must-visit list in Iran

For a two week itinary I´d suggest Tehran, Kashan, Esfahan, Yazd and Shiraz/Persepolis. Take your time, it will be definitely HOT, and I mean HHOOTT! You will not be able to do a 12 hours sightseeing day in that time!

Take care!

Marcus

Esfahan is a must-visit.

Plan on things being closed/life being too hot to do anything during the day!

My favorites outside of the central tourist track: any of the landscapes in Kurdistan (head to Sanandaj), seeing the shrine in Mashhad, the super-friendly northern city of Tabriz, the epic Alamut Valley near Qazvin, and the Kaluts desert near Kerman.

I'm happy to give more recommendations/info if you want :)

It all depends on your taste. Are you more interested in historical sites or the nature? There will be different routes to them.

I just was in Abayaneh between Kashan and Esfahan. If one these two lands on your itinary add it also! :D

It is better you know that Iran isn't an only city sightseeing country. Iran is a 4-season country. You can do hiking and mountaineering in most of provinces of Iran. of course selecting one of them, depends on your date and weather condition, your before experience, your interests, your fitness, your dreams for doing some amazing activity, etc. Bellows are 2 mountaineering tips in Tehran, if you are intetested in mountaineering.
But there are so many carious hikungs in Iran. Therefore let me know if you prefer other kinds of outdoor activities.

1- The nearest and safest option for hiking and mountaineering in Tehran is Tochal summit with 3960 m altitude. This is the highest point of northern highlands of Tehran. Actually Tehran city located closed to this mountain and in skirts of that. we usually climb there in 1 full day. but i suggest stay overnight inside its hut on top. because its view specially at night and sunrise time is beautiful. you can watch all of Tehran and suburbs below your foot and also watch a stunning view of Damavand specially in sunrise time and take beautiful photos from there. Check my page for some photos. There is a ski resort near to summit that you can do skiing there till end of March . Also you can get to the ski resort by a Telecabin line that its first station is in northern neighborhoods of Tehran and climb to summit in half an hour. but i as a mountaineer prefer to climb there by mountaineering route not Telecabin . there is a mountaineering hotel in the end of the ski resort that you can stay overnight there as one of World's highest hotels. also there is a mountaineering hotel en route, 2750 m altitude, that you can stay overnight there and use its restaurant and dormitories.

2- Mount Damavand with 5671 m altitude is the highest point of Iran and the middle east. also this volcano is the highest volcano peak in northern hemisphere with a correct conical shape. there are 16 main routs for getting summit. but southern route is the easiest and isn't technically difficult specially in middle of summer. there is a very equipped mountaineering hotel in 4200 m altitude as the last camp of southern route that you can stay overnight there 1-2 nights for better acclimatization. we Iranian climbers climb this summit in 2 full days because we are completely acclimmatizated but i suggest you consider 3-4 days because of 1- bad weather condition in high altitude mountains, and 2- getting acclimmatizated in longer plan. you can get base camp of Damavand in Polour village in 3 hours from Tehran by car. also you can visit corn - poppy flowers covering foothills of Damavand if you are planning to come Iran in May.
Have a gpod trip in Iran.
Farhad

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