Top Places to Visit in Winters in Iran
Explore Iran in Winter – Uncover the Best Winter Destinations. With its stunning landscapes, rich cultural heritage and diverse natural wonders, Iran is a must-visit destination. And the best time to visit?
Iran’s Tourist Season: Spring & Autumn. For those who choose to visit Iran in winter, between late November and early March, you’ll be experiencing the country during its low tourist season, with temperatures that are still comfortable, unlike the summer months.
Take advantage of the opportunity to enjoy unique experiences in Iran during the winter, such as visiting the Persian Gulf islands, exploring the hot Kaluts desert, or visiting ancient sites in Khuzestan. Don’t miss the chance to go skiing! Iran boasts many ski resorts, including some of the best mountains for fresh powder.
Dispel the Desert Myth – Iran is a Mountainous Nation. Don’t be fooled, Iran is not just deserts, it’s home to hundreds of peaks over 4,000 meters. There are numerous ski resorts in Iran, with most open from late November to April, depending on snow conditions.
Tochal resort – Photo by Hossein Amiri
Details
Phone: +98 26 3521 5041
Website: www.dizinskiresort.com
Hours: 8am-4pm Dec-May
Winter is the Best Time. To avoid the peak season crowd and weekends, it’s best to ski in Iran during winter. However, popular ski resorts near Tehran can still get busy. No need to worry if you don’t have your own equipment, as every ski resort offers rental options for skis, clothes and gear at affordable prices. One of the attractions of skiing in Iran is its low cost compared to European resorts. Ready to hit the slopes? Check out these top ski resorts in Iran:
Located in the Alborz mountains, an hour and a half from Tehran, Dizin is Iran’s biggest ski resort. It’s also one of the most important in the Middle East and among the 40 highest ski resorts in the world, with the lowest point at 2650m.
Dizin – Photo by Mohammadreza Kr on Unsplash
You don’t have to travel far from Tehran to enjoy skiing, as the Tochal ski resort is located north of the city. With its first track starting at 3,850 meters, Tochal is a small resort but with a big advantage of being in the capital. Plus, it offers stunning views of Tehran.
Tochal ski resort – Photo by Hossein Amiri
Opened in 1958, Shemshak is the oldest ski resort in Iran and remains one of the largest. Situated just 90 minutes east of Tehran, it’s a popular destination for skilled skiers as it offers steeper slopes than Dizin.
Shemshak – Photo by Atefeh Atashi
Pooladkaf Resort in the South. Iran offers skiing opportunities beyond Tehran, with many high peaks and ski resorts located in the south. Pooladkaf, also known as Sepidan, is located 85 km from Shiraz and is one of the fifth largest resorts in Iran. Situated at an altitude of 2,850 meters, Pooladkaf offers exciting skiing experiences.
If you’re not fond of the cold, Iran has plenty of alternatives to beat winter. A trip to one of Iran’s deserts is a must during your winter visit, as the cold season is the perfect time to enjoy the desert. With comfortable temperatures during the day, it’s the ideal time to wander the sand dunes and take in the stunning scenery.
The Dasht-e Lut desert (Lut Desert) is Iran’s largest desert, with an area of 120.000 square kilometers. It’s where the hottest temperature on earth has been recorded! The Lut desert is spread between the provinces of Kerman, Sistan Baluchistan and South Khorassan, and is listed as a Unesco world heritage. It is famous for its “sand castles”, large formations known as Yardlang, that create strange breathtaking landscapes.
Kaluts of Lut – Photo by Alireza Afkar
If you’re looking for the typical sand desert, with dunes as far as the eyes can see, then the Mesr Desert is your perfect winter destination. Located near Isfahan and Kashan, it is one of Iran’s prettiest deserts. It has several villages, such as Garmeh, where you can spend a few nights in a traditional guesthouse.
Mesr desert – Photo by Shahab Zolfaghari
Iran may surprise you as a winter destination for swimming and sunbathing. The south of the country boasts several islands that offer unexpected winter escapes.
Qeshm island is the largest island in the Persian Gulf. As the temperatures can reach up to 50 degrees Celsius in summer, winter is the perfect time to visit Qeshm. Qeshm is a large island, larger than 22 countries in the world, which makes plenty of beaches to explore. As beaches are a lot and visitors are few, it’s possible to swim peacefully with nobody around. From Qeshm it’s also possible to go to Hengam island, another small island full of pristine sand beaches.
Qeshm Island – Photo by Hamed Darzi
While Qeshm island is untouched and wild, Kish is a more modern option for a beach holiday. This small island is also located in the Persian Gulf and is famous for its large resort hotels and luxury malls. As the weather is perfect during summer, it’s ideal to swim in the pool of one of these hotels or in one of Kish’s many beaches.
Kish Island – Photo by Amir Saeid Dehghan
Winter is the perfect time to discover the rich history and ancient civilizations of Iran. One such destination is Khuzestan province, located in the southwest of Iran, with its capital city of Ahwaz. The province boasts three UNESCO World Heritage sites that are fascinating to explore, including:
So, pack your bags and head to Khuzestan for a winter adventure that will take you back in time!
I’m Marzieh Safarzadeh graduated in Translation Studies. I’m a freelance translator and live in Iran. As an Iranian I try to introduce the cultural sites and beautiful tourist attractions of Iran to the world. I derive great pleasure from books, believe in words and practice writing.
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