The journey
Off-the-Beaten-Path Iran
tehran · rasht · masuleh · masal · sanandaj · hawraman uramanat · kermanshah · tabriz · kandovan
No deposit, no card — you pay when you're in Iran and everything is agreed.
Green mountains, terraced villages and nomad country most travellers never see.
For the curious: the Caspian Hyrcanian forests and stepped village of Masuleh, the cloud-meadows of Masal, the Kurdish terraced landscape of Hawraman (UNESCO), and the rock village of Kandovan — culture and nature far from the classic trail.
Highlights
- Masuleh & Hyrcanian forests
- Masal 'sea of clouds'
- Hawraman terraced villages (UNESCO)
- Kandovan rock village
Day by day
Days 1-2
Tehran
Arrival; the former U.S. Embassy, Azadi Square, Darband valley in the evening.
Days 3-4
Rasht
Gilan's rice-and-fish country; the Rasht bazaar.
Days 5-6
Masal & Masuleh
Cloud-meadow views at Masal; the stepped village of Masuleh and on to Rudkhan castle.
Days 7-8
Sanandaj & Hawraman
The Moshir Divan and Khosro Abad mansions in Sanandaj; the Hawraman villages, Palangan.
Day 9
Kermanshah
Taq-e Bostan and the Bisotun inscription.
Days 10-11
Tabriz
The UNESCO-listed Grand Bazaar, the Azerbaijan and Qajar museums, El Goli park.
Days 12-13
Kandovan
The rock-cut village and the Mehr fire temple near Maragheh; departure.
Best season
- May
- Jun
- Sep
- Oct
What's included
- guide
- transfers
- village homestays & hotels
- visa support
Make this journey yours
Every itinerary is a starting point. Open it in the planner: add cities, swap hotels, and watch the price take shape as you go.