11. Hormoz Island
Who knew there was a former Portuguese colony in the Persian Gulf? Portuguese explorers captured Hormoz Island in 1507 and built an impressive fort there. Their control lasted about a century, but the remnants of the old fort remain. One of the more interesting aspects of this island is it’s colorful mineral-rich rocks and soil. The mountains and earth take on red, purple and green hues. Funky cliffs, salt caves and rock formations make this a stunningly distinctive landscape. Hormoz also has a lively arts scene, centered around internationally renowned environmental artist Ahmad Nadalian.
12. Naqsh-e Rustam
Anyone with an archeological interest will be fascinated with these ancient tombs carved into the mountainside. Kind of like an Iranian equivalent to the Egyptian pyramids, this is the final resting place of four Achaemenid kings dating back to 1000 BC. They are carved into the rock face quite high up from the ground. Each king lay in a sarcophagus, but unfortunately their accompanying treasures were looted by Alexander the Great. Various impressive relief carvings are on the outside of each tomb.
So, would you like to visit Iran?
