Alamut Valley

Incredible mountainous landscapes, delightful green valleys, scenic farms, lovely orchards, and majestic cliffs make Alamut valley one of the most epic (if not the best) hiking destinations in Iran! But the touching beauty of its nature is not all there is to it! Knowing that this valley was once dominated by one of the world’s most mysterious and terrifying Medieval cults makes it even cooler! If you go anywhere near Qazvin or Tehran, this tempting valley and the historical remains of the Castles of the Assassins are well worth at least a day of your time!

Finding Alamut Valley

Alamut Valley is hiding in the western edge of Iran’s Alborz mountains, between the dry plain of Qazvin (in the south) and the green mountain forests of the north of Iran. To get to the valley from Tehran, you can get a flight (1 hour) or a bus (3hours) to Qazvin. From Qazvin, you’ll have 2 choices: West Alamut District or East Alamut District. For a hiking adventure in West Alamut, get a bus or shared taxi to Razmian (55 km).

On the other hand, to go to the lovely East Alamut, from Qazvin’s Minoodar (or Qaribkosh) Square, you’ll have another 3 to 4-hour trip on a shared taxi to get to Gazor Khan. Most of these taxis leave Qazvin at around 7 a.m. The road from Qazvin toward the valley twists and turns through mountains, valleys, and red rocks. On the way, you’ll come across small towns, sweet farmers, and amazing sceneries.

The Valley of Assassins

Almost a thousand years ago, a king was hunting in the region that is today known as Alamut. Chasing an eagle, he saw a bird fly over the mountains and sit on a peak. This made him aware of the strategic position of the place. So, he built a castle there and named it Alamut (meaning the eagle’s nest). Later on (at the same time as the Medieval religious wars (1090 AD), Hassan-I Sabbah, the founder and leader of a mysterious band of assassins, chose Alamut region as his headquarters. In their fight against the government, these professional assassins came down the mountain and kidnapped or murdered important figures. These fighters became the reason for Alamut Valley’s world-wide fame. From over 50 castles these fighters built or took control of in Alamut, 2 are of the most significant: Alamut Castle and Lambsar Castle.

Wild Life in Alamut Valley

The mountainous Alamut is home to a variety of animals. You may see animals like caracals, wolves, foxes, leopards, wolves, brown bears, wild goats, rabbits, and hedgehogs. Birds like eagles, partridges, finches, nightingales, and vultures make the region a good place for birdwatching. Different kinds of lizards, snakes, turtles, frogs, and fish can also be found.

Alamut Valley

Beyond its renowned fortresses and mysterious history, Alamut Valley is a hiker’s heaven with wild and unspoiled nature. Anywhere you turn your head, magnificent snow-capped mountains, glittering rivers, narrow valleys, lovely little towns, and pleasant sceneries of rice fields, orchards, and raw nature will impress you. To get a better picture of Alamut Valley, you need to know that it consists of 2 slightly different regions: West Alamut Region and East Alamut Region.

• East Alamut Region

Alamut Castle, incredible landscapes, and the proximity of the sights make east Alamut more popular than West Alamut. Beside hiking through the high mountains, passing by glittering rivers, and climbing up magnificent cliffs, you can check out the villages on the way, explore the rural lifestyle, and get a handicraft like a felt rug or a wicker basket as a souvenir. From the several hiking routes in the sheltered valley, only the one that leads to Alamut Castle is signposted. This short route is the most common route in Alamut.

• West Alamut Region

Incredible cliffs (that reach up to 1000 meters), local culture, Oven Lake, and Lambsar Castle are of the main attractions of West Alamut. Beyond the rocky mountains, eye-catching sceneries and glittering rivers that make it a great hiking destination, West Alamut also features lovely villages where you can get familiar with rural lifestyle and taste local food. Centered in the beautiful Razmian Town, this mountainous region also features gorgeous villages like Hir and Feshk.

A Hiking Adventure in Alamut

The route you take for your discovery of Alamut Valley is absolutely a matter of taste and capability.

1. If you just like to have a leisurely hike through the nice nature and check out Alamut Castle, a hike from Gazor Khan to the castle and back takes a few hours. The hike up to the castle might be a little difficult for you, but the path and view from up there are absolutely out of this world.

2. If a one-day adventure is what you crave, a hike around East Alamut is the best choice. Start with a 30-minute hike from Gazor Khan to Alamut Castle in the morning. After enjoying the view on top of the remains of the assassin’s most famous fortress and a pleasant walk around, get back down for a local dish at the guesthouse in Gazor Khan. In the afternoon, make your way toward the amazing rocks and nature of Andej Valley and the beautiful Ovan Lake. The canyon to the south of Gazor Khan is also worth a visit.

3. With a 2-day plan, East and West Alamut will be yours to discover. Start from Razmian and let mountainous sceneries fascinate you until you reach Lambsar Castle. From the castle, overlook green valleys, rocky mountains, little villages, fruit orchards and barley, wheat, and rice farms. From there, you can get a ride to the beautiful Kalayeh Village (34 km).

4. Alamut valley is so rich and beautiful that many decide to stay for several days. If you’re into a real hiking and camping adventure, you can spend days discovering Alamut Valley deeply.

A Cultural Exploration in Alamut

The cute villages in Alamut Valley are great places to explore genuine culture. Traditional costumes and rural lifestyle are only a piece of their charms! The local festivals are the real treat! When the apples, apricots, hazelnuts, cherries, and cornelian cherries are ready for picking, the villages around the valley celebrate with festivals. In Razmian Cherry Festival and Hir Cornelian Cherry festival, you can listen to local music, watch local games, and taste local products. In the recent years, these festivals have been canceled. But who knows what next year brings!

The Best Season for a Hiking Adventure in Alamut Valley

Spring covers the valley with wild flowers and cherry blossoms! Fall covers it with a range of colors! And summer blesses you with a pleasant weather! So, it’s your call! Yet, you should know that spring is one of the wettest seasons and the temperature might drop significantly in fall. In winter, the valley is very cold and most hiking routes are closed with snow. On the other hand, the cold doesn’t make the snow-covered valley less of a spectacle.

What to Take to Alamut Valley

For a safe adventure in Alamut Valley, you’d better be well-equipped. Take a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, drinking water, warm clothes, first aid kit, umbrella, snacks, and a light meal.

Where to sleep in Alamut Valley

If you prefer a hotel but don’t care about the distance, then the hotels in Qazvin are the ones for you. But if you like a nearer place to the valley and are interested in the local culture, there are a handful of guesthouses in the villages. You can find them in West Alamut in razmian, Fashk, and Rajaee Dasht. Or in East Alamut in Dikin, zarabad, ,Gazorkhan, or the cottages near Hir. Camping is also a great choice if you consult the locals.

The Nearby Attractions

Ovan Lake: On your way between Qazvin and Alamut Valley, you can check out this beautiful Alpine lake. You can also include it in your adventure around East Alamut. As an attractive resort for nature lovers, Ovan Lake is a place for all seasons. In summer, camping and boat riding are the popular activities. In fall, the lake is host to beautiful migratory birds. And in winter, it becomes a hub for skiing and ice skating. The interesting thing about Ovan Lake is that no river streams into it and it is only filled with the springs in the bottom of it.

If you’d like to have some cultural adventure beside your Alamut Valley exploration, the top sights of Qazvin are just a few miles away:

The Grand Bazaar of Qazvin: one of the most beautiful of its kind in Iran! the 1000-year-old traditional bazaar is a great place to explore Persian architecture, Persian spices, and Persian culture.

Sa’ad al-Sultaneh Caravanserai: Part of the Grand Bazaar, this historical caravanserai will treat you to a great architecture, charming handicraft shops, and cozy cafés.

Imamzadeh Hosein Shrine: Different shades of green, lovely Islamic architecture, and fine Islamic art are going to impress you at this spiritual place.

Qajar Bathhouse and Anthropology Museum: The amazing underground architecture of traditional Persian bathhouses are a real treat. Like many others in Iran, this bathhouse is now turned into an anthropology museum where you can learn about Persian lifestyle, customs and culture.

Jameh Mosque of Qazvin: With huge Iwans and a nice marble Mihrab, this 12^th century mosque is a fine example of Islamic architecture.

Where to Eat in Alamut Valley

It’s a good idea to have some water and snacks with you. But many of the villages in both East and West Alamut have guesthouses that can serve you with local food. Except for the restaurant near Ovan lake, you can eat in Razmian, Fashk, Rajaee Dasht (West Alamut), Dikin, Zarabad, and Gazorkhan (East Alamut).

Like to go on a Hiking Adventure in Alamut Valley?

Then book a place on our 1-day East Alamut tour or our 2-day East and West Alamut tour.