Iran Persian Gulf Tour | Individual Iran Travel | Pyala Travel - Introduction

Bandari culture in Minab and Qeshm

During this trip through the province of Hormozgan you will get to know the culture of the Bandari. The Bandari are an Arab people who live on the coast of the Persian Gulf. You will visit the colorful market of Minab, where the women wear distinctive masks, unique to this region. From Bandar Abbas you will sail to the island of Qeshm, the biggest island in the Persian Gulf and one of the most traditional. Here you will see the other side of places like Dubai, Qatar and Abu Dhabi. You’ll visit traditional villages such as Bandar Laft with their characteristic wind towers and shipyards where wooden boats that sail up to India across the Persian Gulf are still built by hand.

Qeshm has much to offer; it has many fascinating natural rock formations and mangrove forests, or you can sail to islands like Hengam where there is a great chance of seeing dolphins, turtles laying their eggs on the beach, and maybe even a traditional camel race.  

Note: The Minab market takes place every Thursday. If your visit doesn’t coincide with the market, another option is visiting the island of Hormuz with its Portuguese fort, or shortening the travel brick by a day.  

Note: This area can be sweltering with temperatures well above forty degrees. The best time to be here is in the winter months. Fall and spring are hot, but manageable, but a visit during the summer months is not recommeded.  

It is also possible to take a day trip from Qeshm to Bandar Abbas, but you cannot see everything. It is also possible to fly to and from Qeshm. You can choose to sleep in a simple hotel at the beach, or in a cozy homestay. It is standard to sleep in the hotel. Please see hotel descriptions for more information.