The Most Beautiful Iran Islands

The Most Beautiful Iran Islands 

Iran has many beautiful natural and historical attractions. The word Island always reminisces us of an attractive and mysterious place in the middle of the water. We can always count on the Islands as an unknown place to travel. It is not easy to compare Iran Islands to each other and talk about the superior ones, though all of them are special in their unique and eye-catching style.

Most Iranian know at least about the name of one Island, some of which are as old as the ancient cities of Iran. Most of the Iran Islands are in the Persian Gulf water, not far from the Strait of Hormuz. Ashooradeh Island is the only northern Island in the Caspian Sea that specifies some pages of history to itself. Some historians believe that Ashooradeh was the Island of Abaskun that Sultan Muhammad Khwarazm fled to during the Mongol invasion of Iran and died on this Island in 1220 AD.

Some of these Islands are great travel destinations due to their diverse tourist attractions.

Kish Island

Undoubtedly Kish is the most famous and popular Island among tourists in Iran. It has a variety of tourist attractions that have made ever-lasting memories for everyone. In 2010 The New York Times ranked it among the ten most beautiful Islands in the world. As a free-trade zone Island, it has numerous malls, shopping centers, and resort hotels. No need for visa requirements to enter this Island.  

Jet-skiing, surfing, and parasailing over the clear water of the sea or exploring the underwater world with the help of divers, riding around the modern Persian Gulf Island, and increasing adrenaline with sports games at the beach make you enjoy being in Kish. Also, you can experience memorable nights on the beach till dawn and see the picturesque sunrise over the Persian Gulf.  

The Island fills with Natural and historical attractions that you must see.

The old Greek Ship was built in 1943 by the British and ran aground in 1966 without any apparent reason, then started to rust and break ever since. It locates in the southern part of the Island. Now it is a popular spot for tourists to visit in the sunset and take pictures. Camel and horse riding and riding a bicycle are other fun things you can do on the nearby coast. 

 

Dolphin Park is southeast of the Island and designed to entertain children and adults. In addition to the dolphinarium, the large complex includes the bird garden, the circus, the aquarium, and the classic show. Different bird species and marine mammals live in this attractive place.  

 

The Ancient Harireh City is more than 800 years old on the north of the Island. It is one of the national treasuries of Iran. This city consists of an old public bathroom, a mosque, an aristocratic building, an aqueduct, and a workshop.

The Kariz Underground City is about 15 kilometers long and constructed 14 meters underground. It was to supply drinking water for the inhabitants of the Island and surrounding areas in the past. Today, it has transformed into an underground city, and a recreational complex includes different architectural remains, handicraft stands, traditional and modern restaurants, a conference hall, and art galleries. 

The Historical Cistern locates in the northern part of the Island. It consists of two domes and five wind towers which architectural style is in the style of traditional Yazd architecture. By visiting this Cistern, tourists can learn about Iranian and Islamic architecture. 

Marjan Beach (Coral Beach) is one of the most beautiful beaches on Kish Island. It connects the Marjan bazaar to the beach. The pleasant clean silvered color beach and the view of the clear sea, the bright sun, and the fresh air of the Island will relieve your soul. Sea stones, corals, different snails, sea shells, and colorful oyster shells in the clear and transparent waters of the beach make a pleasant scenery for tourists. After they die, they turn into white sponges that give the beach a unique look. Usually, the beach is crowded at sunrise and sunset because the beauty of this beach intensifies at these moments. Flights are available daily from different parts of Iran to Kish, and every day ferries leave from Bandar Abbas, Charak, and other ports to Kish Island. 

Qeshm Island

Qeshm Island, the beautiful jewel of the Persian Gulf, is a land of rocky, sandy, and lovely beaches. The extent of historical, cultural, and ancient monuments, along with valuable geological heritages, has made this Island the only Geopark in Iran and the Middle East. In addition to many attractions, it has many excellent tasty traditional foods and local and modern shopping malls. Qeshm Island is the largest free-trade zone Island in the world. Due to its proximity to the equator and sea, it has a tropical climate, so the best season for traveling there is fall and winter. 

Here are some attractions of this piece of land in the northern part of Hormuz Strait.

Chahkooh Canyon on Qeshm Island is one of the most stunning landmarks you could visit. It is one of the seven wonders of Qeshm that nature statues and rocks embodied through time. Its sky at night is also a phenomenon itself. Chahkooh Canyon is in the east of Qeshm Island with a hundred-meter depth. Chahkooh Canyon is just another world in the eye of its visitors. It is also known as The Holy Valley as it functioned like water storage when it was raining, and water was of special sacredness. The structure of Chahkooh Canyon is a flowstone related to Zagros Mountain Chains that changed into what we see today by water, wind, and sun erosions through time. The best time to visit Chahkooh Canyon is in winter, especially in January and February. 

 Stars Valley on Qeshm is an interesting two-million-year-old phenomenon. The soil, stone, and sand erosion caused by the wind, rain, and shower have created this valley. The features and precious landscapes of Stars Valley have caused it to register in the list of UNESCO as a section of Qeshm Island Geopark. In the silence of the night, when the sky and stars feel close to the ground, the valley looks more beautiful, even if the local people believe that when it gets dark, the place fills with ghosts and goblins moving around.

Hara Forest on the southern coast of Iran is not similar to other forests you have ever seen. It covers an area of ​​about 200 km on Qeshm Island, an hour away from the city center. Its lifetime is 30 to 40 million years. The trees submerged in the sea for many years. Mangroves are always green. These trees act like desalination plants, meaning they do not absorb salt from the water. The picture of green Mangrove trees in the sea in hot weather and the birds migrating there in winter is fabulous. The roots of the trees appear when the water goes down, then you can walk on the trees with boots and have the adventure of walking in the mud. 

Portuguese Fort is one of the wonderous historical attractions on the northern side of the Island. In the 16th century, the Portuguese occupying forces constructed the fort to defend against local riots and keep munitions and weapons. Eventually, Portuguese rule was ended after 110 years by the Safavid King, Shah Abbas. The castle destruction during the war, riots, and Natural disasters over the centuries. Now, the remains of the castle testify to its previous majesty and glory. 

Tallaght Wells is 76 km from the Island in a village called Laft. There is not enough rain in regions near the equator, so water has always been valuable in Qeshm. Many years ago, people of this area dug 366 wells to gather clean water from rainfall. Scientists believe that the number 366 is equal to the days in a year. The wells are deeper next to a coral hill, so when the rain falls, it enters the wells. Today, only 60 of them have remained, and nearly half of them are usable. 

Namakdan Salt Cave, with a length of 6400 meters, is the longest salty cave in the world, located 90 km away on the southwestern coast of the city of Qeshm. This natural masterpiece is one of the great attractions of the Island. Namakdan Salt Dome is the result of a natural phenomenon. Due to the lighter weight of the surrounding structures, great salt masses move toward the ground. Then they jog out of the openings or weak points. As rainwater penetrates the salt, it dissolves them and enters the dome forming different geological structures. These colorful strips of salt covering the cave walls, the water flowing on the ground, and beautiful ponds forming with salt crystals, make a picturesque scene for every tourist. The underground water and salt permanently flow out of the cave and find their way toward a 1-meter natural white pond that serves as a salt spring. This spring has medical characteristics for many diseases like asthma and respiratory distress.  

Kharbas Cave is 15 km from the center of Qeshm in the heart of Kharbas village. You can see a complex of rooms connected by a narrow corridor ending in a large hall. The hall was a meeting place for natives. Many historians and archaeologists believe that the cave belongs to the era of Medes. Researches show that the cave had been used as a temple by worshipers of Mithras and Anahita, a place for keeping the bones of the dead (Astodan /Ostudan), and a safe place to shelter children, women, and the elderly during pirate attacks. Today it is one of the most important attractions of Qeshm. 

The beaches of Qeshm Island cover an area of 1500 km, so Qeshm Island includes various beautiful beaches like Silver Beach, Zeytoon Beach, Suza Beach, The Beach of Salakh Village, The Beach of Messen Village, The Beach of Shib Deraz Village. Like other parts of Iran, Qeshm Island has many historical and natural places for tourists to go and enjoy. The British Cemetery, The Bibi Cistern, and The Naderi Castle ( Laft Castle ) are other fantastic city attractions that everyone must see when visiting Qeshm.

Hormuz Island

Hormuz Island is one of the places you must see before you die. It is one of the most beautiful, pristine, and colorful islands in the southern part of Iran. This Island is in the southeast of Bandar Abbas in the heart of the Strait of Hormuz. Beautiful Hormuz was under Portuguese colonization for many years and many times witnessed the rebellion of the local people against the colonialists. Finally, in the era of Shah Abbas Safavid, this Island was taken back and regained its position as one of the most beautiful islands in southern Iran. On this Island, tourists are not allowed to enter by their Car, so the nature of it remains very pristine and untouched. To visit Hormuz, you ride the three-wheeled motorbikes (Tok-Tok) or explore it on foot. Nature lovers enjoy visiting Hormuz and its most beautiful colored beaches of the Persian Gulf. Join us to learn about the historical and natural attractions of this Island.

Hormuz Portuguese Castle locates in the northern part of the beautiful Hormuz Island. Its construction dates back to the beginning of the 16th century. The Portuguese fort on Hormuz Island is the vastest remnant of Portuguese colonialism in Iran. Inside the Portuguese castle, you can see war cannons and the remains of buildings and turrets. This noble castle has a good view of Hormuz Island. The name of the Portuguese Castle on Hormoz Island is on the list of national monuments of Iran.

Rainbow Valley is an area with colorful soil and a color spectrum of more than 70 colors ranging from yellow, white, and orange to purple and red, full of various lime salts. The more you go into the heart of this beautiful valley, you will be more enchanted by its beauty. Several metal stones in the Rainbow Valley have been seen only in some European and American countries. Among the samples of rocks in Rainbow Valley, we can mention Magnetite, Hematite, and Oligisto. The main component of these stones is iron oxide. The colorful soils of the valley have been used to make a variety of southern handicrafts and have medicinal properties.

Ahmad Nadalian Museum is the most prominent historical attraction on Hormuz Island. This museum introduces the local and rich culture of the region, so it is interesting, especially for foreign tourists. The museum started its activity with Dr. Ahmad Nadalian in 2009. It began to display the artistic, cultural, and native works of the Hormoz people to the public.

Silence Valley is a valley built of salt domes and crystals. It is also renowned as Energy Valley and Namak Tabarzan Valley (Turquoise salt Goddes Cave). An orange and gold-colored seasonal river flow at the bottom of the valley. A salt dome named Turquoise Goddess is another part of the valley.

Red Beach is the part of Hormuz that welcomes tourists by creating visual and sensory experiences. The presence of abundant iron oxide in this soil makes it red. It is called Gelak by natives. Gelak is for cooking various types of fish, jam, local bread, and pickle. It also is used for making local handicrafts and in the paint industry. Watching sunrise and sunset from this beach is another popular entertainment for tourists. 

The Valley of the Statues is one of the wonders of Iran, where nature has created unique sculptures and statues. A walk toward the valley is difficult to pass, and rock shapes become visible. They have unique designs that you won’t see anywhere else. Looking at them made you think and seek to find the form of the natural sculptures in the valley. You can stare at them for a long time and drown in the dreamy world of imagination. 

Hengam Island

Hengam is one of the most beautiful islands in Iran, located in the southern part of Qeshm Island. Although it is less known among people, everybody can enjoy glancing at the beautiful nature and doing many fun and entertaining things there. Watching Persian Gulf dolphins while playing in the clear water of the sea is the moment you will not experience in artificial parks of Dubai or other cities. Hengam has no streets or roads, and only 600 people live in its three small villages. It means absolute peace for tourists who want to walk in a paradise without air pollution. Hengam traditional market is one of the most beautiful markets in Iran. When visiting this market, don’t forget to buy handicrafts and jam cooked with red soil (Gelak).

Khamasi beach is one of the best beaches on Hengam island, especially for those who love excitement and adrenaline! It has tall rocks on this beach that allow you to dive into the sea. It is not all the charm of Khamasi beach, but watching mermaids and some species of aquarium fish in the clear water of the sea is one of the other beauties that this beach offers to its guests.

Silver Beach is one of the strangest things you can see while traveling to Hengam. In the soil of this beach, there are shiny particles made of shiny minerals. Also, the presence of marine phytoplankton makes the beach more brilliant. Lying on this sparkling beach and watching the sea can take away the tiredness of everyday life and make you fresh. 

Larak Island

Lark Island is 16 kilometers away from Qeshm. The population of the Island, whose number reaches 250 families, lives in a historical castle built during the Safavid period by the Portuguese. Lark is a tranquil heaven with a few inhabitants whose job is fishermen. It is a dreamy spot for travelers looking for tranquility on quiet beaches. Planktons exist in the water, so when the waves hit the beach at the beginning of the night, you can see blue light in the water. Military forts and 800-year-old houses in the mountains are among the historical tourist attractions of Larak. Also, there is a historical cemetery in which they put clay hearths on the graves like small vases, and the smell of frankincense and pewter felt everywhere. The southern Islands of Iran, with their stunning-colored magical nature, unique valleys, and diverse animal species, are the best destinations for tourists in the country.  

Lavan Island 

It is a vast island in the westernmost part of Hormozgan province and on the border of Bushehr province. It is known as one of the largest islands in the Persian Gulf. Lavan Island is a residential island whose inhabitants are often engaged in fishing. It has diverse flora and fauna. Many regions have shrubs and tall trees, which is why it has a lush nature. Among the mammals, we can also mention deer.