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Golestan is without doubt one of the least visited provinces in Iran.
Then again, after spending a whole week wandering across the area, I got here to the belief that this might be my favourite position in Iran, very other from the remainder of the rustic and residential to a good looks which I had by no means anticipated.
I actually need vacationers to find this magnificent hidden gem, in order that’s why I’ve compiled a information to visiting Golestan province, which incorporates issues to do, transportation and lodging guidelines and, in fact, quite a few native insights and inspirational pictures.
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Why discuss with Golestan?
From epic educate trips to the greenest panorama within the nation, distinctive tradition and a world-class archaeological web page, Golestan is a fully underrated province in Iran.
The gorgeous surroundings, composed of remarkable inexperienced canyons and velvet-smooth rolling hills, and Khalid Nabi, the tomb of a pre-Islamic prophet whose location is way over exceptional, will have to be within the highlights of any trip information to Iran.
Upload to this a robust Central Asian tradition, which is nearer to Kazakhstan to Iran itself, and you are going to quickly notice that Golestan province is an unmissable vacation spot that would stay you busy for weeks.
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The folk: the Turkmens of Golestan in Iran
The panorama and the epic archaeological websites aren’t the one reason why for visiting Golestan however, from a cultural viewpoint, this can be a very distinctive area.
And the reason being that, because it borders Turkmenistan, Golestan province has a big inhabitants of Turkmens.
Those humans, not like the remainder of Iran, are Sunni, Turkmen is their language and conventional ladies get dressed in colourful attire, while, in the remainder of the rustic, they like the black chador.
Additionally, they have got a Central Asian tradition. For instance, they devour Central Asian meals, together with plov (oh guy, I actually hate plov) and mantis. Additionally, there’s a very visual nomadic tradition and, like in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, additionally they are living in yurts.
However, in all probability, probably the most unexpected factor is that the Turkmens from Iran declare that they’re the unique ones, as the folk from precise Turkmenistan had been influenced by way of Russia an excessive amount of.
Getting a visa for Turkmenistan could be very difficult. I in reality as soon as attempted to use for one in Tashkent and, sadly, it were given rejected so, in case your visa were given denied as neatly, Golestan is the nearest position you’ll be to Turkmenistan.
Learn: Which nation in Central Asia will have to you discuss with?
The best way to get in & out of Golestan province
Attending to Golestan by way of bus
Bus is at all times the very best and quickest approach to trip round Iran.
Gorgan and Gonvad e-Kavus are the principle towns within the province, so there are day by day, direct buses from many different towns, together with Tehran, Esfahan, and Mashhad.
Attending to Golestan by way of educate
Should you have been coming from Tehran, you will have to know that the educate adventure is without doubt one of the maximum epic within the nation, because it is going during the magical panorama and over many ancient bridges.
It is very important guide it upfront despite the fact that, as seats run out in no time.
In truth, I attempted to guide it 24 hours upfront and it used to be already totally booked, so I took a educate to Sari as an alternative, which is a couple of hours earlier than Gorgan. The price tag price 104,000IR and it used to be an 8-hour adventure.
Issues to look in Golestan
Learn: Highest books on Central Asian tradition, politics and historical past
I spent one week within the area and those are the entire puts I visited.
Through the best way, if you happen to handiest have a couple of days, I like to recommend visiting Gonvad e-Kavus and Khalid Nabi, no less than.
Day 1 – Gorgan
Gorgan used to be my first prevent within the area.
To be very truthful, it’s not an overly thrilling town but it surely has a full of life bazaar, a couple of blue-tiled mosques price trying out and this is a nice base for exploring the encircling Turkmen cities.
The town is most commonly Iranian, so that you gained’t see many Turkmens right here both.
Additionally, Gorgan could be very as regards to Zariah Valley, a well-liked getaway for the locals. It’s a fantastic wooded area with a couple of waterfalls and a few half-day trekking choices.
The place to stick in Gorgan
Pars Resort – Maximum foreigners will keep right here. The cheap resort run by way of a neighborhood who used to are living in London. Right through my keep, I used to be the one foreigner, however I had such a lot a laugh with the few native visitors that have been additionally staying there.
Day 2 – Day day out to Aghghala, Bandar e-Turkman and Ashuradeh
For an actual glimpse of Turkmen town lifestyles, just a little north of Gorgan, there are a couple of cities that are for sure price visiting and are simply available on an afternoon day out.
Aghghala
Probably the most Turkmen the town in the entire Golestan province, Aghghala is a brilliant position to spend a couple of hours wandering across the many eating places serving Central Asian meals and simply doing a little people-watching.
If imaginable, attempt to come right here on Thursday, the day the native marketplace takes position, when you are going to see the entire locals promoting conventional Turkmen materials, meals and extra. I used to be in reality very fortunate to look it!
The best way to get to Aghghala from Gorgan – The bus terminal is true subsequent to the educate station. Minibuses run all the way through the day and handiest price 10,000IR.
Bandar e-Turkmen
Bandar e-Turkmen will for sure wonder you as a result of it’s, if truth be told, rather touristic.
The native Turkmens have evolved an overly touristic house, the place you’ll in finding such a lot of yurts, devour conventional merchandise comparable to kurut (Central Asian cheese balls), purchase conventional garments and lots of different issues.
The Iranians in finding their tradition very unique, so this a highly regarded town for home tourism.
Additionally, right here you’ll catch a ship to Ashuradeh Island.
The best way to get to Bandar e-Turkmen from Aghghala – There are native shared taxis that simply price 30,000IR.
Ashuradeh Island
That is not anything rather then a Caspian Sea island and this is a 10-minute boat experience from Bandar e-Turkmen.
A round-trip boat experience prices 600,000IR however you’ll percentage it with others and also you usually are invited by way of different Iranians to enroll in. In truth, I didn’t even want to ask when a good looking circle of relatives advised me to get within the boat with them.
To be very truthful, the island isn’t that great however considering that you’ve got been on an island in the midst of the Caspian Sea is lovely cool.
The island, despite the fact that, has the most efficient seafood eating place in Golestan, serving very distinctive Caspian fish. This can be a bit dear, alternatively, with costs beginning at 400,000-500,000IR for only a major direction.
I didn’t devour there since the circle of relatives didn’t need to and I don’t love to put money into a pleasant meal if I will be able to’t percentage that second with somebody.
The best way to get again Gorgan from Bandar e-Turkmen – Shared taxis run very continuously and handiest price 30,000IR.
Day 3 – Gonvad e-Kavus
That is the most important town in Golestan and a good looking the town to spend one or two days in.
In Gonvad e-Kavus, you are going to discover a UNESCO International Heritage web page, which is a 72-meter tower from the eleventh century. The interior of the tower accommodates one of the most oldest muqarnas, that are the Islamic geometric paperwork you’ll see in lots of mosques round Iran.
For foreigners, the doorway price prices 200,000IR however you’ll see the tower from out of doors with out paying, no downside.
The town has quite a few stores promoting conventional Turkmen handicrafts, Central Asian eating places and it’s in style for containing probably the most well-known horse races in Iran.
Additionally, in case you are loss of life for some excellent espresso and global meals, cross to Café Cadre, a Western-style café run by way of a Turkmen brother and sister. I spent many hours operating at their café and they’re utterly superior. Extremely really helpful!
The place to stick in Gonvad e-Kavus
There isn’t great lodging on this the town and it sort of feels that the one first rate choice is Resort Ajam, which is an affordable, very reasonable position. You’ll be able to additionally do Couchsurfing, as there are rather a couple of lively profiles.
The best way to get to Gonvad e-Kavus from Gorgan
Buses from Gorgan to Gonvad run regularly and handiest price 30,000IR.
Day 4 – Tamer-e Qarah Quzi
Tamer is a village situated between Gonvad e-Kavus and Khalid Nabi, simply 35km earlier than the cemetery, and surrounded by way of a actually hanging panorama.
Should you wanna enjoy the actual Turkmen rural tradition, come right here and do a homestay with Naim and his circle of relatives, an actual Turkmen circle of relatives who take hospitality to the following stage. For little cash, they have got a yurt and a couple of rooms and all foods are incorporated.
For this, you’ll touch Naim at +989120294409 or just message him on Instagram.
You’ll be able to simply keep within the village and stroll round however, if you need, Naim too can take you for some trekking (without or with a horse) or even discuss with some actual Turkmen nomads deep into the mountains.
I promise you are going to have an incredible time with him.
The best way to get to Tamer-e Qarah Quzi from Gonvad e-Kavus
First, you want to get a shared taxi to Kalaleh (40,000IR) and, from there, a 2nd one to Tamer (40,000IR).
Day 5 – Khalid Nabi
Khalid Nabi is fucking superior and a reason why on its own to come back to Golestan province.
Principally, this can be a cemetery the place a pre-Islamic prophet and his fans are buried.
The web page is split into two puts: on one aspect, you have got Khalid’s tomb, situated on the best of the hill, from the place you notice shocking perspectives, the horizon being Turkmenistan. At the different aspect, you have got the fans’ cemetery, the place you in finding the well-known penis-shaped rocks.
If you’re questioning, those penis-shaped rocks are tombs and sure, they are trying to mimic the form of a dick as it implies that the individual buried is a person. Some penises are very tall, while others are rather small.
And no, this doesn’t constitute the scale in their dicks but it surely has to do with their age. The taller the penis is, the older the person when he died.
Khalid Nabi is an overly bizarre, mystical position.
The best way to get to Khalid Nabi from Tamer-e Qarah Quzi
Khalid Nabi is solely 35km away however the highway is actually bumpy so it takes round 1.5h. A round-trip by way of taxi prices 400,000IR however you’ll hitchhike very simply.
Day 6 – Again to Gonvad e-Kavus and bus on your subsequent vacation spot
From Gonvad e-Kavus, there are direct buses to Tehran, Esfahan, Mashhad and lots of different towns.
I for my part endured my strategy to Mashhad, on an 8-hour night time bus.
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Additional info for visiting Golestan Province
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