Top 5 exotic villages in Iran

When it comes to traveling to Iran, what comes to mind first is visiting the main historical attractions located in the most touristic cities of Iran like Isfahan, Shiraz, Tehran, Yazd, while many authentic villages in Iran usually remain undiscovered by travelers visiting this country. With rich culture, exclusive architecture and picturesque landscapes, villages spread in every corner of Iran are worth visiting and below is a list of top 5 villages of Iran:

1-     Abyaneh Village

The 2000-year-old Abyaneh Village is located on the foothills of Karkas Mount, in Isfahan Province and is still called by its ancient Parthian name “Viuna” by its residents who are mostly old men and women, known by their traditional outfit including a white scarf with pink floral motifs, a vest, and a black under-knee skirt. The alleys in Abyaneh Village are narrow and cobblestoned and the cozy houses are covered with red mud, which is the reason why Abyaneh is known as the Red Village. The best time for visiting Abyaneh and enjoying its beauty is spring and late summer to early autumn.

2-     Meymand Village

Meymand (Meimand) is a rocky village and one of the primary habitats of man in Iran with evidence from 12000, 10000, and 6000 years ago. Meymand is located in Kerman Province in the southeast of Iran, and is a UNESCO world heritage site and was awarded UNESCO’s 2005 Melina Mercouri prize. The houses of Meymand Village are hand-carved and natural caves where the locals resided from thousands of years ago until today. There are about 130 to 150 people who live in Meymand Village and are semi-nomads busy with agriculture and animal husbandry. With its hot and semi-arid climate, the best time to visit Meymand is during spring and autumn.

3-     Kandovan Village

Being located 60 kilometers away from Tabriz in the northwest of Iran, Kandovan is another rocky village that should be visited. Dating back to the 7th century, Kandovan was home to people who migrated to this area to be safe from the Mongol invaders and carved their houses into the rocks created by the lava flow of Sahand Mount during millennia. Kandovan Village is still inhabited by locals and the houses, some of which have 2-4 stories, are equipped with electricity and water. Since Kandovan is located in an area with a cold climate, the best time to visit this village is from mid-spring to early autumn.

4-     Uraman Takht Village

According to evidence found in the area, the antiquity of Uraman Takht Village located in Kurdistan Province in the west of Iran dates back to about 2000 years ago. Stretched on a  steep slope of Sarvabad County, the village is home to dense and step-like rows of houses and roof of the below house is the courtyard of the above house. Uraman Takht is also known for the Pir Shalyar tradition which is held twice a year and is in honor of an ancient legend named Pir Shalyar whose tomb is in the village. During winter Uraman Takht is covered with snow and is a great time to visit the village for photography and adventure lovers, while spring is the best time for travelers who prefer mild and pleasant weather.

5-     Masouleh Village

Being located in the heart of the forests of the Alburz Mountain Range in northern Iran, Masouleh is another stepped village that blows every visitor's mind. The houses are built based on a vertical chain construction and look like a set of stairs from afar, also because of the foggy weather in the area. Also, no motor vehicle is allowed to enter Masouleh and the atmosphere is kept untouched. The locals are famous for making colorful and attractive knitted crafts like woolen socks and tiny dolls. During the winter Masouleh Village is covered with snow and roads are banned, so spring and autumn are the best times of the years for visiting Masouleh.

As one of PackToIran most important services, the Tailor made Tours offer travelers the chance to design their own Iran tour packages by adding their favourite activities or attractions to their Iran itinerary. Visiting a village in Iran, meeting locals, and getting acquianted with their cuisines, traditions, and mythical stories is what makes your travel to Iran even more memorable and unique, so do not hesitate to ask for a visit to one or two of the villages introduces above while designing your own tour!