By Rohan Cahill-Fleury

Explore Iran’s wondrous Persian Gulf islands you’ve never heard of

The Persian Gulf is home to all kinds of undiscovered natural beauty. Islands are not something usually associated with the desert land of Iran. But in this vast and beautiful country, there is a bit of everything. The islands of the Persian Gulf are home to a plethora of geographical wonders, they’re easy to get to, cheap to visit, and have great weather. Yet most people don’t even know they exist.

Discover Kandovan, the lesser-known fellow of Cappadocia

TEHRAN – Iran’s historical village Kandovan, which is situated in Osku county of East Azarbaijan province, pretty much resembles the Turkish fellow Cappadocia. However, Kandovan is lesser-known when it comes to tourism.

Iran, Armenia seek to deepen tourism ties through signed agreements

TEHRAN – A delegation of Armenian economic, tourism and media representatives has arrived in Iran, exploring ways to deepen bilateral ties thanks to previous agreements signed by the two neighbors over the past three decades.

By Mohammad Ali Haqshenas

Jakarta’s Old Town, a must-see destination frozen from colonial era

JAKARTA (MNA) – Entering the town’s main square, one can truly feel Dutch colonial rule and its architectural touches which have remained almost in a good shape.

Aras Geopark one step closer for being global

TEHRAN – Iran is completing an all-inclusive dossier for its Aras Geopark hoping the northwestern area to be registered on the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization’s Global Geoparks list.

Esfahak rural landscape nominated for TO DO Award

TEHRAN – Esfahak rural landscape and its cultural heritage has become a nominee for the TO DO Award, which is presented by the German Institute for Tourism and Development.

Explore tastes of Italy in Tehran

TEHRAN – The Extraordinary Italian Taste Week opened during a special ceremony at the Ketab Elahieh (a cultural complex and bookstore) in northern Tehran on Sunday, opening an opportunity for enthusiasts and foodies to explore another tastes of Italy in the Iranian capital.

Festival showing nomadic rituals, crafts and arts

Tribespeople from every corner of Iran are showing their nomadic rituals, lifestyle, cuisine, crafts and arts in a four-day festival, which opened to the public in Gonbad-e Kavus, northern Golestan province, on November 17, 2019.

Chinese arrivals on the rise in Iran

TEHRAN - The number of Chinese arrivals in Iran has increased as of late June since the country allowed visa-free entry for visitors from China, deputy tourism minister has said.

Tehran-Rome co-op gains momentum following Islamic Revolution, Italian envoy says

TEHRAN – Decades of Tehran-Rome collaboration in the arenas of archaeology and cultural heritage has gained momentum following the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Italian Ambassador to Iran Giuseppe Perrone said on Sunday.

Sales of Gorgan tribal festival jump 70 percent yr/yr

TEHRAN – Sales of handicrafts, souvenirs and foodstuff in an annual nomadic festival in the city of Gorgan, northern Golestan province, rose 70 percent from a year earlier, a provincial tourism official has said.

By Samaneh Shahrinejad

An in-depth look at garments of Turkmen people in Iran

Golestan province is home to various ethnic groups including Turkmen, Kazak, Katoul, Qizilbash Turk, Baluch, Semnani, Khorasani amongst others. The northern Iranian province enjoys a colorful landscape and different subcultures as well.

Foreign visits to Ardebil’s museums jump 97 percent

TEHRAN – - The number of foreign visitors to Ardebil’s heritage museums jumped some 97 percent during the first seven months of the current Iranian calendar year (started March 21), corresponding to the same period last year.

Bastak petroglyphs to go on show at National Museum

TEHRAN – Two of the Bastak petroglyphs, which bear ancient maritime figures, will go on display at the National Museum of Iran in order to highlight cultural heritage of the southern Hormozgan province.

Swiss tour operators to start fam tour across Iran

TEHRAN - A group of 30 Swiss tour operators and travel agents are to commence a familiarization tour across Iran with the aim of getting acquainted with its potential in terms of travel destinations, natural landscapes, local people and their traditions.

Discover top five Russian folk crafts

Torzhok’s goldwork embroidery, Yelets lace, Nizhny Tagil’s decorative trays, Fedoskino lacquer miniatures and Rostov enamel: we will tell you where to go to learn about traditional Russian crafts and buy original souvenirs. Let’s get started, or as the Russians say — Poekhali!

Iran, Italy to mark 60 years of collaboration in cultural heritage

TEHRAN – Iran and Italy will mark 60 years of collaboration in the fields of cultural heritage and archaeology in a conference, which will be held on Sunday at the National Museum of Iran in downtown Tehran.

New train tour launched to Iranian desert

TEHRAN – Iran’s Raja Rail Transportation Company has launched a new weekly train tour to the central Iranian desert and its neighboring historical and natural attractions, Mehr reported.

Garmsar hosts festival of nomadic lifestyle, crafts and arts

TEHRAN – Tribespeople from eleven Iranian provinces came together in Garmsar to showcase their nomadic lifestyle, handicrafts and arts in a festival, which was held in the central Iranian city on Thursday and Friday.

Iran promoting tourism, traditions and arts at Ankara exhibit

TEHRAN – Iranian exhibitors, tour operators, artists and craftspeople are promoting tourism, traditions and arts of the ancient land at the 4th Travelexpo Ankara (locally named “Turizm ve Seyahat Fuari”, which is currently underway at the Turkish capital city.

Bust of Ferdowsi now graces university in Russia

TEHRAN – A bust of Ferdowsi, one of the most celebrated Persian poets, has recently been installed at the North Ossetian State University, which is one of the largest public institutions in the south of Russia, IRNA reported.

New postal stamp marks UNESCO’s designation of Hyrcanian Forest

TEHRAN – Iran has issued a new commemorative postal stamp to mark UNESCO’s designation of Hyrcanian Forest, which form a green arc of jungle, separated from the Caucasus to the west and from semi-desert areas to the east.

Gorgan festival showing deliciousness of nomadic arts, crafts, dishes and rituals

TEHRAN – Clusters of Turkmen people, who are natives of Iran’s Golestan province, are doing their best in a four-day festival to well introduce and show nomadic arts, crafts, dishes, rituals and genuine hospitality they have preserved from generation to generation.

A Captive Spirit: Marina Tsvetaeva’s Russia

There are more museums dedicated to Russian and Soviet poet Marina Tsvetaeva and her family in Russia than to any other poet. Here is a list of the top places to visit in Tsvetaeva’s Russia, which are dotted all over the country, from Tarusa to Feodosia. Let’s get started, or as the Russians say — Poekhali!

Tens of Russian guests tour Qazvin historical sites

TEHRAN – Some 70 Russian artists, literati and diplomats on Monday toured historical sites in Qazvin as part of programs in line with holding Russia's cultural week in Iran.

By Afshin Majlesi

Hoz-e Sultan: Discover huge natural mirror in central Iranian plateau

TEHRAN – Iranian landscape, as you probably know, changes dramatically from region to region; snow-capped mountains, barren plains and deserts, green valleys, coastal lands and various-sized islands to name a few.

Tehran, Bern ink MOU on tourism co-op

TEHRAN – Iran and Switzerland have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to expand cooperation in the tourism sector, CHTN reported.

Foreign ambassadors, diplomats invited to tribes festival

TEHRAN – A number of foreign ambassadors, diplomats, as well as cultural and economic attaches have been invited to attend a regional nomadic festival, which opens today in Iran’s northern Golestan province.

Traditional Russian textiles on show at Tehran exhibit

TEHRAN – On Monday, an exhibition of traditional Russian textiles, including handwoven needlework and embroideries, opened to the public at the Niavaran Cultural-Historical Complex in northern Tehran.

Iranian on round-the-globe camelback journey hoping to save the animal from extinction

TEHRAN – Mohammad Amiri-Roudan, an Iranian traveler and athlete, who has commenced a journey across the globe on camelback, aims to draw worldwide attention to the Iranian Bactrian camel, which he says, is on the verge of extinction.