Have you ever thought of playing a role in a science fiction movie? Traveling around Mars and the moon while fighting the demons of darkness? Qeshm Island, as mysterious as it might sound, it’s full of color and life. You can experience fear from the sounds of hidden ghosts in Valley of Stars or joy from waking up to the scene of the sun rising above the Persian Gulf. A great choice for nature and animal lovers and adventurers to get familiar with Iran’s stunning heritages. Keep up with Iran Doostan to know about Qeshm Island’s top attractions.
Chahkooh Canyon
Chahkooh Canyon (Mountain of Wells) located in the east part of the island, is one of the most popular geological surprises of Qeshm; a masterpiece created by erosion. People who once lived in this fascinating creation used one of the geological fault lines through the earth to harvest water into the wells. Since then it has been called the Mountain of Wells, because of the presence of water wells at the mouth of the valley. The shapes and forms that you observe here are made out of sand over millions of years. The age of it goes back to years when it was underwater and now by natural circumstances like heat, earthquake, wind, etc. this scenery is made. When you first visit this place you won’t believe you’re on earth, it feels like you’re on Mars or another planet. You will discover mysterious and different places to walk around and explore new areas. So make sure you wear a suitable pair of shoes and bring water as much as you think might be needed. Otherwise, you might drink rainwater that has been collected by the wells over time. The best seasons to visit Chahkooh Canyon are autumn and winter. So prepare your cameras for taking brilliant pictures of the outstanding canyon.
Take the western street in Dargahan Square. After 20 kilometers, you will arrive at a crossing. Take a straightway and drive another 11 kilometers to get to a square, then, you should take the road on the right. Take the left road before you get to Eastern Chahoo Village. You will see Chahkooh Canyon after about 2 kilometers.
Opening hours: 8 am – 5 pm
Chahkooh: An Amazing canyon in Qeshm
Valley of Stars
The only geo-park in the middle east is Valley of Stars with a historical background of about two million years. The locals believe that fallen stars made all this stunning scenery, but the truth is that they’ve been made by wind and storm through the years. This beautiful landscape is one of UNESCO’s World Natural Heritage sites and it’s famous for the remarkable natural designs on the stones and the mysterious sounds of wind that give you a strange feeling. The wind circulation between structures of the valley makes horrifying sounds at night which made some people believe ghosts live in there but there’s nothing to worry about as long as you have an expert with you. If you look at the night sky, you can see hundreds of stars that alone justify the name Valley of Stars and you will no longer be afraid to wander around this magical valley. It is recommended to visit the Valley of Stars in the morning or the afternoon during autumn or winter. If you are visiting in the afternoon, try to watch the sunset from above to have a wonderful view and a peaceful environment around you. On your way you might see camels, some of them will get close to you and wait for you to feed them if you want and keep it in mind as a delightful memory.
Get to the Berke Khalaf Village, Stars Valley is right behind this village.
Opening hours: 8 am – 5 pm
Valley of Stars is the main part of Qeshm Geopark, the only Geopark in the Middle East.
Namakdan Salt Cave
Namakdan Salt Cave, one of the world’s longest salt caves, is a wonderful piece of nature located in the southeast part of Qeshm Island. The colorful salt made some of the best structures inside the cave; like stalactites and stalagmites, salt crystals, and various layers of colorful minerals and stones. The cave and its walls consist of different colors of salt, which have been eroded over time by the water and left white streaks of salt on the exterior side of the mountain. When you enter the cave, you’ll find yourself in the quietest part of the world, and you will be amazed by the magical cave you see in front of you. There is not much light and it gets darker as you go forward, so don’t forget to bring flashlights with you. As you walk through this majestic scenery, you’ll see a horizontal gap, not much wider than your body that you need to be very flat pressed to the ground to access the real cave and dome. So if you’re claustrophobic and don’t like darkness it’s better not to enter the gap. But if opposite, turn off your headlight and sit, take a moment and relax and get ready for an amazing trip on Hormuz Island!
Go past Qeshm Airport and then enter a sand road called Salt Cave Road after about 60 kilometers. After driving for about 23 more kilometers, you will reach the cave.
Opening hours: 8 am – 6 pm
Namakdan cave is the longest salt cave in the world.
Hengam Island
Hengam Island owns one of the most beautiful beaches in the Persian Gulf. The silver and shiny sand under the clear water forms a beautiful frame to watch and take special pictures. Animal lovers can visit rare animals like Chinkaras which are a Persian type of gazelle, and also a special type of lizard and sea turtles with a huge amount of crabs. You can see various colorful fish in the ocean swimming by brilliant dolphins, which are the main attraction of Hengam Island. Three villages are located on Hengam Island: The Old Hengam, The New Hengam, and Ghil. Hengam Bazaar is a great place to buy souvenirs made out of shells for your loved ones; handicrafts such as braces, necklaces, and different kinds of accessories by shells and scallops. You can also interact with locals and get to know more about Iranian cultures and beliefs. Women will appear in colorful dresses and handmade masks on their faces, drawing Henna tattoos on women’s skin. Order fresh tasty seafood, camp by the sea, and enjoy your time by the never-ending Persian Gulf.
Hengam Island is located in the southern part of Qeshm Island. Go to Kandaloo Pier, and then you have to take a boat right there. It takes you 7-10 minutes to get to Hengam Island.
Opening hours: 24/7
Hengam is mostly visited because of the lovely dolphins swimming near the island.
Hormuz Island
Hormuz Island has so many natural attractions to offer; from beautiful mountains to calm and peaceful beaches. The fabulous rock mountains are not only a paradise for geologists but also a great opportunity for photographers to show their talent within this beauty and share it with others to enjoy the moment with them through the photographs. The island is full of minerals, therefore, it has so many fantastic colorful mountains and multicolored stones which make a volcanic scenery. The most well-known attractions of Hormuz Island are Rainbow Valley and Statue Valley. More than 70 different colors can be found in this valley of rainbows, a photogenic landscape to keep in your memories. While in Statue Valley, natural giant statues of unique creatures from your creativity will show up and fill up your imagination throughout the whole path. Lovely silence will be following you till the end of this amazing scene where the blue sea appears in front of you. Red Island is a unique beach on Hormuz Island with red soil that makes the shore all red and dreamy. When you arrive from Qeshm to visit the countless attractions of Hormuz Island you’ll need to choose a vehicle for touring. Take a tuc tuc (auto rickshaw) if you want to experience the best, or rent bikes and ride all around the island. It is recommended to visit this magical island in autumn or winter because the temperature is more bearable. If you enjoy sleeping in a tent while listening to the ocean’s melody, try to spend at least one night at the beach. You can easily wild camp on the silvery gold sands of Hormuz Island, and with the beauty of nature and the kindness of people, you will experience one of your best memories in Iran.
From Qeshm, you can easily reach Hormuz Island by boat.
Opening hours: 24/7
Hormuz island is famous for its colorful beaches.
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