A unique blend of Alpine chic and traditional Persia, Tochal Ski Resort in Tehran provides the perfect break from the bustle of chaotic Tehran. The Tochal project was started in 1974 and the resort was ready to be used in 1978, just a year before the Islamic revolution in Iran. Tochal Ski Resort is very popular even among the locals. Many Tehrani fashionable young people spend their weekends at this resort to ski, socialize or do both. There are clear factors that have contributed to this ski resort’s popularity in Iran, namely its location, its facilities, and its low costs.
Tochal Ski Resort’s location is very convenient. It is accessed from a wealthy district to the north of the city and from there a Gondola line – the longest in the world – takes the skiers on a 7-km trip into the snowy Alborz Mountains. The sprawling city of Tehran remains in view as the Gondola reaches a peak altitude of 3740m where Tochal Ski Resort is located. If you take accommodation in the north of Tehran during your stay in this city, you’ll be able to get a 15-min taxi ride and get to the base station of the Gondola lift. At the final station, the full beauty of the Alborz unfolds to East and West beneath a vibrant ski resort.
Two beginner to intermediate runs start at the top of Tochal Ski Resort, both are pisted and served by efficient chairlifts. The longest run, a 1200m descent, roughly equivalent to a European blue slope, boasts an impressive half pipe and button lift. Both pistes at Tochal Ski Resort end at Tochal hotel. This hotel in Iran is a wooden retreat in the style of a traditional French chalet. Here, skiers can enjoy spectacular views of Tehran’s mountains over a hot chocolate or hearty traditional Iranian soup (ash as the locals call it). For those wishing to stay longer, Tochal hotel in Tehran provides affordable but very comfortable accommodation at the resort’s heart, facilities include memorable Persian cuisine, a gym and very easy access to the resort’s pistes.
For those not wishing to ski, Tochal Ski Resort provides a delightful range of hiking alternatives. At weekends, hikers may join the small groups of Tehrani people making their way to Tochal resort. The full trip is about a four hour hike across snowy mountain ridges and narrow passes. Though cleats are not necessary, strong boots and warm clothing are strongly advised. A hiker’s lodge halfway to Tochal Ski Resort provides welcome shelter from the wind as well as a delicious spread of Iranian cuisine.
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