Route: Tehran → Lahijan → Masal → Talesh → Asalem → Gorgan → Golestan National Park → Tehran

Season: Best from late April to early October

The Hyrcanian Forests are over 25 million years old and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Summer can be humid but offers the best access to highland villages like Subatan.
Some areas may have limited phone coverage—a plus if you're seeking digital detox.
Best to wear hiking shoes, bring insect repellent, and carry rain gear.

Drive from Tehran through the Alborz Mountains via the Qazvin-Rasht highway or the scenic Chalus road.
Arrive in Lahijan, a charming town in Gilan province, surrounded by tea plantations and forested hills.
Visit:
- Iran’s first Tea Museum inside the tomb of Kashef al-Saltaneh, who brought tea cultivation to Iran.
- Bam-e Sabz (Green Roof) for panoramic views over the city and forest.
- Traditional Gilan bazaar for local silk, pickles, and sweets.
Overnight in a garden guesthouse or local ecolodge.

🌿 Tip: Try the famous Lahijan black tea and local “Kulucheh” (stuffed cookies).

Continue west to Masal, a highland town nestled in the Hyrcanian cloud forests.
Drive up to Olasbelangah village, where clouds often drift below your feet and forests stretch into the sky.
Walk forest paths lined with moss, ferns, and fog-draped trees.
Enjoy homemade meals with local villagers, who often open their wooden cabins to travelers.
Overnight in wooden huts or traditional eco-lodges.

🏞 Optional: Sunrise viewpoint hike above Olasbelangah for a sea-of-clouds experience.

Drive through green valleys and pastures to Talesh, a region inhabited by the Talysh ethnic group.
If accessible (May to September), travel to Subatan summer pastures, famous for their untouched nature, wildflowers, and wooden huts.
Interact with semi-nomadic shepherds and try their fresh dairy products.
Horseback riding or light trekking available in the meadows.
Overnight in a local house in Talesh or in tents in Subatan (seasonal).

🐑 Cultural Note: Talysh people have their own dialect, traditional clothing, and a deep connection with the forest.

Drive the spectacular Asalem–Khalkhal road, considered one of Iran’s most beautiful forest drives. Winding paths take you through ancient beech and hornbeam forests, often blanketed in mist.
Stop for short walks or photography at highland pastures and wooden tea huts along the way.
Reach Gorgan, capital of Golestan Province, known for its rich mix of Persian and Turkmen cultures.
Visit Nahar Khoran Forest Park, a popular urban forest with tall trees and local eateries.
Overnight in a boutique hotel or heritage house in Gorgan.

Depart early to Golestan National Park, Iran’s oldest and largest national park (UNESCO Biosphere Reserve).
Explore diverse landscapes—dense forest, open meadows, rivers, and rocky mountains.
Go on guided wildlife watching tours; the park is home to:
- Persian leopards
- Red deer and wild boars
- Golden eagles and brown bears
Visit Kaboud-val Waterfall, the only all-moss waterfall in Iran.
Optional visit to Turkmen villages around Gonbad-e Kavus for cultural insight.
Return to Gorgan for dinner and overnight stay.

📸 Don’t forget your binoculars for wildlife spotting and camera for waterfall photography.

Optional morning stroll in Alangdareh Forest Park near Gorgan.
Return to Tehran via highway (6–7 hours) or by domestic flight from Gorgan Airport.
End of tour.