Kavir-e Do Shakh

Kavir-e Do Shakh, also known as the "Sabzevar Desert", is located in Razavi Khorasan Province, west of the city of Sabzevar. The area lies next to Touran National Park and the Shir Ahmad Wildlife Refuge. Kavir-e Do Shakh is very extensive, about 100 kilometers long and roughly 40 kilometers wide.

The surface of Kavir-e Do Shakh consists mainly of vast salt flats, and in its northern part there are notable salt domes. At an average elevation of about 800 meters above sea level, the desert forms a natural basin that collects the floodwater and runoff of the region. The name "Do Shakh" ("two horns") comes from the desert's distinctive shape: on its western and eastern sides, the closed basin narrows toward the north and resembles a pair of horns. Vegetation in the center of the desert is very sparse, and most of its surface is almost bare. Along the margins of the salt flat, however, salt-tolerant plants such as ashnan (saltwort) and tamarisk grow, while on the sandy edges and in the steppe areas you can see plants such as astragalus (gon), garden cress, mountain poppy, asafoetida, wild iris, melica and camelthorn.

The main access route to Kavir-e Do Shakh is from the city of Sabzevar, and the area can be entered via dirt side roads. The best time to visit is usually winter and autumn, when the weather is relatively cooler and day and night temperatures are less extreme. Visitors can enjoy desert trekking, including walking on the salt surface, photographing the salt landscapes, and watching the sunset. Overnight stays in a tent or camping also offer a special experience of silence and a star-filled sky. Following the principles of responsible nature tourism is essential to preserve the natural beauty of the area, including not lighting fires in vegetated areas, collecting your trash, and respecting the environment.