Activities in Iran
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Mohsen Hajisaeed
Young, highly organised Mohsen speaks excellent English, leads tours in Yazd, Kerman, Fars and Esfahan provinces (including Bavanat), and can arrange hotel discounts.
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Tour Guide, Arash Sadeghzadeh
Young, enthusiastic, knowledgeable and highly organised guide and fixer. Recommended.
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Dizin Resort
The largest field in Iran and home to Iranian skiing, Dizin Resort, The runs aren’t difficult. Still, with a vertical drop of about 900m it should appeal to anyone feeling the need for speed. With base camp at about 2700m and the upper slopes about 3500m, skiing is usually possible from December until April. From the base, you take an antique-looking gondola to the mid-station, and another to the top. A third gondola ferries you to the eastern slopes.
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Driver, Hossein Soltani
Hossein works in the Shiraz Eram hotel and moonlights as a (safe) driver and fixer.
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University of Isfahan
This sounds like a good bet. Bob, a traveller who completed a three-month course here in 2007, reported that his US$2000 paid for 3½ hours of lessons each morning and comfortable accommodation in the university guesthouse on campus, where foreign students share a floor with views over the city. Apply about three months before you intend to arrive (longer for UK and US passport holders) and the university’s International Office looks after the rest. One-month courses cost US$1000. The final word from Bob: ‘Needless to say, learning the language takes you into new worlds you might not otherwise see (eg two nights ago I spent a day and night with nomadic shepherds on the…
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Vatan Caravan Tours & Travel Agency
Hossein Vatani's ancient Jeep seems permanently incapacitated, but he's good fun and can arrange trips to nomad encampments, camel treks and his speciality, trips into the Kaluts to sleep in the 'million star hotel'. Cost depends on the transport you choose.
Hossein can arrange tours within Kerman and to the surrounding areas, including the Kaluts, Mahan and Rayen. Hossein has had mainly positive feedback, though he's not perfect. For desert trips, specify whether you want to sleep in camp or in the desert.
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Jalal Mehdizadeh
Jalal, who also owns Jalal Guesthouse, has a car, speaks German and English and is better organised, but not as fun as, Hossein Vatani.
These two operators can arrange tours within Kerman and to the surrounding areas, including the Kaluts, Mahan and Rayen. Both charge similar prices and have had mainly positive feedback, though they're not perfect. For desert trips, specify whether you want to sleep in camp or in the desert.
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Desert Walks
Most hotels can arrange tours but using an independent guide can be more rewarding. Most can lead tours to almost anywhere in Yazd province, and further, and have been recommended. The most common tour is the Kharanaq-Chak Chak-Meybod loop, which is impossible on public transport. Other options include camel tours and desert walks. Old city tours are also popular. Silk Road Travel also run these tours.
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Camel Tours
Most hotels can arrange tours but using an independent guide can be more rewarding. Most can lead tours to almost anywhere in Yazd province, and further, and have been recommended. The most common tour is the Kharanaq-Chak Chak-Meybod loop, which is impossible on public transport. Other options include camel tours and desert walks. Old city tours are also popular. Silk Road Travel also run these tours.
reviewed
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Kharanaq-Chak Chak-Meybod loop
Most hotels can arrange tours but using an independent guide can be more rewarding. Most can lead tours to almost anywhere in Yazd province, and further, and have been recommended. The most common tour is the Kharanaq-Chak Chak-Meybod loop, which is impossible on public transport. Other options include camel tours and desert walks. Old city tours are also popular. Silk Road Travel also run these tours.
reviewed
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Araz Adventure Tours
This helpful outdoor tourism agency has been recommended by readers. It offers a wide range of mountaineering, climbing, horse- and camel-trekking, plus cultural tours. Director and experienced climber Mohsen Aghajani speaks English. One reader who climbed Mt Damavand with Araz wrote that ‘even the cook had made it within 45 minutes of the Mt Everest summit’. Most equipment is provided.
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Shemshak Resort
Shemshak Resort has the slopes that will get hardcore skiers most excited. There are six lifts, the longest being about 1450m with a vertical descent of about 500m (some of it at an adrenalin-inducing 45-degree angle) and plenty of moguls. Snowboards are welcome. Boots, skis and poles can be hired for IR100,000 a day.
reviewed
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Kish Diving Center
Kish Diving Center, found on the beach outside Shayan International Hotel, charges about IR350,000 for a one-hour dive with equipment. A four-day PADI open-water course costs IR3,500,000 – and would make you one of a very small group who could say: ‘Where did I learn to dive? Iran!’
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Kish Diving School
Kish Diving School, found on the beach outside Shayan International Hotel, charges about IR350,000 for a one-hour dive with equipment. A four-day PADI open-water course costs IR3,500,000 – and would make you one of a very small group who could say: ‘Where did I learn to dive? Iran!’
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Kassa Mountaineering & Tourism
This private trekking agency offers a full range of trekking and climbing tours, desert expeditions and more. Mountains include Damavand, Sabalan, Zardkouh and ‘any mountain you want to climb’. It is run by Ahmad Shirmohammad, an experienced climber who speaks English.
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Esfahan Tourist Guides Association
Based at the tourist information office; has 150 guides speaking English, Spanish, Arabic, French and German. Guides can lead a variety of trips; contact them a day ahead if you want anything more than a local day trip. Full day's guiding costs around IR210,000.
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Namak Abrud Cable Car
For extraordinary Caspian views take the long Namak Abrud cable car, up 1050m Mt Medovin. The ropeway station is 2km off the main Rasht highway, 14km west of Chalus. Dress up warmly and expect the unexpected from notoriously antisocial clouds.
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Hassan Mohit
This delightfully personable English-speaking driver-guide has a refreshingly easy going manner. Hassan can provide scrumptious family meals and homestay beds at Titi ('blossom') Cottage in the semi-rural village of Ebrahim Sara (25km east of Rasht).
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Massoud Jaladat
Massoud is the energy behind Fravihar Ecotours, a fledgling group of Yazdis running mainly desert tours. There are all sorts of reasonably priced options, mainly involving desert trekking; email or call for options and ask about the desert guide.
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Ahmad Pourseyedi
Ahmad Pourseyedi 'Charming old rogue' Ahmad's septuagenarian legs have seen better days and his history is sometimes awry, but he's delightful company as he recalls anecdotes while driving sedately around the Kashani hinterlands.
reviewed
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Hamam-e Ebrahim Khan
The Hamam-e Ebrahim Khan, one of Iran’s few traditional bathhouses where men can still be rubbed, scrubbed and beaten. The welcoming manager might show women around if it’s not busy.
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Dehkhoda Institute
The International Center for Persian Studies at the institute offers five-week and 3½-/seven-month courses. Tuition is inexpensive, but you’ll need to find your own accommodation.
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Safa Hammam
Safa Hammam is the best known of Qazvin’s traditional subterranean bathhouses to remain active. The domed central rest area is attractive. Men only.
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Hossain Bagharian
Hossain has been guiding for years and is a straight-shooter. He could talk under wet cement, so rest assured he'll tell you everything he knows…and a bit more.
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Horsecart Rides
Horsecart Rides offered at Kuh-e Sangri do NOT take you up the mountain as they might imply but on a pointless eight-minute trot down some side streets.
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