Ski Holiday in Iran Next Season?

A British tour operator is claiming to be the first to offer ski holidays to Iran following the end of the UN embargo.
Iran has a long history as a skiing destination and saw modern ski resorts developed in the 1960s and '70s prior to the 1979 revolution, the sport's popularity driven by the former Shah who was a keen skier.

In recent decades winter sports have regained their popularity and there's been investment in some modern lifts and new hotels at the leading resorts, most of which are within a few hours of capital Tehran. They include some of the highest ski areas on the planet, which also boast a reputation for great powder snow.

Tour operator Mountain Heaven, which has built a reputation over the past decade or so as one of the leading chalet and apartment companies in the French Alps is organising one and (subject to demand) two trips for up to 20 guests each to ski Iran's leading resorts and do a bit of city sight- seeing too. The eight-day trips will run in late February and early March next year.



Mountain Heaven boss Nick Williams went on a fact finding trip to ski Iran in March and returned declaring, "It was one of the best skiing experiences I have ever had."

The Mountain Heaven package includes airport transfers, guiding throughout the tour and entry to sightseeing attractions in the cities as well as all accommodation, most breakfasts and dinners, but does not include flights to Iran, lunches or lift passes. Holiday cost starts from £1100 based on two sharing with a £150 supplement for a single room.

Whilst Nick reports the Iranians are some of the friendlist and most hospitable people in the world, there are a few issues to be aware of when booking a ski holiday to Iran, despite the normalisation of relations.



Firstly a visa will be required- Mountain Heaven will help with the application process. However anyone who has been to Israel will most likely be denied entry and similarly once you've been to Iran the US will require you to have a full visa when you travel there afterwards – not a major issue Nick reports but something to be aware of. On a practical level women are expected to keep their head covered in public (not a big issue on the slopes…) and special diets including vegetarians are not really catered for. There is of course, no alcohol served either. But on the plus side, prices are much lower than in the Alps one you're in Iran!

Full details are on the company website: http://www.mountainheaven.co.uk/resorts/Iran/iranian-ski-experience

A mixed group of friends went skiing this year and had a fantastic experience. It has to be remembered that sanctions have never prevented individuals visiting, they are rather based around finance and dual use technology. Hence the country has always received a steady stream of foreign visitors, particularly from expats living in the Middle East.

One risk of the European Mega Resort is that they really lack any charm and or history. With growth in the industry coming largely from non-traditional ski countries i.e. non-European /non-North American, you have to question why someone would pick a drab purpose built resort vs. visiting one of the world's great historical cultural centers within an few hrs drive of skiing. Of course as Europeans, we love to question American culture as "they are only 250 years old", whilst ourselves largely excluding history before this period. Forgetting to educate both ourselves and our children on how we were busy playing with flint stones as the ancient civilizations flourished.

Skiers are however increasingly seeking something different from their experience; look at the backcountry explosion. It is almost inevitable that that same sense of adventure will draw people to "new locations" like Iran in increasing numbers.

Death of the European Mega Resort, probably not. But anything that helps to convince people that there is more to life than a high speed chair and a pub crawl cannot be a bad thing.