Excursion to the Central Desert and National park of Kavir

Maranjab Desert
Maranjab Desert with huge sand dunes, Salt Lake, spectacular nights, and almost easy access, it is a popular tourism destination in Aran-e Bidgol County of Isfahan Province. If you go about 60 Km toward north-east of Kashan and north of Aran-e Bidgol, you can reach this place. With its magnificent landscapes of sand runes and hills, Maranjab Desert is located close to a Salt Lake and is linked to a national park. Maranjab Desert is a popular tourism destination in Aran-e Bidgol County of Isfahan Province. With its magnificent landscapes of sand runes and hills, Maranjab Desert is located close to a Salt Lake and is linked to a national park.
Wandering Island of Maranjab Desert
Another attraction of Maranjab is Jazire Sargardan (Sargardan Island) that is also located close to the lake. It is located in the heart of Maranjab Desert. This island is floating not in the water, but in a sea of salt. When the rain starts, water surrounds the island. The movement of the water makes it look like it is the island that is moving around. You might be surprised to hear that in some times of the year it is raining in this desert! Due to precipitation, the level of water rises in this area and you can see fantastic views of Maranjab Desert.

Maranjab Caravansary
Shah Abbasi Caravanserai of Maranjab is one of the landmarks of this stunning desert. This structure was built in 1603 along the Silk Road. Maranjab Caravansary is an old building in Maranjab Desert, and it used to be a place for travelers to spend the night. Like many other caravansaries in Iran, King Abbas from the Safavid dynasty ordered to build this place. It has 3500 square meters and has 29 rooms. This accommodation was right in the middle of the Silk Road and it used to link the northeast of Iran to the central parts like Isfahan.

Kavir National Park
Kavir national park is the only national park of Iran which according to the Environment department, no kinds of human habitats, mines and license of grazing exists in this place.
Kavir National Park is one of the oldest and largest protected areas in Iran. The major part of this valuable area is located in Garmsar (Semnan province) and some small areas are considered parts of Tehran, Qom and Isfahan provinces. The total area of this region is 670,000 Hectares with 420 Ha considered a national park and the rest a protected area.
The variety of wildlife living in this region had given it the nickname of little Africa in the past. Although today less species is seen in this area it is still the home of many desert species found in Iran. Kavir National Park is one of the 9 wildlife refuges (natural reserve) in Iran.
Qasr-e Bahram Caravanserai
Qasr-e Bahram Caravanserai, also known as Shah Abbasi Caravanserai, is a Safavid monument dating back to 17th century. It was erected on the remains of a Sassanid palace, known as Qasr-e Bahram (palace of Bahram).
It is a rectangular building with four semi-circular watchtowers on each corner. Similar to other Safavid caravanserais, it displays a four-porched plan (Chahâr eyvani) with a central yard.
There are two gates on the northern and southern parts of the structure. The main entrance gate (on the north) is surmounted with a large, ornamented monolith stone slab. The two rooms on each side of the gate suggest that the entrance complex used to provide shelter for the guards who were responsible for the security of the caravanserai. The courtyard is encircled with 24 two-storied rooms, holding a square-shaped pool in the middle.
The western side encloses the main room of the building, shahneshin, fronted by a porch and a cellar (Sardab) in the basement. On the east, a spacious courtyard sits with a lofty barrel vault. On the rear part of these buildings, several stables, kitchens and sleeping rooms can be found. One of the striking features of this site was the way the water was transferred to the caravanserai. A nearby water spring, called Cheshmeh Siah, used to feed the water cistern of Qasr-e Bahram Caravanserai via two channels made of stone and pottery.

Itinerary (3 days / 2 nights):

–First day:
6:30 am, departure from Tehran to the Maranjab desert via Qom and Kashan, breakfast on the road.
– Short visit in Kashan.
-Arrival in the desert area for picnic lunch, visit of the Salt Lake and the caravanserai of Maranjab and resuming the road to the sand dunes of Maranjab and camp setup, dinner and rest.

 –Second day:
In the morning, after breakfast, departure to Bahram Palace, visit the Central Desert National Park through Sefid-Ab, visit of the desert landscapes, the Qilooqe reservoir, the Ain Al-Rasheed caravanserai, caravanserai of Qasr Bahram, picnic lunch and stay at the Qasr Bahram Caravanserai.

–Third day:
In the morning after breakfast, return to Tehran via the road to Garmsar and Absard. Transfer to hotel in Tehran.

Services are included:

– 4×4 car, for a maximum of 4 passengers with a driver.

– Three meals per day, entrance permit to Kavir National Park and entrance ticket to Kashan’s sites,

– Camping equipment including: folding tables and chairs – tents – mattresses, sheets and blankets

and camping lights.