Tehran Travel Forum

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The Absolute Best Master list of IRAN (in Spring)

WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR:
1) memorable/dramatic scenery, landscape photography, or specifically where to find the best (viewpoints, vistas, city views, natural views, panoramas, skylines, sunsets, etc..)?

Also looking for the unique outdoors, hikes/hilltops/lookouts, and other amazing, breathtaking views?

2) lovely/charming streets, cute villages, hidden nooks/places, and magnificent/attractive architecture?

3) authentic/unforgettable "local" travel experiences or non-typical, interesting/special experiences (full of original character), and unique only to the local area.

4) specialty/unique regional cuisine/gastronomy (at places where local's go to eat @ local's prices, & where food is made with love, and regional favorites are specialties. Also the fewer tourists the better.

5) the best freebies (museums, galleries excluded), or anything else off-the beaten path?

Thanks for your suggestions

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-IRAN- "POTENTIAL" TRIP PLAN
(MAR 11-JUN10)

-Ardabil: Neor Lake, then hike to Sobaten village, see Mt. Sabalan near Meshkinshar, Masjid e Jomeh, Azam, and Mirza Ali Akbar Mojtahed, as well as Sheikh Safi-ad-din Ardabili buildings, Imamzadeh Saleh, Panj Pole Ardabil, meuseum lobby, eat Ash Mast,

-Azarbaijan: Urumiyeh, Daryacheye Gori, Khoy, Maryam e Moqadas Church, Sohrol church (Sohrageh of Shabestar), Koohe Sahand, Valasht Lake, Kandovan, Own-ebn-e-ali (on top of Koohe Sorkhab), and in Tabriz, see Arge Tabriz, Masjid e Kaboud, Bagh-e Melli/Eil Goli, Masque of shahidi (Qarichi), see Yam, Inali, Arasbaran (Ahar) scenery, eat sweets, Ash Masti, Anari, Ghorabie, eat Koofteh Tabrizi, leave Iran at Norduz border to Armenia

-Gilan: Masuleh, shiriniye masuleh, jungle near Fooman, Rudkhan castle, shiriniye fooman, eat Reshteh Khoshkar, Kaviar,

-Mazandaran: Kandalous, Kelardasht, Roodbarak, Daryacheye Valasht, go hiking to Takhte-Soleiman, Alamkuh, go to Abbasabad Tonkabon, (then drive toward Ramsar, Jadeh Haris, village Lega, hike to Lakterashan village, and finally to Shah e Sefid Kooh/Kooh e Baloor), visit Mazichal, Vavsar, Namakabroud forest (not gondola), Moghan, and then in Sari, Tajan River Park, Zare Forest Park, Salardareh Forest Park, Dasht-E-Naaz National Park, Pol-e-Gardan hiking trail, Nemashoun Lake, Lak-Dasht Lake, Soleyman Tangeh Lake, Bam-e-Shahr Hill (for viewpoint over Sari)

-Golestan: National Park (near Gorgan), Dashte Gorgan, and Farms east of Gordan, View a top Khaled Nabi tomb (passed Kalaleh near border), Daryacheye Almagol, Garmeh desert oasis, eat Qatoorqa, Qatleqliash

-Semnan: Arge Semnan, Khartouran National Park, Shahre Abr, hike to Jangale Abr (near Shahrood), Badrud oasis, and Harandeh valley (near Firuzkun), Shahmirzad, eat gerdoo

-Khorasan: Mahshad (Fazl ebne Shazan), view from Koo Sangi, Masjid e Goharshad, Madrese-e Abbas Gholi Khan, and in Neishabur (Farid al-Din Attar Tomb, Beheshte Fazl), Imamzade Mahrogh, Kamal Ol Molk, village of Kang, Gonbad-e Kheshti, Gonabad, Garmeh oasis, Tabas, Quchan, Kopet Dag, Haft Hoz (in Khalaj), Tandureh national Park (near Dargaz), Arg e Furg (in Birjand),

-Qasvin: Avan Lake/Keshteh Chal, Alamoot, Sharakhs, Imamzadeh Hossein,
-Karaj: AmirKabir Lake
-Zanjan: Sultanieh dome, Masjid Jome,

-Tehran: Bazaar-e Gol, Borje Milad (Gisha), Hedayet Street (Darrous), Armenian Club on 68 Khark Street, parkhaye e Jamshideh, Niavaran, Vardavard, (Hezardastan restaurant, Shahid Beheshti @ Valiasr), Hosseiniyeh Ershad, Emamzadeh Zeid, Imam Khomeini tomb, Hazrat Abdol Azim (Rey)// Darakeh, Darband (end of Meidoone Sarband, end of street, up the stairs, passed the cafes, waterfalls, to Shir Pala), (Ghavekhaneh Sonnati), Dashte Havij, near Afjeh village (in Lavasan), Tochal in Valenjak, (take gondola to last station, walk up 30 minutes), Khajeer National Park, Tangeh Savashi, Dizin, Taleghan, Shahrestanak, Lar National Park, Damavand (Daryacheye Sade Lar, Daryache Tar, Mosha Valley, Abshare Yakhi),

-Qom: Kavir National Park (Varamin), Daryacheye Sultan Namaki, Masjid e Jamkaran, Fatima Č Massummeh, Imam Hassan Askari, Masjid e Azam, eat Sohan

-Kashan: Walking on the roof (from bazaar), Emamzadeh Abdollah, Agha Bozorg Mosque, Mehrab madresseh, Khooneye Boroujerdiha, Kavire Maranjab, Baaghe e Fin, Jashnvare Gol-o Golab dar Ghamsar, then Niasar,

-Esfahan: Panj Masjid ( Masjide Jomeh, Loftollah, Shah, Imam, va Ali), Madreseye Chahar Bagh, Hasht Behesht, Sunset at Siasehpol, Jolfa quarter, view from Atashgah, Kelisa e Vank, Pole Khaju, Abbasi hotel, visit Khansar scenary, Imamzadeh Helal Ilb Ali, and Kavire Maranjab (both in Aran va Bidgol) MAsjid e Ardestan, eat Khoreshe Mast ----


-Yazd: Baadgir e Yazdi, Amir Chakhmagh, top of Chak Chak at Pire Sabz, Zarjoo, near Ardekan, see eternal flame, Dakhmeh, then towers of silence, then Shir Kuh, go to Taft, then Tezerjan, Maybod, Koohe Sir, Masjid e Rigg, Karanaq, Shahzadeh caravansarail, buy Zaffaren, eat Ghotab, shirine yazdi

-Shiraz, Masjide Vakil, Masjid Nasir Ol Molk, Madreseh Khan, Shah-e Cheragh, Emamzade-ye Ali Ebn-e Hamze, Bazare Vakil, view from top of Jomhuri St, also view from University Library, Arge Karim Khan, Baghe Eram, Bagh-e-afifabad, Bagh-e-naranjestan, Hammam-e Vakil teahouse, Aramgeh Hafez at night, Daryacheye Bakhtegan (near Neyriz), (Naqsh-e Rotam/Rajab, and Persepolis/Pasagarde), Barm Firooz (Sepidan), drink Bahare Naranji, Faloodeh e Shirazi,

-Kerman: Take road to Zabol, Shahdad-Nahbandan, Dashte Lut at sunset/sunrise, (Gandom Beriyan), Mahan, Gonbad-e-Jabaliyeh, Arge Rayen, Abarkuh, Kuhe Hazaran, Imamzadeh ye Shahzade Hossein (in Jopar), Masjide Ganjali Khan/Masjid e Malek, Masjid e Chehel Souton, Moshtari-ye MAshtaq Ali-Shah, Hammame Ebrahim Khan, Yakhchal, eat Kolempeh, Faloodeh e Kermani, Ghovatou,

-Hamedan: Estakhr e Abbas Abad viewpoint
-Kurdistan: Uramanat village, Daryacheye Zarivar (near Marivan)
-Kermanshah: Bisotun
-Lorestan: Daryache Gohar, Oshtaran Koo (in Dorood), Abshare Gale Khaneh (in Abhar),

-Koguliye va Boyer Ahmadi: (Dena, Daryacheye Kohgol near Yasooj), also Daryacheye Moor Zard Zilaei
-Chahar Mahal va Bakhtiar: Zard Kuh
-Khuzestan: Izeh, Shush (Pole Shadarvan at night), Chogha Zanbil
-Busher: visit turtles in Nakhiloo Island, eat Ghaliye Mahi, Mahyawa sauce
-Hormozgon: Qeshm island, Bandar Lengeh mountains

Alborz roads
1) Qazvin-Rasht Road
2) Karaj-Chalus Road
3) Tehran-Amol (Haraz) Road
4) Tehran-Sari (Firooz Kooh) Road - nice one

Iranian food: KooKoo Badenjan, Morasa Polo, Nan-e-Taftoon, Nane-e-Gisu (Armani), Aab e Havij/Talebi/Hendoone/Anar, Havij Bastani, Yakh dar Behesht, Ranginak, Fereni, Ghorse Khorshid, Sohan Asali, Morabaaye Seeb, Haveej, Aalbaloo, Shirin e Berenji, Shirin e Yazdi, Kolouche, Gooshe Fil, Samanu, Noghl, Sharbat, Khak sheer, Shirmal, Ghandi,

Northern Iranian food (from Caspian region): Ghalie Mahi, Ghalie Maygu, Alu Mosema, * Anar Bij, * Ash-e Fatematazahra, * Ash-e Shalqam, * Ash-e Shir, * Ash-e Qalamkar, * Ash-e Torsh, * Badenjan Torshi * baqala bij , * Baqala Qatoq, * Choqortmeh, * Darar * Haftabijar, * Halvaye Raqayeb, * Khali Ash, * Khalou Abeh, * Kolucheh Fuman, * Kolucheh Lahijan, * kuku Eshpel, * Kuku gerdu, * Longi * Mahi Dudi, * Mahi Fibij, * Morabaye Badrang, * Morabaye Bahar Narenj, * Morabaye Gol Mohammadi, * Morabaye Kadu, * Morabaye Shaqayeq, * Morabaye Velesh, * Morabaye Zoqal Akhteh, * Morq-e Torsh, * Naz Khatun, * Piyaz Torshi * Reshteh Khoshkar, * Rob e Narenj, * Rob e Anar, * Rob e Sir Torsh, * Shah Kuku, * Shami-e Rashti, * Sheshandaz, * Shirin Tareh, * Shur Mahi, * Sirabij, * Sir Qaliyeh, * Ash-e Esfenadj Torshi Kebab, Vavishka, Shir Kateh with Milk, and Jam, Sir paneer, Narenj Vahar

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I am looking to get an Iranian number, just for 3 months, and just to SMS other Iranian mobiiles. I'm looking for good coverage in villages, and far away places, like mountains, desert. Which company is better?

Thank you for helping...

Might I suggest you break this down into more digetible chunks. We're all amateurs here - enthusiatic travellers maybe but volunteers, not tourism professionals and we do this as a hobby, not a PhD dissertation.

You might also start by reading some of the pages written on various locations in Iran and either making your own notes or saving good tips to a trip planner. When you've done that, you'll find a lot of your quetions here have been answered and you csn then ask for more particular information.

1>> On the way from Gilan to Ardebil u will see some great views, great forests and mountains. i like that kind of views. (and north of Iran is full of villages)
but u may like desert view, then in Yazd i've heard u can c deserts.
In tehran also, u can go mountain climbing , enjoy the view of the city both in day and nights.
also visit Tange Vashi(or Savashi), about 2 hours away from Tehran), it's a great place between mountains, u should walk through the water in some parts. and it's fun i think. i just hope the weather would be warm enough for that.I have some of its pics on my page ,take a look at that if u like :

http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/eaf5f/1ad5ce/6/

2>> In Shiraz and Esfahan u'll find great architecture (in historical buildings). Specially Esfahan i think is a really beautiful city.

3>>(tehran) i guess u may like grand bazar,it's an interesting place full of people and whatever u can think of.(but if u go there with a friend or sth it's alot better, u won't get lost)
If u use buses or metro(subway), u'll some how get close to the locals maybe, but it's a bit dfficult.
Parks in tehran specially in the weekends i think is a good choise, seeing people picnicing and stuff like that.
and u'll be here in Iran during the new year vacation(about march 21 -april 2), esfahan and shiraz will be really crowded. but instead tehran would be ok.

4>>(Tehran) All the restaurants and fast foods around the city!(ofcourse with different qualities).
Honey Restaurants : u can find iranian food with good quality.it has different branches in Tehran.
There's another one too, Mansour Restaurants, i guess there is one in Vali Asr street in Tehran, and another one in the grand bazar of tehran, i'm not sure if u can find the one in bazar, cuz bazar is a really big place. but once i went there with my malasian friends, and i think the food was good.
there are more restaurants too, depends on ur plan and also knowing which one is the nearest to the place u are going to visit.
I don't know in which restaurant u may find food cooked with love. only mums cook like that ;)
i'll search for more.


5>> for the museums in Tehran (or anywhere) i think it's better to take a look at tips on VT. there are really great tips about all the museums on VirtualTourist.They will help u alot.

these are just too general information, tell me if u needed more detailed information.