Tourism to Iran is on the up. Combined with strengthening diplomatic relations between Iran and the West, means the country is finally opening its doors to western tourist. Western government are no longer advising their citizens not to visit this once no-go-zone. However, there are some parts that are not recommending visiting yet. Consequently, eager tour operators are lining up to take curious travellers to the crumbling city of Persepolis, the rug-strewn bazaars of Esfahan and the stately gardens of Shiraz and see Iran’s many temples, mosques, fortresses and monuments.
With an improvement in relations, it is now easier to get cheaper travel insurance and easier to obtain. Then, as banking restrictions are lifted, you will be able to use ATMs and credit cards. Visas remain tricky but procuring one is getting easier: the Iranian Embassy in London may still be closed but the Iranian Consulate is operating a limited visa service and tour operators can assist you. (so check in your respective country).
Walk in the Footsteps of Freya Stark
If deserts and cities are not your thing, then how about a walking tour to explore Iran? Tour operator Wild Frontiers offers adventurous travellers a 14 days walking tour into the little-visited Alborz Mountains.
On the tour, the group will visit Alamut, one of the castles on explorer and author Freya Stark’s route in her classic 1930s book, the Valley Of The Assassins, as well as spending time with the pastoralist Shahsavan nomads. Other highlights include experiencing village life in Masuleh and Sobatan and shopping in Tabriz’s Unesco World Heritage bazaar.
Check out Friendly Tehran
Most travellers avoid Tehran altogether, rushing instead to the heavy-hitting tourist sites of Persepolis, Tabriz and Mashhad, Iran’s holiest city. The capital city is often written off as ugly and polluted but cast your preconceptions aside and you’ll be rewarded.
Tehran is love chatting to foreigners and by visiting a restaurant, art gallery or market, you will have the chance to swap tales and photo opportunities with them. One good place to mingle is the Jameh Bazaar, an enormous flea market that takes place on Fridays. Then there’s Alborz (named after the mountain range), a hugely popular restaurant that has been serving hungry diners fine kebabs since 1967.
Sleep in a 17th-century mansion
There are many reasons why Esfahan is the country’s number one tourist attraction – photogenic buildings, the Unesco-listed central square and Persian gardens, to name a few. After a day or two here, the Persian proverb ‘Esfahan nesf-e jahan ast’ (Esfahan is half the world) begins to make sense. It Is jaw-droppingly elegant, rich in history and home to Imam Square, which is ringed by beautiful mosques.
In a city such as this, it makes sense to sleep somewhere suitably historic and Dibai House is just the place. In the heart of the old city, this family-run hotel has been painstakingly restored and is a three-minute walk from the Great Bazaar. There are cookery classes and an outdoor courtyard. With just nine rooms, it’s worth booking ahead.