Skip to content
Build Your Trip Wizard

Mazandaran

Badab-e Surt

Iran's otherworldly terraced springs

17°C · StormyBest season: April-June (mild temperatures, lush surroundings)
Badab-e Surt
3 highlights · tap a pin

Badab-e Surt is a natural staircase of travertine terraces high in the Alborz foothills above Sari — pools of mineral water in vivid white, orange and red, deposited over millennia by two springs (one salty, one iron-rich). Iran's quieter, wilder answer to Turkey's Pamukkale, it glows at sunrise and sunset amid remote highland pasture, reached by a rough mountain road from the Caspian side.

Next 5 days

Sun
23°
13°
Mon
13°
7°
Tue
10°
6°
Wed
12°
4°
Thu
14°
7°

Top places to see

  1. 1

    Main Terrace Complex

    Vibrant stepped pools with mineral-rich waters Unique coloration and geological rarity in Iran

    Where
    Orost
    Time needed
    2-3 hours
    Opening hours
    Open daylight hours; no entrance fee (verify before travel)
  2. 2

    Upper Springs

    Lesser-visited source pools with stronger mineral content Origin point of terrace-forming waters

    Where
    Orost
    Time needed
    1 hour
    Opening hours
    Access via unmarked trails (local guide recommended)
  3. 3

    Viewpoint Trail

    Elevated path overlooking entire formation Panoramic vistas of colorful terraces

    Where
    Orost
    Time needed
    45 minutes
    Opening hours
    Uneven terrain; best visited mornings for photography
See all journeys

On the map

Food

Mahi DudiMirza Ghasemi
← All destinations