SAEDNEWS: The Qeshm Island, the biggest of its kind in the Persian Gulf, has recently held its first para-tour designed for deaf visitors, IRIB reported on Monday.
Azadeh Abedinzadeh, director of cultural heritage, tourism, and handicrafts at the Qeshm Free Zone Organization, said the event was organized to provide equal access for people with disabilities to the island’s tourism resources and to showcase the role of water in local civilization and ecology.
A group of hearing-impaired visitors, guided by a sign-language-fluent expert, explored the natural and cultural attractions of Laft, Sohaili Village, and Hengam on Qeshm Island.
The tour highlighted the island’s water-related heritage, emphasizing how water has shaped local communities and connecting participants with natural sites linked to this vital resource. Educational programs on protecting Qeshm’s water resources were also part of the experience.
“Improving accessibility at tourism sites and facilities remains a priority,” Abedinzadeh said, noting that Qeshm, the only Iranian island listed in the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network, has strong potential to advance inclusive tourism. “Similar programs for other groups with disabilities are being planned.”
In addition, the island has launched its first local tour-guide training course specifically for deaf participants, supported by the cultural, social, and tourism deputy office. Abedinzadeh described this initiative as a step toward meeting international accessibility standards.
Covering 1,491 square kilometers, Qeshm Island lies opposite Iran’s Hormozgan province near Bandar Abbas, at the entrance of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route.
Often described as a “natural geology museum,” Qeshm features spectacular rock formations and landscapes. The Valley of the Stars, a maze of narrow canyons and towering formations carved over millennia by wind and rain, is among its most iconic sites. Local legend holds that a star once fell here, giving the valley its name and mystical reputation. Another highlight is Chahkooh Canyon, a natural marvel etched into salt-limestone mountains by centuries of water erosion. With vertical cliffs and tight gorges, Chahkooh offers an unforgettable experience for both tourists and geologists.
