4 seasons of life in the Alborz mountains This clip is about one and half years of photography and life in the Shemshak village after Coronavirus from February 2020 till August 2012. The photos and time lapse were taken with Canon EOS-R camera and a few of them recorded with Go pro. The original reason for this was to have an archive of photos from this amazing place and use it in the Adventure Iran website as the Shemshak photo gallery section. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tl-KLG7tqc After a while when I saw that I have a good collection of photos from different aspects of the region like nature, landscape, people, night photography and the changing seasons, I made the decision to make a photo book for the region as well as making a short clip of the slides of my photos. I hope you enjoy it and would be useful for your information. Shemshak village and in it Shemshak Ski Resort which is one the main three ski resorts of Iran, is about 55 km away from the north east of Tehran. Darbandsar village and the ski resort are also nearby Shemshak which is 4 km away and it’s one of the other ski regions in the area. The third is Dizin ski resort which is Iran's largest ski resort and its 14 km away from Shemshak village. These three villages are located in the valley and many mountains above 4000m in the Central Alborz surround these regions. Shemshak village has an altitude between 2600-2800 m and As it was an important coal mine in the region (about a 100 years ago) which was about the beginning of 20 century, the majority of locals worked in the mine. Afterwards in the middle of 20 century (1949), skiing on Shemshak started.
4 seasons of life in the Alborz mountains This clip is about one and half years of photography and life in the Shemshak village after Coronavirus from February 2020 till August 2012. The photos and time lapse were taken with Canon EOS-R camera and a few of them recorded with Go pro. The original reason
Winter Trekking in Shemshak Alborz Ski Region Shemshak is mostly famous for skiing in Iran and many people (especially Tehranians) know of Shemshak Ski Resort. It’s a destination for skiing during winter and an amazing region for trekking and mountain biking during the summer. Along with ski and ski touring activity many adventurous hikers are interested in winter trekking and mountaineering which has its own attraction as the scenery in the winter is much different and it’s perfect for photography. Shemshak is located in the heart of central Alborz Mountains surrounded by many high peaks above 4000m. In winter it has high volumes of snow, in some canyons more than 3 meters. Shemshak is only 50 km away from the capital but the winter takes 6 months as it is located at 2700m altitude. The video is made of a trek in winter times in Shemshak that was planned to ascend Abak Peak with 3500 m altitude. Our group did this trek on the 8th of December of 2020. They had a day trek to ascend another small peak and take the ridge line towards the top of Shemshak ski resort. They started the trek from the village and after a few hours reached the pass which has an amazing view of Mt Damavand, the highest mountain in Iran. From there they took the ridge towards the peak where they had an amazing view of many mountains in Alborz like MT Sarakchal 4210 m, MT Kolonbastak 4160m, MT Touchal 3960m and MT Kholeno 4400m which is the highest peak in Tehran province and central Alborz mountains. As you can see in some parts of the video, the weather changes a lot but it made a spectacular view of the high mountains and Shemshak valley. They descended from another side of
Winter Trekking in Shemshak Alborz Ski Region Shemshak is mostly famous for skiing in Iran and many people (especially Tehranians) know of Shemshak Ski Resort. It’s a destination for skiing during winter and an amazing region for trekking and mountain biking during the summer. Along with ski and ski touring activity many adventurous hikers are
Trekking from Alamut towards the Caspian Sea The video is a slideshow of Adventure Iran’s trekking tours from the Valley of Alamut to the Caspian Sea. As we had not much good footage for this clip we made it with our tour photos which we had from different tours performed in the years with the purpose of showing the beauty of this rout. This trail is one of the most famous trekking routes in Iran which is located in the west Alborz mountains. Lonely Planet also mentioned this route as Iran’s top travel experiences. The starting point of this trail is around the Alamut Castle in the valley of Alamut which is in Qazvin province. And you will finish the trail in Yuj which is in Mazandaran province in the southern part of the Caspian Sea. Geographically, Alamut valley is in the southern part of Alborz mountain and Yuj is on the north side of Alborz. So you should cross the mountain ridge line of Alborz to reach the Caspian Side. The climate of the southern side of Alborz is different from the north side. The season starts from April and finishes in October or sometimes November depending on the weather. In early spring you will face snow in the heights of the mountains and summer is mainly green and in fall the landscape is mostly yellow and brown. In the winter the entire area will be full of snow and the road is blocked from south to north. So the beauty of the landscape and the scenery is changing season by season and that’s why you will see different pictures of nature in the video or in our tour photos on our website (which you can see here). Hope you enjoy the video and if you like it
Trekking from Alamut towards the Caspian Sea The video is a slideshow of Adventure Iran’s trekking tours from the Valley of Alamut to the Caspian Sea. As we had not much good footage for this clip we made it with our tour photos which we had from different tours performed in the years with the
Alborz Ski Region in Iran Iran embraces numerous ski resorts in different mountains of Alborz and Zagros. The most important Ski Resorts were built before the Islamic Revolution, during Mohammad Reza Pahlavi's ruling, and they are still among the best in the country. Alborz mountain starts from the northwest of Iran near the Turkey border and stretches all the way in the south of the Caspian Sea toward the northeast of Iran near the Afghanistan border. Alborz district is divided into three sections, West Alborz, Central Alborz, and East Alborz Mountains. Central Alborz region has a lot of high-altitude peaks above 4000 m, and Mount Damavand, Iran's highest peak with 5610 m, is located in this part as well. In central Alborz, there is a specific region called Alborz Ski Region that starts from Mount Tochal (3960m)- Tehran's highest mountain- and stretches northward to Kolonbastak-Sarakchal ridge with a width of about 20 km. This region has 4 different ski areas that you can see on the map below. Moreover, some famous mountains outside of the ski area are the perfect place for off-piste skiing or Ski Touring. Ski Resorts in Alborz Ski Region in Iran: Tochal Ski Resort Tehran sits at the foot of Tochal mountain which has a ski resort on its heights. The peak altitude is 3960m and the highest point of the ski resort is 3850m. From the Velenjak neighborhood in the north of the capital Tehran, you will have access to the gondola which will take you up to 3700 m after three sections. From there you can take a lift to go to the highest point of the ski resort which is near the Tochal peak (3960m). The length of the gondola from the first to the last station is about 7.5 km
Alborz Ski Region in Iran Iran embraces numerous ski resorts in different mountains of Alborz and Zagros. The most important Ski Resorts were built before the Islamic Revolution, during Mohammad Reza Pahlavi’s ruling, and they are still among the best in the country. Alborz mountain starts from the northwest of Iran near the Turkey border
Mount Kolon Bastak in Northern Tehran Northern Tehran has countless mountains above 4000 m, which are geographically located in the central Alborz mountains. Mount Kolon Bastak is one of the highest summits in the Central Alborz region in Iran, with an altitude of 4170 m above sea level. The closest village to this summit is Shemshak, 40 km north of Tehran and 60 km from central Tehran. It is the most convenient place to choose for spending the night before your climb. Shemshak village has a 2700 m altitude above sea level. It is famous for being one of the first ski resorts in Iran which opened in 1958. It is the third largest ski area after Dizin and Darbandsar. Mt. Kolon Bastak is an excellent choice for acclimatization before ascending Mt Damavand (5610m) and Alamkuh (4850m), as it is near Tehran city and is not a technical peak. No particular gear or special equipment is needed to ascend the peak in mid-spring, summer, and autumn. You can drive up to 3400 m to the base of the mountain, the starting point of the trek. From the peak, you can continue the trek through the ridge towards the east and then ascend Sarakchal mountain (4210m). There is a renowned mountain trail called Kolon Basatak-Sarak Chal ridge line, another trekking route for experienced hikers who would appreciate a real challenge. The season starts in mid-spring and finishes at the beginning of autumn. In the summertime, the weather is more stable at the peak, making it suitable for all categories of hikers. Kolon Bastak Mountain Ascent (4156 m) is one of the most popular tours that most hikers will benefit from. Mt. Kolon Bastak to Mt. Sarak Chal ridgeline trek is one of Adventure Iran’s special offers for those of you
Mount Kolon Bastak in Northern Tehran Northern Tehran has countless mountains above 4000 m, which are geographically located in the central Alborz mountains. Mount Kolon Bastak is one of the highest summits in the Central Alborz region in Iran, with an altitude of 4170 m above sea level. The closest village to this summit is
The Caspian Sea North of Iran The Caspian Sea is the largest lake in the world, situated in south-eastern Europe and south-western Asia. It is surrounded by 5 different countries, Kazakhstan, Russia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and Iran. The Sea is home to a wide range of species. More than 850 different animals and at least 500 different types of plants live in this sea. However, the diversity of species can be considered almost too low for the size of this water body, most of them being indigenous like caviar. In Persian, the Caspian Sea is called Daryaye Kahzar, which is doubtlessly one of the most beautiful parts of Iran. In the summertime, millions of people from all over the country, especially Tehran, travel to this coast. In Iran, it is also known as Shomal-e Iran meaning Northern Iran, an area along the coast of the Sea. The forested coastal plains rise up to the Alborz Mountains. This region consists of the three provinces of Gilan, Mazandaran, and Golestan, each with plenty of attractions. The climate of the southern Caspian Sea is perfect for agriculture. There is an abundance of fruits, vegetables, and herbs as well as rice and tea, so important to Iranian culture. Northern Iran, to the south of the Sea, is the rainiest region. In addition, the area is located in the northern part of the Alborz Mountain Range with a lot of high-altitude mountains, where melted snow has created splendid rivers. Furthermore, there are many exquisite dense forests between the Alborz Mountains and the Caspian Sea. One of the most famous is the Hyrcanian Forests, registered on the list of UNESCO natural sites. There is also another UNESCO site in this region. Gonbad-e Qabus tower is a UNESCO world heritage site, being the tallest pure-brick tower in
The Caspian Sea North of Iran The Caspian Sea is the largest lake in the world, situated in south-eastern Europe and south-western Asia. It is surrounded by 5 different countries, Kazakhstan, Russia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and Iran. The Sea is home to a wide range of species. More than 850 different animals and at least 500 different
Alamut Valley in Iran Alamut is the name of a huge valley located on the western edge of the Alborz mountain range, northeast of Qazvin province, Iran. It lies beneath the southern side of the Alborz mountains, between the dry plains of Qazvin province in the south and the densely forested slopes of Mazandaran province, south of the Caspian Sea. The Alamut mountain region was potentially perfect for castle construction due to its height and inaccessibility, providing a natural built-in defense structure against invaders. The Ismailis built two citadels in the Alamut Valley, famous for their enormous size. Ismailis are a branch of Shia Muslims who believe in seven Shia Imams (e.g. seven heavens, seven continents, seven orifices in the skull, seven days in a week, etc.) Hassan-e Sabbah built the castles of Alamut and Lambsar in Alamut Valley. As he lived in the Alamut Castle for many years, it is also known as Hassan Sabbah’s Castle. He was an Ismaili messenger who founded a community in the Alborz Mountains in the late 11th century. Sabbah used the Alamut Castle as the main command center for a decentralized Persian uprising against the Seljuk Turks. He founded a group of fadayeen (hermits) whose members are known in western literature as the Hashshashin or "Assassins". Alamut Castle is located in the Moalem Kalayeh district of Qazvin province. It is situated close to a village called Gazor Khan on its northeastern side. The castle’s height is 2,163 m., built on a 220m cliff. The castle dates back to the 11th century. The cultural landscape of Alamut has been added to the tentative list of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites. Since 2007, it is still waiting for its inscription. Freya Stark was a British traveler who explored the Valley of Alamut. She
Alamut Valley in Iran Alamut is the name of a huge valley located on the western edge of the Alborz mountain range, northeast of Qazvin province, Iran. It lies beneath the southern side of the Alborz mountains, between the dry plains of Qazvin province in the south and the densely forested slopes of Mazandaran province,
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
