Mt Damavand Ascent

8 days - from $2070

A week's ascent of Mt Damavand, the highest mountain in Iran
Damavand is a towering volcano just 45 miles northeast of Tehran, overlooking the southern shores of the Caspian Sea. It is surrounded by the smaller and comparatively rugged peaks of the Elburz Range, but its great height and classic volcanic shape, unique to the region, grant it dominance and isolation. It provides a tough but rewarding climb and the view from the summit is an amazing panorama of Iran's vast expanse of mountains and valleys, fertile green slopes to the north and barren deserts to the south. It is not a technical ascent in the season when we visit, and we add an extra day to the standard itinerary in order to aid acclimatisation.

Itinerary:

Day 1 Start Tehran; late morning drive to Nandal village (2700m). 2 Short drive to Gousfand-Sara; ascend to camp at 3500m. 3-4 Trek to Takht-e-Fereydoun camp at 4200m.; short acclimatisation trek. 5 Non-technical but strenuous ascent of Damavand (5671m); return to camp at Takht-e-Fereydoun. 6 Descend to Gazanak village. 7 Drive to Tehran; free time for sightseeing and shopping. 8 End Tehran.

Mode of travel: 5 days walking with full porterage; altitude maximum 5671m, average 3400m.
Group size: Normally 6 to 12, plus leader and appropriate local staff.
Accommodation: 5 nights camping, 3 nights en suite hotels.
Food: All food included on trek, breakfast only in Tehran.
Optional Single Supplement: from $437.50
Trip Reference: TXD
Reverse Itinerary: trips that run in reverse are specified with an 'R' in the dates and prices table below.
Trip Reference: TXD