Eshtehard Desert

Eshtehard Desert, also known as Qeshlaq-e Hosseinkhani, is the closest desert to Tehran. It lies north of Eshtehard County, and its landscape is completely pristine and untouched. Like other deserts, this beautiful desert has a unique texture and is a suitable place for desert trekking and safari. In recent years it has attracted a great deal of attention from desert-trekking enthusiasts.

Eshtehard Desert is also known as Qarpuzabad Desert, because of its short distance from a village of the same name. Around the desert there are hills that are registered as National Monuments of Iran and are a legacy of the Sasanian era. One of the most beautiful parts of this desert is its colourful hills and heights, which paint a beautiful rainbow across the ground. These hills are made of salt, and thanks to particular minerals they display a strikingly beautiful blend of colours.

To enjoy the beauty of Eshtehard Desert, it is best to visit in spring and autumn. In summer the days are extremely hot and gruelling, and winter nights are very cold and unbearable, so it is best not to travel to this area in those seasons. The conditions in different parts of the desert, along with the presence of marshland in some areas, are among the main reasons why trekking alone here is difficult. For this reason, we recommend joining a desert-trekking group and following the guidance of experienced professionals. Most of these groups use the new Nazarabad–Eshtehard road to reach the desert, because it passes through the middle of it. The salty soil along the riverbank has turned this area into a complete marsh, and driving through it is difficult. Vegetation in this area is very sparse, so please do not pick plants or burn them during your trip, especially on overnight camps.