BootsnAll Travel Community

After reading through past discussion topics I noticed there really isn't much on Iran. There is a random question about Iran visas here and there, but not much about in-country advice. So, I am planning on using global exchange to do a trip in Iran. I am looking for advice on must see places in Iran, and about the safety of Iran. I know the US has a travel alert right now for Iran (along with dozens of other safe countries), saying that tourists have been held for months there. So, if anyone has been to Iran and can share some tips and advice that would be very helpful. Thank you!

I have just spent 4 weeks in Iran. If any one tells you that Iran is not safe it is very obvious that they have not been there and are simply talking out of their ars!!! So do not listen to them..... Off course you have the big ticket Items Esfahan Yazd and Shiraz I would rate them in that order Esfahan being #1 Fantastic city very chilled! Yazd is pact full of character and Shiraz well, it has Persepolis. Aside from those guys, I went to a little desert Oasis called Garmeh. It was a fantastic place to relax and chill out for a couple of days and in contrast to what lonely planet says it is very easy to get to and from. The desert trips that one can organize out of Kerman are cool. We checked into pre booking one when we where in Tehran. The guy said we where looking at $100. We waited and when we got to Kerman we shopped around and got a good trip for about $25 a day. I could recommend a good local guide for that if you like. I can not say much for Tehran I spent 4 days there trying to sort out visas for onward travel. I felt it was a waste of time a little bit. If you do find your self in Tehran the bazzar is a good one. We did some hiking for a few days in the mountains near Qazvin. Very nice scenery in Alamut area. Get a guide book and go about a trip to Iran in the same way you would if you where going to Thailand or New Zealand. Just dive right in....The lonely planet I had for Iran was 4 years old and things had changed since then. Prices of everything where much higher but still a great deal. There was a new bus running from Kerman to Zabol and night busses where operating from Kerman to Zaheden..... The guide book was not kidding when it stated that the Iranian people are good people and "redefine hospitality" If some one invites you for dinner or an ice cream or if you find you’re self being invited to a picnic as you where simply passing by do not hesitate just go with it. The Iranian people take great pride in caring for their guests!!! It sounds funny but you will see what I mean. Have a great time it’s a cool country and do take a tea spoon!

Any of the places you'd likely visit while in Iran (cities in those provinces north of Kerman) are all perfectly safe. That said, contrary to T's advice, I'd recommend staying out of southern Baluchistan. While most bus routes change often so as to avoid the ever-emerging, ever-changing illicit trade routes, and the armed smugglers that pervade them, it's still a dangerous area. (I know the area well. And though I've tried to get a ventriloquist act going, I am entirely incapable of talking out of my ars.)

That said, Iranians are, by and large, very friendly and hospitable, and you're unlikely to run into trouble or be "held" by anyone. Providing Israel doesn't bomb Tehran sometime in the next eight months, you'll be fine. Metropolitan Iran and the rural northern countryside are as safe as Turkey.

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though I've tried to get a ventriloquist act going, I am entirely incapable of talking out of my ars.)

Ha ha .... My apologies I did not mean to offend.

I wouldnt go camping in the baluchistan province but transport through is perfectly fine. We hitch hiked through to Zabol from Shahdad at the recommendation of our guide in Kerman. Things can change but when I was there the locals said there was no problems with transport in this area. I was there two weeks ago.

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Originally posted by T-:

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though I've tried to get a ventriloquist act going, I am entirely incapable of talking out of my ars.)

Ha ha .... My apologies I did not mean to offend.

No worries, brother. I wasn't offended.

For the most part you're right. Those who tend to describe Iran as a whole as dangerous are generally talking out of their ars.