Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Train
The train from İstanbul to Tehran via Ankara and Tabriz is called the
Trans-Asia Express
.
It runs weekly in either direction and, at the time of writing, trains on the 2968km journey
departed İstanbul at 11.55pm on Tuesday, and left Tehran at 9.25pm on Wednesday; it
takes 70 hours and costs about €40 each way. Seating is in comfortable 1st-class
couchettes with four berths. Check
www.raja.ir
or the Turkish railways website at
www.tcdd.gov.tr
for the latest info.
The
Trans-Asia Express
is two trains; an Iranian train between Tehran and Van, on the
shores of Lake Van in eastern Turkey, and a Turkish train from Tatvan to Ankara and
İstanbul. It's evoked some strong feelings among readers, usually relating to the concept
of 'express', though complaints have been fewer in recent years. Delays are likely in
winter when snow can block the tracks and low temperatures can freeze the plumbing.
However, there's a distinctly romantic touch to such a long train trip, and in either direc-
tion it's a great way to meet Iranians.
TURKMENISTAN
There are three border posts open to foreigners along this 1206km-long frontier. From
west to east, there is inconvenient and little-used Incheh Borun/Gyzyl-Etrek (see the
boxed text,
Click here
)
, Bajgiran (
Click here
)
linking Mashhad and the Turkmen capital
Ashgabat, and Sarakhs and Saraghs (
Click here
)
for those heading east. You must change
transport at all three crossings.
The paperwork and organisation involved in travelling to Turkmenistan is a hassle;
Stantours
(info@stantours.com)
seems to be the best at making it all go (relatively)
smoothly.
Sea
Iran has 2410km of coastal boundaries along the Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman and Caspian
Sea, but there are relatively few ways to enter or leave Iran by sea.
Persian Gulf
The main shipping agency for trips across the Persian Gulf is
Valfajr-8
(
www.valfajr.ir
)
,
which operates car ferries and catamarans between Bandar Abbas and Sharjah once or
twice a week (other routes listed on the website no longer run). As services are infrequent,
oft-delayed and more expensive than flying, few people bother.
