Khuzestan Tour | Iran Travel Modules| Pyala Travel - Travel Program

Day 1 arrival Abadan - Minoo

You will arrive in Abadan, located near the Persian Gulf, on the Shat Al Arab River and it is an important center for the oil and gas industry of Iran. Not directly a tourist destination. If there is sufficient time it is nice to visit the fishmarket and stroll through the bazaar. You will stay on the island Minoo nearby Abadan. Once it was beautiful here, an island full of date palms located on the banks of the Shat-al Arab River. Unfortunately the island was totally flat bombed in the war.

You are going to this place because you will stay in a Mozif. The Mozif takes an important position in the culture of the Arabs. It is a guest house, made of cane with a round shaped characteristic . Guests can stay three days at the expense of the host. The Mozifs were used as a kind of Caravanserai for travellers. The Mozifs are also a kind of community houses, where the elders of the village gathered to discuss important matters. The buildings have no door, everyone is welcome. Through a low entrance you can go in, whereby you should always bend over and so you will show respect. Central here are the rituals of drinking coffee and tea.

Unfortunately most of the Mozifs are gone. Now several Mozifs are built for new guests, tourists so the culture is not entirely lost and travelers can experience what it is like to sleep in a Mozif. One of those places is Minoo. You will be warmly welcomed, experience a coffee- and tea ceremony and eat delicious Arab sweets. A surprising and fun place to stay.

Day 2 Minoo - Shadegan - Ahvaz

In the morning you will continue your trip to Shadegan lagoon. This is a protected nature reserve, an extensive system of waterways, small islands and villages. Many Arabs live here, similar to the culture of the Marsh Arabs of Iraq as described in the famous book by Wilfred Thesiger. Also in Iran this culture is slowly disappearing. There are still many Arabs in Khuzestan, which had a remarkable position during the Iran – Iraq war, sandwiched between two cultures. However, the traditional way of life is also here disappearing. The Shadegan lagoon is threatened by modern develop and is drying up. Many residents have left the area. From a small village nearby Darkhovin you can explore Khuzestan by boat, there are mainly living fishermen. When you cruise through the lagoon you will see many water birds, small creeks and fishing nets. A small Mozif is located in the village.

Afterwards you will continue your trip to Ahwaz. In the afternoon you can explore the city, which is particularly interesting around the bazaar. In the opposite streets fish and vegetables are sold. You can also stroll along the Karun River where many people come for a picnic or tea.

Day 3 Ahvaz - Shustar via Shush and Choq a Zanbil

Today you will experience the rich history of Khuzestan. You are going to explore the monuments Choq a Zanbil, Shush and Shustar. All on the Unesco World Heritage list. In Shush (Susa) you can visit the excavations and the mausoleum of Daniel, built in the typical style of Khuzestan. Through the excavations of Haft Teppe you will reach the impressive ziggurat by Choq a Zanbil. It is one of the few remaining ziggurats, built in the 13th century before Christ.

In the town of Shushtar are many beautiful monuments to see. Most of them are related to the famous irrigation system that was built here in the 5th century before Christ and over the centuries still further extends and refines. The hydraulic system is the most impressive, in which watermills are powered to grind corn and rice.

Day 4 Shustar - Lali

Khuzestan is also the winter residence of the Bakhtiari nomads. They live in the green hills between Lali and Majed-e Soleimani. A surprisingly beautiful area with cliffs everywhere, green grasslands and in the background snowy peaks of the Zagros mountains. Unlike the summer months they don’t live in tents but in characteristic stone cottages in small villages. Twenty years ago everyone still lived in tents but now not anymore. People are more settled, the children for example go to school here. In spring time a few families go the the high meadows in Chelgerd. In summertime almost everyone goes to this area. But also here in their houses it is absolutely worth visiting and meet the Bakhtiari and learn more about their culture.

Lali has a kind of Wild West look. Everywhere you see Bakhtiari men in their characteristic black and white striped coats. From Lali you will make a trip through the surroundings and you will visit some families. You will be warmly welcomed everywhere in a traditional Bakhtiari way. Mostly you will get some tea, cheese and yoghurt. The men show proudly their old hunting rifles and the women their party clothes that they wear during weddings for example. Who knows, maybe you can enjoy the delicious Bakhtiari kebab, only the kebab  itself can be the reason enough to travel to Lali.

Day 5 Departure Lali

From Lali you can continue your trip. You can return to Ahwaz and take a domestic flight to another destination in Iran. But you can also travel overland to for example Khoramabad, Isfahan and Shiraz.