Poolvand Desert

Poolvand Desert, also known as the Mozaffari Protected Area, is a tourist attraction in Ferdows County, South Khorasan Province. Thanks to its desert and mountain topography, the area provides suitable conditions for a variety of wildlife species, including the Persian onager. The villages of Kajeh and Chahno lie to the north of the desert. It is bordered by Kal-e Namak to the west, the villages of Ebrahimabad and Taherabad to the east, and the Robat-e Shur Wildlife Refuge to the south.

Covering 92,808 hectares, Poolvand Desert was designated the Ferdows Protected Area in 1386 (2007). A distinctive feature of the area is the meeting of desert and wilderness with highlands and mountains, which creates a beautiful, scenic landscape. Sand dunes and rolling sandy hills, salt flats and salt pans, and desert plains, alongside mountainous areas, a sand dune shaped like a cheetah's tail, and the spectacular sand mountains, are special features of this region. Rig-e Dom-e Yuz (Cheetah Tail Dune) is a sand dune that resembles a cheetah, lying in the heart of the desert with its head tucked into the folds of the mountains. On the eastern side of the dune, at its end, earthen dams have been built to stabilise it.

With its diverse animal species, including the goitered gazelle (jebeer) and the Persian onager, this desert has become one of the best places for wildlife viewing. The area's plant diversity also includes a variety of trees and plants such as wild pistachio (baneh), wild barberry and thyme, a striking example of life in this dry, desert setting. The Mozaffari area, with its diverse animal species, is likewise considered a suitable place for wildlife. It is home to creatures such as wild rams, ewes and the Persian onager, which is critically endangered. The presence of particular birds such as the desert crow and the falcon has also made this area one of Iran's birdwatching destinations.

The best time for desert trekking is autumn, winter and early spring. We recommend visiting Poolvand Desert in these seasons, especially autumn and spring, and enjoying its beauty.