TEHRAN - International Mountain Day on December 11 may be a delicate invitation for us to find harmony with nature and benefit from a wealth of fresh experiences along the way.

Mountains have a built-in superpower to charm everyone, offering us more than just captivating experiences with their majestic appearances, regal ruins, intriguing mysteries, and winding roads.

International Mountain Day is a subtle occasion to get together for conversation and friendship as peaks and hillsides are are more than just geographical features. They may remind us of our grand aspirations as our lives alternate between the peak and valley, sea and stone, life and death.

There is nothing that comes close to the type of breathtaking views and tranquil setting you experience when you are at the summit of a mountain. Some say climbing the ups and downs of high mountains is worthwhile for the pure joy of getting a bird’s-eye view of the world.

Having many peaks higher than 4,000 meters, Iran is somehow a lesser-known destination for mountain lovers and powder chasers. It is home to some of the most magnificent mountain ranges in the world that are picture-perfect thanks to mother nature.

The Alborz range in the north, the Zagros chain in the west, the eastern mountains, and the central mountains are the four groups that make Iran’s main mountains. It’s encouraging to learn that the Zagros mountains have contained traces of ancient towns and cities.

Here is a selection of ten incredible highland treks for your bucket list:

Known as the roof of Iran, Mount Damavand is the obvious choice when it comes to trekking in Iran. With an altitude of 5,609 m, Damavand is the highest peak in Iran and the highest dormant volcano in Asia. Some say that Damavand’s appearance is similar to Mount Fuji in Japan, and its cone-shaped peak is covered in snow all year round.

It has an iconic presence in Persian mythology and legendary stories. Known as the roof of Iran, Mount Damavand is the symbol of determination and aversion to despotism. In the legend of Arash, the Persian archer, the Zoroastrian mythology, or the epic stories of Shahnameh, Damavand plays a key role.

Alam Kuh, which is famed as the second high crest over Iran’s head, is sometimes referred to as “the Iranian Alps.” With a height of 4,851 meters, it is the second-highest mountain in the Alborz range. The fame of Alam Kuh has got international for the north face granite stone wall, which is one of the most technical and challenging routes for rock climbers.

For its persistent dense ice glaciers and gigantic sharp vertical rocks, Alam Kuh is regarded as a struggling yet impressive mountain among experienced climbers. The best time to try your hand at climbing this mountain is from June to October.

Sabalan is an inactive volcano situated in northwest Iran. With a height of 4,811 meters, it is the third-highest mountain in Iran. The permanent, beautiful lake on the peak, several hot springs in the foothills, and fantastic nature attracts lots of people to this heaven every year. Locals believe that the Sabalan peak is the place where Zoroaster used to live and then was chosen as the prophet. For this reason, Mount Sabalan is a sacred place.

Dena, the highest point of the Zagros range, rises to an altitude of 4,448 meters. Ascending Mount Dena, you will see lots of spectacular ice caves, springs, and floating streams. Also, the breathtaking scenery and rare vegetation along the snaky road leading to the summit. If you are lucky, you will see endemic animals like brown bears, eagles, or wild cats. On the foothills of Dena, the welcoming Bakhtiari nomads would invite you to join them for a hot cup of tea. Dena is a favorable destination for mountain climbers and from February to April is an excellent place for skiing.

Shirkuh, a terrace over the central Iranian desert, is not a challenging mountain to climb. After a few hours of trekking, you have the pristine landscape of the desert in front of you at the top, which provides an inimitable experience of climbing a high peak and trekking in the desert as a package within 24 hours.

Tochal, which is the handiest peak overlooking the Iranian capital, reaches a height of 3,964 meters. Tochal is a very accessible mountain in the north of Tehran that one can climb up just a few hours after taking the decision. There are different routes from various directions that climbers choose to reach the summit. Tochal complex at the foot of the peak has several entertainment facilities such as cable cars, trekking routes, a ski resort, etc.

A gate to the west, Sahand is a massive stratovolcano erected in the very northwest of Iran. With an elevation of 3,707 meters, Sahand embraces green pastures, beautiful meadows, and lush valleys are attractions of this unique mountain. Not only climbing lovers and nature buffs but also ski lovers find Sahand a perfect destination.

Zard-Kuh, as its name suggests, is a yellow pinnacle that rises to an altitude of 4,221 meters. It is the second-highest mountain in the Zagros range after Mount Dena. For its yellow dirt, Zard-Kuh is called so, the yellow mountain. The two most significant trunk rivers in Iran, Karun and Zayanderud, originate from the slopes of Zard-Kuh.

Oshtorankuh, the roof of Lorestan province, comprises eight connected peaks like a line of camels (Oshtoran means camels in Persian.). The highest peak is about 4,050 meters. Oshtorankuh is a preserved inhabitance of rare species like brown bears, hyenas, foxes, wild goats, and wolves, along with unique plants like wild pistachio, oak and locoweed.

There are plenty of springs and natural lakes in Oshtorankuh. The largest of them is Gahar Lake. It is an excellent opportunity for camping and fishing at Gahar Lake. Silent but acclaimed, Mount Taftan is a semi-active volcano with an elevation of around 4,000 meters.

Situated at the end of the Sahand-Taftan stratovolcano belt in Sistan-Baluchestan, Taftan is a combination of two peaks connected by a narrow saddle section.

Trekking this mountain would be an extraordinary life experience. You would see stunning yellow stones change their colors due to the phosphoric hot springs flowing down the slopes. There are also some worth visiting lakes at the heights of Taftan.

Shirbad, which is famed as the roof of Khorasan, is the highest mount in northeastern Iran. Situated in the Binalud Mountains, near Neyshabur, Shirbad reaches an altitude of 3,227 meters. Its ski resort is ideal for those who fancy doing winter sports, mountaineering and wandering around the spectacular area. The track considerably benefited from perfect powdery snow coverage due to the high altitude of the area.

Poraw, which means full of water in the Kurdish language, is a tourist attraction in Kermanshah province. Covering an area of 1,020 sq. km, Poraw, which comprises several peaks, is part of the Zagros mountain range. Taq Bostan, Kamar Kabood, and Bisotun Poraw are some high mountains of Poraw. This 3,405-meter-high mountain hides a rare phenomenon in its heart: Poraw cave. Known as the “Everest of Caves”, it is one of the world’s largest calcareous caves and the deepest cave in Asia. Geologists believe that this cave dates back to the third geological period.

To put it in a nutshell, Alborz and Zagros ranges appear to be two enormous hands holding the ancient land tightly in their arms where heaven and earth touch.

AFM