Forests and heights
Lafur Forest is part of the ancient Hyrcanian forests and is one of the natural attractions of Mazandaran Province. It covers approximately 800 hectares. The forest includes Tirkan Waterfalls, Azarrud Forest Park, Eskelym Waterfall, Gazou Waterfall, Palang Darreh, Terez Waterfall, SPR and Jelsang Waterfall, Anjilika Waterfall, Chelak Waterfall, and Espar Cave. Mount Damavand is also located in Mazandaran Province and is the highest mountain in Iran.
Lakes and activities
Shurmast Lake covers 15,000 square meters. Activities there include fishing, boating, water skiing, swinging, horseback riding, and cycling. You can go for walks in the surrounding forests. Swimming is expressly prohibited.
Valasht Lake is considered one of the province’s largest freshwater lakes. It is fed by underground springs and is listed as a natural site on Iran’s natural heritage list. Visitors interested in water sports such as boating and fishing are welcome at Valasht Lake. Fishing quotas apply; check the relevant restrictions in advance.
At Namakabrud Forest Park, the cable car runs from the coast to the summit of Medoben. From an altitude of 970 meters, the Namakabrud cable cars offer panoramic views of the forest and the Caspian Sea. The route and the views are two specific features of this destination.
Gardens, settlements, and historic buildings
The Abbas Abad Historical Complex in Behshahr is a garden and lake complex. Shah Abbas Safavid ordered its construction in 1612. In 2011, the complex was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, together with eight other gardens, under the title “Persian Garden.”
Gohar-Tappeh, a prehistoric archaeological site, is also located in Behshahr. The settlement dates to the Copper and Stone Ages. The Farahabad complex represents a different historical period: it includes remains from the Safavid era (1501–1736), including a mosque, a school, parts of a bridge, a palace, and a bathhouse.
Shah Abbasi Bridge is a partially ruined brick bridge over the Tajan River. In Ramsar, the Marmar Palace was built in 1316 according to the Iranian solar calendar, during the reign of Pahlavi I. After the Islamic Revolution, it passed into the possession of the Mostazafan Foundation and was opened to visitors as a museum. If you plan to visit the palace, check in advance whether a visit is currently possible.
Leisure and regional culture
Dreamland Amusement Park in Ramsar has eleven rides suitable for all age groups, as well as a 6D cinema. This makes the leisure destination in Ramsar distinct from the historic complexes and prehistoric archaeological sites that are also among the region’s attractions.
Regional cuisine and handicrafts also give Mazandaran a distinctive character. Dishes include Ashe Kadu, Kuyi Pla—also called “pumpkin sweet”—and Mazandarani sour chicken. Local herbs and walnuts are associated with Gilani sour chicken, not Mazandarani sour chicken. Rice is very popular among the people of Mazandaran.
Mazandaran’s clay-rich soils are associated with the development of pottery and the production of ceramic vessels. Kilim weaving is also an ancient handicraft of the province. Mazandaran thus offers everything from forest and water destinations to historic sites, regional dishes, and handicrafts.
Discover more destinations: Mahmudabad, Hormozgan, Fars, Isfahan, Tehran.
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