Iran's Top 10 Experiences according to Lonely Planet

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• published: 01 Sep 2014
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Iran's Top 10 Experiences according to Lonely Planet 10. Desert Homestays The welcome is rarely warmer than in the vast, empty silence of Iran's great deserts. Garmeh is the oasis village of your dreams, with a crumbling castle, swaying date palms and the sound of spring water. It's the sort of place you come for one night and stay four. 9. Skiing the Alborz Mountains Alborz is a mountain range in northern Iran stretching from the borders of Azerbaijan and Armenia in the northwest to the southern end of the Caspian Sea, and ending in the east at the borders of Turkmenistan and Afghanistan. Due to its great snowy winters there are several ski resorts, some consider that a few of these are among the best in the world. 8. Choqa Zanbil Chogha Zanbil is an ancient Elamite complex in the Khuzestan province of Iran. Chogha in Bakhtiari means hill. It is one of the few existent ziggurats outside of Mesopotamia. It lies approximately 42 km (26 mi) south-southwest of Dezfoul, 30 km (19 mi) west of Susa and 80 km (50 mi) north of Ahvaz. 7. The Islamic Republic Iran is an Islamic Republic and while most travellers find Islam is not nearly as all-pervasive as they had expected, the Shiite faith remains an important part of Iranian life. It is at its most obvious in the passionate devotion seen at monuments such as the huge Haram-e Razavi in Mashhad. 6. Nomads of the Zagros The Zagros Mountains form the largest mountain range in Iran and Iraq. This mountain range has a total length of 1,500 km. The Zagros mountain range begins in northwestern Iran and roughly corresponds to Iran's western border, and it spans the whole length of the western and southwestern Iranian plateau, ending at the Strait of Hormuz. 5. Ancient Persepolis The centre of the great Persian Empire, ceremonial capital of the Achaemenians and the showpiece of Achaemenian art, Persepolis is a historic site in Fars Province, 60 km to the northeast of Shiraz. This magnificent court was the summer residence of the Achaemenian emperors and their official reception quarters. 4. More than Kabab Chelo kabab is the national dish of Iran. The meal is simple, consisting of steamed, saffroned basmati or Persian rice and kabab, of which there are several distinct Persian varieties. This dish is served throughout Iran today, but was traditionally associated with the northern part of the country. 3. Yazd Yazd is the capital of Yazd Province, and a centre of Zoroastrian culture. Because of generations of adaptations to its desert surroundings, Yazd is an architecturally unique city. It is also known in Iran for the high quality of its handicrafts, especially silk weaving, and its confectionary. 2. Esfahan, Half of the World Located south of Tehran, it is considered by the locals to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world. An ancient town and capital of Persia from 1598 to 1722, it was long noted for its fine carpets and silver filigree. Today textile and steel mills take over their place. Its architecture, tree-lined boulevards and relaxed pace make it one of the highlights of Iran's cities. 1. Meet the People From watching the TV you could be forgiven for thinking Iranians are scary, America-hating fundamentalists bent on destroying the world. Nothing could be further from the truth. Indeed, it's the people that leave the most lasting impressions from any journey to Iran. You will regularly be asked 'What do you think of Iran?', and be bought tea and food with intonations that 'You are our guest'. The people are, quite simply, the best experience in Iran. SUBSCRIBE http://www.youtube.com/videovoyagetv?sub_confirmation=1 CONNECT Website: http://videovoyage.tv Google+: http://google.com/+videovoyagetv Twitter: http://twitter.com/videovoyagetv Instagram: http://instagram.com/videovoyagetv Tumblr: http://videovoyagetv.tumblr.com Facebook: http://facebook.com/videovoyagetv YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/videovoyagetv