12 Breathtaking Cable-Car Rides Across Iran — From Tochal’s Peaks to Kish’s Seaside

A cable car is one of the most exciting ways to visit mountainous and forested areas. Iran hosts numerous cable-cars with unforgettable scenery and a range of amenities that attract many tourists. Riding a cable car is an exciting, family-friendly experience and provides access to otherwise hard-to-reach heights for people of all ages and abilities. Among these are the Tochal cable car, Namak Abrud cable car, Ramsar cable car and Lahijan’s Ahrar cable car. In this article we introduce Iran’s best-known cable-cars and their main features — follow along.

Tochal cable car — the oldest cable car in Iran

Address: Tehran, end of Velenjak Street
Opening hours: Saturday–Wednesday 08:00–14:00; Thursday & Friday 07:00–14:00
Website: tochal.org
Instagram: tochalcomplex@
Phone: +98 21 24875000 | +98 21 2720
Ticket prices (2024):

• 320,000 Toman from Station 1 to 7 (round trip)

• 180,000 Toman Station 1→7 (one way)

• 230,000 Toman Station 1→5 (round trip)

• 130,000 Toman Station 1→5 (one way)

• 130,000 Toman Station 1→2 (round trip)

• 69,000 Toman Station 1→2 (one way)

Tochal cable car is Iran’s first and oldest cable car, located in the Tochal recreational-sports complex. Construction began in 1974 (1353 SH) by two French (Poma) and an Austrian (Doppelmayr) company and was completed in 1978. After the 1979 revolution, Iranian engineers continued completion and expansion, adding a third line from station five to station seven.

Tochal is one of the world’s longest cable-car lines at 7.5 km. It includes three lines terminating at stations 2, 5 and 7 (the peak). Station 1 sits at Tehran’s Bam (roof) and lifts passengers from about 1,900 m above sea level to station 7 at 3,680 m. Stations 2 and 5 offer restaurants and picnic areas; station 7 hosts a ski slope and the Tochal hotel.

The Tochal complex also features many other sports and leisure facilities: Tehran toboggan run, three chairlift lines, a ski lift, shooting range, tennis school and club, billiards, ski slopes and a 2-km “health road.”

Namak Abrud cable car — the safest cable car in Iran

Address: Mazandaran Province, Chalus County, Namak Abrud tourist town
Opening hours: 08:00–19:00
Instagram: namakabrud_iran@
Phone: +98 11 52183003
Ticket price (2024): 260,000 Toman on Line Two (round trip)

Namak Abrud cable car is regarded as one of Iran’s safest lines — and of the best-known. It has had no accidents to date. For extra safety, the lines are inspected daily; in case of power failure, an emergency generator and motor evacuate cabins and systems automatically track issues — which is why this cable car enjoys a reputation for strong safety.

Namak Abrud has two lines. Line One has 42 four-person cabins running at 3 m/s over a 2,100-m span in under 15 minutes and reaches the Medoben summit, which offers pleasant weather and visitor facilities.

Line Two is 1,700 m long with a 6 m/s speed and 35 six-person fiberglass cabins; it goes to the pristine Diovhamam summit at roughly 700 m elevation, a site with natural caves and amenities.

Ramsar cable car — Iran’s most famous cable car

Address: Mazandaran Province, Ramsar County, km 5 Ramsar–Chaboksar road
Opening hours: 09:00–20:00
Instagram: shahre_sabzz@
Phone: +98 11 5505
Ticket price (2024): 350,000 Toman round trip for adults; free for children under 4

Ramsar cable car is among Iran’s best-known; it sits in the Bam Sabz (Green Roof) recreational-tourism complex and opened in 2008. Doppelmayr built its design and structure. The line comprises 16 towers, a continuous 4 km steel rope, and 54 cabins.

Ramsar’s cabin travels at 3 m/s, covering a 2 km run to the Ilmili summit in about 12 minutes. The route features exceptional scenery — starting at the Bam Sabz seaside building, passing the coastal road, an amusement park, karting tracks, tea plantations, orange groves and misty forest, and finally reaching the high summit with more thrilling attractions.

The Bam Sabz complex also offers many recreational amenities: amusement park, karting tracks, ATV circuits, standard playground, paintball, 6-D cinema, musical fountain, restaurants, cafés, banquet halls and a mountainous park.

Ahrar cable car — the most modern cable car in Iran

Ahrar cable car in Lahijan is one of Iran’s modern cable-cars and the first in Gilan Province. Its advantages include proximity to the provincial center, no fixed return time restrictions, and an elevation that affords nice views over Lahijan Lake and the city.

Lahijan cable car — source: Ahrar cable car site

Ahrar is Gilan’s first cable car. It uses hydraulic haul systems, fully automated control, optical movement-and-distance regulation between cabins, devices that check cable seating on pylons, one main motor plus three separate emergency power systems and an emergency generator.

Ahrar has 33 six-person cabins and two stations. Station One starts at Bam Sabz and the 1,500 m route takes around 20 minutes to Station Two, where local craft stalls are available. Station Two continues from Bam Sabz to Mount Fallah-Kheir and features a café and visitor services. The complex includes restaurants, an amusement park and cafés.

Heyran cable car — the largest cable car in northwest Iran

Address: Gilan Province, Astara County, km 37 Astara–Namin road, after the Venebin village — Heyran tourism village
Opening hours: 08:00–20:00
Website: telecabinheyran.com
Instagram: heyran.telecabin@
Phone: +98 914 597 9097 | +98 45 32327770
Ticket price (2024): 300,000 Toman round trip (VIP); 150,000 Toman round trip (regular)

Heyran cable car — opened in 2011 — is the largest cable car in northwest Iran, located in the Heyran tourism village between Astara and Namin in Ardabil Province. The line is 1,500 m long and runs at 7 m/s, taking about eight minutes from base to summit. The line has 33 six-person cabins and can carry about 120 passengers each direction.

Heyran cable car — source: iqsafir.com

Heyran’s route provides spectacular borderland scenery: to the east, views of the Caspian Sea, Astara and Heyran heights; to the west and south, the fine forests of Fandoglu; to the north, views toward Azerbaijani border towns. The Heyran line begins on the Astara–Ardabil road and enters the Fandoglu forest — along the way travelers see unprecedented vistas.

Heyran tourism village hosts hotels, restaurants, a toboggan run, zip line, karting and water facilities.

Ganjnameh cable car — the only cable car with rises and falls

Address: Hamedan, east side of Ganjnameh Square, Ganjnameh tourist-recreation village
Opening hours: 08:00–18:00
Website: ganjname.net
Instagram: vila.ganjnameh@
Phone: +98 81 38303011 | +98 918 222 3313
Ticket price (2024): 275,000 Toman round trip; 165,000 Toman one-way

The Ganjnameh cable car in the Ganjnameh tourist village is a unique structure in western Iran. Construction began in 2001 by German engineers and it opened in 2008. It has a double-check safety system and is considered among the safest cable-cars: in the event of any incident the risk of cabin fall is near zero.

Ganjnameh is the only cable car in the country with a true series of ascents and descents. The round-trip length is 3,400 m, with an elevation difference of 800 m, 17 pylons and 35 cabins. Depending on weather and passenger numbers, the number of cabins may vary. The route extends from the Ganjnameh village up toward the Mishan heights on Mount Alvand, taking about 15 minutes; speed varies with wind — if wind exceeds 40 km/h service stops and any onboard trips may take longer.

Ganjnameh village also offers a toboggan run, snowmobile, chairlift, pond for fishing, amusement park and lodging. Nearby attractions include Ganjnameh waterfall and ancient inscriptions.

Safeh cable car — the highest point in Isfahan city

Address: Isfahan, Shahda-ye Safeh Highway, east flank of Mount Safeh, Telecabin Boulevard, Safeh mountain recreation complex
Opening hours: Sat–Wed 10:00–22:00; Thu & Fri 10:00–23:30
Instagram: sepahantourismco@
Phone: +98 31 36759011 | ext. 4
Ticket price (2024): 190,000 Toman round trip

Safeh mountain recreational complex is one of Isfahan’s entertainment sites with diverse amenities: amusement park, small zoo, zip line, hanging bridge, bowling, billiards and a cable car.

Safeh cable car — source: Sepahan Tourism Development Co.

Safeh has two lines: the first runs from the bowling center up to the Gardane-ye Baad station over 1,850 m with sweeping views of Safeh mountain and Isfahan’s skyline; the second is 800 m linking Gardane-ye Baad to the mountaintop and the historic Shah Dezh castle.

Einali cable car — the longest and steepest cable car

Address: Tabriz, Pasdaran Highway, Einali mountain recreational complex
Opening hours: 08:00–21:00
Instagram: tabriztelecabinsurtmeh@
Phone: +98 41 33109562
Ticket price (2024): 150,000 Toman round trip; 80,000 Toman one way

Einali (also known as Aun ibn Ali) cable car is one of Iran’s longest and steepest. Located on the northern heights of Tabriz on the slopes of Mount Sorkhab, near the shrine of Ein ibn Ali, the area (often called Tabriz rooftop) can be reached by car or cable car.

Einali has three phases; Phase One opened in 2010: it is 1,450 m long (slope length 1,480 m) with an average elevation change of 261 m, extending from the slope to the shrine. At the top there are cafés and restaurants.

Micamall cable car — one of the country’s most up-to-date cable cars

Address: Hormozgan Province, Bandar-e-Lengeh County, Kish District, end of Darya Boulevard, next to Kish recreational pier, Micamall viewpoint
Opening hours: 10:00–12:00 and 15:30–18:30
Website: micamall.com
Phone: +98 76 1850
Ticket price (2024): 330,000 Toman round trip for adults; free round trip for children under five

Micamall (Mika Mall) cable car in Kish is one of Iran’s well-known lines offering unique, spectacular views. At roughly 3 km length it connects two separate tourism areas on Kish Island: Micamall complex to the recreational pier. The line was designed in 2020 by Swiss company BMF, a top global ropeway maker.

Micamall operates about 20 cabins equipped with music players, advertising displays, mood lighting and two VIP cabins featuring iPads, Wi-Fi and catered service. The line can move up to 600 passengers per hour and the 30-m elevation ride lasts about 30 minutes.

Seeb Land cable car — among the highest cable cars in the world

Address: Tehran Province, Firuzkuh County, km 95 Tehran–Firuzkuh road, Seeb Land tourism complex
Opening hours: 08:30–18:30
Website: seebland.com
Instagram: seeb.land@
Phone: +98 21 91031990
Ticket price (2024): 200,000 Toman round trip (regular cabin); 300,000 Toman round trip (VIP)

Seeb Land is a great option for city dwellers who want a cable-car experience outside Tochal. After long delays the Seeb Land tourism village finally opened; from spring 2021 its first phase began operations. The route runs from the Seeb Land thrill village and after 3 km reaches the mountain village at 3,200 m.

Seeb Land’s 3-km run takes about 17 minutes between two stations. The system — built under Austrian Doppelmayr advice — offers three cabin types: regular, VIP and CIP. At around 1,950 m above sea level, Seeb Land can be called one of the highest cable cars in the world.

The Seeb Land village hosts zip lines, a ski slope, ATVs, cafés and restaurants, and an amusement park.

Misaq Mellal (Misaq-e Mellal) cable car — the first cable car of the southeast

Address: Kerman, Shahid PourJafari Highway, Ghaem Forest Park
Opening hours: daily except Saturdays 14:00–22:00
Instagram: telecabin_kerman@
Ticket price (2024): 180,000 Toman round trip

Misaq Mellal cable car in Kerman opened in 2023 to boost regional tourism, becoming the first cable car in southeastern Iran and one of the most modern lines nationally. The project was developed by Kerman municipality and Mellal Institute.

Misaq Mellal provides sweeping views over Kerman city: from above you can see Pardisan Ghaem Park, the Shiushgan mountains and urban fabric. The line includes 18 eight-person cabins and two four-person VIP cabins, with a total ride time of about 10 minutes.

Over time the complex has added dining halls, cafés, a food court, cultural and recreational facilities, a mosque, cycling and walking paths, fountains and landscaping, plus restrooms.