• Alborz Mountains (north Iran) — Damavand (5,610m), Tochal above Tehran, Alamut Valley; accessible from the capital
• Zagros Mountains (west Iran) — massive chain running NW–SE; dramatic gorges; Kurdish highland villages; less visited by international trekkers
• Mount Sabalan (4,811m, Azerbaijan Province) — volcanic peak with crater lake; good acclimatization before Damavand
• Qeshm Island (Persian Gulf) — geological park; star valleys and salt caves; unique low-altitude desert trekking

• Alborz range — geologically young volcanic chain; Damavand’s symmetrical cone visible from Tehran on clear days
• Zagros highlands — ancient folded mountain chain; limestone ridges; oak forests; traditional pastoral landscapes
• Tochal above Tehran — cable car to 3,964m; extraordinary panoramas over one of the world’s largest cities
• Alamut Valley (Alborz foothills) — the Valley of the Assassins; dramatic gorge with Nizari Ismaili fortress ruins
• Iranian plateau — vast semi-arid interior; Dasht-e Kavir and Dasht-e Lut deserts; geologically dramatic

• Damavand via South Route — 3–4 days; 5,610m; Asia’s highest volcano; standard non-technical approach from Polur via Bargah-e Sevom hut (4,220m)
• Tochal above Tehran — 1 day; 3,964m; accessible by cable car then short hike; extraordinary urban mountain experience
• Sabalan, Ardabil Province — 2–3 days; 4,811m; volcanic peak with stunning crater lake
• Alamut Valley + Assassin Castle trail — 3–5 days; 2,500m; history-rich gorge walking

• Easy — Tochal (cable car access), Qeshm geological walks, lower Zagros village routes
• Moderate — Alamut Valley, Sabalan: good fitness and basic altitude awareness needed
• Hard — Damavand South Route: significant altitude (5,610m); crampons may be needed on the upper snow section depending on conditions and year

Visa: most nationalities require a pre-arranged visa; e-visa available for many countries (not US, UK, Canada or Australia — these require prior consular approval).

• No trekking permits required for standard hiking in Iran’s mountains
• Damavand: registration at the Polur base camp office required (same-day; small fee)
• Dress code: mandatory headscarf for women in all public spaces including trailheads; long sleeves and loose clothing throughout
• Alcohol completely prohibited — do not bring or seek
• Currency: international cards do not work due to sanctions — bring USD or euros in cash to exchange

• Layering system — Alborz temperatures swing dramatically from Tehran valley heat to near-freezing at 5,000m+
• Gas mask or respirator — essential for time spent near Damavand’s summit crater vents
• Sun protection — UV at high altitude on Iranian peaks is intense; glacier glasses required above 4,000m
• USD or EUR cash — sufficient for the entire trip; no access to international banking in Iran
• Water purification — mountain water sources generally clean; filtration recommended

Police: 110 | Ambulance: 115

• Mountain rescue exists in the Alborz region but organization is limited compared to European standards
• Damavand is well-visited and rescue coordination is better than more remote areas
• Travel insurance specifically covering Iran and helicopter evacuation is essential — and can be difficult to obtain from standard providers

• Damavand — best July–September; summer; the South Route snow-free in most years
• Zagros — spring (April–May) ideal; wildflowers; pleasant temperatures; summer very hot at lower elevations
• Tehran area (Tochal, Alborz) — accessible year-round; upper slopes may require crampons in winter
• Afternoon thunderstorms possible at altitude throughout the Alborz in summer months

• July–September — best for Damavand and high Alborz routes; dry season; most reliable summit conditions
• Spring (April–May) — Zagros highlands and lower Alborz beautiful; wildflowers across the mountains
• Winter — lower elevation routes possible; Damavand snowbound; some areas accessible for ski mountaineering

• Tehran (IKA / IHR) — main international gateway; flights from most Middle Eastern, Central Asian and some European hubs
• Damavand approach — Tehran → Polur village (3hr by road); Polur is the standard base for the South Route
• Sabalan — fly Tehran → Ardabil (1.5hr); taxi to Sareyn as base
• Alamut Valley — 3–4hr road from Tehran via Qazvin
• Zagros hiking — domestic flights from Tehran to Shiraz, Isfahan or Sanandaj for western routes

• Iran has its own Civil Aviation Organization (CAO) drone regulations
• Drones require registration and advance permission — for foreign visitors this is effectively unobtainable in practice
• Photography of military installations, government buildings and border areas is prohibited — this applies equally to drone footage
• The border areas with Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan are strictly military-sensitive zones