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
Gonbad-e Qabus Iran’s Towering UNESCO Masterpiece of Architecture Rising 52 meters above the skyline of Golestan Province, the Gonbad-e Qabus (also pronounced Gonbad-e Kavoos or Gonbad-e Kavus) is a striking brick tower and UNESCO World Heritage Site (inscribed in 2012) that has dominated the northeastern Iranian plains for over a millennium. Built in 1006 AD for Qabus ibn Voshmgir, the Ziyarid ruler and scholar, this cylindrical tomb is a testament to Persian innovation in mathematics, astronomy, and early Islamic architecture. Why It’s Remarkable Architectural Marvel: The world’s tallest pure-brick tower, with a conical roof that defies gravity. Its design encodes geometric precision—10 triangular buttresses symbolize the 10 stars of Qabus’ zodiac sign (Capricorn). Acoustic Mystery: Whisper at the base, and your voice echoes unnaturally at the top—a feat still unexplained by engineers. Silk Road Legacy: Once a navigation beacon for caravans crossing the Karakum Desert toward Central Asia. Visiting Tips Best Time: Sunrise or sunset, when the brick glows gold against the steppe. Nearby: Pair with the Turkmen Plains or Gorgan’s ancient wall (the "Great Wall of Iran"). A small agricultural town of Gonbad-e Qabus lies approx. 500km east of Mashhad, in Golestan province, Iran. According to the two Kufic inscriptions encircling the construction, the tower was built in 1006 as a burial chamber for a Ziyarid prince. It is 72m high and is one of the tallest brick towers in the world. The tower walls are 3 meters thick and the tower itself is 17 meters in diameter. It is part of the world’s second-largest defense wall, the 155km-long Qizil Alan. The tower, built of unglazed baked bricks, is the only remaining evidence of the ancient city of Jorjan. Jorjan was the ancient Ziyarid capital, destroyed during the Mongols' invasion in the 14th and 15th centuries. Gonbad-e Qabus Tower is
Gonbad-e Qabus Iran’s Towering UNESCO Masterpiece of Architecture Rising 52 meters above the skyline of Golestan Province, the Gonbad-e Qabus (also pronounced Gonbad-e Kavoos or Gonbad-e Kavus) is a striking brick tower and UNESCO World Heritage Site (inscribed in 2012) that has dominated the northeastern Iranian plains for over a millennium. Built in 1006 AD for
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
