The bustling and polluted city of Tehran is home to millions of citizens who are always seeking an escape from the mechanical life and daily routine! For most Tehranis, weekends are a great opportunity to relax and recharge after a week of stress and various concerns.
There are incredibly attractive spots around Tehran for one-day trips and camping, where you can go for an overnight stay or set up your tent. Today, we are going to talk about the best camping locations around Tehran. If you're planning a short weekend trip outside of Tehran, make sure to stay with us until the end of this article.
Dasht-e Lar, or Lar National Park, is a vast (about 67,500 hectares) and beautiful area located at the foothills of Mount Damavand. The northern and northeastern parts of it are in the Larijan area (Mazandaran province), while the southern and southwestern parts are in the Lavasanat region (Tehran province). Lar is a fantastic destination for nature tourism and fishing in Iran, a beautiful starting point for mountaineering and climbing Mount Damavand, and one of the best biking routes in the country. This tourist attraction includes rivers (Delichay, Sefidab, Vararo, and Lar), a lake (behind Lar Dam), mountains, waterfalls (Gol Zard), caves (Gol Zard), tulip fields, and springs (Deyvor Asiab), making it an ideal place for camping. The best months to visit Lar are May and June.
Dasht-e Lar is 120 kilometers (approximately a three-hour drive) from the center of Tehran. From the start of the Lar Road (in Polur) to the vast area around the Lar Dam, it's about 20 kilometers on paved and dirt roads, taking about an hour to travel by car.
Visitors to the Lar area need a permit from the Environmental Protection Organization. Many people join nature tourism tours to visit the area. Traveling to Lar is suitable for both beginners and experienced travelers, as the area offers a range of difficulties, from easy to challenging. Some families go to the region and camp in the flat meadows near its beautiful waterbeds, while others join professional groups to explore the rugged and untouched parts of the national park.
Randan, or Randon, is a historical, picturesque village located in the Kon and Solqan districts of Tehran. Situated in the middle of the Alborz mountain range at an altitude of about 2,000 meters, it lies along the green "Heydar Valley." The villagers speak Tati and are primarily engaged in animal husbandry and gardening. The area is mountainous and has a cold climate. It is covered with snow for more than three months each year, and many of its inhabitants move to surrounding areas during the winter. The Randan waterfall has a height of 40 meters.
Tourist attractions in Randan Village, such as the Randan waterfall, the Lavaar peak, and the valleys of Sipak, Doab, and Khoshkrud, make it a popular destination for one or multi-day trips for Tehran residents. The Randan waterfall is located two kilometers northeast of the village at an altitude of 2,200 meters. This beautiful waterfall drops from a height of 40 meters. The walk from the village to the waterfall is refreshing and takes about an hour. You pass by rivers in the valley and fruit orchards on your way to the waterfall. The path is gently sloped, with a difficulty level of 2 out of 6.
Imamzadeh is a mountain village near Tehran that is an excellent place for an overnight stay. The village is divided into two parts: Upper Imamzadeh and Lower Imamzadeh. The historical part of the village has been replaced by modern buildings.
In the past, Imamzadeh was a hunting ground for kings, and Nasser al-Din Shah married a girl named Fatima from the village, which led to the village's prosperity.
The best times to visit Imamzadeh Village are during the spring and summer when the nature is vibrant, and the weather is very pleasant. During these seasons, the waterfalls in the area, which are some of the most famous in Tehran, are full and flowing.
Attractions Around Imamzadeh Village
Goloukan Waterfall
Bāme Imamzadeh (Imamzadeh Hill)
Maziyar Castle
Pir Hamzeh Spring
Imamzadeh Noor
Imamzadeh Shah Hossein
Tanghe Garden
The Hooyr Lake is located in the Damavand region, where the cool and pleasant weather is ideal. The Hooyr Lake, located between the two mountains of Dobarar and Zinkuh, is about 500 meters from the Tar Lake. The height of both lakes changes throughout the year, and they freeze completely during winter. There are no trees or shade around the lake, so summer is not the best time for a visit. Many travelers choose this area for overnight stays, and spring is the perfect season for camping here.
Fishing
Parachuting
Paragliding
Scuba Diving
Swimming
Boating
Off-roading
Cycling
Azu Plain is a vast, pleasant, and beautiful area located in the heights of the Alborz Mountains, east of the Nawa village. The cool and refreshing air, especially in the summer, the diverse plant and animal life, and access to various peaks make this tourist destination popular. The stunning and magnificent view of Mount Damavand is the main reason for the fame of Azu Plain. This natural area is located on the eastern and southeastern slopes of the peak. Azu Plain is chosen as the starting point for mountaineering and ascending the peaks of Damavand and Pashoreh.
A variety of plants such as thyme, oregano, stinging nettle, poppies, dandelions, mint, and chamomile grow in Azu Plain. Native animal species in this dreamy and picturesque plain include martens, field mice, crows, and various predatory birds.
Azu Plain is located 128 kilometers from the center of Tehran. The distance from the beginning of the Tehran-Pardis highway to the plain is about 90 kilometers. Azu Plain is a cool, summer resort area, and the best time to visit is from May to September.
Overall, we've tried to introduce the best and most beautiful camping spots around Tehran in this article. If you know of any other scenic places close to Tehran, feel free to share them with us in the comments section.
