Trekkers who are opting for an English speaking nature or mountain guide in Iran should be aware of the fact that the general level of English spoken by many of these guides is not up to the standard they might expect. Cultural guides usually have a better level of English than most nature or mountain guides. The reason many trekkers wish to have an English speaking guide is to interact with the locals more meaningfully and learn about local cultures, however, the English the guides speak may disappoint them. The reason is that English learnt by many of these guides when they undergo training is inadequate and unless they have a strong motivation to take extra lessons their knowledge of the language especially spoken language remains generally low. Besides, many of these guides never get the chance to travel outside Iran mainly because it is extremely difficult to get visas (bar for a few far eastern and middle eastern countries) and also because until recently the number of incoming tourists has been low.
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...