Asia

Iran

Quick facts

  • Full name: Islamic Republic of Iran
  • Capital: Tehran
  • Largest city: Teheran
  • Official language: Persian
  • Area: 1,648,195 km2
  • Population: 81,672,300 (2018)
  • Currency: Iranian Rial (IRR) (no subunit)
  • Foreign tourists: 5 million (2016)
  • Travel risks and hazards: Dangerous animals, homosexualism banned, crime.

The nation of Iran has been shaped since antiquity. It is perhaps most famous for the ancient Persian Empire and its conquests. Despite the negative press, Iran receives and its anti-western attitude, Iran receives millions of tourists in recent years. There are many incredible sites from the ancient past of the country taking 19 positions on the UNESCO list.

Traveling info

Everyone traveling to Iran must have a valid passport. Citizens of some nations are allowed to visit Iran without the requirement of a visa whilst others will have to obtain a visa on arrival, online or through the local Iranian embassy or consulate. Citizens of Libya are refused entry. Visitors who wish to drive in Iran must have both their national driving permit and an International driving permit. Beware that an international driving permit is only a translation of the original driving permit and does not substitute for it. Both permits must be with the driver at all times.

Traveling hazards

Iran does not recommend that tourists drive in Iran. Iran has a very high rate of traffic accidents, the second highest cause of mortality in the country. Drivers throughout Iran tend to ignore traffic lights, traffic signs, and lane markers. Urban streets are not well lit; it is therefore particularly dangerous to drive at night. Sidewalks in urban areas exist only on main roads and are usually obstructed by parked cars. In residential areas, few sidewalks exist. Drivers almost never yield to pedestrians at crosswalks. If you are involved in an accident, no matter how minor, do not leave the scene; wait until the police arrive to file a report. Iranian authorities sometimes set up informal roadblocks, both in cities and on highways, often manned by young, inexperienced officers who are suspicious of foreigners. Ensure you carry a form of identification with you and avoid getting into disputes. Very high pollution levels from cars, particularly in Tehran, can trigger respiratory problems.

Environmental hazards

Iran is a vast country which is mostly covered in an arid land. There are several species of predators which are a potential danger. There are two bear species in Iran, the Asiatic black bear, and the Syrian brown bear. Whilst the black bears are bold in nature and are not afraid to attack, brown bears are generally shy and stray from humans. Hikers are advised to make as much noise as possible whilst hiking. Human noises such as talking shouting etc will generally deter bears however close encounters usually result in an attack. Wolves are present throughout Iran and are a real threat, particularly for lone hikers and livestock. Luckily attacks carried out by these large predators are rare. There are 7 venomous snakes and all of these happen to be vipers. Although their bites are generally not fatal, distance from the nearest hospital in case of a bite can be crucial in terms of lethality. Despite the fact that Iran has a long coastline since the abolition of the monarch swimming on the coast became less popular for religious regions (see Crime). There have been no shark attacks since the 80s however these are still possible as the Persian Gulf has quite a number of such incidents happening every year.
Among the 40 different types of natural disasters observable in different parts of the world, 31 types have been identified in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Major natural disasters include frequent serious earthquakes, floods, droughts, landslides, desertification, deforestation, storms and the like.

Health hazards

There is no risk of yellow fever in Iran. The government of Iran requires proof of yellow fever vaccination only if you are arriving from a country with risk of yellow fever. There are several other vaccines however these are not mandatory and are only recommended. These are the routine vaccines aka MMR vaccines, typhoid, hepatitis A and B, Polio and rabies vaccines. Malaria is present in Iran and although there is no vaccination against it, there are other ways of preventing the disease. Malaria is contracted through mosquito bites, therefore, one of the easiest ways is to use mosquito repellants. There is also medicine on prescription against malaria. In line with the national constitution, Iranians are entitled to basic healthcare and most receive subsidized prescription drugs and vaccinations. This healthcare does not extend to expats. However, Iran’s extensive network of public clinics and hospitals are considerably cheaper than in Western countries. Most public hospital facilities in Iran are operated by the Ministry of Health and Medical Education. Although waiting times are often long, public hospitals provide an acceptable standard of service. Wealthier Iranians opt to use private clinics and hospitals which offer a slightly higher standard of care and better facilities. However, the cost of treatment at such facilities can be quite high. Despite the cost, private healthcare in Iran is still fairly cheap in comparison to other neighboring countries.
In case of an emergency dial 115.

Crime

Major crime is generally not a problem for travelers in Iran, although foreigners occasionally become victims of petty street crime. Young men in unmarked cars have robbed foreigners and young men on motorbikes have snatched bags. There have been reports of robberies by police impersonators, usually in civilian clothing. Insist on seeing the officer’s identity card and request the presence of a uniformed officer or marked patrol car. Travelers should not surrender any documents or cash. You are advised to make a copy of your passport (biographical data page and the page with your Iranian visa) and to keep it separate from your original passport. Travelers should not carry large amounts of hard currency while on the streets. In view of the possibility of theft, passports, other important documents, and valuables should be kept in hotel safes or other secure locations. Pre-booked taxis are safer than those hailed from the street. Women should beware that the local law requires them to wear a hijab. Violating the law could mean legal consequences or even worse the locals may deliver the “justice” themselves. Women should avoid solo travel for personal safety. Adultery and homosexual sex are considered illegal acts under Iranian law and carry the death penalty. Punishment for drug use and trafficking can be severe, anyone convicted of having possession of, using or trafficking in illegal drugs can expect long jail sentences, heavy fines and even the death penalty.

Summary

There are more tourists arriving every year so to experience the true feeling of Iran before it becomes a major tourist hub in the region you should try as quickly as you can. Visit the incredible ancient ruins and experience the incredible Persian culture of the country. Remember that planning your trip with Travset.com will give you the quickest information about nearest emergency services and will also help you purchase indispensable travel insurance for the trip of your lifetime. Please feel free to comment and share the experiences of your travels with Travset.com.

Sources

(Visa)
https://againstthecompass.com/en/iran-visa-code/
https://e_visa.mfa.ir/en/
(Vaccinations)
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/iran