Things To Do in Qeshm Island of Iran

Qeshm Island of Iran is the land of wonders. You can visit several natural attractions and beauty.

The culture of the locals in Qeshm Island of Persian Gulf is another attraction that you should not miss! Besides, there are Hengam Island and Hormuz Island near Qeshm. You can find scenic beauty in these islands as well.

Here we provide you with some attractions that you should not miss while traveling Qeshm Island. This beautiful island has a lot to mesmerize you and have a great time there!

Qeshm Island attractions you should not miss

Most of the islands including canyons, hills, and valleys are protected as a part of UNESCO as the Qeshm Island Geopark. Besides, Qeshm is an economic free-zone with big shopping centers. It also boasts the local life of native people alongside the wildlife of different types of animals like birds, reptiles, and dolphins. So read on to know more about this wonderful island:

Naaz Islands

Located on the southern coast of Qeshm, the islands have soft sands at low tide. However, during high tide, it disappears.

In fact, there are two tidal islands wherein lowe tide connects to the Qeshm Island’s shore.

The islands have two hills, which is visited by most tourists visiting Qeshm Island.

Chahkooh Canyon

As one of the most beautiful landmarks in Iran, Chahkooh Canyon is located in the east of Qeshm Island. In fact, it a collection of rocks and some kind of natural statues, which shape with erosion through centuries.

The beautiful natural statues fascinate you. You can spend hours imagining their figures and pictures. The high walls of the canyon add grandeur to your visit. You can see some shells on the wall which indicate that the place was once underwater.

Valley of Stars

Valleys of Stars or Stars Valley is one of the unique attractions in Iran. Near Borkeh Khalaf village, Valley of Stars is known for its strange rock formation.

In addition, according to locals, a meteor hit the earth in this place and form this strange valley.

In fact, the valley is formed by water and wind erosion for a thousand years.

Due to its strange shape, locals believe that it is a haunted place, which is very terrifying at night. They believe that the strange sounds made at the valley by the wind are indeed made by fairy and demons.

Mangrove forests of Qeshm

Known also as the Hara forests of Qeshm, the mangrove forests are one of the must-see attractions of Qeshm Island. The forests are composed of hara tree or Avicennia marina, a kind of tree that is salt-water plants, which are submerged at high tide.

When the tides are high, the forest disappears under the water. It is a 20 km by 20 km area and hosts migratory birds, reptiles, and fish. The high and low tide plays an important role in the formation of mangrove forests.

Laft

Laft is a beautiful village of Qeshm with more than 2000 years old of existence. It is in fact the fishing village in the northern of Qeshm. There are several wonderful wind catchers (badgirs).

This fishing village is home to many traditional cargo boat building workshops. There you can also find Naderi Fort, ruins of a Portuguese building. Tella wells, a place to store water, is another attraction of the island.

Salt Cave of Qeshm Island

Known as Namakdan (salt shaker) cave, the Salt Cave is the most southwestern point of Qeshm Island. In fact, it is the accumulation of seawater in the faults.

There you can enjoy salty chandeliers, stalactites, and white domes. In addition, it is one of the longest salt caves in the world. You can find amazing structures in the salt in the cave.

Beauties nearby, discover islands near Qeshm Island

Hengam Island

Traveling Qeshm Island of Iran, do not miss the chance to visit Hengam Island near Qeshm. So if you are lucky enough you can visit dolphins on your way to the place.

The interesting point is that there is no vehicle on Hengam Island. There are beautiful beaches with crystal clear water that you can swim. You can find a lot of things made of shells and scallops at the Hengam bazaar. There are also local spices and oils available at the local market.

Hormuz Island

Hormuz Island is another beauty of the Persian Gulf you should not miss. It is at a distance of 18 kilometers from Qeshm Island.

Hormuz Portuguese Castle, Ahamd Nadalian Museum, Rainbow Valley, and the Valley of the Statues are some of the beauties of Hormuz Island. It is interesting that Marco Polo visited the island around 1920 and described it in his travelogue.

Cultural wonders you should not miss in Qeshm Island

Tasty spices

If you are in love with different tastes, maybe Qeshm is one of the few places that you can find spices with their authentic taste. So do not ignore this chance and celebrate the tastes!

Seafood of Qeshm Island

As an island in the Persian Gulf, you can have a unique experience of a variety of food with fish and shrimps in Qeshm Island of Iran.

Poodini Kooseh that makes of shark is one of the dishes that you should try while you are in Qeshm. It is not in any other part of the country.

Shark meat or flounder fish is the main ingredient of the food. Tumeric, onion, coriander, dill, tomato sauce, and dried lime powder are other parts of this delicious food.

Live like a local!

Traveling Qeshm, ecolodges are amongst the best options that you can have.

Being economic, they are the best places that you can experience the everyday local life or people at these places. Besides, there are some beach hotels where you can enjoy the Persian Gulf and tranquility.

Parviz Lodging is in Tabl village. It provides you an opportunity to enjoy the atmosphere of southern Iran culture. There are two kinds of rooms in Parviz Lodging; one is traditional rooms on the first floor and the other non-Traditional rooms on the second floor.

All rooms have mattresses and linen, air conditioning systems, and free internet access. By your request, local homemade meals can be served. You can sit, relax, and have a drink in the yard. One of the best features of this accommodation is its accessibility to the wonders of the pristine island.

Read also: Amazing Local Experiences in Iran

Enjoy turtle’s laying eggs

Enjoy watching the hawksbill sea turtles at Shibderaz beach in Qeshm Island. The season is in late February. In that time, 90 turtles arrive on the coasts of Qeshm Island and lay more than 5000 eggs,

According to the United Nations Development Programme website, the hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) is a critically endangered sea turtle with two Atlantic and Pacific subspecies, which the pacific subspecies lives in the Persian Gulf and comes to its islands and mostly to Qeshm for laying eggs.

Shell handicraft

You can find a variety of ornaments made by the shell on Qeshm Island. These beautiful handicraft pieces are ornaments or decorations for houses. You can find beautiful necklaces, bracelets, earrings, sculptures, and other ornaments there.