Iran Travel Guide, Gap Year Volunteering and Tours

Iran Destination Guide

Find information, advice and inspiration for travelling to Iran:

Capital: Tehran
Currency: Iranian Rial (IRR)
Size: 1.650 million km2
Population: 77,356,000 (appprox)
Language: Persian, Turkish + local dialects
Dailing Code +98

Top Reasons to Visit Iran

Challenge your misconceptions
Authentic experience, a lot less touristy than other Middle Eastern coutries
Very friendly local people
Spectacular sights
Tasty food

Best Places to See in Iran

Here are ten of the best tourist destination you try to add to your itinerary:

Tehran
Esfahan
Shiraz
Sari
Yazd
Tabriz
Kandovan
Kerman
Qom
Mashhad

View our Asia budget travel guide.

Tours in Iran

Adventure travel specialist, Oasis Overland is introducing 3 new routes to its range of overland trips: an 18 day exploration of Iran and a 49 day trip that combines overland travel across countries. If you would like to travel abroad and experience a new area of the world read on for more information. The overland journey through Turkey starts in Istanbul and heads down to Gallipoli to explore WWI battlefields before continuing east along the Turquoise Coast. Travelling through Cappadocia’s unique landscape, the trip then takes a less frequently travelled route to Eastern Turkey to explore Lake Van, climb Nemrut Dagi to see the scattered statues at the summit and view Mt Ararat, legendary resting place of Noah’s Ark.

Over the border in Iran, Oasis Overland travellers will visit fabled cities of the Silk Road such as Esfahan, follow in the footsteps of Alexander the Great at Persepolis and look out over the world’s largest inland sea, the Caspian. Much of the route is new to the company and hence these are ‘Exploratory’ trips. Aimed at those looking for an adventurous trip to little visited areas, the itineraries may not be adhered to exactly dependent on local conditions but new places may also be discovered. The journey is made in Oasis Overland’s custom built expedition truck and accommodation ranges from simple hotels to tree houses and established campsites to wild camping under the stars.

Turkey is a long-standing destination for Oasis Overland but the company visited Iran for the first time this year on its Silk Road Overland. Director, Chris Wrede states “Our travellers told us they could not believe how hospitable and friendly the Iranian people are. The Middle East and Central Asia are such fantastic regions for travellers with their fascinating history, incredible landscapes and welcoming people. Our first trip back in 1997 was the classic Istanbul to Cairo overland route and we’re pleased that we’re still able to bring travellers to the Middle East, despite some countries currently being out of bounds. In fact, as we finalised our Iran itinerary, the FCO changed its advice regarding travel there – this happens regularly for different countries as their situation changes. We always monitor local conditions closely through our local agents as well as the FCO and we have alternative itineraries in place should circumstances prevent us from travelling to an area.”