Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Gajereh Hotel$$
( 521 2232;
http://gajereh.ir
;
d/tr/villa from US$78/100/120; )
About 2km
down the road to Tehran, the Gajereh is one of several functional if unstylish resort-style
places serving Dizin. In summer, call ahead to make sure it's open.
HOTEL
Getting There & Away
Local travel agencies sell one-, two- and three-day trips that include transport, accommod-
ation and lift passes. Look for trips advertised in English-language newspapers, or ask at
your hotel; Mr Mousavi at the Firouzeh Hotel (
Click here
)
can help with budget trips.
Shemshak and Dizin are linked by an unsealed mountain road that is closed for most of
the time between late November and May. At those times you'll need to go north via the
Chalus road, turning off it for Dizin, a trip of 123km or roughly 2½ hours' drive from
Tehran. In winter you'll need chains or a 4WD for the last 10km or so. A day-return taxi
to Dizin should cost about US$100. The cheapest way to reach Dizin is on a Chulus bus
from Terminal-e Gharb; ask the driver to drop you at the Dizin turn-off and hitch a ride
from there.
Shemshak and Darbansar are about 55km north of Tehran on Shemshak Rd (which
links to Dizin via the aforementioned summer road). Savaris and minibuses serve Shem-
shak from Tehran's eastern bus terminal. However, most people take a taxi for about
US$80 same-day return. A one-way trip should cost about US$30 to Shemshak - it's
cheaper for the return trip.
Mt Damavandدنوامد هوک
Shaped like Mt Fuji,
Mt Damavand
(5671m), northeast of Tehran, is the highest moun-
tain in the Middle East. Damavand has many mythological tales associated with it but in
reality it is a dormant volcano that still belches out sulphuric fumes strong enough to kill
unfortunate stray sheep. Its image is one of the most recognisable icons in Iran, appearing
on the IR10,000 note, on bottles of Damarvand spring water and numerous other commer-
cial items.
Most people who go to Damavand do so to climb the peak, and start by heading to the
large, comfortable Polour Camp (2270m), built by the Iran Mountaineering Federation
and the best place to acclimatise before attempting the south and west face routes. The
climbing season is from June to September, or May to October for experienced climbers.
Two excellent sources of information on all things Damavand:
