Influencers reflect firsthand experience of Iran journey

TEHRAN – A group of Instagram and Twitter influencers from Turkey, Russia, Italy, Ukraine, India and China have been visiting Iran for the past couple of days.

By Afshin Majlesi

Spark your wanderlust: how influencers can help?

In the current fast-paced realm of advertising and marketing, travel influencers have changed the whole game as they have succeeded to materialize a totally new and self-directed channels to reach audiences in a more authentic and personal way, even influencing to shape their wanderlusts.

Swiss people know Iran for its ancient civilization: ambassador

TEHRAN - Swiss ambassador to Tehran has said people of his country know Iran for its ancient civilization and the significant role that the country plays in the Middle East.

By Afshin Majlesi

Words versus deeds: Are White House sanctions on Iranians economic terrorism?

Tehran accuses Washington of launching an economic terrorism against Iranian people, a claim that the U.S. denies.

Achaemenid-era clay tablets returned home after 84 years

TEHRAN – A total of 1,783 Achaemenid-era clay tablets, which were on loan from Iran to the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago since 1935, have been returned home.

By Afshin Majlesi

Austria shares know-how to boost sustainable tourism in Iran: envoy

TEHRAN – Vienna’s ambassador to Tehran, Stefan Scholz, said on Wednesday that Austria has launched a new partnership with Iran to promote an inclusive growth of tourism and economy.

By Afshin Majlesi 

Iranian adventurer tells of journey to the North Pole  

The North Pole is one of the most remote, yet inaccessible places on Earth. However, it is possible to reach there particularly in June and July when the ice is thinner.  

By Afshin Majlesi

A unique experience in life: Traveling to Iran during Muharram

TEHRAN – A unique time for visiting Iran is during the first ten days of the lunar month of Muharram, which falls from Sept. 1 to 10 this year. That’s because Iranians, who are mostly Shia Muslims, hold special ceremonies during this time. For Shia Muslims, Muharram is a turning point in the history of Islam.

By Afshin Majlesi

It’s time to rid Iran’s millennium-old brick tower of weeds

TEHRAN – It’s quite natural that weeds spread almost everywhere in a mild and humid climate; they grow, whether we like it or not!

World Tourism Day to focus on job generation, better future

TEHRAN - World Tourism Day is annually commemorated on September 27 with worldwide celebrations under the auspices of the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). 

By Afshin Majlesi

Eye-opening experience: As many Americans as possible should visit Iran

TEHRAN - Judith Bello, a long-time American peace activist, who has visited Iran for two times, believes such a journey “will be an eye-opening experience”.

By Afshin Majlesi

Meet the man whose brain makes him experiencing new forms of arts

TEHRAN – Shahram Amiri is a versatile Iranian craftsman who has always wished to experience new forms of arts from his childhood to the moment in his early sixties.

More foreign tourists spectate religious rituals while in Yazd

TEHRAN – Over the past couple of years, religious rituals have attracted more foreign travelers as spectators to Iran’s Yazd province, CHTN reported on Saturday.

 By Afshin Majlesi

Traveler recommends potential tourists to visit Iran before a “big influx”

Many tourism associates believe that Iran is still somewhat of a lesser-known destination for many avid globetrotters, saying the country, despite having enormous potentials, has a long way to go to occupy a dominant position in world tourism market.

Mounesan named acting tourism minister

TEHRAN - In a decree on Wednesday, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani appointed Ali-Asghar Mounesan as the acting tourism minister.

Medical travelers hold significant share of arrivals in Iran: tourism chief

TEHRAN – Iran tourism chief has said that medical [and health] travelers constitute a significant share of arrivals in the country.

Beat the heat with tasty Iranian cold soup “Ab Doogh Khiar”

TEHRAN – The summer heatwave here in Iran and many other places across the globe can be dealt with a refreshing recipe like the Iranian cold soup “Ab Doogh Khiar”!

By Afshin Majlesi, Mehdi Sepahvand

Belgian globetrotters share us their new perception of Iran

TEHRAN – Last Monday, a Belgian couple, who are on an overland journey to China, paid a visit to The Tehran Times, where they let us share their views, experiences and feelings about Iran in a cozy chat with the daily.

By Afshin Majlesi

Iran travel sector: Ups and downs since U.S. reimposed sanctions

TEHRAN – Last November, the Trump administration reinstated sanctions on Iran, mainly the ones that had been lifted under the 2015 nuclear deal, in order to batter Iran’s economy, however, according to official data, they have so far failed to lessen foreign arrivals to the Islamic Republic.

Preliminary studies start on fossilized skull found in western Iran

TEHRAN – Preliminary studies have been started on pieces of a fossilized skull, which was untethered earlier in western Iran. The skull is attributed to Homo sapiens.

By Afshin Majlesi

Is Iran safe for Americans to visit?

TEHRAN – The matter of security in Iran is essentially considered as a complex question for any U.S. citizen willing to visit the Islamic Republic.

Rare dovetail-joints found in UNESCO-tagged Pasargadae

TEHRAN – Personnel of Pasargadae have recently found two rare dovetail-joints, which used to attach massive stone slabs, pillars and columns in the UNESCO World Heritage site that was once the capital of the Achaemenid Empire under Cyrus the Great (559–530 BC), who ordered its construction.

By Afshin Majlesi

Worldwide Armenians to reunite at St. Thaddeus

TEHRAN – Hundreds of Christian worshippers are getting prepared to head for St. Thaddeus to observe a religious ceremony passed down from generation to generation.

Visit Portuguese Castle of Hormuz

Where you may soak up silence while traveling through time

TEHRAN – The crumbling Portuguese Castle of Hormuz Island, built in the early 16th century, is one of the last surviving monuments of the colonial rule in the Persian Gulf. It is now a tourism attraction where you can soak up the silence while traveling through time. For visitors it seems to be easy to imagine the hustle and bustle of Portuguese military forces five centuries ago!

By Afshin Majlesi

Caravanserais and time travel to forgotten ages

TEHRAN – For many travelers to Iran, staying in or even visiting a centuries-old caravanserai, can be a wide experience; they have an opportunity to feel the past, a time travel back into a forgotten age!

By Afshin Majlesi 

Cool destinations to go if you need to escape the heat in Tehran 

TEHRAN – If you can’t stand the heat in Tehran and want to take a break, don’t be disappointed!

By Afshin Majlesi

Badab-e Surt: The rolling hills and lush landscape

Sure, trips to Tehran, Isfahan or Shiraz are nice — but sometimes the best vacations come from traveling off the beaten path.

By Afshin Majlesi

 Solid growth: A review of Iran’s tourism in 1397

TEHRAN – How Iran’s tourism industry has performed over the current Iranian calendar year 1397 (ending on March 20)? Well, according to data compiled by the Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization, it has experienced a solid growth.

By Afshin Majlesi

Lipar, a small lake in pink

TEHRAN – Lipar, a small lake which usually turns pink, is an off-the-radar tourist destination in Iran, which has never been introduced completely!

By Afshin Majlesi

Poets’ Mausoleum, a prime cultural destination

TEHRAN – Poets’ Mausoleum or Maqbaratoshoara is a prime cultural destination for travelers to Tabriz. It attracts a great number of Iranian and foreign visitors interested in literature and art.