Iranian Tour Operator and Travel Agency
What images pop into your mind whenever the country of Iran, or Iran weather is mentioned? Camels striding on sand dunes? Scorching sun and blazing warmth? People living in clay buildings that shelter them from the scorching heat? You can certainly find the real-life version of these imaginary situations here in Iran, but did you know that only 30% of Iran is covered by deserts?!
In winter, one person may want to swim in an outdoor pool or in the southern shores of the Persian Gulf, while another one is skiing in the mountain ranges near Tehran or the western Zagros mountains. That’s the reason behind having seasonal palaces by the royal family in various places in Iran.
asically, there are 4 distinct general Iran weathers in different parts of Iran; central arid desert regions, semi-arid regions, the cold mountainous regions, the hot coastal and the Caspian wet and temperate regions. This makes Iran one of the fewest countries with four seasons not only through a whole year but also by visiting different parts of the country at any given time!
You may want to plan ahead if you desire a certain traveling experience when visiting the country! Since Iran is a vast country, it has regions with different temperatures even at a specific period of time. In fact, Iran weather offers all sorts of climates and conditions. Depending on the season and the areas you plan to visit, you need to pack accordingly.
To the north, in the regions of Mazandaran and Gilan, you can find a temperate, humid climate with lush green pastures, rainforests and waterfalls next to the magnificent Alborz mountains and in the west one can only gaze in awe at the beauty that is Zagros mountains, which is home to several nomads as well as numerous animals and rare plant-life!
In the eastern parts of the country, Iran weather is as pleasant as it can get! Not only you can find plains and mountains, but also deserts that touches the sea! Then there’s the southern coasts of the Persian Gulf, which is host to arguably the hottest and most humid Iran weather found in Iran! Nothing a dip into the gulf can’t fix!
These conditions result in various climatic divisions. We have listed the 4 main climates found in Iran weathers below with a brief description and suitable recommendations to help simplify the packing process since traveling in between various climates on the same trip in Iran happens more frequently than we think!
If you’re planning to visit the northern regions of Iran, we highly recommend you bring an umbrella, since it can be rainy in any season of the year and humidity can reach 100%! This unique form of climate can only be felt in north in the Mazandaran, Gilan and Golestan provinces, where average summer temperatures rarely exceed 29 °C (84.2 °F) and winter temperatures almost never go below 0 ºC!
Nature has been kind to this area, as lush green hills and forests, roaring rivers and desirable temperatures have given birth in a plethora of wildlife that roam this rich beautiful heaven! That’s probably the reason why this beautiful place is the most popular destination for ecotourists and nature lovers!
The western and central plains of the north, up to the northern foothills of the Alborz Mountain Range has some of the greatest Iran weathers. These areas enjoy the mild climate of the Caspian region, but the mountains themselves are tall and usually covered by snow year around. These regions, especially the ones close to the Caspian Sea are hot and humid during summer but mild and humid during winter with occasional snowfall. The most populous tourist destination towns inside this climate are Chaloos, Ramsar and Noshahr.
If you’re interested in a less crowded nature experience, we can recommend amazing Sisangan forest, Golestan forest and Anzali Lagoon (Lotus Lagoon). These places, if visited at the right time of the year, have some of the most amazing Iran weathers. Not only that, but these areas are hugely popular with birding enthusiasts from all over the world for the number of rare migrant and local birds that build their nests in these places in different times of year.
In altitudes above 1,500 up to 3,000 meters, a moderate mountainous climate with long, cold winters, and short, mild summers is found. In these regions, snow covers parts of the areas even deep into the summer. Some destinations with colder Iran weathers in these regions are located near Mount Damavand, the highest mountain in Iran and the highest volcano in Asia. Skiing in these mountain ranges is told to be extraordinary for the powdery snow and slopes of all types, from those suitable for beginners to the scarier ones!
Thanks to the magnificent Mount Damavand, hot springs can be enjoyed in the Larijan region. Imagine coming back from a long and cold hike through the mountains and taking a bath in the hot springs. Few things in life can boast to be as enjoyable! Some other cold destinations include Savadkooh forests, Alasht Observatory and Sangeraj mountaintops.
The majority of Iran’s vast areas is covered with deserts, including Lut desert and Dasht-e-Kavir, located in the central parts of Iran. Starting from the biggest desert, Dashte-e-Kavir, the most magical desert in Iran! As one of the deserts with hottest Iran weathers, this place is chuck full of natural attractions such as Salt pan of Sirjan, Kavire-e-Mesr, Kavir-e-Namak (Salt Lake) and Kavir National Park as well as historical places such as Qasre Bahram Caravansaray (Palace of Bahram). These were all built during Sassanid Dynasty and many more! Iran’s deserts are alternate destinations during winter because when the general Iran weather is cold, these places have a mild and enjoyable weather.
Lut desert, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a large salt desert in the south east of Iran, including provinces of Kerman, Sistan and Baluchistan. From the year 2003 to 2009, a team of scientists recorded the surface temperature of its sand dunes. They reported temperatures exceeding 70 °C! Which makes Lut desert not only the desert with the hottest Iran weather, but also the hottest place on earth! Lut desert also boasts the highest and tallest sand dunes in the world, which could sometimes reach 100 meters or more!
Visiting Iran’s exotic and enchanting deserts and feeling the ancient sands of time underneath your feet could fill anyone with a sense of magical experience which in time, will turn into an unforgettable memory!
In the northeastern parts of Iran, in the provinces of Khorasan, and in the central parts, which contains the most famous tourist destinations of Iran, the beautiful cities of Isfahan and Shiraz, we encounter a semi-arid, low precipitation and relatively hot climate.
The best time to travel to these places is in the months of March and April, but rainy days may come unexpectedly! So, don’t forget to pack wisely! Travelers fly to these famous cities in groups to get to see the beautiful cultural and historical tourist attractions of them, the likes of which are not found anywhere else in the world! These historical sites hold more than just signs of the past in them, as they are representations of an aged culture, and a glorious history.
On the slopes of the Zagros mountains, in the western and southwestern regions of Iran , the high altitude, mountainous climate leads to an average temperature of -5º C in winter and 25º C in summer. June to September, this climate is usually dry, while it could be rainy and snowy during other months of the year.
It isn’t unusual to see an early morning frost in July and August, even at low altitudes. But it disappears when the sun starts shining. Snow during that time of year is to be expected, but only in the high-mountains! Kurdistan and Lorestan provinces have the coldest temperature in Iran, which could reach -25 °C during the winter! Chogha Zanbil, a world heritage site and Shapur Khast or Fala-ol-aflak are some historical places in this region that should not be missed!
Many activities and adventure tours are held in these regions during the warm seasons of the year. Iran trekking tours, mountain biking tours, and even mountaineering tours are some of these Iran adventure tours.
Southern coastal parts of Iran represent the characteristics of a humid or semi-humid Iran weather similar to that of the Mediterranean climate, with hot, humid summers and mild winters. The sparse rainfall occurs mainly as sharp downpours through November to April.
This makes winter the perfect time to plan a trip to the islands of Kish, Qeshm, or Hormoz in the Persian Gulf. Not only are these places amazingly enjoyable for their mild weather during winter, but they also have numerous natural and purpose-built Iran tourist attractions popular with travelers from all around the world!
Where Qeshm island is the green treasure of the Persian Gulf with untouched nature and beautiful sceneries, Kish is the entertainment center of Persian Gulf with a great number of shopping malls, amusement and entertainment centers, and ocean water parks.
FAQ