Travel Artin

13/02/2021

Soltaniyeh is a city in Zanjan province that is dotted with ancient ruins. The most significant and impressive of these ruins, however, is the Dome of Soltaniyeh. The Dome, which is also sometimes referred to as the Mausoleum of Il-khan Öljeitü or Muhammad Khodabandeh, was even more impressive when it was first completed all the way back in 1312 AD. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is considered a key monument in the history of Islamic architecture since it is the oldest double-shell dome in the world.

12/02/2021

Throughout human history, death has always been a mysterious but sacred phenomenon. The ancient Zoroastrian practice of carrying dead bodies to the aptly named “towers of silence” for them to be the food for carrion birds and other scavengers, then covering the bones with lime and flushing the remains down a specialized system of pipes, might look macabre and morbid nowadays, but to them this was done to avoid contaminating the three sacred elements, earth, fire and water. This practice has long been abandoned, but if one would look at life through the eyes of ancient Zoroastrians, he would not only find it less morbid, but also might realize its poetry and beauty. Life belongs to the living and all dead are merely sustenance for life.

11/02/2021

Welcome to incredible Qeshm island! By walking through “Stars Valley” you’d wonder if this is another planet or aliens built this strange place since it seems quite other-worldly! Locals believe a star has hit the earth at this site and as a result of this collision, formed these geological structures.

10/02/2021

The historical house of Moshirolmolk is one of the valuable architectural masterpieces in Iran built in Safavid era in Isfahan city. The magical many colored windows passed through the sunlight will create an amazing unforgettable scene!

09/02/2021

Shah Mosque’s building was ordered by Shah Abbas I of Safavid dynasty in Isfahan adjacent to Naghshe Jahan square. The two sites have been registered as UNESCO World Heritage Sites together. Once you enter this magnificent mosque, you find yourself captivated by the masterfully decorated interior dome covered with polychrome tiles, intended to give the spectator a sense of heavenly transcendence. There's another wonderful secret hidden in the main dome’s architecture; any sound made directly under the dome bounces back and forth between the floor and the ceiling, creating an enchanting and long-lasting echo! This unique feature implemented by genius Iranian engineers creates a natural auditory echo that enables the Imam to speak with a subdued voice and still be heard clearly by everyone inside the building. If you feel your voice is not properly heard, take a chance by visiting this marvel of human engineering!
Photo: .fatemeh

08/02/2021

Qanat, the ancient underground aqueduct of Iran is an underground system of tunnels that carries freshwater from a higher water source in the mountains to the lower altitude. Ghasabeh Qanat of Gonabad built during the Achaemenid empire in Razavi Khorasan, is the oldest functioning qanat in the world. It's also one of the largest qanats in the world. Another name of Ghasabeh qanat is Keykhosrow, the legendary mythical king of Iran who as the story goes, ordered building this grand qanat. Some historians believe that Keykhosrow and his myths resonate closely to that of Cyrus the Great, the founder of Achaemenid Empire. Ghasabeh Qanat is one of the 11 Persian Qanats registered as UNESCO World Heritage Site. Get to know the genius of Persian water manahement by visiting this amazing qanat!

07/02/2021

Zein-o-Din Caravanserai is located on the ancient Silk Road in Yazd province. This amazing place is one of two caravanserais built with circular towers in 16th century. It is charmingly renovated, tastefully decorated and was given the UNESCO award for best renovated building in 2006. The world’s best stargazing spot is the desert, what’s feel better than observing the milky way in Zein-o-Din Caravanserai?! A night stay always comes with the bonus of a spectacular sunrise!

06/02/2021

Bam Citadel or Arg-e Bam is the largest adobe construction in the world located in southeast of Iran in Kerman province. This magnificent place was built during the Achaemenid empire (5th century B.C) and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Although it was severely damaged in an earthquake in 2003, an international collaboration led to the partial restoration of this spectacular structure.
Ever wondered how an ancient soldier would spend his day, where he would walk, eat dinner or hang out with his fellow soldiers? Experience it for yourself by visiting this ancient Citadel of Bam!

03/02/2021

Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System, is A UNESCO World Heritage Site consisting of water mills built 3000 years ago in Khuzestan province in southwest of Iran. The amazing fact is they’re still functioning even to this day! What feels better than chilling on the banks of Karoon river in Ahvaz city dancing to the high-tempo folk Bandari music alongside the hospitable and energetic locals?!

02/02/2021

The Khalid Nabi Cemetery is one of Iran’s most mysterious sites. It is located in a mountainous region in the northeastern province of Golestan, near the Turkmenistan border. The cemetery has got its name from the nearby shrine of Khalid Nabi, said to house the tomb of Khalid bin Sinan, a Christian prophet born in Yemen circa 530 A.D. These stunning green hills are also known as the “Valley of Genitalia”, as they are dotted with hundreds of headstones distinctly resembling male and female genitalia. The site has since become a popular tourist destination for nature lovers and anyone who is interested in ancient mysteries!

01/02/2021

Nashtifan, or the “storm’s sting” is a small town located in the south of Razavi Khorasan. Due to the strong winds that blow across the area, windmills were built near the town to harness this source of energy. Amazingly, these vertical windmills dating back to 500 A.D are still functioning today, making them the oldest windmills in the world. It wasn’t long after that windmills spread from Persia into parts of Europe and Asia, where they evolved into the more familiar horizontal axis design. For travelers and tourists there’s also the chance to taste the local bread made from flour grinded using these ancient windmills!

24/01/2021

19/01/2021

Kamancheh (literally meaning the “little bow”) is an Iranian bowed string instrument frequently present in Persian music. Playing this ethereally sounding instrument started 1000 years ago in Iran and Azerbaijan. The art of crafting and playing Kamancheh has been registered into UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists for both Iran and Azerbaijan. This instrument is played using a special type of bow made of horsehair, and this, in addition to many other factors, makes Kamancheh an essential part of musical culture in Iran. One of the most notable Iranian Kamancheh players, Keyhan Kalhor is a Grammy awards winner and a world-renowned musician from whom we present to you a short piece.

18/01/2021

Taq-e bostan which literally means the Arch of the Garden, is a site with a series of large rock reliefs from the era of the Sassanid Empire. It’s located in the heart of Zagros mountain near the city Kermanshah. Several historical scenes such as Khosrow Parviz’s coronation has been carved on it. The pleasant weather of Kermanshah province in summer, makes it a perfect destination for travelers. You shouldn’t miss visiting this amazing place!

17/01/2021

Falak-ol-Aflak or the castle of the castles is a fortress situated on the top of a large hill of the same name inside the city of Khorramabad, the regional capital of Lorestan province. This gigantic structure was built during the Sassanid era (224–651). If you ever wondered what a castle in the sky meant, you NEED to visit this amazing place.

16/01/2021

Just 2 hours away from Zanjan city, you will find this UNESCO World Heritage Site that dates back to 2500 years ago during the Sasanid empire. Some people believe it’s the birthplace of Zoroaster, the ancient Persian prophet of Zoroastrianism. The citadel contains the remains of Adur Gushnasp, a Zoroastrian fire temple and also a mosque from Ilkhanid period. There’s also a spring pond that locals believe is 100 meters deep! Visit this magnificent relic of antiquity if you get the chance, satisfaction guaranteed by us!

15/01/2021

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, located 130 kms from Tabriz , the St. Stepanos Monastery is situated in a deep canyon along the Aras river on the Iranian side of the border between Iran and Nakhichevan. This Armenian monastery was originally founded in the ninth century but it was rebuilt during the Safavid dynasty, as a result of damages suffered due to wars and natural disasters. We highly recommend visiting this historical stone monastery. This place is visited by not only the Armenian Christians but also tourists from a variety of faiths, countries and backgrounds.

14/01/2021

This beautiful garden was built during the Qajar dynasty and is one of the 9 Persian Gardens registered as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Moshir Qanat another UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of the most intriguing qanats of Iran located in the town of Mehriz. This 700-year-old water system carries the ground water from the mountains of “Gharbaliz” to, “Pahlavanpour Garden”, giving life to this stunning garden of the desert. The water is impeccably clean and refreshing due to the tunnels being free of limestone and salt rock. Be sure to check out both the qanat and the garden. Talk about hitting two birds with one stone!

13/01/2021

Tahdig is the crusty rice that can be found at the bottom of the pot. If you cook rice for a longer period of time, you’ll get the precious Tahdig. It’s that part of the food that family members fight over (in a loving way)!
Tahdig was invented by Iranians to avoid wasting the precious rice, by putting a thin layer of bread or vegetables such as potato slices, lettuce or spinach under the cooking rice. There’s also a more festive Tahdig that’s made with mixing rice with sour yoghurt, eggs, rose water and saffron for special occasions, which is super tasty. This method of cooking is applied to Iranian style spaghetti as well.
If someone offers you their portion of Tahdig, sacrificing their desire to feast on this delicious creation of Persian cuisine, be sure that they definitely love you!

11/01/2021

This historical mountain town is located in the beautiful region of Savadkooh in Mazandaran province. Alasht is an isolated town surrounded by mountains, which gives this place a cooler and snowier climate than most regions of Mazandaran. Alasht is known to historians for being the birthplace of Reza Shah Pahlavi, the founder of the Pahlavi dynasty, the last reigning monarchs of Iran. Nowadays, the historical house of Reza Shah has been turned into a museum. To astronomers, Alasht is known for being the home to the beautiful Alasht observatory, the only observatory in the north of Iran. Alasht also enjoys a natural spring and is recognized for being home to one of the few cryotherapy spots in Mazandaran.
There’s also an observatory on top of the mountain in which you can enjoy watching the starry nights! We hope that we can be your host here after the pandemic and also vaccination of course!

10/01/2021

Lut Desert is the second largest desert of Iran, after Dasht-e-kavir. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this destination is a vast salt desert in the south east of Iran, including provinces of Kerman, Sistan and Baluchistan. Lut desert also boasts the highest and tallest sand dunes in the world, which could sometimes reach 100 meters or more. It’s one of the hottest places in the world and sunset and sunrise hit different here!

09/01/2021

Bistun Inscription is a large multilingual inscription relief carved on a rocky cliff at Mount Bistun near Kermanshah city. This UNESCO World Heritage Site was built by the command of Darius the Great during the Achaemenid empire, tells the tales of Darius’s 19 victorious battles in the three well known languages of the time, Old Persian, Elamite and Babylonian. Don’t forget to visit Hercules statue that had been carved by Persians thousands years ago!

07/01/2021

The village of "Kandovan", which literally means 'where the sun rises', is a 7000 years old mountain village, hidden in the heart of “Mt. Sahand” just 35kms away from Tabriz.
What makes this place unique is the fact that the villagers of Kandovan find their houses by carving the surrounding rocks, as per ancient traditions lasting millennia. There’s no wonder that while strolling through Kandovan, tourists who have visited Cappadocia feel a sense of déjà vu. That’s because both villages share the same history. In contrast to the rocky surroundings, the villagers themselves are warm, hospitable and kind-hearted. Travelers are frequently asked inside the houses, and are usually offered dried fruits, honey and dairy products harvested by the hosts. The houses themselves need no heating or air-conditioning systems, as the insulative properties of the rocky walls protects inhabitants from the freezing winds of winter and scorching heat of summer.
Visiting Kandovan is an exceptional, rare chance for dreamers, artists and lovers, or anyone who is interested in finding a place almost frozen in time.

05/01/2021

What a delight it is, to stroll in the biggest covered bazaar in the world, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Located at the heart of Tabriz, this 700-year-old bazaar invites travelers and shoppers alike to an extent that even the 17th century Italian traveler, “Marco Polo” couldn’t refuse its call!
Ride a magic Persian carpet through this magnificent labyrinth which was an essential stop on the Silk Road. Step over and go take a look at the various stunning rows presenting countless products ranging from carefully handwoven carpets to fabulously crafted jewelry!

01/01/2021

We say goodbye to 2020 with the hope that in 2021 we'll once again turn our eyes skywards in the never-ending search for new experiences. We can’t wait to meet you here in beautiful Iran again. Wishing you a year full of blessing and filled with new adventures. Happy new year!

27/12/2020

Summer holidays don’t have to be the old sea and sand. Let’s take a break and a hike through the beautiful Zagros mountains, visiting the tranquil Gahar lake to refresh your sight and soul! To reach this remote but magical lake, you need to hike and climb for four hours through the breathtakingly spectacular Oshtorankooh mountains near Doroud town in Lorestan province. There are some places suitable for swimming but be careful as it’s deep in some places, up to 28 meters!

25/12/2020

With the arrival of the joyful Christmas season, Iranian Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ as well. Here are some photos of Christmas Day in Vank Cathedral in Isfahan province. Vank Cathedral was established in 1606 during Safavid dynasty. With breath-taking paintings and architecture, Vank Cathedral is definitely one of the best sites that you will see in beautiful Isfahan.
Peace and joy to you and yours this Christmas season!

24/12/2020

Qashqai is a collection of clans in Iran who are consist of mostly Turkic peoples and also Lurs, Kurds and Arabs. They mainly live in the center of Iran, provinces of Fars, Khuzestan, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari and Isfahan. The traditional nomadic Qashqai travel with their flocks twice yearly. They travel to the slopes of Zagros mountain during summer and for winter time they choose warmer areas near Persian Gulf. Despite the difficulties of nomadic life of nomad tribes in Iran, the simplicity and lucidity of their lifestyle makes them attractive to the eyes of outsiders. You can also experience a nomadic lifestyle, visit the locals and breathtaking Zagros hinterlands with us!

23/12/2020

Dolmeh or Dulma is a Middle Eastern dish made of grape leaves or other vegetables stuffed with rice and ground meat. It’s originally Turkish, but was adapted by Iranians at least since the Qajar dynasty. It can also be made vegan without meat so vegetarians are also welcome!

22/12/2020

Valley of the jinn or “Kal-e-jenni” is a mysterious canyon located in Southern Khorasan province. Eroded by water currents and tunnels carved through the rock by mystics of old Mithraism faith (a pre-Zoroastrianism faith during the Sassanid dynasty), its unique shape has fascinated locals and travelers throughout the eons. Locals traditionally avoid it due to its infamous reputation for supernatural phenomena, but travelers and tourists enjoy walking through this mysterious valley that holds many unknown secrets of the ancients.