Golestan National Park is one of Iran’s most important protected landscapes, where the eastern Hyrcanian forests transition into mountain, steppe, and semi-arid habitats. This page preserves an archival 2016 family expedition and its original photographic sequence.
The park lies at the eastern edge of the ancient Hyrcanian forests. Its changing elevation and climate create a striking progression from broad-leaved forest to open grassland, rocky highlands, and drier eastern landscapes.
The journey began after a stay near Miankaleh. The family travelled east through northern Iran, stopping around the Caspian region before continuing toward Golestan National Park.
After lunch near Tangrah, the route continued deeper into the eastern Alborz landscape. The group camped overnight before beginning the next day’s wildlife-focused section of the expedition.
The following morning, the group continued through the protected area with local environmental staff. The day focused on walking, observing wildlife, and moving between ranger checkpoints and highland habitats.
Park staff helped move equipment toward camp. Along the route, the group recorded sightings of gazelles, jackals, ravens, wild sheep, and partridges before reaching the next checkpoint.
The group paused periodically beneath juniper trees for water and food. The rugged walking route took several hours. An older rest house encountered on the route was retained in the story without repeating unverified claims about its historical use.
On the way we passed one of the most sensitive parts of the park called Degarmaneli.
The expedition recorded birds and several mammals across the open habitats, including wild sheep, wild boar, goats, rabbits, and foxes. By afternoon, the group reached another park checkpoint.
The last step was a visit to the Tangegol highlands.
The final stages combined several hours of walking with a return drive through the park landscape. The original account estimated more than 300 km of travel across the wider itinerary; this figure is retained as the guide’s 2016 trip record rather than a standard visitor route.
– Hor Mansouri – Eco tour guide – SURFIRAN Travel and Tours
