Iran Ecotourism

Iran has a great potential for tourism. In addition to the rich culture, ancient monuments and specific architecture, Iran enjoys various climatic zones and natural beauties owing to its geographical location which has made it a 4-season country. The various climatic zones make it possible to see snow in the northern parts of the country in winter; while, it is the best time to enjoy a favorable and pleasant climate in southern part of the country at the same time. Iran also includes mountains, seas, deserts, lakes, volcanos, caves, islands etc. with different species of animals and vegetation. All these make Iran a desirable destination for those interested in ecotourism.  
In this article, ecotourism in Iran, we will mention some of the popular destinations for ecotourism through the country.

Mount Damavand, The Highest Mountain in Iran

Mount Damavand, an inactive volcano with the height of 5,671 m, is situated in north of Iran and the south of the Caspian Sea in the Alborz Mountain Range. It is similar to Mount Fuji in shape; however, Mt. Damavand is considered the highest volcano in Asia as well as the highest peak in the Middle East which makes it an attractive challenging mountain for climbers to climb and reach to the summit.
Mount Damavand is usually covered with snow in all days of the year. Being covered in snow, Mount Damavand creates a good opportunity for skiing, and other winter snows. Some of the ski resorts in Mount Damavand or more generally Alborz Mountain Range include Tochal Ski Resort, Abali Ski Resort, Darbandsar Ski Resort, Dizin Ski Resort, Shemshak Ski Resort, etc.
Mt. Damavand also has an especial importance in Persian folklore and literature and it is usually counted as the symbol of resistance. You can see the picture of Mt. Damavand on the Iranian Rial 10,000 notes.

Mount Tochal, Bame Tehran

Mount Tochal as a part of the Alborz Mountain Range is located in the north of Tehran. Its highest peak is about 3,962 m high. Tochal means a small lake referring to its location near an ice lake. The facilities of Mount Tochal includes Tochal Telecabin with the length of 7500 m considered one of the longest traps in the world, Tochal Ski Resort and hotels. 

Turkmen Sahra, Turkmen Plain

The Turkmen Sahra or the Torkaman Sahra located in the north east of Iran covers North Khorasan and Golestan provinces and cities like Gonbad-e Kavus, Bandar Torkaman, Kalaleh, Aqqala and so on. Turkmen Sahra is surrounded by Caspian Sea in the west, Turkmenistan in the north, Khorasan in the west and the Alborz Mountains in the south. Due to the geographical location, there are unique natural and historical attractions such as Gonbad-e Qabus, Hezar Darreh (Thousand Valleys), Khalid Nabi Cemetery etc. Turkoman horse race also is so reputed as well as Turkmens’s rich culture and the traditional folk music, Turkman’s Dutar instrument, traditional colorful local clothes, and many natural sights and attractions to visit can make Torkaman Sahra a must- visit place to see in Iran.

Martian Mountains, The Miniature Mountains

Martian Mounts or Mars Mountains are situated in Chabahar city (Chabahar Free Zone) in vicinity of Oman Sea in southeast of Iran. Merrikhi Mountains are formed through the geo-morphological phenomena by rapid soil erosion caused by wind and rain about 5 billion years ago. These mountains differ in size from 5 meters to 100 meters high. Martian Mountains are in white and gray colors and changes color into interesting and different colors in different hours of a day with the changes in sunlight. There are some tourist camps in the area which makes it easy for the travelers to stay and enjoy the travel. The best time to visit Martian Mountains is about November to March. 

Clouds Forest or Jangal-e Abr

Clouds Forest, referring to the forest with dense and very low clouds, is situated in Semnan province in the south of Caspian Sea, north of Iran. Clouds Forest or Jangal-e Abr in Persian is considered one of the most beautiful places in the world with mild weather nearly all through the year. Jangal-e Abr, covering an area of 35000 ha, is one of the oldest Hyrcanian jungles dating back to 40 million years ago. The various vegetation and animal coverages, low temperature in the hot season and the beautiful landscapes tempt Iranian as well as international tourists with different tastes to travel to this area and experience some days in the Jangal-e Abr. 

Gahar Lake, A Mountainous Lake in Iran

Gahar Lake is situated in Zagros Mountain Range in Lorestan Province in the west of Iran. The lake is 1700 m long and 500 m wide with the depth of 28 m in the deepest part. Gahar Lake is regarded as one of the largest freshwater lakes in Iran. This lake obtains its name from a local word referring to the still water gathering in a too deep puddle. The eye-catching beauty of the lake attracts a large number of Iranian as well as international tourists to Lorestan. Gahar Lake enjoys good weather condition in June to September when is considered the best time to visit. 

Bisheh Waterfall

Bisheh waterfall is a popular tourist attraction located in a village with the same name in Zagros Mountain Range, Lorestan province, the land of waterfalls in Iran. Bisheh Waterfall is about 48 meters high and 10 meters wide. The beautiful natural attractions in the area such as the vast Oak Forest, the beautiful village of Bisheh, and the landscape of the railway station from the waterfall as well as the cool and refreshing weather makes Bisheh Waterfall a spectacular place for tourists who wish to visit and relax in an intact nature. Bisheh Waterfall is registered in Iranian National Monument list in 2009.

Ali Sadr Cave, The Longest Water Cave in The World

Ali Sadr Cave is located in a village with the same name in Hamedan in Midwest of Iran. Ali Sadr is considered as one of world’s rare examples of water caves and actually the largest water caves in the world. It is about 11,200 m long with the depth varying from 5 cm to 14 m in different points. As an interesting point, the temperature is almost the same all the year even in summer and winter. There is no animal life in the cave due to the lack of natural light and mineral salts in water as well as the other natural conditions. Ali Saadr Cave is regarded as one of the main tourist attractions of Hamedan and is visited by thousands of Iranian and international tourists. 

Badab-e Surt, The Colorful Springs

Badab-e Surt  is a series of terraced travertine pools located in Mazandaran Province in northern part of Iran. These small pools are colorful in red, orange, yellow and blue surrounded by a mountain-ringed valley being created through thousands years. One of the interesting things about Badabe Surt is that they never suffer from drought because of their complex geological structure. This travertine terrace sites are used for hydrotherapy to treat diseases such as backache and painful legs, skin diseases, rheumatism, migraine and etc. There is no living creature in the water and the water doesn't freeze in winter because of the high salinity and having a lot of minerals. Both touristic attractions and having therapeutic benefits make it a unique place to attract many tourists from all over the world all through the year. However, the best time to visit the Badab-e Surt is early April.

Iran Desert Destinations

Desert as a tourist destination attracts many people to Iran as a country with a vast area of desert, about one fourth of the country consists of the amazing deserts stretching over the provinces like Yazd, Kerman, Isfahan, Sistan and Baluchestan etc. in the central parts as well as the eastern and southeast ones of the country. Deserts in Iran include Salt Plains, Dasht-e Kavir including Yazd Deserts and Bafq Deserts, Maranjab Desert, Dasht-e Lut, Shahdad Kalouts, Varzaneh Desert.
.Raadina provides a great deal of information about different deserts in Iran. Click on the link to read about Iran Deserts in details. 

Colorful Mountains of Tabriz 

The Colorful Mountains of Tabriz  also called Ala Daghlar by locals are one of the most beautiful places on the earth. It seems like a rainbow of red, yellow, white and orange colors lying on the mountains. The mountains look like a piece of an undiscovered planet. In some parts, there are some water passageways with flowing water which creates a particular landscape. Due to the sunlight changes, especially in hot weather, the mountains are considered a good subject for taking pictures and photography. All the year, the colorful mountains enjoys a high beauty; however, the best time to visit this unique sight is in the autumn and winter when the mountains are covered by snow.  

Stars Valley, One of The Seven Wonders in Qheshm Island

The Stars Valley or Valley of Stars or Setareh Oftadeh is considered one of the strangest natural areas located in the south of Iran. The odd shape of Stars Valley makes local people tell some stories about it. There are some rumors about its creation. Some say it is created because of the meteorite rain, some other believe the weird sound among the stones is heard, so they called it the valley of ghosts. However, the most common rumor is their belief about falling a star and creating it. Valley of Stars dates back to about 2 million years ago and it is connected to the Cenozoic geological period, about 2 million years old. 

The Historical City of Masuleh, A Stairway Village

The historical city of Masuleh is located in the north of Iran and attracts thousands of Iranian and international tourists every year. The city seems like a village and it is considered a prominent example of stairway architecture in the world. It is said its architecture is related to Zandieh dynasty. The houses are usually built in two floors and the space in front of the houses as well as the roofs are used as the pedestrian. The interesting point is that the roof of the lower house forms the upper one’s courtyard; in other words, the houses are constructed on top of one another looking like a stairway. Situating between mountain and jungle, and due to its nature with the foggy atmosphere, Masouleh seems like a part of heaven. Some discoveries reveal some evidences dating back to 600-900 years ago. The Historical City of Masouleh is ready to be submitted as a world heritage site.

Mount Sabalan, The Most Holy Mountain in Iran

Mount Sabalan as a part of the Alborz Mountain Range is an inactive volcano located in the Ardabil, Ahar and Meshkin-shahr cities in the northwestern of Iran. It is said that Zoroaster, an ancient Iranian prophet, was buried in Sabalan Mountain. So, it is known as the sacred mountain in Iran.
Mount Sabalan is considered the third highest mountain in Iran with the height of 4,811 m. Sabalan is famous for numerous natural hot springs as well as the permanent crater lake at its summit, both of which enjoy therapeutic properties and attract a large number of Iranian and international tourists every year, especially in summer and late spring.
As it is covered with snow in all days of the year, Sabalan includes some different creational and touristic areas such as the ski resort. 

 Veresk Bridge, The Longest Rail Bridge in Iran

Veresk Bridge is located in Veresk Village, Mazandaran Province in the north of Iran. The bridge was constructed in 1936 at the time of Reza Shah Pahlavi. Veresk Bridge is considered one of the largest railroad bridges of Trans-Iran railway connecting Tehran to the Caspian Sea region. Its arch measures 66 m and the height of the bridge from the bottom of the valley is 110 m. The interesting note about the bridge is about its construction; it was built without any metal structures, a masterpiece in architecture. In addition to its special importance in the transportation, the Veresk Bridge is considered a tourist attraction and there are also rail tours passing over Veresk Bridge to sightsee the surrounding nature and beauty.

Masal

Masal County is located beside Talesh Mountains, in Gilan province in the north of Iran. Masal means beside mountain or having mountain. Masal enjoys an intact nature including several caves in different sizes, forest promenades and forest areas as well as historical ones. the best time to visit and hike in Masal is May to September. However, Masal is in a unique colorful beauty from October to December. 

 Lake Urmia, A Wonderful Salty Heritage in Azarbaijan 

Lake Urmia is located in the northwest of Iran between West Azerbaijan and East Azerbaijan in the city of Urmia. It is considered as the largest lake in the Middle East and the sixth-largest saltwater lake in the world. Lake Urmia, or Daryache-ye Uroumiye in Persian, is regarded as one of the most beautiful natural attractions in Iran and is protected as a national park by the Iranian Department of Environment. Lake Urmia is one of the seven main destinations in the world as a habitat for birds. Thus, it is regarded as the best wintering place for the birds such as flamingos and pelicans migrating from the north, Siberia, to the south. It is also proposed to hydrotherapy and a large number of tourists travel to Lake Urmia for therapeutic baths in its warm waters.

Laton Waterfall, The Highest Waterfall in North

Laton Waterfall is located in the eastern Alborz Mountain Range in Gilan Province in the north of Iran. It is 105 m high and considered the highest waterfall in Iran. Latoun Waterfall is located in an intact nature among the beautiful mountains and dense forests of plum, quince, pear, walnut, hazelnut, apple trees etc. Although it is green most of the year (nine months), the best time to visit Laton Waterfall and enjoy a desirable hike in the unique nature is from March to May. 

Margoon Waterfall

Margoon Waterfall is regarded as the highest fountain waterfall in the world with the height of 70 m and the width of 100 m. It is located between Fars province and Kohgiluye and Boyer-ahmad province in a village with the same name, Margoon Village. The interesting point about Margoon Waterfall is that it does not flow from a river. There are several springs in the wall of the mountain, and the water rolls out from the stones. The temperature of the waterfall is always less than 10˚C, even in the hot months of the year. It is one of the most beautiful and magnificent waterfalls in Iran. 

Zeribar Lake 

Western part of Iran is rich in history and has housed one of the oldest civilizations in world. Moreover, this part is also rich in nature and enjoys natural destinations. A major tourist attraction among these destinations in west of Iran is Zeribar Lake or Zrebar Lake which is located in Marivan city in Kurdistan province. The lake is surrounded by Zagros Mountains which are covered by forests of oaks and wild pears, hawthorn and almond trees and home different species of aquatics and birds. Zeribar Lake is regarded as the most beautiful fresh water lake with an area of 3,000 ha and the depth of 3 m to 8 m in some spots. The color of the water in the lake is greenish light brown. Zrebar Lake is not fed by any rivers and this is why it is believed to be a legendary lake with some mysteries and stories. Zarivar is a beautiful lake in all seasons even in cold winter days when its surface is completely frozen. Many tourists and those interested in natural environment and ecology go to visit this site every year.

Kalmand - Bahadoran Protected Area  

Kalmand – Bahadoran Protected Area or Gurab with an area of 250,000 ha is located in Yazd province. It was upgraded to a protected area in 1991. This protected area includes more than 24 mammalian species, 48 species of birds, 13 species of amphibians and reptiles and 10 separate plant types. It is considered highly important in terms of research and ecotourism and attracts many nature lovers every year who need an official permission to visit this area. 
To learn more about protected area of Kalmand – Bahadoran, click on the link.

Uraman Takht Village

The historical Uraman Takht Village, the lost heaven in the west of Iran, is a village located in Marivan city in the Iranian Kurdistan Province in the heart of Zagros Mountains. Some people believe the name of “Oramanat Takht” refers to the place of sun; however, others believe that it means a place where the clouds are coming from. Uraman Takht is known as Hezar Masouleh due to its stairway architecture. The two-story houses usually are arranged in a way that their roofs are used as the pedestrian or the courtyards of the house upstairs. Although Uraman Takht Village is a mountain place, it is covered with the dense forest. The discoveries reveal that the Oramanat Village dates back to Paleolithic times. It is considered as a shared area between Iran and Iraq countries. 

Golestan National Park

Golestan National Park or Golestan Jungle with an area of 92,000 ha is considered the largest and oldest one located in Golestan, North Khorasan, Semnan provinces in Iran. The variety of animals including 69 spices of mammals, 150 spices of birds, 24 spices of reptiles, and 2 spices of amphibians as well as the various plant species make Golestan Forest amazing and a must-visit place for those interested in natural environments and ecosystems. Golestan National Park was registered as one of the fifty ecosystems in the UNESCO world heritage list in 1976.

 To visit these natural landmarks on a tour, contact Raadina Travel.