Mount Damavand is commonly climbed via the southern route. This means the logistical support are best. It also means that it is the busiest route in high season i.e from mid-June up to early October.
The closest village to the trail head is called Polour which is some 2 hours from Tehran by car or minibus down Haraz road. Haraz road continues all the way to the Caspian sea and reaches Amol a city on the littoral.
In Polour you are required to inform the Iranian Mountaineering Federation in their office and pay a fee of 50 US dollars or its equivalent in local currency.
There are 4WD vehicles authorized to take you to the trail-head in Goosfandsara which lies at 2900 m ASL, the trip takes some 40 minutes. You can also walk this section. The road is a B road and in dire estate. Expect a lot of dust in the dry season.
In Goosfandsara there are many muleteers, they will be fighting to take your load up to the shelter called Bargah Sevvom. There is also a mosque and some toilets although very rudimentary.
The trail starts to the east of the mosque.
The hike up Bargah Sevvom refuge takes some 4 hours and the altitude of Bargah is around 4300m.
Bargah Sevvom refuge is manned in the busy months of the summer and there is a shop selling warm meals, canned food, refreshments including mineral water.
Bargah Sevvom has private rooms and dorms. There are some blankets. The dorms are mixed unlike the dormitories in the city hostels. In the summer usually the whole refuge is booked. If you are planning to trek without a guide, it would be prudent to enquire about availability in the office of the Mountaineering Federation or take a tent with you.
A classical itinerary would look like this
Day 1 Tehran- Polour, free afternoon in Polour. You can rent a house from the locals or your guide will have done so if you are getting a guide.
Day2 Pay the fee at the Federation and transfer by 4WD to Goosfandsara, hike to Bargah Sevvom
Day 3 Acclimatization day, hike to Abshar Yakhi literally meaning frozen waterfall at 5100m, spend an hour there and walk back to Bargah. Abshar Yakhi is the highest water-fall in Iran.
Day 4 Summit day. The walk up the summit would be some 5 hours and the walk back another 3.
Night in Bargah
Day 5. Hike back to Goosfandsara for transfer back to Polour etc.
It is highly recommended that you sign in at the Federation as they are those who will send out help in case you need it.
It is strongly recommended that you hire the services of a guide. To hire an experienced mountain guide please send an email to info@caspiantrek.com or Whats App to +98 9371501993
You may check the weather forecast here
https://www.mountain-forecast.com/peaks/Damavand/forecasts/5670
Have a safe and enjoyable trek.
The closest village to the trail head is called Polour which is some 2 hours from Tehran by car or minibus down Haraz road. Haraz road continues all the way to the Caspian sea and reaches Amol a city on the littoral.
In Polour you are required to inform the Iranian Mountaineering Federation in their office and pay a fee of 50 US dollars or its equivalent in local currency.
There are 4WD vehicles authorized to take you to the trail-head in Goosfandsara which lies at 2900 m ASL, the trip takes some 40 minutes. You can also walk this section. The road is a B road and in dire estate. Expect a lot of dust in the dry season.
In Goosfandsara there are many muleteers, they will be fighting to take your load up to the shelter called Bargah Sevvom. There is also a mosque and some toilets although very rudimentary.
The trail starts to the east of the mosque.
The hike up Bargah Sevvom refuge takes some 4 hours and the altitude of Bargah is around 4300m.
Bargah Sevvom refuge is manned in the busy months of the summer and there is a shop selling warm meals, canned food, refreshments including mineral water.
Bargah Sevvom has private rooms and dorms. There are some blankets. The dorms are mixed unlike the dormitories in the city hostels. In the summer usually the whole refuge is booked. If you are planning to trek without a guide, it would be prudent to enquire about availability in the office of the Mountaineering Federation or take a tent with you.
A classical itinerary would look like this
Day 1 Tehran- Polour, free afternoon in Polour. You can rent a house from the locals or your guide will have done so if you are getting a guide.
Day2 Pay the fee at the Federation and transfer by 4WD to Goosfandsara, hike to Bargah Sevvom
Day 3 Acclimatization day, hike to Abshar Yakhi literally meaning frozen waterfall at 5100m, spend an hour there and walk back to Bargah. Abshar Yakhi is the highest water-fall in Iran.
Day 4 Summit day. The walk up the summit would be some 5 hours and the walk back another 3.
Night in Bargah
Day 5. Hike back to Goosfandsara for transfer back to Polour etc.
It is highly recommended that you sign in at the Federation as they are those who will send out help in case you need it.
It is strongly recommended that you hire the services of a guide. To hire an experienced mountain guide please send an email to info@caspiantrek.com or Whats App to +98 9371501993
You may check the weather forecast here
https://www.mountain-forecast.com/peaks/Damavand/forecasts/5670
Have a safe and enjoyable trek.
