Cycling to Untraveled Destinations of Iran
Travel and the bicycle have gone hand in hand for centuries. From desert to mountain, every landscape becomes accessible on a trusty bike. Cycling offers plenty of benefits on its own, but pair it with a stunning destination — a quiet forest, a peaceful shoreline — and the joy doubles. Riding through nature is a wonderful way to reconnect with it, clear your head, and leave your worries behind.
Equipment for Cycle Touring
Helmet
Water bottle
Waist pack or small day pack
Comfortable shoes for biking and walking
Riding gloves
Sunscreen
Tour Formats to Suit Every Style of Riding
Cycling Through Varzaneh Desert
Desert cycling isn't just a sport — it's a way of thinking. It's a path back to yourself; the crunch of tires over sand has a way of quieting the noise outside so you can hear your own thoughts. Iran is home to several remarkable deserts, including Lut, Maranjab, and Varzaneh, each with its own character. While tours can run in any of them, Varzaneh is a favorite: it sits close to Isfahan, making it a natural stop for travelers heading from north to south, and its climate is especially pleasant in autumn and winter.
Cycling on Qeshm Island, Persian Gulf
Qeshm holds some of Iran's most authentic natural landscapes. As the largest island in the Persian Gulf, it's easy — and rewarding — to explore by bike.
Along the way, you'll pass striking attractions like Star Valley, the Salt Cave, and the island's mangrove forests, along with a string of scenic beaches. The route winds along the Hara forests and the Salt River, past waters fringed with coral reefs. It's a ride that leaves you with memories worth keeping.
Mountain Biking in the Zagros Range
Stretching from Iran's northwest down to its southeast, the Zagros Mountains offer dramatic scenery suited to everything from hiking to skiing to biking. Depending on what you're after, the range offers a wide variety of routes and settings.
There are beautiful cycling paths connecting towns and villages throughout the Zagros, but our recommended route runs from Golestan town through Paskouhak, Kodiun, and Haftbarm. Starting in Golestan (elevation 1,800 m), riders head toward Aliabad village near Paskouhak (elevation 2,000 m) — a stretch of about 14 km — before camping overnight in Aliabad village.
Cycling adventures are the perfect way to explore a destination at your own pace, one pedal stroke at a time.
