Mount Damarvand Trek
An adventurous holiday trekking in Iran
Climbing Touchal
To prepare ourselves for Mount Damavand we begin with a two-day ascent of Mount Touchal, which allows for great views of the landscape of Tehran and the surrounding area. Our ascent follows the teahouse route to the overnight shelter at Shir Pala (2750m) and continues with a full days trek to the Touchal summit and descent to the village of Darband.
Damavand Trek
After our acclimatisation trek of Touchal and a night in Tehran we transfer to the Damavand region, our base for the next five days. A night at base camp (3000m) is followed by an ascent to the high camp at Bargah-e-Sevom (4150m) for acclimatisation, and rest day or additional hike to the spectacular ice falls, before ending this tough but rewarding trek with our final push to the Damavand summit (5671m).
Tehran
Our holiday ends fittingly in the vibrant capital, home to nearly 12 million inhabitants. A city tour includes the archaeological museum, where we view artefacts from Iran's rich history dating back over 2500 years. After visiting the Glass and ceramics Museum we travel to the outskirts of the city to the Saad Abad Palace, the residence of the last King of Iran before the Revolution. The palace complex now serves as a museum showcasing some of the countries finest works of art.
Comment
A challenging trekking trip to one of Iran's least explored yet stunningly beautiful corners. This trip is graded as tough, and thus participants should be fit, ideally with previous mountain walking experience and if possible be familiar with trekking at altitude. Ascents/descents of up to 1500m (in the same day) with max daily walk of around 9hrs. Alcohol is prohibited in Iran and a strict dress code applies. Please see Trip Notes for details.
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Itinerary / Highlights
Trip HighlightsTehran - Exploring the cultural heart of Iran. Visit the National Museum and the Saad Abad Palace.
Mountain Peaks - Ascending to the summits of Mt Touchal and Mt Damavand.
Breathtaking Scenery - Trekking through the rugged landscapes of the Alborz Mountains.
Darband Village- enjoy the atmosphere of the teahouses of the picturesque village in the foothills of the Alborz mountains
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Join tour Tehran
Overnight Standard Hotel (H+)
Day 2: AM briefing and orientation; drive to Darband and climb to Shir Pala (2750m)
Following a introductory briefing we head North to the delightful village of Darband where we begin our trek up to the Shir Pala shelter (2750M) on Touchal mountain. A steep four hour climb then brings us to our overnight stop amongst the spectacular landscapes of the Touchal range, the southern slopes of the towering Alborz Mountains.
Overnight shelter dormitory style accomodation
Overnight Mountain Shelter (C) Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 3: Ascend to Touchal Peak (3964m). Drive back to Tehran
This morning we wake early and there will be an opportunity for female clients to buy Islamic clothing. We then travel to make the ascent on Touchal peak, the highest summit in the range at nearly 4000 metres. Following the trail up to the ridge takes us some 4 hours, affording us some great views across the surrounding vistas and back towards the capital. We then descend back down to Darband, in time for dinner at one of the picturesque teahouses on the lower slope of the mountain. After dinner we transfer back to Tehran to enjoy a relaxing evening in the capital. Total Walking Approx 8-9 hours. Descent 2764m (peak to Tehran at 1200m)
Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 4: Transfer to Polour village (2350m), afternoon acclimatisation walk
This morning we drive to the village of Polour. Later this afternoon we take a gentle acclimatisation walk in the shaddow of the mighty Mount Damavand. Mount Damavand is Iran’s highest peak and its classical, iconic profile graces the country’s currency as well as a famous brand of mineral water. A volcanic giant that still emits sulphuric fumes from deep within its volatile belly, the mountain was first climbed by a westerner in the late 19th century and has long been at the centre of Persian folklore and mythology. The highest point in the Middle East and Asia’s highest volcano (albeit dormant), Damavand is reputed to be the place where the threeheaded dragon of Zoroastrian legend was chained up, whilst the epic Shahnameh (The Book of Kings) bestows the mountain with magical powers. We’ll spend tonight within the shadow of this spiritual peak in readiness for our climb tomorrow.
Overnight Mountain Shelter (C) Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5: Trek to Bargan-e-Sevom (4150m)
Transferring from Polour we drive up to Goosfand Sara (3040m), where we begin the climb to our next camp this morning, at the Bargan-e- Sevom shelter, located some 4150 metres up the craggy slopes. Damavand’s slopes are home to a wide diversity of animal and insect life, with colourful butterflies, wolves, and even bears occupying the forests along the northern edge. These mountains are also a rich haven for bird life so keep your eyes peeled eagles and boars, so keep you eyes peeled as we climb towards our second night’s camp. Total Walking Approx 4 hours. Ascent 1800m.
Overnight Mountain Shelter (C) Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6: Acclimatisation day
Today has been set aside to help acclimatise prior to tomorrow’s attempt at the summit. You may choose to just relax around the camp and enjoy the expansive views, or join the acclimatisation walk up towards the Abshar-e-Yakhi icefall. Located just above 5000m, the falls are reachable along the southern route to the summit and present a permanently frozen 7 metre high cascade, that even during the summer months fails to melt (due in no small part to the icy winds that whip across the mountain).
Overnight Mountain Shelter (C) Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7: Hike to summit (5671m), then return to Bargan-e-Sevom
Today presents us with our most challenging day, as we attempt the climb to the summit. Starting early we hike up to the beginning of the ridge, before continuing past the icefall located at some 5150m. The terrain is difficult, with loose rocks and scree and the weather can change at any time, so please be prepared for anything, even snowfalls in the height of summer. Some 500m below the summit we come across the aptly named ‘Sulphur Hill’ (Dood Kooh), where we can see the evidence of the mountain’s turbulent pass amongst the volcanic rock and sulphurous fumaroles rising up from the earth. Making the final ascent to the top we hope to reach the summit at lunch time, affording us an opportunity to enjoy something of the breathtaking views before the clouds cover the peaks (conditions permitting). From here we then begin the descent back down to our camp at Bargah-e- Sevom, a journey of some 3 hours that should bring us back to camp in time for dinner. Total Walking Approx 9- 11 hours. Ascent/descent 1521m.
Overnight Mountain Shelter (C) Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8: Descend mountain and drive back to Tehran
Descending back down to Goosfand Sara this morning, we then rejoin our vehicles for the drive back to Polour, from where we continue back to Tehran. Stopping for lunch en route we aim to arrive back in the Iranian capital late this afternoon, affording an opportunity to relax and freshen up before a traditional dinner to celebrate our achievements. Total Walking Approx 3 hours. Descent 1250m.
Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast
Day 9: In Tehran; sightseeing tour
Our final day in the country sees us enjoying a sightseeing tour of the capital, taking in some of the highlights of Iran’s cultural heart. Beginning life as little more than a small village amidst the foothills of the Alborz Mountains, it was not until the arrival of the Qajars in the 18th century that Tehran reached the dizzy heights of the capital of Persia. Under the patronage of the Qajars the city began to grow, with the years following the modernisation of the 1920s seeing the city’s population explode from a quarter of a million to somewhere in the region of 8.5 million. Today Tehran is a sprawling modern city that is home to some 20% of the country’s population, making it an ideal place to view the Iranian way of life, with some of the finest museums and restaurants in the country. We’ll visit the National Museum, also known as the Museum of Ancient Iran, which affords us an insight into some 2,500 years of Persian history, from the expansion under Cyrus the Great in 550 BC and the Persian Wars during the reign of Darius I, to Alexander the Great and the burning of Persepolis in 330 BC. The museum chronicles teh second great Iranian dynasty, the Sassanids, through to the arrival of Islam around 637AD. We’ll also pay a visit to the Glass and Ceramic Museum. The complex is set within parkland that houses a number of museums that provide a telling insight into the lives of the last kings and includes one of the largest carpets ever made, as well as artwork, ethnological artefacts and calligraphy.
Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast
Day 10: Tour ends Tehran
The tour ends today.
Included meals: Breakfast
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