Sistan and Baluchestan 
Sistan and Baluchestan is the largest province in Iran famous for its blistering deserts and pristine untrodden beaches off the coast of the Gulf of Oman. Despite the high level of humidity in the coastal regions, Sistan and Baluchestan and its capital city Zahedan, have often the lowest annual precipitation in Iran. Considering the remoteness of Sistan and Baluchestan from Iran’s major industrial hubs in the west, air transportation plays a key role in the transference of cargo and passengers. Sistan and Baluchestan is equipped with two airports to cover its massive area. One is located in Zahedan, the capital and the other in Chabahar, a free trading zone and a major industrial port in Iran. One of the many nicknames Iran has earned among tourism circles is ‘the country of four seasons’. This peculiar nomination is the result of Iran’s extraordinarily diverse climate. The north of Iran that is comprised of the coastal regions south of the Caspian Sea where there is high precipitation level (mostly rain) and intense humidity. Rasht, the largest city in the northern province of Gilan, has an annual rainfall of over 1350 mm which is more than three times higher than the rainfall in western cities like Kermanshah and Shahr-e Kord and virtually incomparable with the annual rainfall in Zahedan with less than 90 mm. However, aridity isn’t all about drought and scanty vegetation. Thanks to the desert climate of the southeast of Iran, Sistan and Baluchestan has some of the most hypnotizing desert landscapes. An eternity of stark and mind-numbing flat lands, dunes and sand castles lead your eyes to the grandest of all sunsets, violating the serenity of the smooth blue with its dying hues. These rare natural marvels all come in a package that also includes stunning historic monuments and museums. In the next paragraph we will take a look at some of the most visited attractions in Iran’s largest province.
Surprisingly the largest province in Iran is also its most untraveled one. The remoteness and unforgiving desert climate of Sistan and Baluchestan are announced as culprits for its obscurity. But many explorers and nature-lovers not only view such land characteristics as benign but embrace them with all their hearts! These ambitious adventurers come to visit the hottest spot on the face of the earth in Lut Desert as well as other extraordinary desert sights such as the famous “sand castles”. Although Lut Desert is crucial to Sistan and Baluchestan’s tourism, not all attractions in the province are desert sights. Hamun Lake, Mount Taftan (an active volcano), Mount Khajeh and Chabahar Pink Lake are among the best-known spots for nature tourism. Sistan and Baluchestan is also historically and culturally significant. Monuments from different eras of Iranian history and various other cultural attractions abound in the region. We will talk at length about the most ancient of these sites. But before that let’s take a quick trip to Mars!
We often hear that cutting-edge space technologies will soon make space travel not only possible but affordable. But presuming that such grandiose projects, upon realization will be restricted to the so-called economic elites, we are better off by looking for a similar experience here on earth! It might sound completely otherworldly but there is a place 50 km away from Chabahar in Sistan and Baluchestan province that offers one such extraterrestrial experience. Don’t panic! You will still have your feet on the ground thanks to the dear old gravity! But you will be confronted with a beautiful mountain range with jagged ravines and odd gothic shapes that peculiarly resemble the mountains on the surface of Mars. Formed through millions of years of erosion, Iran's Martian Mountains were buried under an ocean of soil before rain and wind collaborated to exhume the dead-still giants. This unique experience is well worth the less than an hour’s drive from the coastal city of Chabahar and the negligible taxi fee (less than 20 USD).
More culturally-oriented people reading this piece are probably losing their temper wondering when we will stop all the fuss about deserts and mountains and start talking about the remnants of old civilizations! To those people here we present Dahan-e Gholaman, an ancient site harking back to one of the vastest kingdoms of the human history, the Achaemenid Empire. Located 44 km southeast of Zabol, Dahan-e Gholaman (literally, “Gateway of the Slaves”) is a collection of ruins of an Achaemenid city scattered over a vast area. A taxi ride from the beautiful city of Zabol will cost you about 15 USD and the journey takes less than an hour.
Zahedan and Chabahar boast the finest options among Sistan and Baluchestan's accommodation facilities. Chabahar is especially favored by Sistan and Baluchestan tours for its unique geographical location and economic status. As one of the most important commercial ports of Iran, Chabahar welcomes thousands of businessmen and international merchants to its golden shores and fancy hotels. There are also budgets options widely available all across the province. There are even a number of wonderful ecolodges in the rural areas owned by hospitable locals and surrounded by breathtaking desert sights .
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