If you want northern Iran beyond the crowds, this list of 30 hidden gems(from poppy meadows to ancient caves) is your new road map.
The question “Where should we go?” can spark long, inconclusive debates in a family or group planning a trip to Iran’s north. The region offers dozens of options for every taste: mountain lovers, beach seekers, quiet nature fans and shoppers all find something to enjoy.
This guide is for travellers who prefer off-the-beaten-path northern spots — places that are not yet fully discovered, far from towns, and notable for features that other locations don’t have.
It’s clear there are many such pristine places. In this list we prioritized locations with reasonable access, while still being distant from urban centres.
Gilan is best known for Rasht, Lahijan and Bandar Anzali, but if you move from the lowlands toward forested mountains you find lesser-known places. These spots are pure nature; night-photographers escape light pollution here.
Damash is a small, sparsely populated village inside the protected Siah-Rud area, near the famed Damash spring. A mineral water plant bottles and sells the spring water locally.
The village is also famous for the rare Susen-ol-Chalcheragh lily, found at about 2,000 metres in Rudbar’s highlands and nowhere else in Iran.
In spring and summer, when the meadows are green and the air is cool, campers and hikers come to the area.
Damash was historically a summer pasture for shepherds and nomads; a small settled population remains.
Three nearby pristine spots worth visiting from Damash are Mount Dorfak, Vistan Lake and Darband Rashi cave.
Two main routes lead to Damash. Both use secondary roads off the Qazvin–Rasht highway; one is closer to Rasht, the other to Qazvin. From Rasht, after Rostamabad follow the bridge toward Tutkabon, then continue to Bereh-sar; from Bereh-sar a 6-km dirt road reaches Damash.
The other route passes Loshan, then the Jirandeh road and a mountain dirt track to Damash.
Uls-belengah (also called Sueh-Chaleh) is a summer pasture about 20 km off the Masal road in Gilan.
The most striking sight is when clouds fill the valley bottom so that only the ridge lines protrude — an almost otherworldly sea of cloud. The area is surrounded by forest and becomes denser the farther you go from the road.
Recently, visitor photos have raised the profile of these pastures and a few service facilities (hotels, restaurants) have appeared. Still, many travellers have not seen this area and it rarely becomes overly crowded, even at peak times.
Locals treat Uls-belengah and Sueh-Chaleh as two subareas of the same pasture only two kilometres apart; visitors commonly use both names interchangeably.
Vistan Lake lies a short distance from Damash — roughly 5 km from Damash and about 2 km from Bereh-sar.
There is no river feeding the lake; groundwater springs and spring-melt and seasonal rains maintain its level in spring.
There are no services at the lake itself, though Vistan village is not far. A few fiberglass pedal boats are available for visitors.
Gisom is a coastal-forest area about 10 sq km between Perehsar and Asalem, where the sea meets the mountain.
The name now applies to the wider area. From the Asalem road you can enter the Gisom forest and enjoy the straight forest avenue that leads to a man-made pool and then to the shoreline.
A few side tracks lead to surrounding farmland. A handful of small villas and a traditional seaside restaurant serve overnight guests.
Even if you only drive through, the forest road is worth the detour.
Latun is Iran’s tallest waterfall at about 105 metres, located 14 km from the coastal town of Lavandvil and reached after the village of Kuteh Kumeh at the end of a dirt road.
Water volume is moderate but constant. A scenic forest road leads to the falls; in winter and rainy days the route can be hazardous.
Behind the falls rises Mount Espinas, and the high meadows used for grazing create striking views.
Latun is a popular hiking destination for those combining trips from Ardabil and Suha Lake.
Several protected areas surround Anzali Lagoon to safeguard migrating birds and rare species. Salke Wildlife Refuge is one such zone.
Boardwalks and viewing platforms let visitors watch birds without disturbing them. Entry is free; guided visits with spotting scopes are run by environmental groups and NGOs.
From Rasht or Somehsara drive to Sheikh-Mahalleh village, then continue to Hindkhaleh. At the village edge, near cultivated fields, you reach Anzali Lagoon and the Salke refuge.
Blue water-lilies and lagoon vistas make this a rewarding birdwatching spot; anglers may try catching carp in permitted areas.
Dorfak is a volcanic mountain about 2,600 metres high and a remote Gilan attraction popular with off-road drivers. The eastern slope is moderate and has an access road suited to four-wheel-drive vehicles; the northern face is a steep, cliff-like wall.
The plateau on top is relatively broad and retains snow in places year-round.
Two well-known caves exist on Dorfak, though heavy snow often limits access.
Javaherdasht (locally Jordasht) is an alpine summer pasture about 2,000 metres in elevation, 10 km from Javaherdeh in Mazandaran.
Its seasonal residents are shepherds who bring grazing stock in spring and summer; heavy snow closes the route in winter.
From Rudsar, travel to Kalachay then a 35-km mostly dirt track brings you to the pasture. The sunrise and orange morning cloud banks are worth the difficult drive.
Milash Waterfall sits deep in the Ashkalurat forests, away from towns, and flows year-round.
The final approach requires about a 30-minute walk from Milash village. The forest setting keeps the air cool and moist around the falls.
If you want a remote mountain area, Salanser — above the village of Darstan in western Sefidrud — delivers quiet and purity. Access roads from Rudbar and Rostamabad are unpaved.
Visadar is another perennial, powerful waterfall about 15 km from Perehsar, set in dense forest.
From Perehsar, take the Visadar road toward Dinachal and follow the winding track to the top of the falls.
“Visadar” in the Talysh language refers to the willow tree, a local marker. The waterfall pours into an amphitheatre-shaped basin; the roar is so loud conversation is difficult.
Bijar Dam, officially Ayatollah Behjat Dam, is a new reservoir on the Zilki and Doaban rivers — about 20 km from Rasht and 30 km from Rudbar — creating a broad lake framed by dense forest.
The view of a lake within the woods is striking, but swimming in reservoirs is dangerous and discouraged.
Unlike many Iranian caves with small openings carved by water, Darband Rashi has a very large mouth. Unlike other caves it appears to have formed without flowing water.
The cave’s wide entrance resembles textbook images of prehistoric dwellings. Archaeological finds show humans lived here around 200,000 years ago during the Stone Age.
Darband Rashi is on Dorfak’s southern slopes near Siyadasht village. From Tutkabon, go toward Dehfaraz and Siyadasht, then hike from Rashi village to the cave mouth.
A smaller cave lies beside the large entrance; interior passages are dark and bat-calls can be heard deep inside. The cave makes a fine side trip for a Dorfak summit program.
In Langarud province, the Khorma forest park sits between trees and a river. The site is usually quiet except perhaps during Nowruz or summer.
The forest road starts in Komleh village, passes Atlaghur and Leil villages, and reaches the park’s best spots.
Mazandaran’s tourist beaches and recreation centres are often crowded; its mountain lakes, waterfalls and forests offer quieter alternatives.
About 20 km from Nur and near Siasangan Forest Park sits Abidar Dam, with a road around it that supports boating and water skiing.
Cafés and service centres near the dam bustle at holidays.
Access is via Malak-kala village and the Mahmudabad–Nowshahr road; turn off after Siasangan station and follow the secondary track.
Valasht is a freshwater lake fed by springs and surface runoff. The blue lake amid hills and reed beds creates striking contrasts.
In spring and summer pedal boats operate and camping is common. Local anglers praise the duck-perch (zorak) caught there. Maximum depth is about 22 metres; shallower at the edges.
Best access is from Marzanabad via Lergan village.
Mamraz is a swampy lake with dead, broken trees and misty forest — its eerie atmosphere earned the name “Lake of Ghosts.” Despite the spooky appearance, no verified supernatural reports exist — the reputation is folklore.
The lake lies at the end of a forest track beginning at Malak-kala near Abidar Dam. Poor road conditions make the route difficult for standard cars; SUVs are recommended.
Elimanat is a small reservoir whose water is used for agriculture. Only one shore is visitor-friendly; other sides are forested without access.
Early autumn is especially scenic, when red and yellow foliage reflects in the water.
Filband (Filben) is a high pasture village at roughly 2,300 metres in Babol county south of Amol. It is sparsely populated and open only in spring and summer.
Access is via a Hāraz-side track through Sangchal village to Filband. Its most notable feature is a nearly permanent ocean of cloud; villagers lead a simple pastoral life, and you often see cattle and horses grazing.
In recent years locals have built guesthouses for visitors.
Mazichal is one of the most remote highlands and is reachable only in summer — roughly three months per year. The access road is poor and becomes slippery after rain; autumn and winter close the area.
Local pastoralists use Mazichal only in the brief summer season. Expect no electricity, gas, mobile reception, or accommodation — only pure mountain pasture and oak forests.
The route to Mazichal starts at Toviderah village on the Abbasabad–Kelardasht road; a 10-km ridge road is challenging and suited to off-road vehicles.
Before Abasabad dam’s construction, the site hosted gardens and a historic building dated to the Safavid era; today only a small pavilion’s roof appears when the lake is full.
Legends about the building’s original function vary; today the lake has a small restaurant and pedal boats. The remaining northern garden survives but has been altered.
Access is from Oltapeh village south of Behshahr.
The Sehezar road is well known; if you want a scenic stop beside a flowing river, Sehezar Forest Park, 20 km south of Tonekabon, is an excellent choice.
Shahandasht is Mazandaran’s tallest waterfall with a total drop of about 180 metres, located in Larian (Amol) east of Mount Damavand and above a village of the same name.
The nearby Melk Bahman castle dates to pre-Islamic times but was damaged in the Safavid era. The waterfall’s rock face is popular with rock climbers.
Badab-soort is a stepped travertine spring whose red and yellow terraces are rare worldwide. The easiest route is from Sari toward Damghan; at the Telmadareh junction take the side road to Orost village and then the Badab-soort track.
Mazandaran has many dams set amid forest; Lefur Dam is surrounded by forested villages and provides a tranquil base for multi-day stays and visits to nearby Tirkān and Jelsang waterfalls.
The woods are rich in edible mushrooms (only pick if you can identify species), as well as berries, sour plums and walnuts.
The dam covers about 7 km² and reaches depths of 75 metres. Directions depend on origin; from Tehran via Firuzkuh, turn at Shirgah then follow the road toward the Lefur forest.
Alimastan is a village and well-known forest about 30 km on the Hāraz road to Amol. There are first and second meadows in the forest reachable by a half-hour hike between them.
Although the forest is accessible by road, many visitors prefer camping to enjoy the clean air.
Access is from Lahash village on the Hāraz road, via the station and then the village.
Golestan is smaller than the other two provinces but still offers notable pristine sites.
Kaboudval forest is known for its mossy waterfall and the lake formed behind Zarin Gol dam.
The waterfall is about 5 km south of Aliabad Katool. Roads go most of the way by car; after parking a walking path of stairs, bridges and forest boardwalks leads to the waterfall — an attraction in itself.
For travellers drawn to odd landscapes and deep-time stories, the ancient Khaled Nabi cemetery is a must-see.
Local Turkmen respect Khaled Nabi as a prophet; beside his tomb are two other shrines for Alam Baba and Chupan Ata.
The rolling, nearly uninhabited steppe is dotted with upright, unusual gravestones whose symbolism is still debated.
Jahannama Protected Area covers 38,000 hectares and remains largely untouched. Aside from a few villages and shepherd huts, signs of urban life are absent.
Most visitors approach from Kardkuy toward Radkan village. Wherever you enter you will find meadows, flowing streams and native wildlife — not dangerous predators, but wild deer, horses and boar are common.
Historically the Caspian tiger lived here; it is now extinct in the region.
Tooskestan is a village about 18 km southeast of Gorgan; a road from the village leads south toward Shahroud and opens onto the Saraliabad plains — a scenic and little-visited area.
About 9 km from Tooskestan is a waterfall reachable by a roughly 200-metre walk.
Early autumn is the best time to visit, when the Sasar forest’s red and yellow foliage is at its peak.
Along the route a few service and guest facilities offer short rest stops for travellers.
Tip | |
|---|---|
Check vehicle suitability — many dirt and mountain roads require SUVs or four-wheel-drive vehicles. | “Many routes are dirt or rugged; standard cars may struggle (e.g., Damash, Mamraz, Mazichal).” |
Time your visit by season — spring/summer for high pastures and flowers; autumn for foliage; some sites are accessible only in summer. | “Filband, Mazichal and many high pastures are seasonal; spring/summer best for flowers.” |
Expect limited services — bring supplies, water and camping gear for remote sites. | “No services at many lakes and pastures; pack food, water and camping equipment.” |
Use caution on mountain and rainy roads — winter and wet days can make access dangerous. | “Some roads are hazardous in winter/rain; take chains or avoid travel in bad conditions.” |
Respect protected areas and bird refuges — use boardwalks and join guided tours for sensitive sites. | “Protected refuges have boardwalks; some tours required for scope use; preserve habitats.” |
