The Most Incredible Places in Iran Most Tourists Don’t Know About

If you are planning to visit Iran and you are looking for less touristy destinations, or if this is your second trip to this amazing country, here are some suggestions for you to make your trip a unique experience.

Korshahi Castle

Korshahi Castle, or the Castles of thieves, is a castle located in the northeast of ‘Abuzeyd-Abad’ town in Isfahan province. The castle is one of the important castles of Sardar Hussein Kashi, one of the bandits and outlaws during the Reza Khan Pahlavi era. The traces of his battles with the government forces can still be observed here.

Korshahi is one of the surviving monuments of the Mongols era which has witnessed the bravery of desert people against the invasion of Mongol armies. During their fight, the soldiers sheltered in this castle and Mongols began to siege it, believing that the Iranian fighters would soon surrender because of the lack of water and food. But the interesting point is that Korsahi fort was built in a location with the shortest distance from the groundwaters. So, fighters could reach the water after less than 5 meters drilling and they managed to defeat Mongols within a few days after that.

Korshahi castle is the only monument in the heart of this desert and has access to the water. Besides, the cool and breezy climate of the region makes it a perfect environment for tourists to enjoy the starry sky of the desert.

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Pamenar Village

Pamenar is a quiet village, 40 kilometers away from Dezful city in Khuzestan province. It is located between Dez and Karkheh dams and so enjoys a lush, beautiful nature. Because of the low altitude of the village, the earth and the sky seem united during the sunset and this creates a dreamy landscape. This also makes the stars to look brighter at nights and you can enjoy the beauty of the sky in this tranquil environment.

In addition to its diverse, amazing nature, the village has a well-known castle and a cemetery that attracts many tourists each year. Another special attraction of Pamenar village is the lake of Dez Dam. It is one of the most beautiful lakes in Iran and has a spectacular island with an area around 60,000 meters. Tourists who choose spring for traveling to Pamenar will have the opportunity to see thousands of red anemone flowers surrounding the lake.

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Shadegan International Wetlands 

Shadegan Wetland is one of the great wetlands of Iran and one of the most spectacular places in Khuzestan province, located to the south of Shadegan city. This wetland illustrates the biodiversity of Iranian people and geography. Arab-speaking residents of the area produce meat and dairy products for a living and you will see houses with round ceilings made of sugar cane in this wetland.

Shadegan is a very rich habitat for wildlife. Animal life in the Shadegan ponds consists of two species of amphibians, five species of reptiles and 154 species of birds. You will have the chance to observe pelicans and flamingos here. The area is also known for its birds of prey and an important spot for migratory birds. Shadegan is home to 40 species of mammals, including Iranian wolf, river otter, jungle cat and wild boar.

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Raghaz Canyon

Raghaz canyon is located 30 kilometers from Darab town in Fars province and is known as the bride of Iran’s valleys and canyons. Raghaz means pristine, slippery road and It is one of the most amazing Iranian straits, where the water and rock create unbelievable manifestations of nature. Each waterfall and pond of this canyon is different from the other and has its own beauty.

The pleasant sound of waterfalls, the opportunity of enjoying the exciting landing, climbing and swimming, as well as seeing the beautiful salmons in the clear ponds of Raghaz, are great reasons for visiting this strait. There are 64 waterfalls and 100 natural ponds in Raghaz and trekking this route and jumping in natural pools of this canyon can be exciting. As you go further, the altitude of waterfalls increases and this makes Raghaz an exciting destination for adventurous people.

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Dalkhani Jungle

Dalkhani Forest is one of the natural attractions of Ramsar city in Mazandaran Province. This beautiful, semi-alpine forest, with a height of approximately 800 meters, offers spectacular natural sceneries. Because of its height, Dalkhani is a good choice for hikers and climbers and the thick fog in this forest create dreamy landscapes.  “The Corridor of Paradise” is the nickname given to this amazing forest due to its tall lush trees and pleasant climate.

In mid-summer when the temperatures in the coastal cities of the Caspian Sea reaches up to 35 degrees, the Dalkhani forest can be a great option for escaping the heat. During the summer, the temperature in this forest is very cool (around 18 degrees). If you are visiting the forest during the cold season, be sure to bring warm clothes, blankets and hot water to enjoy drinking tea or coffee.

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Kal-e Jeni Valley

Kal-e Jeni is a very old valley, located 35 kilometers away from Tabas city in South Khorasan province. The valley is called Valley of the Jinns by the locals, as the valley and its erosions look really scary and fearsome. Kal-e Jeni has long walls with strange shapes caused by floods and erosion. There are tunnels and holes in the walls of this valley dating back to the Sasanian period.

There are small waterfalls and ponds in this valley which are good options for escaping the heat of this region. An amazing tunnel drives the water into the aqueduct and the erosin has created strange motifs on the riverbed in this part. Kal-e Jeni is listed as one of the National Natural Heritage Sites of Iran and is the most famous and fascinating attraction of Tabas.

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Mamraz Lake

This lake is located 12 kilometers away from Noshahr city in Mazandaran province. The dried trees inside the lake have created a fascinating view, which is scary at the same time! Because of its horrific landscape and strange silence of the lake, it is known as “The Ghosts’ Lake”. The lake is 700 meters long and 300 meters wide and is listed as one of the Iran’s National Heritage Sites.

Next to the lake a lush forest is located and there are many dry tree trunks in the water, known as dead trees. The water of this lake is very clear and the reflection of the trees’ images on the lake adds to the beauty of the site. It is a pristine area and a spectacular natural attraction which is less known to tourists and adventurers.

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