Mount Damavand

Perched on the central part of Alborz Mt range in the north of Iran, the soaring Mount Damavand and its peak are among the most admired hiking and mountaineering routes for professional mountaineers. Formed in the fourth geologic period of the Holocene, the 5671 m. mount Damavand includes the highest peak in the Middle East and the loftiest dormant volcano in the Asia. The first eruption of Damavand occurred 1.8 million years ago and its last eruption took place some 3700 years ago.

Also, as a symbol of Iranian's resistance against despotism and dictatorship, Mount Damavand surges up repeatedly in Persian poems and mythologies, both literally and metaphorically. And, in this manner, the soaring mountain gains a mythical, divine place in the minds of people of Persia. From being the prison of Zahhāk, the evil ruler of ancient Persia, to being the last location from which the legendary hero, Arash the Archer, fired his arrow to determine the borders of Iran, Damavand has occupied a significant place in the memory of Persians.

On your way to the peak, there are many wonders and postcard views to charm you: wild flowers blanketing the mountain foot, wonderful glaciers, such as Siveleh and Yakhāl, mounds of sulfur powder formed by the last eruption of the volcano, and finally, the highest frozen waterfall in the Middle East at a height of 5200 m. A few rivers originate from Damavand, namely Moshk Anbār and Talkhrūd. Furthermore, several villages are scattered around the peak such as Nāndal, Haji dela, Polur, Rine etc. There are 63 paths for climbing the mountain, and among them, 16 ridges are considered as the best paths for ascending to the peak. Also, various high altitude shelters have been constructed for climbers. Two Bivouac huts on the northern ridge in  altitudes of 4000 and 5000 m, two camp sites on the west and northeast, one camp on the southern ridge and two equipped campsites in Polur and Rineh.

Check Four recommended climbing paths below:

Northern Wing:  Tehran > Haraz Road > Nandel Village > Nandel Plain 

Hiking from Nandel plain, located at an altitude of 2910 m, takes about five hours to reach the northern shelter at the height of 4630 m. Then it takes about 6 hours to reach the peak.  

Western Wing:  Tehran > Haraz Road > Polur Village > Simorq Parking Lot

Hiking from Simorq parking lot at an altitude of 3250 m takes 4.5 hours to reach the Simorq shelter at an altitude of 4200 m. Then it takes about 6.5 hours to reach the peak. 

Northeastern Wing:  Tehran > Haraz Road > Gazaneh Village 

Hiking from Gazaneh village to Takht-e-Fereydoun shelter at the height of 4400 m. takes 12 hours. Then it takes about 6 additional hours to reach the peak.

Southern Wing: Tehran > Haraz Road > Rine Village > Gusfand Sarā 

Hiking from Gusfand Sara at the height of 3120 m takes four hours to reach the shelter at the height of 4250 m. Then it takes seven hours to reach the peak.