Top 10 Travel Experiences in Iran
Best Travel Experiences in Iran
Are you looking to explore the best travel experiences in Iran?
Traveling around Legendary Iran is beyond a trip. It can indeed be challenging at first, but if you come with an open mind and an open heart, there is a whole world of exceptional experiences in Iran; Experiences that are unique to the culture, nature, and history of Iran and the traditions of everyday life in Iran. So, go beyond the obvious and discover some of the most wonderful and best Iran travel experiences.
Check out our round-up of the top 10 travel experiences in Iran and treat them as inspiration for your trip. If you have any questions do not hesitate to contact us.
Spend a Day with Nomads
Spending a day or more with Iranian nomads is one of the most exceptional Iran travel experiences. Nomads have tied their simple life with the purity of nature, the singing of birds, the sound of sheep bells, the symphony of female carpet weavers, and the smell of fresh bread, soil, and grass.
The aspects of modern life have not affected their lives yet, and their daily life is truly different from what we experience in the cities.
Hence, by spending some days with nomads in their black tents, you will experience their authentic lifestyle. You can enjoy drinking tea with nomadic tribes, trekking with them, learning about their culture, and tasting local organic food.
Be Part of an Iranian Festival, an Unforgettable Experience
The varied festivals that are held throughout the year in Iran offer a vision and understanding of Iranian culture and traditions. Some of these festivals, like Nowruz, Yalda, and Sadeh (exclusively held by Zoroastrians), have originated from ancient Persian culture and beliefs.
On the other hand, some Iran events are religious such as Ashura and Tasua which is the Mourning Ceremony for Imam Hussein, or The Carpet Washing (Ghali Shuyan) Ceremony in Kashan.
Besides, there are seasonal festivals such as the Kashan Rosewater Festival during spring or the Pomegranate Festival during fall in different parts of Iran.
You can gain a deeper understanding of your destination and its people by participating in these national and local events. So, don’t miss these popular festivals for an unforgettable travel experience in Iran.
Explore the Island of Seven Wonders
One of Iran‘s greatest natural wonders is Qeshm Island and its smaller Islands in the Persian Gulf, where you can see the harmony of nature‘s most beautiful colors and appearances.
Traveling to Qeshm is not just about relaxing on the beaches and enjoying the water. There are many natural attractions on this island, including forests, pristine islands, valleys, caves, and a variety of wildlife, such as dolphins, turtles, and birds. As a result, it is a rich place for ecotourism and geotourism. One of the most amazing sites that draw tourists to this region is Hurmoz, the rainbow island with its red beaches.
Lastly, Qeshm and its Islands are located in a free trade zone, allowing foreign travelers to visit them without obtaining the visa.
Experience Rural Tourism in Iran
Leaving major cities to visit Iran villages is an excellent opportunity for cultural immersion. Consider booking a day trip to the red village of Abyaneh, located about two hours from Isfahan. Go deep into the Persian culture, drink tea with locals, and take photos with their local clothes.
Or head to Urramnat Villages, the home to the Kurd ethnics, located in the lush mountainous region west of Iran. Uramannat region has unique features in terms of architecture, people’s lifestyle, and agriculture.
You can also visit an oasis such as Shahdad village in the Lut desert or Bafgh in the desert near Yazd. These villages are ideal for hiking, buying Iran souvenirs, or staying over with a local family and eating their local dishes.
In short, visiting Iran villages and involving their inhabitants’ daily lives can be one of the best travel experiences in Iran.
Explore the Historic city of Yazd
Wandering in the Yazd Historic City (UNESCO site) maze-like alleys can be one of the memorable experiences of an Iran trip. Yazd is a beautiful oasis where human has adapted themselves to the arid and hot climate of the desert.
You can imagine yourself in one of the old narrations about a city far, far away while touring the adobe houses with tall windcatchers. Additionally, you can visit ancient water reservoirs and Qanats for storing water.
Feel Peacefulness in the desert
One of the top travel experiences in Iran is visiting the deserts. Iran has many deserts the most famous ones are Dasht-e Lut (UNESCO Site) in Kerman, Varzaneh, and Mesr deserts in Isfahan and Maranjab near Kashan. There are also some desert camps near Yazd. In the desert, you can enjoy the activities like trekking, safari, visiting extraordinary geological appearances such as Kaluts in Lut Desert, camel riding, etc.
Besides, you can stay overnight in a camp in the heart of the desert. There, you will fall in love with the desert while trying to count the millions of stars in the night sky. Also, this is a perfect opportunity to try nighttime photography.
Anyhow, visiting the deserts of Iran is going to be an incredible experience you will talk about for a long time.
Enjoy Tasty Persian Cuisine
Thanks to local herbs and traditional Persian cooking methods, eating Persian food is one of the life-changing Iran travel experiences for many tourists.
Accordingly, one of the highlights of visiting Iran is trying the local cuisine and learning to cook traditional Persian foods like Tahchin or Ghormeh Sabzi. You can find different Persian cooking classes in Tehran, Shiraz, Isfahan, and other cities.
Even if culinary art is not your favorite, diving into Iranian cuisine is one of the best ways to learn about Iranian culture. Along with the culture, the influences of the climate created different local cuisines. In other words, during your Iran trip, you’ll experience diverse traditional cuisine in the desert, The North, on the islands, etc.
Generally, the popular must-try Iranian dishes include different kinds of kebab, plain and mixed rice, various stews, soups, local sweets, etc. Hence, do not miss trying Persian food in different cities of Iran.
Furthermore, Persian cuisine includes several vegetarian and vegan options such as Kashk-e Bademjan, vegetarian stews, Salads, Kookoo Sabzi, etc.
Get Lost in Persian Old Bazaars
One of the top travel experiences in Iran is visiting its vibrant bazaars, where colorful markets are connected through alleyways. You will be amazed by the smell of spices in the air and the handicrafts such as Khatam, Monabat, Ghalamkar, etc. Also, visiting Persian Old Bazaars can feel like stepping back in time, and it is a great way to meet locals.
You can find an entire alley of bazaar displaying fantastic Persian rugs, while the other is dedicated to pretty copper works or wood art. In the workshops, you’ll see artisans surrounded by their craft, doing everything from carving wood to making copper dishes by hand.
You’ll find Persian Old Bazaars in most Iran cities such as Tabriz, Tehran, Shiraz, Isfahan, Yazd, Kerman, Kashan, Zanjan, etc. Finally, you can buy precious and beautiful Iranian souvenirs from these markets.
Broaden Your Horizon in an Islamic Country
You go to Europe to visit the churches, to Asia to visit the temples. So, when it comes to mosques and shrines and the fantastic Islamic architecture, you should travel to Iran. You can’t claim that you have understood the majesty of Persia without visiting its marvelous mosques and shrines. Accordingly, one of the top travel experiences in Iran is visiting the mosques with diverse architectures, from the legendary Shah Mosque of Naghsh-e Jahan Square (UNESCO Site) in Isfahan to the gorgeous Pink mosque (Nasir al Molk) in Shiraz. On the other hand, the outstanding decoration of the shrines in Iran, from Imam Reza Holy Shrine in Mashhad to Ali ibn-e Hamzeh Holy Shrine in Shiraz with delicate tile and mirror works, will impress you.
So take some time to visit the beautiful mosques and shrines in Iran.
Discover Iran Glorious History in its UNESCO Sites
One of the top travel experiences you should have in a historical country like Iran is to visit its UNESCO Heritage sites. There are 26 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Iran.
However, as Iran is so vast, it is impossible to visit all these monuments in one or two weeks. But don’t worry, there are plenty of them on the classic route of Iran including, Persepolis, Pasargadae, and Sassanid Archaeological Landscape of Fars Region near Shiraz, Jame mosque of Isfahan and Naghsh-e Jahan Square in Isfahan, 9 Persian Gardens in Shiraz, Isfahan, Yazd, Kerman, etc., 11 Persian Qantas in Yazd, Kerman, etc., Historic city of Yazd and more.
On the other hand, Iran has two registered UNESCO Natural sites that reflect the wonderful nature of Iran; the Lut Desert and the Hyrcanian Forests.
Finally, please ask your questions or share your comments regarding the top 10 travel experiences in Iran. We appreciate your valuable comments, and they will also be useful to others.
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