Visit Alamut Castle

Visit Alamut Valley which is a relatively huge valley located at the southern slope of Alborz Mountain range at northern Iran. To go to Alamut Valley, you should reach to Qazvin first. Preferably sleep one night in Qazvin, for two reasons: 1. The distance from Qazvin to Alamut is at least two hours and if you go directly from Tehran or other cities to that valley, you will most probably get really tired and will not enjoy your trip to the maximum. 2. Qazvin has a lot to offer for one or at least half a day. Please visit: https://gateofalamut.com/en/where-to-visit-in-qazvin/ and https://gateofalamut.com/en/qazvin-relax-culture/

Alamut Valley Trips

Alamut or the Valley of the Assassins, can offer you two types of trips: A- Visiting Trip i.e a day-trip which you will spend most of your time in the car and you will hike approximately one hour to the castle. On this trip you are going to visit Alamut Castle, also known as Hasan-i-Sabah castle, the Canyons and Ovan lake. B- Trekking Trip where you will walk for one or some full days in the valley or passing the valley over the Alborz Ranges to reach to Caspian sea.

Visit the Valley of the Assassins in Iran

At this post we are going to explore the valley based on it`s nature and history. This is a trip mostly called and the "Classic Route of Alamut Valley". We imagine you have chosen to sleep in Qazvin the night before. Where? Please visit: www.gateofalamut.com/en/book-a-hotel/ The trips normally start at 8:00 a.m unless your hotel serves breakfast at 8:00 (as in Behroozi hotel of Qazvin), then starting the trip at 8:30 is inevitable. You are going to visit three main highlights in Alamut Valley:

Alamut Castle - Locate on the Google Maps
The Canyons - Locate on the Google Maps
Ovan Lake - Locate on the Google Maps

Alamut Castle

The castle of Hasan-i-Sabah is located next to the village called Gazor Khan.

This castle and the village Gazor Khan age back to 11th century when the Seljuk were governing in Persia and later they shared the power with the The Ilkhanis. The castle is located at 2260 meters above the sea level. You will reach to the foot of the mountain by car let`s say up to the altitude of approx 2000 meters, then will start to hike to the top of this mountain where the ruins of the castle remain from the 13th century.

you can see a narrow path reaching to the castle of the assassins — The Reaching Path to the castle

After hiking for almost half an hour and passing approx 600 stairs, you can see the fabled castle of the Assassins.

the view is from the first Guardroom of the castle. — The View from the first Guardroom

You should not expect a complete European-style castle, otherwise you will get quite disappointed. The ruins have some history to share and the view from the castle is absolutely worthy.

This view from Alamut castle over the valley is quite worthy. — The view from Alamut Castle over Gazorkhan Village

For more information please visit: Wikipedia

The Canyons of Andaj

Alamut canyons are shown in this photo with a very nice blue sky with thick fragmented clouds. — Canyons in Alamut

Andaj is the name of the village where the canyons are located at a spot before reaching there. The Canyons from the point you will watch them are more like mountains i.e. from a higher possible point they can be seen as canyons. The material is mainly sandstone and during millions of years, at some parts, the wind and rain has washed away some parts and as left an amazing structure.

Alamut has canyons and one of the best parts are shown at this photo. — Canyons of Alamut

These canyons have been the home for the cave-people since there has been water, nice temperature and spots to hide. Later they became one of the very first regions in the valley where the agriculture started due to the water and the flat lands of here.

Alamut has a lot to offer and one the main highlights is the canyons. — Andaj Canyons of Alamut

You will find the vegetation, river and spectacular mountains and canyons all as a package at this spot.

Canyons are a must to see in ALamut — Alamut Canyons

the canyons or cliffs of Alandaj in Alamut. — Canyons of Alamut

Ovan Lake

Ovan is the largest lake in Alamut valley. 325*275 meters — Ovan lake of Alamut Valley

The lake Ovan or Evan is the larger lake in Alamut Valley. The other lakes are so small that we may call them a pond and are not on the list in day-trips. When you go to visit Alamut Valley, and you have seen the photos of this lake, you should not expect a large lake. It is in 325*275 meters, located at the Altitude of of 1800 meters above the sea level. The deepest point can reach up to 10 meters. This natural lake is worthy to visit only if you have enough time, or you are planning to sleep the night at the lake or the surrounding villages. Otherwise, you can spend more time in the canyons or the castle.

the lake ovan is located at 1800 meters above the sea level. — Ovan/Evan Lake

For more info about the lake, please visit Wikipedia.

Photos by:

Stefan Kniehase - Germany

Ruben Perez Planillo - Spain

Hosein Farhady - Iran

Many thanks from our foreign clients.

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Trekking in Alamut Valley

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