QESHM

Qeshm island is not only a perfect destination to swim in crystal clear waters, but also it has many more interesting aspects for visitors, which you’re going to discover in this article. Many people have no idea that Iran has a few islands, and well, rather gorgeous ones! Located in the Persian Gulf, the main and biggest island is called Qeshm.

Pearl Of Persian Gulf

Qeshm island is not only a perfect destination to swim in crystal clear waters, but also it has many more interesting aspects for visitors, which you’re going to discover in this article.

Most travelers know the must-sees of Iran as being the famous cities of Isfahan, Kashan, Yazd, and Shiraz. This is the original Persia, most of it being in or around Fars’s province. Yet, Iran has several regions with dramatically different landscapes and cultures. One of these singular locations is in the Persian Gulf: Qeshm island.

Qeshm island will offer you another perspective on Iran during your trip, with breathtaking landscapes and fascinating culture. Even for travelers who just have a short time in Iran, it’s possible to visit the islands over a few days, as it’s connected with daily flights to Tehran and weekly flights to Shiraz.

Qeshm also has four flights per week with Dubai, which can be convenient to enter or leave the country. It’s interesting to note that not only you can collect your visa on arrival at Qeshm international airport, but visitors are also allowed to stay on the island for up to one month without a visa.

So now that you know it’s easy to make a quick visit to Qeshm island, let’s discover the reasons why you shouldn’t miss visiting the largest island in the Persian Gulf!

UNESCO Geopark

If you’re an amateur geologist, or if you’re simply looking for the most incredible and strange landscapes, then Qeshm is your playground!

The island has been registered as a UNESCO Geopark in 2006 as it possesses a huge variety of rare geological phenomena. The island also is a refuge for many animals and species of birds, which you can observe in the protected area of the Mangrove Forest.

Chahkooh Canyon in Qeshm, Iran_Photo credit: Kristin Karoubi

The most impressive geosites are Chahkhooh Canyon and The Star Valley. Both were created by the erosion caused by the sand and the wind over the millenniums and have resulted in spectacular sites.

But Qeshm also has another wonder, which is the Salt Dome, holding the largest salt cave in the world. Besides these sites, the whole island displays breathtaking landscapes with limestone mountains and seaside roads.

Salt Cave of Qeshm, Hormozgan, Iran _Photo credit: Scott McLeod

One of the most interesting parts of visiting Qeshm is discovering a whole new culture. In term of traditions, the island shares very little in common with the mainland. Take the language for instance: if almost everyone understands Persian there, it’s only the second language.

On Qeshm, people speak their own language, which is a mix of Persian, Arab, Hindi, English and Portuguese. It reflects the history of the island: colonization by the British and Portuguese on one side, and trade by boat with Oman, Africa and India on the other side.

It is interesting to note that the vast majority of inhabitants in Qeshm are Sunni Muslims, while Iran’s vast majority is Shia. As a result, people from Qeshm share a lot of their traditions and celebrations with the neighboring Arab countries rather than the rest of Iran.

Most people in Qeshm still wear traditional clothes: a long white dress for men, similar to what can be found in the Gulf countries, and very colorful dresses and pants for women. Older generations of women also still wear a mask to cover part of their face, called Borghe.

Bandari Frau mit Maske am Persischen Golf, Iran, Asien

Besides the language and the clothes, food is also very specific to the island, with a lot of seafood and spices. Music is also a very important part of the island’s identity, with some specific musical performances where drums are playing the most important part.