Chahchaheh Forest

Pajireh Forest, also known as the "Chahchaheh Pistachio Forest", is located in the village of Chahchaheh in Zavin District, Kalat-e Naderi County, Razavi Khorasan Province, an area close to the border between Iran and Turkmenistan in the northeast of the country. The village lies roughly 100 to 105 kilometres from Mashhad, and thanks to its geographical position and unique natural setting, it is a valuable natural attraction for nature-loving travellers. Chahchaheh Pistachio Forest, also known as "Khajeh Forest", is one of the largest areas of wild pistachio forest in Iran. It lies in the arid and semi-arid landscape of the northeast and offers varied scenery, from open plains to scattered wild pistachio trees.

In this forest, wild pistachio trees, which sometimes reach several metres in height, form a green layer that withstands the region's dry climate, and this is what sets the forest apart from other forests in the country. In spring and early summer, this pristine landscape becomes spectacular with fields of poppies and wildflowers, and in other seasons its natural scenery and local wildlife still offer a different kind of nature-tourism experience. Animal species such as gazelles, wild boar, foxes, mouflon rams and ewes live in this ecosystem, and at times the Turkmen kulan (wild ass) is also seen, a rare sight among the region's wildlife.

To reach Chahchaheh Pistachio Forest, you usually take the road from Mashhad to Kalat-e Naderi, then continue towards Chahchaheh village and the pistachio forest itself. Parts of the route are unpaved, and the road can be driven with care in off-road vehicles or ordinary cars. Spring, from late Farvardin to Ordibehesht, is the best time to visit, when nature is at its most attractive with its colourful flowers and plains, although summer and early autumn are also suitable for nature lovers. Responsible tourism means collecting your litter, respecting native plants and animals, and avoiding lighting fires in the forest, so that this valuable area is preserved for future generations.