Iran
Description
Being the second largest country in the Middle East, Iran spreads out from the Caspian Sea in the north to the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf in the south. Roughly half of Iran is mountainous, with rugged high mountain ranges in the west and north, keeping any rain out of the large plateaus and deserts in its central and eastern parts. As a result, most of eastern and southern Iran has a rather arid climate, with temperatures soaring in summer. The mountains and valleys towards the north and west get lower average temperatures and more rain (and snow).
Iran's highest mountain is volcanic Mount Damavand (5610 m), also highest peak in the Middle East, and quite a popular climbing destination. It is part of the Alborz mountain range which runs from west to east across the north of Iran, between the Caspian Sea in the north and the nearby capital of Tehran to the south. On weekends, many Irani from Tehran enjoy day hikes in the nearby Alborz mountains, for example to the Tangeh Savashi mountain pass.
Largest of Iran in terms of area is the Zagros mountain range, running 1500 km along the full length of the country's western border with Iraq and onwards along the Persian Gulf to the Straits of Hormuz. The range branches out towards the east as the massif of Hazaran towards Kerman. Its peaks rise up well over 4000 m.
An area in the northwest of Iran deserving special mention is the subtropical coastal strip along the Caspian Sea and the northern slopes of the Alborz mountains, which are covered in dense humid mixed forests. Particularly the county of Talesh, on the southwestern shores of the Caspian Sea, has lovely subtropical lowlands, forests and mountainous area's for hiking.
When hiking in the mountains of Iran, be prepared to carry tent and food. There are some huts on the slopes of Mount Damavand, but even there camping is common. Best time to hike in the high mountains is from July till September. Lower down spring and autumn are good too.
Regions
Mountains
Links
Facts
Reports
Guides and maps
Lodging
Organisations
Tour operators
GPS
Other
Books

Netherlands
- The History of Antiquity Vol VI
- Extrait CHAPTER VI. THE FALL OF THE LYDIAN EMPIRE. After the fall of Nineveh, Media, Babylonia, and Lydia had continued to exist side by side in peace and friendship. The successful rebellion of Cyrus altered at one blow the state of Asia. He had not been contented with winning independence for the Persians; he had subjected Media to his power.... Read more
- Also available from:
- Bol.com, Belgium

Belgium
- The History of Antiquity Vol VI
- Extrait CHAPTER VI. THE FALL OF THE LYDIAN EMPIRE. After the fall of Nineveh, Media, Babylonia, and Lydia had continued to exist side by side in peace and friendship. The successful rebellion of Cyrus altered at one blow the state of Asia. He had not been contented with winning independence for the Persians; he had subjected Media to his power.... Read more

Netherlands
- Misadventure in the Middle East
- When Henry Hemming set out in a pick-up truck called Yasmine to make a portrait of the Middle East, he had no idea what he would find or where he would be able to go - he wasn't even sure how he would earn enough money to stay on the road for a year. Henry Hemming's extraordinary journey takes him from the drug-fuelled ski-slopes of Iran via... Read more
- Also available from:
- Bol.com, Belgium

Belgium
- Misadventure in the Middle East
- When Henry Hemming set out in a pick-up truck called Yasmine to make a portrait of the Middle East, he had no idea what he would find or where he would be able to go - he wasn't even sure how he would earn enough money to stay on the road for a year. Henry Hemming's extraordinary journey takes him from the drug-fuelled ski-slopes of Iran via... Read more

Netherlands
2017
- Iran
- Now into its fifth edition, Bradt's Iran continues to provide the most detailed background, history and cultural information available when visiting this 'Jewel of Central Asia'. This new edition has been thoroughly reviewed to provide all the latest information, from updated history and cultural developments to security, language and hotel... Read more
- Also available from:
- Bol.com, Belgium

Belgium
2017
- Iran
- Now into its fifth edition, Bradt's Iran continues to provide the most detailed background, history and cultural information available when visiting this 'Jewel of Central Asia'. This new edition has been thoroughly reviewed to provide all the latest information, from updated history and cultural developments to security, language and hotel... Read more

Netherlands
- Peque/As Reflexiones de Un Charnego Polaco
- Sera Lluis Llach el nuevo director del Palau de la Musica? Canalizaran el Ebro para que desemboque en Vinaroz? Tiene algun sentido las naciones? O son mas importantes los equipos deportivos? Es la lengua la esencia de una patria? Un referendum deberia preguntar tambien acerca de la posibilidad de ser subditos del Banco de Santander? O ya lo... Read more
- Also available from:
- Bol.com, Belgium

Belgium
- Peque/As Reflexiones de Un Charnego Polaco
- Sera Lluis Llach el nuevo director del Palau de la Musica? Canalizaran el Ebro para que desemboque en Vinaroz? Tiene algun sentido las naciones? O son mas importantes los equipos deportivos? Es la lengua la esencia de una patria? Un referendum deberia preguntar tambien acerca de la posibilidad de ser subditos del Banco de Santander? O ya lo... Read more

Netherlands
2017
- Lonely Planet Iran
- Lonely PlanetIran is your passport to the most relevant, up-to-date advice on what to see and skip, and what hidden discoveries await you. Hike among the Castles of the Assassins in Alamut Valley, Lose yourself in Esfahan's historic bazaar, or ski in the Alborz Mountains; all with your trusted travel companion. Get to the heart of Iran and... Read more
- Also available from:
- Bol.com, Belgium

Belgium
2017
- Lonely Planet Iran
- Lonely PlanetIran is your passport to the most relevant, up-to-date advice on what to see and skip, and what hidden discoveries await you. Hike among the Castles of the Assassins in Alamut Valley, Lose yourself in Esfahan's historic bazaar, or ski in the Alborz Mountains; all with your trusted travel companion. Get to the heart of Iran and... Read more

Netherlands
- Con C de Confin
- Existe una fina linea invisible que une Escocia y Egipto, del mismo modo que hay otra que va de las republicas balticas a la frontera de Iran. Visto a traves de los ojos de estos dos infatigables viajeros, el mundo se vuelve un sitio que merece la pena descubrir y conocer. Los viajes son los siguientes: 1. Bretana, Inglaterra y Escocia en... Read more
- Also available from:
- Bol.com, Belgium

Belgium
- Con C de Confin
- Existe una fina linea invisible que une Escocia y Egipto, del mismo modo que hay otra que va de las republicas balticas a la frontera de Iran. Visto a traves de los ojos de estos dos infatigables viajeros, el mundo se vuelve un sitio que merece la pena descubrir y conocer. Los viajes son los siguientes: 1. Bretana, Inglaterra y Escocia en... Read more

Netherlands
- Iran
- Known as the jewel of Central Asia, Iran's cities are packed with gilded mosques and blue-mosaic shrines built in honour of the country's greatest leaders. Its people are generous and its terrain ranges from the sands of the Persian Gulf to the Alburz Mountains in the north. The expert authors give first-hand descriptions of attractions ranging... Read more
- Also available from:
- Bol.com, Belgium

Belgium
- Iran
- Known as the jewel of Central Asia, Iran's cities are packed with gilded mosques and blue-mosaic shrines built in honour of the country's greatest leaders. Its people are generous and its terrain ranges from the sands of the Persian Gulf to the Alburz Mountains in the north. The expert authors give first-hand descriptions of attractions ranging... Read more

Netherlands
- Beatrice Minda
- Beatrice Minda (*1968 in Munich) deals time and again with the relationship between private space, memory, and history. After her striking exploration of Romanian interiors in her photo book Inner World, the artist traveled to the Islamic republic of Iran for her new work. There she immersed herself in the essentially unfamiliar world of... Read more
- Also available from:
- Bol.com, Belgium

Belgium
- Beatrice Minda
- Beatrice Minda (*1968 in Munich) deals time and again with the relationship between private space, memory, and history. After her striking exploration of Romanian interiors in her photo book Inner World, the artist traveled to the Islamic republic of Iran for her new work. There she immersed herself in the essentially unfamiliar world of... Read more

Netherlands
- The Long Haul Pioneers
- It all started in 1964 when two friends gave up promising medical careers to embark upon a journey which few hardened truckers would have considered. In so doing, they were solely responsible for creating the first long haul overland route, across Europe and deep into the Middle East to Kabul. The men had started the 'Middle East Run' was to... Read more
- Also available from:
- Bol.com, Belgium

Belgium
- The Long Haul Pioneers
- It all started in 1964 when two friends gave up promising medical careers to embark upon a journey which few hardened truckers would have considered. In so doing, they were solely responsible for creating the first long haul overland route, across Europe and deep into the Middle East to Kabul. The men had started the 'Middle East Run' was to... Read more

Netherlands
- Abenteuer Hippie Trail
- Sie geben in Deutschland alles auf, um sich ihren Traum zu erfüllen und zur Reise ihres Lebens aufzubrechen. Till und Amelie fahren mit ihrem 30 Jahre alten Mercedes Rundhauber, genannt „der Frosch", über den Landweg nach Indien und Nepal.Auf ihrer Fahrt tauchen sie immer weiter ab in fremde Kulturen. Nicht ohne Schwierigkeiten gelangen sie bis... Read more
- Also available from:
- Bol.com, Belgium

Belgium
- Abenteuer Hippie Trail
- Sie geben in Deutschland alles auf, um sich ihren Traum zu erfüllen und zur Reise ihres Lebens aufzubrechen. Till und Amelie fahren mit ihrem 30 Jahre alten Mercedes Rundhauber, genannt „der Frosch", über den Landweg nach Indien und Nepal.Auf ihrer Fahrt tauchen sie immer weiter ab in fremde Kulturen. Nicht ohne Schwierigkeiten gelangen sie bis... Read more

Netherlands
- Mirrors of the Unseen
- In our current climate of war and suspicion, Iran is depicted as the ''next'' rogue nation that America and the world must ''deal with.'' But the rhetoric about nuclear weapons and jihad obscures the real Iran: an ancient nation and culture, both sophisticated and isolated, which still exists clandestinely in major cities as well as the... Read more
- Also available from:
- Bol.com, Belgium

Belgium
- Mirrors of the Unseen
- In our current climate of war and suspicion, Iran is depicted as the ''next'' rogue nation that America and the world must ''deal with.'' But the rhetoric about nuclear weapons and jihad obscures the real Iran: an ancient nation and culture, both sophisticated and isolated, which still exists clandestinely in major cities as well as the... Read more

Netherlands
- Axis of Evil World Tour
- "Axis of Evil World Tour" goes beyond the superficial coverage found in much of the media to bring a boots-on-the-ground look at three of the most enigmatic, difficult-to-enter countries on the planet-Iran, Iraq, and North Korea. North Korea: Visit the tense yet quiet DMZ that divides North from South, one of the eeriest places on earth. Spend... Read more
- Also available from:
- Bol.com, Belgium

Belgium
- Axis of Evil World Tour
- "Axis of Evil World Tour" goes beyond the superficial coverage found in much of the media to bring a boots-on-the-ground look at three of the most enigmatic, difficult-to-enter countries on the planet-Iran, Iraq, and North Korea. North Korea: Visit the tense yet quiet DMZ that divides North from South, one of the eeriest places on earth. Spend... Read more

Netherlands
- The Minaret of Djam
- The 12th century minaret of Djam is one of Afghanistan's most celebrated treasures, a magnificent symbol of the powerful Ghorid Empire that once stretched from Iran to India. The second tallest brick minaret in the world, Djam lies in the heart of central Afghanistan's wild Ghor Province. Surrounded by 2,000 metre-high mountains and by the... Read more
- Also available from:
- Bol.com, Belgium

Belgium
- The Minaret of Djam
- The 12th century minaret of Djam is one of Afghanistan's most celebrated treasures, a magnificent symbol of the powerful Ghorid Empire that once stretched from Iran to India. The second tallest brick minaret in the world, Djam lies in the heart of central Afghanistan's wild Ghor Province. Surrounded by 2,000 metre-high mountains and by the... Read more

Netherlands
- Out Of Steppe
- Central Asia is the general name for the landmass between Iran, China, Siberia and Afghanistan. An area of enormous diversity both geographically and ethnically, it has been shaped by trade and commerce (the Silk Road) and by many invaders, including Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan and Stalin. Today the area is divided into five 'stans:... Read more
- Also available from:
- Bol.com, Belgium

Belgium
- Out Of Steppe
- Central Asia is the general name for the landmass between Iran, China, Siberia and Afghanistan. An area of enormous diversity both geographically and ethnically, it has been shaped by trade and commerce (the Silk Road) and by many invaders, including Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan and Stalin. Today the area is divided into five 'stans:... Read more
Maps

United Kingdom
- Oman & The United Arab Emirates OUT OF PRINT
- Oman and the United Arab Emirates on a double-sided, indexed road map at 1:1,500,000 from Insight. This large map includes many places of interest and street plans of Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Muscat, Al Manama, Sur and Salalah.The network of main roads is displayed, with distinctions between main, secondary and minor roads. Markers indicate... Read more