. Lut Desert also called Dasht-e Lut, Kavir-e Lut or Dasht-e Lut Desert is situated in the south-east of Iran. It is also one of the two UNESCO natural sites of Iran that were registered in 2016. You might have visited deserts in other parts of the world but, by comparison, Iran’s deserts are a combination of them all in terms of natural attractions. They are made up of sand dunes, flat desert areas, salt lakes, dry lakes, wetlands, rock formations, canyons, rivers, various mines, birds, animals, flora, caves, high mountains and diverse coloured soils surrounded by villages. It’s possible to find a cluster of oases with agricultural areas in the middle of nowhere where you never thought there could be water. People still follow their customary way of life and live in their traditional houses. There are numerous citadels in these deserts dating back to over one thousand years. There is also an abundance of historical villages with special desert lands and Persian architecture built several hundred years ago. There are countless ancient Qanat “underground water channel systems” in many of Iran’s deserts dating back thousands of years. The Persian Qanat was registered in 2016 in the UNESCO heritage sites of Iran, which is one of Iran's historical phenomena. Persian cuisine is another attraction of our deserts, as you can find a wide variety of Iranian food on every corner. As you may
Iran Deserts Iran DesertsThe deserts in Iran are probably its main attraction. These deserts are vast and spectacular covering 25% of the entire country. The two main ones are Dasht-e Kavir and Dasht-e Lut, both being gigantic. Dasht-e Kavir, also called Kavir Desert, Iran Central Desert, or in Persian Kavir Markazi-e Iran is situated to
Cycling in Iran Iran consists of distinctive lands and climate. The terrain includes mountains, deserts, forests and seas which give both beginner cyclists and adventurous mountain bikers so many choices. From the hot temperature of the Persian Gulf coast, (at sea level), in the south, to the Mt Damavand at 5,610 m, the highest mountain in the Middle East, there are a wide range of options for cycling. You can choose to cycle: on a road on one of the islands in the southern part of the Persian Gulf or have an adventure expedition by cycling across one of our deserts or if you are an experienced cyclist, the tough single-track mountain biking on the heights of the Alborz or Zagros mountains may be for you. For advanced bikers, we can offer to ascend Mt Damavand with a Mountain Bike. We offer various destinations for your adventure journey to Iran taking into account the challenging terrain, your riding experience, your fitness and endurance level and time of travel. In Adventure Iran, our mountain biking trips start from one-day easy cycling tours in the north of Tehran to one-month tours. The Iranian Coast to Coast by Bicycle tour is one of the best examples of Adventure Iran’s long Mountain Biking tour. There are plenty of options for cycling with this particular one starting off from the Persian Gulf and finishing at the Caspian Sea. You can see that our enchanting country has a lot of potential for carrying out exceptional types of cycling tours, with something for everyone to fit their experience and wishes. If you are unable to bring your own bicycle, you can hire one from Adventure Iran. We provide good quality bicycles from XS to XL size. We have both cross country and enduro mountain
Cycling in Iran Iran consists of distinctive lands and climate. The terrain includes mountains, deserts, forests and seas which give both beginner cyclists and adventurous mountain bikers so many choices. From the hot temperature of the Persian Gulf coast, (at sea level), in the south, to the Mt Damavand at 5,610 m, the highest
Dena National Park Dena National Park, with an approximate area of 250,000 hectares, is located in the middle of the Zagros mountain range covering the whole Dena mountain chain as explained in another article. Dena National Park is located in Dena Protected Area that is conserved by the Iranian Department of the Environment. The central part of Dena National Park was registered in 2010 on the UNESCO list as a Biosphere Reserve site. A biosphere reserve is an ecosystem with unusual plants and animals with scientific and natural interests. It is a label given by UNESCO to help preserve this remarkable region. The core area of the park is around 35,000 hectares, a large expanse indeed. The Dena region possesses an extensive number of plants, various native mammals seriously at risk of extinction, and different types of natural resources. Almond and pistachio trees can be seen mostly in the low-lying areas, whereas oak trees stand on elevated regions. Walnut, hackberry, and pear trees are also spread all over this spectacular area. This district has long been a protected habitat for many animals such as brown bears, wild goats, eagles, wolves, various wild cats including Caracas, lynxes, and leopards. In addition, many vast rivers namely the Dez, Karun, and Karkheh originate from this region where they flow into the Persian Gulf and the Oman Sea. Picturesque falls, lakes, and pools make this mountainous area even more remarkably striking. In this geographical area, a significant number of individuals live a nomadic lifestyle. Smaller groups still maintain their medieval lifestyle. The multiculturalism of local residents, like nomadic communities, is totally evidenced by their languages, local cuisine, dress code, dance folklore, various festivals, herding, weaving, and other traditional production and crafts. Moreover, their understanding and way of living with regard to seasonal
Dena National Park Dena National Park, with an approximate area of 250,000 hectares, is located in the middle of the Zagros mountain range covering the whole Dena mountain chain as explained in another article. Dena National Park is located in Dena Protected Area that is conserved by the Iranian Department of the Environment. The
Ghormeh Sabzi, Persian Traditional Stew Eating tradition is one of the most enduring legacies of Iranian culture and civilization that still plays an important role among Iranian traditions. You cannot find any rituals and ceremonies in Iran where eating has no place. One of the most important Iranian special dishes that more or less has become national, is Ghormeh Sabzi. The popularity of Ghormeh Sabzi among Iranians is unexplainable. Almost everyone likes this genuinely delicious Persian food. It is an idiom among Iranians that if you could cook Ghormeh Sabzi well, you are a perfect chef. This traditional and yummy stew is not only favored among Iranians but also has popularity outside the borders of Iran. Ghormeh Sabzi is cooked in a unique way in every city and every home. In some cities, tomato sauce or pomegranate sauce is added to Ghormeh Sabzi. Some make this dish with pinto beans, whereas others use kidney beans for making this stew. Sometimes, women fry vegetables less in order to make the food healthier which eventually makes the stew to have a brighter green color, while others believe that vegetables should be fried to the point that they become completely dark and closer to black. Apart from being tasty, the ingredients of this stew are rich in nutrients; from vegetables and beans to even meat and rice. Of course, what is important in cooking this stew is the ratio of raw materials. This fact has to be well respected. The most important part of the job is to prepare the vegetables with the right ratio and fry them as needed. It should be noted that the aroma of this stew is dependent on the combination and amount of vegetables. Now, we are going to teach you how to cook Ghormeh Sabzi with golden cooking
Ghormeh Sabzi, Persian Traditional Stew Eating tradition is one of the most enduring legacies of Iranian culture and civilization that still plays an important role among Iranian traditions. You cannot find any rituals and ceremonies in Iran where eating has no place. One of the most important Iranian special dishes that more or less has become
Saffron, The Red Gold Saffron is a valuable spice that has a unique aroma, and it is useful in treating some diseases. It is also known as red gold in the world. It grows in the southeast of Asia, southern Spain, other parts of southern Europe, and the US. However, Iran stands out from others in producing saffron. Saffron is usually harvested by hand. Due to the difficulty of harvesting, it is one of the most expensive plants in the world. Saffron cultivation in Iran goes back to more than 3,000 years ago. Did you know that in Achaemenid dynasty saffron was used for decorating bread and flavoring foods? According to Ferdinand Yutsi (German linguist), Darius, the king of Persia was applying a fragrant oil to the skin, consisting of a mixture of sunflower oil, milk, palm wine, and saffron. Historical documents point to the fact that Iranians have long been fond of saffron, so that they celebrate the feasts and gatherings, such as weddings and festivals, or welcoming elders and pilgrims with saffron drinks and food. In addition, in ancient times, saffron ink was used to write the titles of commands and letters of kings, as well as writing the titles and headings of books, illustration, and illumination of manuscripts. The best time to plant saffron is in May and June, and as the weather becomes warmer and the planting time is delayed, saffron’s bulb will be damaged. Saffron harvest time is in October and mid-November. Sometimes, the harvest will continue until late November. Surely the time of planting and harvesting of saffron and how to clean it has a great impact on the price and quality of the product. Saffron that is dried and cleared after quick harvesting is more suitable for export. Saffron Properties 1. Properties
Saffron, The Red Gold Saffron is a valuable spice that has a unique aroma, and it is useful in treating some diseases. It is also known as red gold in the world. It grows in the southeast of Asia, southern Spain, other parts of southern Europe, and the US. However, Iran stands out from others
