7-Day Qeshm and Hormuz Nature Tour with Iran's Lone Geo-Park

Fly from Tehran to Qeshm or Bandar-Abbas, which is 40 minutes from Qeshm by ferry, and transfer directly to your hotel in Qeshm. Qeshm is the largest island in the Persian Gulf and the lone geo-park of Iran. The geo-sites in Qeshm are affected mainly by water erosion and consist of sedimentary rocks and cuesta formations. A vast salt dome is also located in the western part of the island.

Distances:

• The flight from Tehran takes 1 hour and a half.

Accommodation:

• A 3-star hotel in Qeshm.

Visit some geo-sites in the southwest part of the island. The salt dome (diapir) of Namakdan is a unique structure on the island, featuring several outstanding structural, mineralogical, erosional, and sedimentary landscapes. This geo-site is also home to the record-holding Namakdan Cave, the world's longest salt cave, measuring 6500 meters.

Admire the Geo-link geo-site, located between Shur Valley and the Namakdan geo-site. It includes a variety of geological features and forms the southern flank of Salakh. This area is a showcase of erosion and anticline-related phenomena, with different geological and geomorphological features such as erosion forms, cuesta hills, dolines, rockfalls, and encrustation.

You will see:

• The salt dome and cave of Namakdan.

• Shur Valley and Geo-link geo-sites.

You will experience:

• Strolling through and observing the spectacular landscape of the Geo-Park of Qeshm.

Accommodation:

• A 3-star hotel in Qeshm.

Visit a couple of places in the Geo-park, starting with Chah-Kooh Gorge, located in the northwest part of the island near West-Chahu village. This geo-site is an excellent example of running water erosion and a canyon formed from a valley. Deterioration was the second factor in creating this valley, occurring along a deep joint and crack as a result of Salakh anticline movement. The primary factor, however, was structural force.

Travel to Hara Biosphere Reserve with your Iranian tour guide. Covering about 9000 hectares, it is known as the most extensive mangrove stand in the Persian Gulf.

You will see:

• Chah-Kooh Gorge

• Statues Valley

• Hara mangrove trees

You will experience:

• A boat ride in the Persian Gulf through mangrove trees.

• A daily excursion in the Geo-Park of Qeshm.

Accommodation:

• A 3-star hotel in Qeshm.

Set off on another full day of sightseeing on Qeshm Island.

Head towards Stars Valley, which is called Estareh-Kafteh in the local dialect. It is one of the most important erosional phenomena in Iran. In this valley, a variety of geomorphological phenomena have shaped several interconnected branches of small valleys. Besides the mechanical erosion of water, which is the main factor in shaping this area, many other factors have also contributed, including different types of rocks with varying resistance, the intercalation of gypsum, and different regional tectonic activities.

You will see:

• Geology Museum of Qeshm

• Stars Valley

• Khorbas caves

You will experience:

• The spectacular landscape of Stars Valley.

Accommodation:

• A 3-star hotel in Qeshm.

Explore Hormuz, known as the rainbow island and a paradise for geologists. To get there, you will take a ferry. Hormuz Island is located east of Qeshm and closer to the Bandar-Abbas seaport. The island is covered by sedimentary rocks and layers of volcanic material on its surface. Due to the lack of precipitation, the soil and water are salty.

On Hormuz, discover Rainbow Valley with its various sediment shapes and colourful soil.

Also visit the salt dome, called the salt goddess by local people, as well as the red-soil beach with its fantastic red and silver sand.

You will see:

• Salt Dome and Cave

• Statue Valley

• Rainbow Cave and Valley

• Red and Silver Beaches

• Turtle Beach

You will experience:

• Being amazed by the variety of colours in the island's soil.

• Riding a ferry in the Persian Gulf.

Distances:

• Qeshm to Hormuz takes about 1 hour by ferry.

Accommodation:

• An eco-lodge on Hormuz Island.

Discover the fascinating historical background of Hormuz. Also, visit the Portuguese castle, the old town, and Dr Nadalian Museum.

You will see:

• Portuguese castle

• Dr Nadalian Museum

You will experience:

• The lifestyle of the local people and the culture of living in Hormuz.

Accommodation:

• An eco-lodge in Hormuz.

Leave Hormuz Island for Bandar-Abbas by ferry in the morning.

Transfer directly from the jetty to the airport to fly back to Tehran.

Distances:

• Hormuz to Bandar-Abbas takes approximately 30 minutes.

• The flight to Tehran takes 1 hour and a half.