The historical city of Abarkooh.

Abarkooh is a historical desert city located in Yazd province and it attracts many tourists every year because of the numerous historical and cultural heritages located in this city. Abarkooh has been located on the way of the Silk Road which had been the main route between east and west from China to the Mediterranean Sea. Another branch of the Silk Road which connected south to Khorasan passed through Abarkooh, too. The soldiers and the commanders stopped in this city for some days during their wars and campaigns and Shah Abbas the Safavid king constructed many caravanserais in this area. So the importance and the prosperity of Abarkooh has been due to the passing of the Silk Road through this city.

The cozy cottages of Kapari ecolodge.

kapari cottage ecolodge is an accommodation with a very special architecture and it is located in the south of Kerman province in a small town named Qale Ganj (the treasure castle). The cities and villages in the south of Kerman, including Qale Ganj, Jiroft and Manoujan are historical cities and pieces of evidence like Jaz Mourian basin and historical hills show that great civilizations have lived here. Keshit is a village in this area with vast palm gardens and historical castles. The weird thing about this village, which is located in the heart of the desert, is a waterfall with fresh water pouring into a small lake.

Inside a cottage in Kapari ecolodge.

Bazaar of colors!

Minab is an old coastal city in Hormozgan province in the south of Iran. The local people of Minab have an interesting lifestyle and a rich culture. It is said that bazaar exposes the mood of a society and a good way to get acquainted with the culture of a society that you haven’t met before is going to the old and traditional bazaar of that city and meeting the local people.

A woman who sells ribbons in Minab's bazaar.

Different faces of Iran in one day.

After moving from a northern to a southern city in Iran in a short time, you may ask yourself: “ Did i experience all of these different climates in one country during such a short time?!”. Because of the two high mountain ranges (Alborz and Zagros) in the north and west of Iran and the two vast deserts in the center and east of Iran, different climates and temperatures are available at the same time!

Iranian Kebabs.

Iranian people enjoy eating and cooking but they love parties and gatherings more! In their parties, they usually serve traditional cuisines of Iran like different kinds of stews and Iranian kebabs. Kebab is an old Iranian cuisine and is a good choice for gatherings and camping days of the weekends because preparing the Kebab is done by two or three people and it gathers the friends. As a custom in Iran, preparing the kebab is the men’s job so it is usually done by the men. The meat for Iranian kebab should be fresh and healthy and it is usually marinated in spices, onion, yogurt or different sauces some hours earlier.

Grilling the kebab is the fun part. Friends gather around the broiler, while the meat is getting done and it spreads an appetizing smell in the whole area. Persian kebab is served with saffron steamed rice or Lavash bread. Sumac, Salad Shirazi (chopped tomato and cucumber with mint and verjuice), raw onion and basil are the inseparable mates of Iranian Kebab.

The castle of the Assassins.

There are many vague and mysterious tales about Alamut fortress and the things happened there. On 602 AD, a group of missionaries, who were named the Assassins, seized Alamut castle on the heights of northern Iran and selected it as their hideaway and military base. The leader of the Assassins, who named Hassan e Sabbah, lived in this fortress for 35 years and was known as “The Mountain Man”. He tried to propagate Ismaili faction and believed that Iran should have the same level of prosperity as it had before Arabs conquered Iran.

Ovan Lake.

"Bayazeh", village of history in Iran.

If you take a look at “Bayazeh” village and the barrens around from afar, you will see a white land in the middle of the desert that looks like a snowy land, but this silverness is due to the salt covering the sand of the desert! “Bayazeh” historical village, which has been a cultural center in the past, is located in Khur o Biyabanak town of Isfahan province, at the center of Iran.

KLM flights to Iran are going to be resumed.

KLM Royal Dutch Airline is about to resume the flight services to Tehran, the capital of Iran from October 30, 2016. KLM had operated services to Tehran since July 1991 until the route was suspended in 2013.  Four weekly flights are going to be operated between the Schiphol Airport of Amsterdam and Imam Khomeini Airport of Tehran.

Ice-climbing in Iran.

Ice-climbing is a very exciting activity similar to rock-climbing, added with ice and cold. Ice-climbing is the activity of climbing different ice formations with technical tools. A climbing route can be a frozen waterfall, a rock slab covered with refrozen flowing water or an inclined glacier. Due to lots of mountains in the north and North West of Iran and the cold weather in these areas, there are many places available for ice-climbing. Some of them will be mentioned in the following:

The beauties of Nayband port in Bushehr.

 Nayband is located on the Persian Gulf’s coast in Bushehr province, in the south of Iran. South of Iran is a fantastic destination for winter and Nayband National Park and its historical village is one of the most beautiful coastal areas along the beaches of the Persian Gulf. The historical evidences indicate that Nayband has been a scouting spot during Sassanid Empire (founded 224) and it has been an important bay for pearling and trading the pearls during the Buyid dynasty (founded 934).

The stunning Carpets of Qahqai Nomads.

Qashqai carpet (one of the most fantastic types of Persian carpets), is as colorful and cheery as the culture and the customs of the Qashqai nomads. Qashqais, who are a big nomadic population in Iran, live on the wealds of Fars province and their music and carpets are inspired by the wildlife around. The weavers simply imitate the flowers and the wild or tamed animals on the carpet and express their feelings with the colors they choose. What is more artistic than performing the pure feelings, fears and wishes in form of motifs? Some other Qashqai rugs show noble motifs of Iran, like “Lachak o Toranj”, “Maahi dar ham”, “Chelipa” (cross), peacock, lion and cypress tree, which are all legendary motifs of ancient Persian carpets. These hand-made masterpieces are registered by the UNESCO as a cultural heritage.

A Qashqai woman spinning the wool for weaving a carpet.

The tower of silence in Yazd.

Yazd has been the main city where the Zoroastrians lived after Islam conquered Iran. Zoroastrians believed in the sacredness of fire, water, wind and soil and they kept their environment so clean to avoid the impurity of the natural elements. Therefore they kept the dead bodies, which were considered impure, away from the soil. They constructed a round walled area covered with rocks on the top of a conical hill out of the city and measured the wind direction to prevent any impurity to the city and the soil. This area was divided into three parts for men, women and children.

Top of the Tower of Silence.

Shushtar’s Historical Hydraulic System.

Shushtar is an old city in Khuzestan province, the land of ancient civilizations like Elimate, Achaemenid and Sassanid. Many magnificent monuments like, Choqazanbil ziggurat and the tomb of Daniel the prophet are located in Khuzestan and Shushtar’s Historical Hydraulic System, which is one of the most important historical monuments of Khuzestan, dates back to the kingdom of Darius the Great in the 5th century B.C.

Nomads of colors.

Qashqais are Turk nomads, living in Fars province of Iran especially in Firuzabad. Animal husbandry is the main job of Qashqai nomads and they migrate between summer quarters (yeylaq) and winter quarters (qishlaq) to find better pastures for their herd, every year as the seasons change. During the cold season, they set up their tents in southern areas of Fars, like Jahrom, Lar and Firuzabad, while in summer they travel to northern cities of Fars, like Abadeh, Sepidan and Zagros Mountains.

The black handmade tents of Qashqai nomads are made of goat hair and they are propped with timbers and woolen strings. These tents are embellished with stunning pieces of carpets like colorful kilims, small pieces of rugs and Gabbeh. The eye-catching margins and the fine wool, dyed with herbs, like madder and mignonette are the reasons that these stunning and high-quality carpets are inscribed as an intangible world heritage by the UNESCO.

A Qahqai tent on the pasture.

5 reasons to visit Iran in 2017.

1. Iran is home to folks and ancient civilizations.

Old civilizations and empires like Elamite (3000 BC), Achaemenid (550 B.C) and Sassanid (224 A.E) were in Iran and inherited their glorious monuments and precious utensils for history lovers and tourists who like to travel to thousands of years ago! Different Iranian folks and nomads with a unique culture and interesting traditions live in Iran. You will meet Turks, Kurds and Lurs in west, Baluchs and Turkmans in east and north-east of Iran and acquaint with lifestyle and beliefs of Iranian nomads.

2. Iran is the land of fabulous architecture and stunning handicrafts.

In every city, you will explore architecture masterpieces, including mosques, caravanserais and historical houses with dazzling ornaments, dating back to Islamic dynasties like Safavid and Qajar or even pre-Islam Empires like Achaemenid and Sassanid. Each city of Iran has its own beautiful handicraft. World known Persian carpets, hand weaved textiles of Yazd, earthen dishes of Hamedan, different kinds of wood crafts and copper dishes of Kerman and Isfahan are some fantastic handicrafts of Iran.

3. Iran has great traditional cuisines.

Iranians love cooking and eating! In each city and region, the local people cook traditional cuisines, which are in harmony with the area they live in. Visit different cities of Iran and enjoy the Iranian kebab, spicy seafood of southern cities and tasty sweets of Yazd in the east of Iran.

4. Iran has incredible natural landscapes.

Due to the unique geometrical properties of Iran plateau, you will see dazzling natural attractions and landscapes in this country. The dense forests of the north, warm and stunning beaches of the south, the wonderful Lut desert and wild mountains of Zagros range, covered in ice, are some of the natural attractions of Iran.

5. Iran is safe and the people are hospitable.

Some tourist who haven’t visited Iran might have been warned that Iran is an unsafe country, but according to what the tourists who have visited Iran say, no matter where you are from you will be safe in Iran and the police will support you, responsively. Iranians are known as very hospitable and generous people and you will feel good, spending time with them during your tour to Iran.

Check out the diverse tours of Uppersia and pick your favorite one for 2017!

A tourist in Persepolis. 

Yazd, the city of soil and sunshine.

Yazd is known as the city of bikes, sweets, qanats, fire and sunshine! Yazd is the oldest adobe city and the second historical city of the world after Venice. The antiquity of 5000 years is claimed for Yazd and this city has been known as a safe place on the Silk Road.

This city has fabulous attractions, like Amir Chakhmaq square which is a world heritage site, registered by UNESCO and Jaame mosque, a masterpiece of Persian architecture with dazzling tile works. The Zoroastrian fire temple (Atash Bahram), with a fire burning for 1500 years, is another unique attraction of Yazd.

Tourists exploring Yazd.

Myths of Takht- e Suleiman!

Takht- e Suleiman, which was once known as “Shiz”, is a historical square, in North West of Iran, near Takab town of Azerbaijan province. This ancient area which is registered by UNESCO is a mysterious and weird land and many legendary and imaginary stories are told about this place. Takht- e Suleiman includes remains of monuments related to Sassanid and Ilkhanate dynasty but this area has also been a center for religion and culture during Achaemenid and Parthian era and its antiquity dates back to 3000 years ago. It is said that Takht- e Suleiman has been the birthplace of the Zoroaster!

Ali Sadr cave, the biggest water cave in the world!

Ali Sadr is the biggest water cave of the world, created during Jurassic era, about 190 million years ago! This cave is located in Hamedan province in west of Iran and it is about 2100 meters high above the sea level.

.Tourists in Ali Sadr Cave

"Masuleh village"

Masuleh is one of the most beautiful villages in the north of Iran. It is located on the heights, covered in dense forests with oak and alder trees. This village is about 800 years old and the weather is usually cool, rainy and fresh even in summer days. Heavy rain, snowfalls and the cold weather starts in November and continues until the first days of March in Masuleh, but autumn days of Masuleh pass with milder weather and lighter rain, while the forest is colored in different tones of yellow and orange.

The traditional bazaar of Masuleh village.

Jolfa district of Isfahan.

 Shah Abbas I, the Safavid king since 1587 B.C, displaced the Armenians, who lived in Jolfa city of Azerbaijan region (northwest of Iran) to Isfahan and paid a lot of attention to them. Gradually, other Armenians of Iran migrated to Isfahan and many Armenians were gathered in Isfahan. Shah Abbas built them big houses and Cathedrals and they named their district "Jolfa".

Jolfa is a very beautiful district and its architecture shows an interesting contrast in the heart of Isfahan. The cobblestone alleys lighted by old poles, the nice houses with brick walls and the pleasant and peaceful silence, make the whole district a nostalgic and lovely area, where you like to stroll in, for hours.

The vank cathedral in Jolfa district of Isfahan.

The wonderful Treasury of National Jewels.

The Treasury of National Jewels of Iran, also known as the National Jewels Museum, is an incomparable collection of precious and stunning jewels collected over centuries. This museum, which is one of the most important attractions of Iran, is located on Ferdowsi Street in Tehran and it is owned by Central Bank of Iran. These fantastic jewels are a part of Iran’s culture and history and they have survived wars and robberies.

The kings of Safavid dynasty started to collect the precious jewels in Iran and bought new jewels from India, Ottoman and Europe to decorate their capital, Isfahan. When Mahmoud Afghan occupied Iran during Afsharid dynasty, he plundered the treasury and sent it to India. Nader Shah, King of Afshari dynasty, campaigned to India and took back the collection, but many of the jewels were lost on the way back. After Nader shah was murdered in 1747 B.C, the treasure was plundered once again and the legendary Kuh- e Nur, which is one of the world’s biggest pieces of diamond, got locked in Tower of London. Today this collection, which was promoted by Qajar and Pahlavi rulers, is kept in the Central bank of Iran and the shiny Kuh-e Nur is back home!

The Kuh- e Nur diamond.

1000 stairs to Rudkhan castle.

Rudkhan castle is a brick and stone made building, located on the heights of Fuman city in Gilan province. This historical castle with an area of 2.6 hectares, is in the northern forests of Iran and a river flows near it. This monument has been constructed during Sasanid Empire and it was rebuilt during Seljuq dynasty (founded 10th century) and used as a military base.

Rudkhan castle has two main parts, including a citadel on the west of the complex, where the governors and their families lived and an arsenal on the east, for military activities and residence of the soldiers. 40 towers, covered with domes, have surrounded the castle and it is said that no enemy could ever breakthrough this castle and it has never been conquered.

Architectural ornaments like the pointed arcs and beautiful brickworks make this Persian architecture masterpiece much more attractive and many tourists visit this old monument every day especially during spring and autumn when the weather is mild and the nature around is fantastic. Passing the route to Rudkhan castle is an adventure itself. You have to pass a stair path with about 1000 stairs for reaching there. Don’t worry, the route goes through a beautiful forest and the weather is so nice that you won’t feel tired on the way up to Rudkhan castle! Enjoy the beauties of Northern Iran and know more about Rudkhan castle in Iran North by Northwest tour of Uppersia travel.

Rudkhan castle in winter.

Bridges to Safavid dynasty!

Isfahan, known as the city of blue tiles, is one of the most touristic cities of Iran. Walking in Isfahan is like exploring a great museum of Persian arts and stunning monuments, which are constructed based on architectural proportions and aesthetics and ornamented with fabulous brick and tile works. Isfahan has been the capital of Iran during Safavid dynasty and many of the stunning monuments belong to that era. The beautiful bridges on Zayanderud River, connecting the two parts of Isfahan are fabulous samples of Safavid architectural masterpieces in Isfahan.

You can walk by the Zayanderud River for about one hour and visit three of these historical bridges built over this river, which is so precious to the people of Isfahan, because of providing water for agriculture and making their city a much more beautiful place.

Si-o-Seh pol (33 bridges): This bridge has been constructed during the kingdom of Shah Abbas I, in 1596 B.C. Si-o-Seh pol, known as the longest bridge on Zayanderud River, is 295 meters long and 14 meters wide. According to the old travel books written by globetrotters who traveled to Iran during Safavid era, the people of Isfahan used to celebrate the “Ab Rizan” ceremony near this bridge. “Ab Rizan” was a fun summer festival, including swimming in the river and pouring water on each other!

Si-o-Seh pol Bridge in Isfahan. 

10 reasons to travel to Chabahar this autumn:

Are you looking for a getaway from autumn rain and the cloudy weather? Do you miss spring weather and its mild sunshine? Chabahar is a coastal destination with a very mild weather and nice sunshine, the attractions are stunning and most importantly, it is not crowded!

Chabahar Seaport is a free trading zone on the coast of the Gulf of Oman, in the south east of Iran. Chabahar means Four Springs (Chahar= four/ Bahar= spring) and it shows the mild weather during four seasons of the year in this seaport, which is due to being located near the Equator line. In addition to the fabulous weather and the safety, Chabahar has unique natural and cultural attractions that make this place a great destination especially during autumn and winter:

1. The beach: Chabahar has the most amazing beach in Iran. You can have a long walk on the sea shore and step where it seems that nobody has stepped before! Enjoy the magical sunrise and sunset on the rocks and save the image in your memory.

Chabahar's beautiful beach.