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Iran
is a country that has thousands of years history. Tourists
that are attracted to seeing this history as it has unfolded
throughout the years, will remain memorized throughout your
stay. We hope you choose Iran for your next vacation and let
us provide you with the Persian hospitality you so deserve.
Environment
The Islamic Republic of Iran is bordered to the
north by the states of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan
(all formerly of the USSR) and the Caspian Sea; to the east
by Afghanistan and Pakistan; to the south by the Gulf of
Oman and the Persian Gulf; and to the west by Iraq and
Turkey. Iran is about one-fifth the size of the USA and
nearly as big as Queensland, Australia. The country is
dominated by three mountain ranges: the fertile, volcanic
Sabalan and Talesh ranges in the north-west; the very long,
Jurassic-era Zagros range, down the western border; and the
dominant Alborz range, home of Iran's highest mountain, the
permanently snowcapped Damavand (5670m/18,600ft), to the
north of Tehran. The two great Iranian deserts, the Dasht-é
Kavir (more than 200,000 sq km/78,000 sq mi) and the Dasht-é
Lut (more than 166,000 sq km/64,740 sq mi), occupy most of
the north-east and east of the central plain.
Massive, unrestrained urban and industrial development and
the Iran-Iraq War have caused irreparable environmental
damage, particularly on the southern slopes of the Alborz
range, along the Caspian Sea and around the Persian Gulf. To
its credit, the Iranian government has created a few
national parks, but the warm glow dissipates once you
realise the parks have no fenced areas or rangers. The
northern slopes of the Alborz are densely covered with
deciduous trees, forming the largest area of vegetation in
Iran. There are some lovely pockets of forest around
Khalkhal, south of Ardabil, and at Nahar Khoran, just south
of Gorgan. Mammals such as the wolf, jackal, wild boar,
hyena, black bear and lynx are common in the unexplored
depths of the forests of Mazandaran province. In the deserts
and mountains you're more likely to come across the more
sedate Persian squirrel and mongoose, galloping Persian
gazelle, porcupine, badger and endemic Iranian wild ass. Two
of the more fascinati! ng c reatures are the huge Alborz red
sheep, with its black beard and spiralling horns, and the
Oreal ram, with a white beard and enormous horns.
Because
of its size, variety of topography and altitude, Iran
experiences great extremes of climate. Winters (December to
February) can be unpleasantly cold in most parts of the
country, while in summer (June to August) temperatures as
high as 40°C (104°F) are nothing out of the ordinary.
Regular rainfall is more or less restricted to the far north
and west - generally also the coldest parts of Iran.
When to Go
Generally the best times to visit Iran are mid-April to
early June, and late September to early November - these
times avoid the long, cold northern winter, the Iranian New
Year (late March) and the summer, which can be unpleasantly
hot in much of the country. Many people prefer not to visit
Iran during Ramadan, the Muslim month of fasting, but apart
from most restaurants closing between dawn and dusk, Ramadan
is not that bad for traveling.
Facts for the Traveler
Visas: Everyone needs a visa to visit Iran. Unless
you're from Slovenia, Macedonia, Turkey or Japan, we suggest
you to obtain a visa before your arrival to Iran.
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