Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Ahvazزاوه ا
0611 / POP 1 MILLION / ELEV 20M
Abu Nuwas ('Father of Curls') is perhaps the only Muslim poet celebrated for writing ho-
moerotic drinking songs. He was born in AD 756 in Ahvaz, but got out as soon as he
could. You'll probably want to do the same. But hopefully not (as Abu was) sold as a sex
slave to a Yemeni drug dealer.
Using the well-served airport is the only likely reason you'd choose to transit this vast,
featureless, industrial city where summer temperatures regularly top 50°C. Acceptable
central accommodation options include the quiet if basic
Mehmanpazir Parknow
(
222 2534; Imam Khomeini St, pedestrianised section; s/d US$8/14)
and the assiduously
cleaned
Iran Hotel
( 221 7200; fax 221 7206; Shari'ati St; s/tw US$25/35; )
. Be-
fore a flight, congenial modern rooms at the professionally run
Oxim Hotel
( 447
4720; 7200; MiS Highway; s/tw/d US$64/91/91;
)
are a sensible choice, being
just 2km from the airport.
Getting There & Away
Helpful
Tayareh Travel Agency
( 222 9849; tayareh_travelagency@yahoo.com; Aza-
degan St; 8am-1pm & 5-9pm Sat-Thu)
with English-speaking staff sells air tickets in-
cluding to Tehran (US$40, frequent), Esfahan (US$35, daily), Shiraz (US$32, twice
weekly), Kuwait (one way/return US$70/110, weekly) and Dubai (one way/return US$85/
130, four weekly).
You can get to Shush (US$1, two hours) and virtually anywhere else in Iran from the
big main
bus terminal
(Andimeshk Rd)
, 5km west of centre up Enqelab St. Andimeshk
savaris/minibuses (US$2/1) depart from a hidden yard 200m further north. Dezful buses
(US$1, 1¾ hours) use a different yard 100m to the southeast of the main terminal across
Enqelab St.
Buses for Shushtar (US$0.50, 1½ hours) use
Istgah Shushtar
(Pasdaran Blvd)
way
across town, 4km northeast of centre (halfway to the airport). Call
447 2020 for a taxi.
