Saed News: If your heart fluttered to travel to the north just by seeing that very first photo of the marsh and you’re looking to find out where Saravan Marsh is, rest assured that by reading this article and journeying to Saravan through words, you will be completely immersed in pleasure.
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According to the Tourism Service of Saed News, the best time to travel to Saravan is spring; at first glance at the Saravan lake near the Saravan forest park, you will probably look for water! In front of you is a view full of trees with a green-covered ground that looks like a forest park.
The phosphorescent green meadow in front of you is so beautiful that you might want to run barefoot through it, but it’s better not to and trust what you’ve heard about this place being a swamp.
If you wait a few minutes for a swan boat to pass in front of you, you will realize that beneath this green land lies a deep swamp. The Saravan swamp in Gilan is a grassland swamp where instead of running, you must get on a boat and paddle through its heart.
Saravan Forest Park is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Rasht and welcomes many visitors every year. This forest park offers many sights and recreational activities, but most tourists agree that the Saravan swamp is the most attractive feature of this park.
If no boats are around, you can see the green carpet of the Saravan swamp in Gilan in all its harmony and charm. The mosses covering the lake surface have grown due to tree pests and the high humidity of the area. Interestingly, when some time passes after the last boat or moss-breaker passes by, the moss fills in the gaps again to make their green carpet even and seamless.
This swamp, one of the sights of Rasht, is not very deep, but like any swamp, it has a sticky mud that pulls down and drowns anything heavy in its heart.
The length of the Saravan swamp reaches 300 meters, and boating is possible in part of it. At the far end of the swamp, usually, no boats pass, so the surface is uniform and is a good spot for photography. It’s as if a green carpet has been spread on this part of the swamp, hosting butterflies, dragonflies, and mosquitoes that rest on it.
If you enter the second phase entrance of the Saravan forest park, you will see the famous swamp of this park on the left. Saravan forest is one of the oldest Iranian forests, considered one of the sights of Rasht and part of the Sangar district.
Near the Saravan swamp and forest park, there is a village called Saravan, also part of this district. This park and lake are 17 kilometers from Rasht and can be reached with about 15 minutes of driving on the Qazvin-Rasht highway.
Depending on which city you start from to go to Saravan lake and swamp, you will have a different route to access the area. In the next parts, we will discuss routes in detail, but generally, by searching for the Saravan wetland on Google Maps, you can find the best route from your starting point to the swamp.
To reach Saravan swamp, you have two options: either go via the Rasht-Qazvin highway toward the forest park and swamp or take the Siahkal shortcut toward Saravan.
If you are going from Rasht, first get on the Rasht-Qazvin highway. Continue 17 kilometers until you see the power plant junction on the other side of the road. After the junction, there is a U-turn; make the U-turn and enter the power plant road. Continue until you reach the second phase entrance of Saravan forest park. Saravan lake in Rasht is near this entrance.
If you are coming from Tehran, continue on the Qazvin-Rasht highway toward Rasht. A few minutes before Rasht, you will see the power plant junction. Enter that road and drive toward the second phase entrance.
The other route, known as the Siahkal shortcut to Saravan swamp, is suitable for those coming from the east. First, you should go from cities like Lahijan, Langrud, or Astaneh Ashrafieh to Siahkal. Drive on Imam Khomeini Boulevard in Siahkal toward Shohada Square, then enter Shohada Street.
Continue straight until you reach Bahonar Square near Saravan swamp, then enter Bahonar Street. Continue straight until you reach Saravan-Sangar-Siahkal road.
Important note: The beginning of Saravan swamp road (Sangar-Siahkal) is at the entrance of Siahkal (from the Lahijan side). So, you can reach this road without entering the city and drive toward Saravan. Continue this road until you reach the Qazvin-Rasht highway.
Then drive on the highway until you reach the U-turn. Make the U-turn, enter the west side of the highway, and finally take the power plant junction toward Saravan swamp. The distance from Siahkal to Saravan is 27 kilometers, which can be covered in half an hour.
The Saravan swamp in Gilan has formed over many years, and no one knows exactly how long it has existed. Saravan forest was originally a pristine, untouched area, but gradually tourists began visiting, and now it is known as a tourist forest park.
The Saravan wetland forest is one of the largest in Gilan, part of which is protected, and human entry is forbidden. Part of the Saravan swamp forest has been designated as a forest park since 1991 (1370 in the Iranian calendar) to allow people to enjoy the natural beauty alongside facilities.
The moss covering Saravan swamp looks like a deceptive enchantress. Despite their beauty, they are harmful plants. Their presence and coverage on the water surface reduce oxygen levels, making conditions difficult for fish.
Also, the stagnant swamp water naturally has low oxygen, making it unsuitable for many aquatic species. When you visit Saravan swamp in Rasht, you notice only playful frogs jump into the water, and occasionally a turtle calmly breaks through the moss and swims.
Around the swamp is Saravan forest, a full-fledged tourist attraction. Some trees like willow, alder, and oak are native to the area. Since it became a tourist zone, authorities have also planted trees such as silver cypress and pine.
If lucky, you might spot cute forest animals like squirrels, rabbits, partridges, woodpeckers, or even martens. However, don’t expect to see them often, as animals dislike the noise and prefer the calm forest core.
There is much debate about whether Saravan is a swamp or a lake. Let’s first define both: a lake is a basin filled by rain or a river, with no connection to open waters and usually stagnant. Lakes generally lack a uniform plant cover and host diverse ecosystems. A swamp, like Saravan swamp, is a shallow basin where water collects.
Saravan swamp usually forms because an obstacle blocks water flow, causing stagnation. Stagnant water encourages moss and plants like reeds and water lilies to grow. Saravan wetland forest has swamp characteristics, but many tourists call it Saravan lake, hence the name.
Of course, Gilan province and its forests also have many actual lakes.
You know the northern climate: in spring, it is humid, rainy, and cool. Summer is hot and humid with less rain. Autumn resembles spring but is cooler due to approaching winter, and without warm clothes, you may feel cold. Winter in Saravan swamp is beautiful but can be uncomfortable due to cold.
Winter offers unique natural scenes but may restrict access to some recreational facilities. Saravan swamp in winter is more suited for photography and nature walks.
The climate of Saravan swamp is like other northern parts of Iran. Spring, the best time to visit, has cool weather and spring rains attracting more travelers.
In summer, which many consider the best time to travel to Saravan swamp, it gets hot and humid; however, tall trees in Saravan forest block sunlight, making the temperature a few degrees cooler than areas without forests.
Autumn is cooling down but still a good time to visit the north and Saravan swamp with some warm clothes. Note that sunlight rarely shines on Saravan lake in Rasht, making the air cooler than other Rasht sights.
One weakness of Iran’s natural attractions is often poor network coverage. However, recently this has improved, and even mountainous areas have coverage. Saravan swamp near the second phase entrance of the Saravan forest park is not deep inside the forest.
Therefore, network coverage exists here, but your internet speed might be low. The deeper you go into the forest and swamp, the weaker the signal becomes, until the trees in the forest core block any connection, inviting you to relax.
Visiting Saravan swamp in Rasht, you will not be completely out of reach but better inform your loved ones that you might not have signal for hours.
So far, we’ve talked about the swamp and forest, but in Saravan Gilan, there are various activities you can enjoy, from exciting ones like paintball and shooting to relaxing ones like camping. Let’s review them one by one.
Boating: When you see the green carpet in front of you, your inner child will want to get on a swan boat and paddle into the swamp. Inner children get excited to cut through the mossy water carpet!
The swan boats seat two, but families with a small child can seat the child in the middle. As you paddle, the boat moves forward and pushes moss aside. As moss parts, the swamp water seems to breathe and oxygen levels rise.
Cycling: Cycling is not a lakeside activity here because the area near the lake and swamp is muddy, making bike passage impossible. Even walking requires care not to step into mud, which can ruin white pants and shoes.
However, there is a family cycling track in Saravan forest and swamp park where the whole family can ride comfortably without worrying about mud or falling. This route passes through Saravan swamp.
Children's Playground: For families with children, a playground is available in Saravan forest park near the swamp. Kids can enjoy swings, slides, and other play equipment.
Camping: Camping near Saravan swamp is very popular among young people. If you like being in nature, camping here lets you enjoy starry nights and early morning birdsong.
There is a camping ground in Saravan forest park where you can set up tents and enjoy a calm night away from the city.
Nature Photography: Saravan swamp is a photographer's paradise. The green moss carpet, birds, insects, and misty mornings offer countless photo opportunities.
Whether you are an amateur or professional, bring your camera and tripod to capture Saravan's natural beauty.
Other Activities: Paintball and shooting ranges are available inside Saravan forest park, providing fun for those who enjoy active games.
