Staying cool in waterfalls

A man jumps from a waterfall to both escape the summer heat and have fun in Haviq district, northern Gilan province, June 22, 2020.

Iranian airlines start selling Tehran-Istanbul tickets

TEHRAN – Some Iranian airline companies have resumed selling tickers for Tehran-Istanbul flights, the secretary of the Association of Iranian Airlines has said.

Prehistorical petroglyph bearing Pahlavi script discovered in central Iran

TEHRAN – A prehistorical petroglyph, which bears Pahlavi script written by ordinary people of the time, has recently been found during an archaeological survey in Teymareh region of Khomein county, central Iran.

Tabas Geopark moves closer to possible UNESCO registration

TEHRAN – An extensive dossier, which is an essential prerequisite for possible UNESCO inscription of a site, has almost been completed for the gigantic Tabas Geopark, which is situated in east-central Iran.

Iran ‘has earned plaudits’ to ease COVID-19 impact on tourism, UNWTO says

TEHRAN – The United Nations World Tourism Organization has praised efforts made by Iran's tourism ministry to manage the travel industry during the coronavirus pandemic.

Iranian cave estimated to date over 63,000 years

TEHRAN – Nearly one decade of archaeological surveys at Kaldar cave has concluded that parts of this western Iranian shelter date more than 63,000 years.

Khoy, an ancient town of sunflowers, snowcapped mountains

TEHRAN – Khoy may not be on every traveler’s radar, but it is a natural fit for eco-tourists as it offers loads of scenic hikes, panoramic views besides colorful geological features. Khoy has long been a melting pot of cultural exchange.

Achaemenid clay tablets, Iron Age relics, and skeleton to go on show at Qazvin museum

TEHRAN – A batch of recovered Achaemenid-era (550-330 BC) clay tablets, which were on loan from Iran to the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago since 1935, along with an Iron Age collection composed of a human skeleton and burial relics, will be displayed at a museum in the city of Qazvin.

Govt. permit to ensure quality of agritourism in Iran

TEHRAN – Iran’s deputy tourism chief Vali Teymouri has said permits will be granted to eligible tour operators to launch their agritourism businesses, aiming to set certain standards in a move to ensure the quality of such services in the country.

Centuries-old subterranean shelter found during well drilling

TEHRAN – A relatively-vast underground shelter which is estimated to date back to 250 years ago was accidentally found during a well drilling process at the premises of a private house in a village in Gonabad county, northeast Iran.

Excavations at Iranian mosque unearth new evidence on life in early Islamic era

TEHRAN – Some historical objects have been unearthed during a round of archaeological excavation, which is currently underway in a centuries-old congregational mosque in Rasht, the capital of Gilan province, northern Iran.

Millennia-old footwear: the art of Giveh-weaving in Shiraz

Photos depict craftspeople making pairs of Giveh -- traditional footwear being produced in the Iranian plateau for millennia – at a workshop in Shiraz, southern Iran, June 9, 2020.

Coronavirus may move travel into ‘the realm of luxury’ in Iran

TEHRAN – The coronavirus pandemic may turn tours and travels in Iran into luxury items as observing health protocols will rise the cost of travel in the country, Mohammad Ali Vaqefi, the vice president of the Iranian Tour Operators Association, has warned.

Archaeological survey to offer new glimpses of troglodytic architecture in northern Iran

TEHRAN – A team of Iranian archaeologists has started work on troglodyte shelters in a northern Iranian region, believing that they are still giving up long-buried secrets.

Iran to launch capsule hotels at airports, train stations

TEHRAN – Iran aims to install capsule hotels at some of its airports, railway stations, and passenger terminals to promote cheap and basic overnight accommodation for travelers.

All Iranian airports shielded against virus pandemic: EASA

TEHRAN – The European Union Aviation Safety Agency has recently published a list of airports worldwide it has concluded being shielded against the coronavirus outbreak, evaluating “all airports” in Iran as safe.

Skiing without snow: forest ski resort to open in northwest Iran

TEHRAN – Forest skiing will be added to charms of touristic Ardebil province in northwest Iran this year.

Excavations reveal rare find of Bronze Age culture in Iran

TEHRAN – Iran has recently unearthed a rare Bronze Age culture, related settlements and relics following to rounds of excavation in a plain near the north-central city of Qom.

Tarikhaneh: the oldest existing mosque in Iran

Photos depict scenes from Tarikhaneh Mosque, which was once a Sassanid-era (224–651) temple, located near the modern city of Damghan, central Iran, June 2, 2020.

Once public bathhouse now an anthropological museum

TEHRAN - Once a hammam (public bathhouse) in the town of Jajarm, northeast Iran, the monument has lost its original usage as pile water is ubiquitous in almost every corner of the ancient land. The bathhouse is now an anthropological and cultural heritage museum depicting scenes of the lives of people in the past.

Digital marketing workshop aims to promote tourism, handicrafts

TEHRAN – Tehran department of the Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts will host an online educational workshop on digital marketing management on June 9-16.

Visit Imam Jomeh House solely or on tour of ‘Old Tehran’

Imam Jomeh House is a magnificent structure and one of the magnificent buildings that stand tall in the historical core of Tehran.

Coronavirus: Iran preparing to reopen doors to foreign travelers

TEHRAN – Iran’s tourism ministry has forecast that the country will start hosting foreign travelers as of mid-summer with the priority given to travelers from the neighboring countries.

By Seyed Hossein Hosseiniseddiq

Shahroud, the land of five climates

Shahroud is the city of my ancestors and the summer city, where most of my childhood and adolescence summers were spent. A city where forests, mountains, and deserts meet. This feature has given the city a special tourist status, called the “small continent”. In this article, I will introduce some of the tourist attractions of this small continent.

Discover how pinnacle of art, genius of ancient architects turned natural arch into full-fledged stronghold

TEHRAN – A good amalgam of natural landscape and human genius has created what modern visitors witness at Sepahbod Khorshid Cave, which was once a unique defensive architecture during the Sassanid era (224–651 CE).

No restrictions for organizing package tours: deputy minister

TEHRAN – Iran’s deputy tourism minister Vali Teymouri has said that the ministry sees no restrictions for organizing package tours by travel agencies as far as health protocols to curb the coronavirus are observed.

Ancient watermill in central Iran restored for tourism

TEHRAN – An underground ancient watermill, which is said to be the biggest of its kind in Iran, has been restored by the private sector after decades of abandonment as a new destination for sightseers and history buffs.

Qeshm Geopark could lose UNESCO tag

TEHRAN – Iran’s southern Qeshm Geopark could lose its UNESCO status due to years of large-scale shrimp hatchery operations that could be referred to as an example of environmental mismanagement in the country.