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Perfect place to hike and admire the wild landscape. Remember the trail can be a bit hard do to de altitude. But also great and rewarding. Afterwords a great meal at one of the many restaurants
Darband Valley is a beautiful and popular destination for nature lovers and hikers who want to escape the busy and polluted city of Tehran. It is located at the foothills of Mount Tochal, which is the highest peak in the Alborz mountain range. Darband Valley offers a variety of hiking trails, waterfalls, and traditional restaurants that cater to different tastes and preferences.
The main entrance to Darband Valley is about 3 kilometers uphill from Tajrish Square, where you can take a taxi or a bus. There, you will find a narrow rocky valley with a stream flowing down the slope. Along the valley, there are many small cafes and restaurants that serve tea, coffee, snacks, and hookah. You can also buy fresh fruits, nuts, and honey from the local vendors. The valley is decorated with colorful umbrellas, lanterns, and carpets that create a cozy and festive atmosphere.
The hiking trails start from the end of the valley and go up into the mountains. There are several routes to choose from, depending on your fitness level and time availability. Here are some of the most popular ones:
- **Darband to Shirpala Hut**: This is the easiest and shortest trail, suitable for beginners and families. It takes about 2 hours to reach the Shirpala Hut, which is a wooden lodge at an altitude of 2750 meters. There, you can enjoy a panoramic view of Tehran and have a meal or a drink at the restaurant. The trail is well-marked and has some stairs and bridges along the way. You will also pass by some waterfalls and springs that add to the beauty of the scenery.
- **Darband to Tochal Peak**: This is the most challenging and rewarding trail, suitable for experienced and adventurous hikers. It takes about 6 hours to reach the Tochal Peak, which is the highest point in Tehran at an altitude of 3964 meters. There, you can see the snow-capped mountains of Alborz and feel the fresh and cool air. The trail is steep and rocky, and requires some climbing skills and equipment. You will also need to obtain a permit from the Tochal Complex before attempting this trail.
- **Darband to Palangchal Peak**: This is a moderate and scenic trail, suitable for intermediate hikers who want to enjoy some nature and solitude. It takes about 4 hours to reach the Palangchal Peak, which is a grassy hill at an altitude of 3350 meters. There, you can see some wildflowers and wildlife, such as goats and eagles. The trail is mostly dirt and gravel, and has some ups and downs along the way. You will also pass by some small villages and farms that give you a glimpse of the rural life in Iran.
After hiking, you can relax and recharge at one of the many restaurants in Darband Valley. They offer a variety of dishes, such as kebabs, stews, soups, salads, rice, bread, yogurt, and desserts. Some of the most famous ones are:
- **Shandiz**: This is a large and luxurious restaurant that serves high-quality meat dishes in a traditional setting. It has a spacious garden with fountains and flowers, as well as an indoor hall with elegant furniture and paintings. The prices are relatively high, but the portions are generous and the service is excellent.
- **Shemshak**: This is a cozy and rustic restaurant that serves authentic Iranian cuisine in a friendly atmosphere. It has a wooden terrace with views of the valley and the mountains, as well as an indoor area with fireplaces and carpets. The prices are reasonable, but the menu is limited and changes daily.
- **Darband**: This is a simple and cheap restaurant that serves fast food and snacks in a casual setting. It has a small outdoor area with tables and chairs, as well as an indoor area with TVs and music. The prices are low, but the quality is average and the hygiene is questionable.
Darband Valley is a great place to visit if you want to experience some nature, culture, and adventure in Tehran. It offers something for everyone, whether you are looking for a relaxing stroll or a challenging hike.
The main entrance to Darband Valley is about 3 kilometers uphill from Tajrish Square, where you can take a taxi or a bus. There, you will find a narrow rocky valley with a stream flowing down the slope. Along the valley, there are many small cafes and restaurants that serve tea, coffee, snacks, and hookah. You can also buy fresh fruits, nuts, and honey from the local vendors. The valley is decorated with colorful umbrellas, lanterns, and carpets that create a cozy and festive atmosphere.
The hiking trails start from the end of the valley and go up into the mountains. There are several routes to choose from, depending on your fitness level and time availability. Here are some of the most popular ones:
- **Darband to Shirpala Hut**: This is the easiest and shortest trail, suitable for beginners and families. It takes about 2 hours to reach the Shirpala Hut, which is a wooden lodge at an altitude of 2750 meters. There, you can enjoy a panoramic view of Tehran and have a meal or a drink at the restaurant. The trail is well-marked and has some stairs and bridges along the way. You will also pass by some waterfalls and springs that add to the beauty of the scenery.
- **Darband to Tochal Peak**: This is the most challenging and rewarding trail, suitable for experienced and adventurous hikers. It takes about 6 hours to reach the Tochal Peak, which is the highest point in Tehran at an altitude of 3964 meters. There, you can see the snow-capped mountains of Alborz and feel the fresh and cool air. The trail is steep and rocky, and requires some climbing skills and equipment. You will also need to obtain a permit from the Tochal Complex before attempting this trail.
- **Darband to Palangchal Peak**: This is a moderate and scenic trail, suitable for intermediate hikers who want to enjoy some nature and solitude. It takes about 4 hours to reach the Palangchal Peak, which is a grassy hill at an altitude of 3350 meters. There, you can see some wildflowers and wildlife, such as goats and eagles. The trail is mostly dirt and gravel, and has some ups and downs along the way. You will also pass by some small villages and farms that give you a glimpse of the rural life in Iran.
After hiking, you can relax and recharge at one of the many restaurants in Darband Valley. They offer a variety of dishes, such as kebabs, stews, soups, salads, rice, bread, yogurt, and desserts. Some of the most famous ones are:
- **Shandiz**: This is a large and luxurious restaurant that serves high-quality meat dishes in a traditional setting. It has a spacious garden with fountains and flowers, as well as an indoor hall with elegant furniture and paintings. The prices are relatively high, but the portions are generous and the service is excellent.
- **Shemshak**: This is a cozy and rustic restaurant that serves authentic Iranian cuisine in a friendly atmosphere. It has a wooden terrace with views of the valley and the mountains, as well as an indoor area with fireplaces and carpets. The prices are reasonable, but the menu is limited and changes daily.
- **Darband**: This is a simple and cheap restaurant that serves fast food and snacks in a casual setting. It has a small outdoor area with tables and chairs, as well as an indoor area with TVs and music. The prices are low, but the quality is average and the hygiene is questionable.
Darband Valley is a great place to visit if you want to experience some nature, culture, and adventure in Tehran. It offers something for everyone, whether you are looking for a relaxing stroll or a challenging hike.
it is a very lovely environment for spending time. There are many beautiful landscapes and numerous restaurants and other food shops. Their food usually has acceptable quality but with a little high prices. The hiking path has moderate steep and would turn to Mountaineering after a while. There is a small seasonal river down in the valley which you crass several times on the path. It is completely safe during the day and also up to midnight. However, better to return before the dark, especially don't stay out of the populated area by restaurants and food shops. There are security posts and police stations in several spots. in Almost all of the way there is signal coverage for cellphones. best time for hiking would be at the morning during thee weekdays, but for dinning I prefer nights. The perfect time for visiting would be autumns.
Beautiful natural views, lots of restaurants and supermarkets on the way to the top of the mountain, but there are a lot of stairs.
Good experience after all.
Dog friendly ✅
Good experience after all.
Dog friendly ✅
Darband is a beautiful part of Tehran, located in the northernmost part of the capital. It's also the part of the city that lies at the highest altitude, between 1700 and 2000 meters above sea level. Apart from beautiful mountains, lush trees and a calming river, there are also great cafes and restaurants in the area. You may also just purchase Iranians' favourite snack: lavashak, a type of fruit leather. 🤗🤗
Darband is Tehran's leisure, hiking and food hub. It has a different vibe to it which you'd be sure to pick up as you walk through its narrow, steep pathways. So if you want to scape the everyday life of the city and see how busy Tehraners spend their leisure time pay Darband a visit.
Enjoy the fresh air and beautiful landscape .Go up and down with Telesiege ;They take your pictures if you like.Climb up as much as you can ;there are steps most of the way.There are many traditional restaurants on your way where you can rest and have breakfast or lunch.