The Alamut Valley is very popular with hikers and quite rightly so. It is a spectacular valley filled with high summits such as Khashechal 4180m, Siyalan 4250m and the grand Shah Alborz 4100m as well as many canyons and waterfalls and remote isolated settlements.
The departing point for shared communal taxis is the Gharib Kosh square in Qazvin. These "savaris" will take you to Moalem Kelayeh which is where you need to get off if you are heading for Lake Ovan or Garmarood if you are going to do one of the impressive treks to the Caspian side.
The side valleys and canyons such as Gazorkhan where the main Assassin's Castle is located are not served by shared taxis and you are better off getting a taxi to yourself.
If you are coming from the Caspian coastline then the Sehezar road ( under construction) is your best option. However, you should note that this road is closed in winter months. There is a minibus that leaves Tonekabon early in the morning and goes as far az Khoshkechal village. You need to arrange with the driver beforehand. The best place to find him would be the Khorramabad Junction of Tonekabon from where shared taxis go to Maran and Darjan. Note: this option is for people on a very low budget and with plenty of time to spare.
Trekking in Iran Iran may not be the first country that comes to mind when you think of trekking destinations, but it boasts vast mountainous regions with exceptional trekking opportunities. With 52% of its surface area covered in mountains, Iran ranks as one of the most mountainous countries in the world. Two major mountain ranges dominate the landscape: the Alborz, stretching from the northwest to the northeast along the Caspian Sea, the largest lake in the world, and the formidable Zagros range, extending from the northwest to the southeast. The Alborz range is also home to Mount Damavand, the highest volcano in Asia and the tallest peak in Iran and the entire Middle East. Both mountain ranges offer excellent opportunities for hiking, mountaineering, skiing, canyoning, mountain biking, climbing, ski mountaineering, paragliding, and wildlife watching. Culturally, the Alborz and Zagros ranges are inhabited by nomadic and semi-nomadic communities who use the...