A Road Trip Through Kurdistan May Just Be The Best Holiday Idea Ever

Kurdistan is known for its diverse, breathtaking natural beauty and rugged hairpin road bends. Due to its elevation and mountainous terrain, it is rich with rivers, lakes, mineral springs, caves and wildlife, making it an ideal location for mountaineers and nature lovers in general. Read on to discover why a road trip through Kurdistan, Iran may just be the best holiday idea ever.
It’s not just Iran’s topography that varies as you move throughout the country, but it’s also the culture. Kurdistan in particular seems removed from the rest of the country in terms of nature, culture, and language. In fact, the population in this province has more in common with their Kurdish neighbors in Iraq than they do with Persians in Shiraz and Esfahan, a feature which you are sure to pick up on as you discover this region.
Sanandaj, Kurdistan’s capital, roughly divides the province into east and west and can be used as the starting point for your road trip. First up should be the vertical village of Palangan. The houses here have been built into a steep gorge such that the roof of one doubles as the front porch of another, much like the village of Masouleh in Gilan province. With a view of the babbling river and narrow stone bridge, visitors will be completely removed from the modern world and might even decide to stick around until nightfall when the cliffside glows with lights.

Sheep cross over the stone bridge of Palangan

Move on to Uraman Takht, another spectacular staircase-like village similar to Palangan. Sirvan River, Kurdish for ‘roaring sea’, flows through the valleys here and is known for its beautiful banks blanketed with walnut, pomegranate, fig, and mulberry trees before it eventually joins the Tigris in Iraq. Ancient fire temples around this village indicate that the inhabitants were Zoroastrian before converting to Islam.

The village of Uraman Takht has been built into the mountainside

Continue north to discover Lake Zarivar. Located near the city of Marivan, this so-called lost paradise is surrounded by a thick forest and host to a diverse range of flora and fauna. Legend has it that a ruthless tyrant once governed these lands. After a sage pleaded for the mercy of Zoroastrian God Ahura Mazda, underground springs appeared and eventually submerged the city and its wicked leader. The sage is thought to have been laid to rest in the nearby mountains.
As you circle around this province, head towards the rocky limestone Karaftu Cave, believed to have been underwater during the Cretaceous period millions of years ago. Water remains in certain chambers, but this cave is perhaps most notable for the Greek inscription which reads “Herakles resides here, nothing evil may enter.”

When to go

Winters are best avoided as they are long and cold with heavy snowfall. Otherwise, Kurdistan has pleasant temperatures making it ideal in the spring and summer when other areas of Iran can get hot. Nowruz is a particularly festive time to visit as you are sure to be included in plenty of dancing and other new year’s celebrations.

About the author

Pontia Fallahi

Born and raised in the US, Pontia lived in four countries before moving to Tehran, Iran where she has been living for 3 years. She's passionate about languages, culture, and travel. Determined to dispel any misconceptions about her adopted home, she regularly blogs about life as an expat in Iran and Persian culture/language on her personal blog MyPersianCorner.com. When she isn't writing, she's either teaching languages (or picking up a new one herself) or traveling.