Reg-e Kaleh

The Reg-e Kaleh desert lies on the southern edge of Mesr village in Isfahan Province. It consists of tall sand dunes that are visible to the south of the Khur–Mesr road. The shape and arrangement of the dunes here differ from the other sand dunes around them, offering a unique view of Iran's central desert. The desert lies close to Iran's Central Desert, and thanks to its particular geographic position it has a wide landscape of shifting sands and high dunes, which create spectacular, dreamlike scenery at sunrise and sunset. The clear, starry night sky over the desert is one of the most attractive parts of a trip to Reg-e Kaleh.

Besides its natural beauty, Reg-e Kaleh is also rich in flora and fauna. The vegetation includes sand-loving species such as saxaul (taghagh), Calligonum (eskanbil), nitre bush (natar), dom-e gavi, taq-taqu and nasi, all adapted to the dry desert conditions. Animal species include the sand fox, sand cat, tir-mar, camel snake (shotor-mar), Jafari snake, various scorpions, the steppe agama, black-tailed lizards and toothbrush-footed lizards (pamesvaki), introducing visitors to the diversity of desert wildlife. This mix of plants and animals makes Reg-e Kaleh an attractive destination for studying and experiencing desert ecosystems. In Reg-e Kaleh, tourists can enjoy activities such as camel riding, safari trips, sand motorbiking and desert trekking. The area is also very well suited to professional photography, and the sunrise and sunset views over the sand dunes produce lasting images.

To reach Reg-e Kaleh, you first need to go to Mesr village and then enter the area from there in a four-wheel-drive (2-differential) vehicle. The routes are dirt tracks through the desert, and experience driving on sandy terrain is necessary. Visitors are advised to bring suitable equipment, use a local guide and follow the principles of sustainable tourism so that they can have a safe and enjoyable experience of the desert environment.