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Iran Tour FAQ

Fitness Level

Easy-Moderate: For the most part, this Iranian adventure is not super physically demanding. We do have a couple of days of trekking in the Zagros mountains which does require a basic fitness level. The better fitness you have, the more you will enjoy yourself during our time in the mountains.

Who should apply?

  • The perfect candidate:
  • You want to learn new things about a fascinating country and step out of your comfort zone.
  • You are comfortable both in the city and in the mountains.
  • You love being part of an adventure team.
  • You are interested in experiencing a wide range of Iranian culture, architecture, people, and landscapes.
  • You hike sometimes and maintain decent fitness.
  • You don’t need to be connected to the internet all the time.
  • You’re a team player and understand that plans sometimes change.
  • You are keen to head on a real adventure.
  • You are capable of trekking for 5-7 hours a day.
  • You are interested in getting to know a side of Iran few get to see.
  • You have done a fair bit of traveling before.
  • You have a basic understanding of cultural awareness.
  • You have a positive attitude and want to gain new amazing life experiences.
  • You have an open mindset and are interested in experiencing an often misunderstood country first hand.

Why do I need to book a Tour? Can I visit Iran on my own?

If you’re an independent American / British or Canadian traveler, we will help you get what you need to sort the visa, which is much more expensive and full of bureaucratic headaches if you tackle it on your own. These nationalities need a special visa with an established itinerary already pre-determined and require an Iranian licensed guide 24/7 which Epic will provide.

So why book a trip with Epic?

We handle logistics, provide you with unique connections, and allow you to see the best of the country in a relatively short time-frame. We also believe in paying our staff competitive wages and investing in local community projects and we strive to make a positive impact on local communities every time we run a tour.

Is Iran safe?

Contrary to what 99% of the world thinks, Iran is generally a very safe place to travel to. If you ever read an honest travel blog about Iran, you will probably see things like “Iran is the safest country I’ve ever been to” or “much safer than traveling in USA or Europe”. Violent crimes against foreigners/tourists as well as kidnapping and terror related crimes are VERY rare in Iran. In reality, most travelers find a great sense of hospitality and friendly people eager to hang out or invite you to join them for a meal or tea. Knowing this, it is best to come to Iran with an open mind and leave prior judgements and misconceptions at home.

What is the food like in Iran?

Food traditions in Iran are almost as old as time itself. Culinary masterpieces go back almost 4000 years when recipes were being recorded in a cuneiform script on clay tablets. Iran’s amazing gastronomy is one of the highlights of the trip that you (and your belly) will remember for the rest of your life. The cuisine reflects the soul of the country. From the fertile provinces in the north where rice fields mark the landscape and it’s veggie dishes, to camel kebab and dates from the desert, to fish from Persian Gulf; Iranian cuisine has something for everyone.

Obviously, as is typical from this region of the globe there’s a huge selection of kebabs (meat barbecue) of goat, sheep, and cow, etc, but we will be also be able to find a big selection of different vegetarian dishes too; the goal is to try as many delicious things as possible. Persian bread is served with everything, rice is a tasty staple, and…sorry guys… alcohol is strictly forbidden.

In Iran, normally it’s easy to order a big variety of food options and then share dishes for a big table family style.

Note: The food in Iran is NOT spicy. It has of course a big selection of spices – as the Iranian Saffron, the world’s most expensive spice that we will be able to find in many dishes and tea. Please, let us know early on if you have any diet restrictions/preferences.

What should I wear?

Women will need to wear hejab (headscarf) most if not all of the time whilst in Iran. This means covering hair/arms and legs. Many local women opt to wear a long coat/tunic/manteau also to disguise the body shape, but this is not necessary for foreign women, who do have some flexibility in the way they can dress.

Men should wear pants and t-shirts. Shorts and tank tops are not appropriate. When entering mosques, men or women with tattoos should cover them up.

Bear in mind however some rules are not observed strictly, especially for tourists and foreigners in the same way as they are for local Iranians. The clothing rules will be much more relaxed when we are trekking out in the mountains (at times). There’s definitely no restriction in color with regards to the clothing standard.

Open-toe shoes and sandals are just fine for both men and women, especially in summer. Painted nails on your fingers or your toes, are also fine. Hair should be covered but it does not mean you must have a tight scarf around your head. It is very common that some hair remains out of the scarf.

Will there be sweet, sweet WiFi on our trip?

There will be WiFi in big cities like Tehran, Esfahan or Shiraz, especially in the guesthouse’s & small hotels. But non-existent for the 3 days in the Zagros Mountains and probably weak signal in the village of Varzaneh.

We recommend using your time in Iran to take a digital detox and spend your time soaking in the exciting new environment instead of scrolling through Instagram.

What is the Accommodation like in Iran?

Prices are based on the sharing of rooms and single (same sex) members of the group will typically be put together. We will be using guesthouses & small hotels that offer comfortable, clean, but simple, facilities. Sometimes rooms might be without air conditioning (although normally they are equipped with air-con, especially in summer time).

Whilst in the Zagros Mountains, we will share tents while living with the nomad families; the tents are clean, comfortable, and a great way for us all to hang out. Note: hot water will not be available when we are in the mountains for a couple of days.

Single supplement: If you wish to have a private hotel room to yourself, we can arrange this – the single supplement cost is €250; Please note that even if you do opt for a single room, this will only be possible in Tehran / Varzaneh / Esfahan & Shiraz. For the 2 nights in the Zagros Mountains, accommodation is all shared (unless you bring your own tent).

Does Epic Expeditions sort out my Iranian Visa?

No. You will need to arrange your visa yourself before you arrive in the country. Upon booking, guests will be given resources and advice regarding how to tackle the visa application process.

What sort of equipment do I need to come on this trip?

We will provide a full kit-list months ahead of the start of the tour. You will not need to spend a fortune on expensive gear but decent multi-purpose hiking shoes, proper clothing, sun protection (hat), and a decent jacket are a must.

Is Insurance included in the tour?

No it is not. To travel on this tour, you must have travel insurance because it’s one of the items mandatory to ask the Iranian Visa. We will provide recommendations closer to the time. If you don’t buy travel insurance, you will not be allowed to come on the tour.

WIll the trip run exactly as the itinerary is planned?

That’s the goal, and our team is already hard at work to ensure that the itinerary goes according to plan. Keep in mind that the above itinerary and activities are subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances like weather, road closures, natural disaster, ministry approval, etc. Travel almost always involves unexpected situations so things might need to be re-arranged at times. However, it is important to remember that travel is all about the journey, and so even the unexpected situations we may face should be treated as part of the overall experience. If we encounter issues we will get them sorted to the best of our ability.

Where will I need to fly into to start the tour? Why will I need to fly out of?

You need to fly into Tehran and be at the guesthouse by the morning of day 1. Ideally you will arrive a day early to rest and gear up for the start of our adventure. You will be picked up from the airport by a member of our team providing you arrive within 24 hours of midday on day 1. If you arrive outside of the 24 hour period leading up to the start of the tour, you’ll need to pay for your own transfer – advice will be provided.

The tour finishes in Shiraz, so you will need to book your return flight home from Shiraz. 

Will I be able to communicate with locals?

In most of the places we visit, the locals speak English. Many young people are actually teaching themselves or having private tutor’s lessons outside of official school requirements. Locals also love to practice their English with visiting foreigners.

Do credit cards work there?

No. You will have to carry cash with you whilst traveling in Iran. We will recommended a “personal budget” needed for things not included in the trip price (souvenirs, meals during free time, extra snacks, tipping, etc). There’s no Visa/Mastercard or American Express in use in Iran. The banking system is basically cut off from the rest of the world. Also Western Union and other big-name money transfer companies don’t work in Iran.

Is pre-tour/post tour accommodation provided?

No it is not. You are not covered for accommodation for the days leading up to the start of the tour or the days after the tour has ended. Day 1 is the first day accommodation is included. If you need an affordable place to stay before or after the tour starts/ends, we can provide recommendations.

Do I need to sign a release waiver?

All tour participants will be required to sign an industry-standard waiver releasing Epic Expeditions from any liability related to any aspect of this Iran trip.

We want adventurers…

This is an adventure… things may not always go as planned and if they don’t, we will be there to solve problems as quickly and efficiently as possible. You will get out of this trip what you put into it; a positive attitude, willingness to get to know the locals, and enthusiasm are all important.

While the tour itself is not super strenuous physically, please note that it can involve the following: somewhat long days, a good amount of walking and a few days of trekking, being in the sun in potentially hot temperatures, a few long journeys by bus, early morning wake-ups, and other similarly challenging scenarios.

Epic Expeditions staff are there to lead you into the mountains and provide you with an amazing experience through our unique contacts – we are not there to be your servants. We are there to guide you through Iran in a mode of utmost professionalism, laugh with you, enjoy tasty food with you, trek with you, and overall have an awesome time bonding as a group.

Have a question about this Iran tour?

Feel free to send us a message using our contact page!

Adventure Guide

Hailing from the Toronto region of Eastern Canada, with a background as a former standout athlete (hockey of course) and a  love of mountain adventure, Clark is a welcomed addition to the Epic team.

In addition to being a keen photographer and adventurer, Clark brings his brilliant sense of humor, leadership skills, and positive attitude to everything he puts his mind to. 

When he is not leading trips, he is working on taking over the hard apple cider game in Canada as a skilled craft brewer. 

Adventure Guide

Noemi grew up in the mountains of German-Speaking Switzerland where she naturally developed a deep love and respect for mountain environments.

She is a talented photographer, aspiring climber, and speaks at least 5 languages fluently including Arabic (and probably a few more that we don’t know about), which she taught herself in a matter of months by watching YouTube videos. 

Noemi has spent the last several years traveling, hiking, and photographing her way around many different countries in the Middle East, South and Central Asia, and Europe, and we could not be more stoked to welcome her to the Epic team! 

Adventure Guide

As our man on the ground in Mongolia, there is not much this legend can’t do. As a native the Bayan-Ölgii province of the Western Mongolia Altai, Syerik has been working as a guide and tourism entrepreneur…

for the past several years and is one of the rising stars in Mongolia adventure travel industry. 

He is currently building a beautiful Ger (Yurt) camp near his hometown where he will host Epic Mongolia team members on our trip as well as other travelers from around the world! 

He is the perfect guide for your trip to Mongolia. Serik did an amazing job giving us a well rounded experience in the Altai NP region and down in the Gobi…
The food was fantastic and Serik gave us many opportunities to learn about the Kazakh culture in that region including traditional meals. (I can’t recommend enjoying the milk tea enough!)

– Coastal

Head of canine operations

Choriza started off life as a care-free vagabond on the streets of Madeira Island without any place to call home. From the moment we met her, we knew this dog was just different, and it was pretty much love at first sight. 

She gave up the dog street life in favor of joining her new dad Chris to become a full-time member of the Epic family towards the end of 2022.

These days she can be found listening in on the fringes of important Epic business meetings while half-asleep on the couch. She is a keen hiker, lover of mud, rare steak, and might just be the sweetest little dog we have ever seen. 

Adventure Guide

An experienced trek leader and
IFMGA aspirant ski guide, avid alpine climber, devoted adventure photographer.

Organized and guided trekking expeditions, climbs and ski tours in Tajikistan’s Pamirs, Patagonia, Peru, Morocco, Nepal, Kyrgyzstan, Georgian and Russian Caucasus and Kamchatka.

A full member and meets the organiser of the British Alpine Club. Visited over 40 countries, lived in the UK for four years. Certified first-aider.

We joined Andrew on a fantastic trip to the Fann Mountains in Tajikistan, pure nature and magnificent scenery! Andrey was super prepared and led us safely up and down numerous passes and through some rough and icy cold rivers. Thank you for a very memorable trip, your planning and prep was excellent!

– Monika Steinlechner

epic backpacker tours team

Adventure Guide

Our man in Nepal, Sandip is what we like to call a “Swiss Army Knife”. There is not much Sandip can’t do when it comes to helping Epic to run our expeditions smoothly in Nepal.

His tireless work ethic, passion for all things trekking in the Himalayas, and smart decision-making mean that Sandip is a truly invaluable member of our team.

Sandip is passionate about showing visitors to his country an amazing time, and he goes above and beyond to make sure that happens. 

His company Himalayan Masters is Epic’s trusted partner in Nepal and one of the country’s top new tour agencies.

We really enjoyed the entire journey, and I would like to say that Sandip is truly professional. He guided us and he is a hardworking person, providing us with the best service and taking care of each one of us. Plus, he is super funny! The kind of professionnal you always want to find on your path for your explorations! 

– Alexandra Ruth

Fairy Meadows

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Our Favorite Experiences

#1 Sunrise from Reflection Lake

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#2 Hiking to Nanga Parbat Base Camp

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#3 Playing cricket with the locals

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Trips Where We Visit Fairy Meadows

Our flagship Pakistani adventure tour.  Road trip with some  hiking and cultural immersion.

A trekking-style tour that features some very remote locations, inlcuding a K2 viewpoint.

Adventure Guide

João has born in the mountains of Madeira Islands in Portugal. Nature lover, writer, musician, guide, for him, a day without contact with outdoor vibes is a nightmare. 

With a degree in Cultural Studies in Portugal and a Master of Arts in Global Cultures and Creativity in the U.K.

João found out what really matters in life can be found on the trails, and in the contact with people from different backgrounds and cultures.

Guiding, crazy trekking missions, and sharing observations about the natural world, – these are some of João’s passions. 

After trekking to K2 Base Camp and exploring all over Northern Pakistan, he fell in love with the country and the local people. His experiences resulted in his desire to share these feelings with the world.

João is one of the most experienced guides at Epic and his skillset and positive mindset in the mountains is second to none

When not in Pakistan, João is  guiding and exploring in the Madeira Islands trails –  discovering some of the hidden treasures on his Portuguese Island.

João I can not thank you enough for the off the beaten paths and views you keep giving. Definitely one of the most challenging and amazing hikes we did 1200m meters all the way up to Fanal forest and circling back to the hidden village. Wow!

– Jeffery 

travel hunza valley

Adventure Guide

Sohail is the newest addition to the Epic Backpacker Tours team and we are beyond stoked to have him on board. As a veteran of the Karakoram and a native of Karimabad in Hunza, there is not much Sohail can’t do in the mountains. 

Besides having the ability to speak more languages than we can count, Sohail has explored every corner of Gilgit Baltistan and logs more trekking miles 

in a year than most people will do in a lifetime. As of the summer of 2022, Sohail has summited Gasherbrum 1, Gasherbrum 2, and K2 – three of Pakistan’s five 8000-meter peaks. Sohail guides several trips including our annual bespoke expeditions but specializes in Hunza Valley tours.

Chris and Sohail, and the team at Epic are FANTASTIC! Highly recommend anyone to do a tour with ‘Epic’. They have the perfect balance of fun, excitement and wild adventures, tied in with being super professional and ensuring your safety/health in a foreign environment. Don’t waste a moment and book a tour with these guys as the value for money is UNREAL!

– Borgan

iran travel tour

Adventure Guide

Pedro’s been traveling all around the globe since 2009. His keen interests in documentary photography, rural life, and local people from different ethnic groups have been the focus of many of his professional projects.

Since 2012, he has developed his passion for travel and awesome shared experiences into a full-time adventure photography tour leader position.

Pedro has found himself continuously going back to the Middle East, with his likely favorite destination being Iran. Pedro will be leading his 11th tour in Iran with EBT this coming spring 2020

When Pedro’s not traveling the world with Epic Backpacker Tours, you’ll find him based in the western south of Portugal planning he’s next adventure missions, logistics and working out his photos in local exhibitions.

 I loved the combination of hiking, camping around breathtaking scenery mixed with the cultural aspects. The guide (Pedro) is knowledgeable and work very hard to make the trip as memorable as possible. All in all an epic adventure with some extremely epic individuals! Go for it, you won’t regret it!

– Coastal

Diane Bouvet

Adventure Admin / Marketing

After fleeing from the corporate fashion world in Paris towards the start of 2020, Diane has been working as a web developer and graphic designer remotely from various bases across the globe

She brings all of her incredible design and organizational power to Epic Backpacker Tours and is responsible for many of the beautiful behind-the-scenes design elements. 

Diane has been to Iran and to Pakistan twice including all over Gilgit Baltistan and KPK.

k2 gondogoro la trek

Head of Operations | Guide

A veteran of Pakistan travel, Ralph is an experienced guide, photographer and writer who specializes in documenting remote locations. 

Not one to simply go where everyone else does, he insists on exploring new and lesser-known areas.

Together with Epic Backpacker Tours, he shows people parts of Pakistan that most other operators don’t even know about. He is particularly fond of the village of Barah, which he believes will become just as famous as Hunza one day.

Just got back from EBT’s Trekking Amongst Giants 15 day tour. The experience was first class. Ralph, our head guide, ensured that the entire trip ran smoothly and relatively on time (a bonus for anyone travelling in Pakistan). We had so many unforgettable days on the tour and the trekking was well-planned, safe but also a rewarding challenge. 

– Calvin


Traveling to a non-tourist destination can be a little intimidating but EBT takes all of the worry and trepidation away. From the pre-trip call to meeting the wonderful staff in person you can tell that you are dealing with a company that has a passion for what they do each and every day. Ralph, Zahid, and Khan were supportive, kind, and always willing to go the extra mile to make sure that everyone on the trip was getting what they wanted out of the experience.

– Katrina 

adventure tours pakistan

Founder | Adventure Guide | Director

Since he started exploring the world, Chris has been seeking out every shade of adventure in various parts of the globe and had visited more than 70 countries along the way. 

Over the last 10 years, Chris has logged more than 7000 trail miles across five continents and climbed multiple 6000 + 7000 meter peaks in Pakistan and Nepal.

A few years back, a distant dream and a deep passion for the mountains and the people of Pakistan led Chris to co-found Epic Backpacker Tours at a time when foreign adventure tourism in Pakistan was almost nonexistent. Since then, Chris has guided more than 20 expeditions to various parts of Northern Pakistan.

Chris believes in using photography and powerful adventure experiences to dismantle negative stereotypes regarding what mainstream media considers “dangerous” countries while facilitating unique and meaningful memories in the mountains for countless people from around the globe. 

For him, an ideal start to the day begins with a steaming cup of good coffee, the beam of a headlamp, alpine boots, and a camera in hand.

He lives in Madeira Island when not leading expeditions in far-flung lands. 

Chris also works as a writer and photographer on his blog Off the Atlas – an adventure travel blog all about Pakistan.  

Read this interview our staff did with Chris to learn more about him!

 

Chris believes in Pakistan and its people, and he believes in the value of journeys shared with others and family cultivated on the road. Honesty and integrity are at the heart of what he does, and this really shines through in his work as a guide. He also makes great coffee – whether at 5am in an empty guesthouse or half way up a Himalayan peak.”

– Will De Villers

Pakistan is a magical country! Had 3 of the best weeks of my life thanks to Epic Backpacking Tours with owner, and one of our awesome guides, Chris. From detailed itinerary, preparation with an equipment list, and visa assistance. To amazing food, great porters, helpful guides, and great accommodations. Epic really hit home run after home run. […]

Their desire for adventure and amazing trip is just as high as yours. Bring a good pound of coffee for the trip. French press coffee every morning and no average tin coffee, plus you’ll be in your guides good books.

– Clark Tyler

epic backpacker tours

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