Demavend, 5671 metres is the highest mountain of the Alborz range in the Elbrus Mountains. It was reached in 1837 as one of the first peaks ascended in Asia. The Elbrus Mountains are a huge barrier between the Caspian Sea and hot dessert in Iran. There are lots of 4 thousand metres mountains but only one 5 thousand metres high mountain. That’s why Demavend is almost 1 thousand metres higher than Alam Kuh (4850m). During our expedition we will ascend both highest mountains of the Alborz range.
The mountains in Iran are characterised by a mild climate, so they can be ascended in September or even At the beginning of October. The season lasts from June to the beginning of October. Its height, however, is demanding, the participants must be experienced in high mountain climbing or at least have good condition and health. It’s worth to go running or trekking in the mountains intensively before we set out. The mountains can be icy so we have to take crampons . Demavend is an extinct volcano and, like many of them, it has very gentle slopes. It’s not technically difficult and doesn’t require having special skills. An additional advantage of this expedition is that the first summit – Alam Kuh (4850) provides a perfect acclimatisation which is very helpful at Demavend. Thanks to that, the summit can be ascended by 90-100% of participants.
Demavend is situated in Iran, which has been a closed, orthodox Muslim country for few dozens of years. It has its good and bad points.
First of all, it’s not easy to get a visa (we will help you to get it). You must be careful so as not to be suspicious for the uniformed patrols. You must cover certain parts of the body (especially women), you mustn’t posses or use any materials that may be considered pornography, political materials or alcohol. If we obey these rules we can freely travel in Iran. Because the country is isolated from the rest of the world, there aren’t many tourists, so we can count on the authentic hospitality of its inhabitants.
Against all appearances, the mosques are opened for tourists, unlike in e.g. Egypt or Marroco.
Iran is also a country that has a rich and long history, which is shown by the Achmenids empire from 522 B.C., its mythology and monuments.
It’s impossible to take part in the expedition if you suffer from any illness that can be harmful at great heights and on desserts.

COSTS:

6300 pln

The price includes: accommodation in tents and tourist class hotels, climbing insurance, food (two meals a day in the mountains we cook ourselves using burners and take provisions as a third meal) flight to Teheran and back, transport, stay at the Caspian Sea, travel to Esfahan, club’s fee.
The price doesn’t include tourist visa, additional voluntary trips (e.g. Persepolis + Yazd about 250 usd or Persian Bay), entrance fees to Alam Kuh and Demavenda National Parks (50 $ x2), hiring donkeys (100$ for two mountains together)

Recommended vaccinations; tetanus, jaundice type A and B.
You can hire crampons – 100pln each

Date of the expedition may change (max 5days.)

APPLICATIONS:

1. If you are willing to participate in the expedition, please, apply by 15th July.
2. To confirm your participation please, pay 2500pln for the flight ticket and insurance to the bank account: Stowarzyszenie “Annapurna Klub” Santander Bank Zachodni 34 1090 1652 0000 0000 6404 1166 with an annotation “Iran- flight ticket and insurance”.
Please, send us your name, surname, date and place of birth and address via e-mail or post.

If You wish to fly from another country we are arranging flight tickets from everywhere in the world.

ITINERARY:

We fly to Teheran, a city that lives its own, eastern way. We spend a night there and go sightseeing.
Next day by a hired plane we go to the mountains. We travel along the Sandarbrood Valley to the shepherds village at the height of 2000m, where we spend a night. We end the ride at the height of 3000m, where the road ends, and then we ascend on foot, through a beautiful canyon to the high mountain meadow called Hesarchal (3800m). We spend a night there. Next day is intended for acclimatisation, we ascend any of the 4 thousand metres high mountains around, e.g. Lashkarak or Divchal.. Next day we get up very early and go north-west, partly on the glacier Khersan and reach the summit Alam Kuh (4850m) after 6 hours.
From Alam Kuh we go down to Rudbarak, from where we go to the Caspian Sea, where we can get rest before ascending the next mountain.
After we get rest we go to Reyneh where our ascent on Demavend starts. From Reyneh we go by car to the mountain shelter situated at 3500m, where we sleep. After a night we move to the shelter situated at 4100m. We go to sleep very early so as to get up at midnight and set off after a short meal. The way to the summit of Alam is monotonous but not difficult. Around the summit the difficulties with breathing may be intensified by volcanic fumes. Ascending the top takes us about 8 hours. This effort, however, is worth taking as there is a beautiful view from this mountain, especially on the Caspian Sea and the inside of the crater where is a glacier.
From the peak we descend to the shelter and then to Reyneh. From Reyneh we go to Teheran.
From Teheran we go to the mythical capital Isfahan, where we visit one of the biggest and most beautiful mosques of the world and try to take in the atmosphere of this city. We’ll also swim the river across or cross it on one of the seven monumental bridges We’ll also visit an old Armenian district.
Voluntarily you can also prolong the expedition by 2-3 days and take part in visiting Persepolis.

Day by day itinerary:
– flight Warsaw – Teheran
– sightseeing in Teheran
– travel by bus to Kalardash
– travel to the height of 3300m and ascending Hescharschal, camp(3700m)
– ascending Alam Kuh (4850m)
– travel by bus to the Caspian Sea
– travel to the foot of Demavend, ride at the height of 3500m
– ascending the shelter at 4100m
– ascending Demavend (5671m)
– travel in sleeping cars to Isfahan
– sightseeing in Isfahan
– return travel to Teheran
– return to Poland

NEEDED EQUIPMENT:

– leather or trekking shoes, 1-1,5 size too big (they should be loose enough not to pinch the fingers even when you wear a thick sock, and tight enough to make the hill stable while walking)
– 2-3 pairs of woolen socks or other, very warm ones.
– anti sweat socks
– other socks
– polar fleece trousers – polar 100
– goretex trousers or other, similar ones.
– Thin military trousers or other ones with detachable trouser legs
– Trekking gaiters
– Breathable underwear
– 2 polar fleece blouses – polar 200
– goretex jacket or other, similar one.
– Goretex over-mitts or other similar ones, possibly warm skiing gloves
– 2 pairs of polar gloves (over-mitts fixed together cannot pinch the fingers especially their tips)
– hat
– sleeping bag (synthetic 1,5 kg, down-filled 0,8 kg)
– rucksack, 70l
– rucksack 40l
– sunglasses with a good sun protection factor
– sun protection cream, factor 30-60
– mess tin
– cutlery
– burner stove with pierceable cylinder (C190)
– 2 rolls of toilet paper
– vacuum flask 0,5l- 1l
– articles of toilet
– underwear
– t-shirts and thin shirts
– sandals or other light shoes
– something to protect head from the sun
– crampons adjusted to the shoes
– telescopic sticks
– foam pad or self blowing mattress
– NRC foil
– Headlamp and spare batteries
– Bic lighter (flint)
– Chemical warming agents
– Anti-dust mask (not necessarily)
– Women must wear a scarf on the head, baggy clothes with long sleeves and trouser legs. Either wrists nor ankles can be uncovered, which must be treated seriously. in case of any doubts, you can contact us.