Discover one of Iran's best kept secret.
Mesr Village, in the heart of Dasht-e Kavir, Central Desert of Iran is still a well kept secret you should not miss when in Iran. A traditional desert village out of the time, the ancient way of living of the population and its remote location at the desert's doors makes it an off-the-beaten-track destination.
Mesr, in Persian language, means Egypt. What a well-chosen name for a desert village lost among the sand dunes. A population of 120 inhabitants and nearly as many camels, makes of Mesr a tiny village where everybody knows each other. People ended up being all part of the same extended family. Mud-brick houses' doors are hardly locked.
Here tradition is well preserved even though, like everywhere else on this planet, things tend to modernise little by little. Don't be surprised to meet an old farmer riding a donkey on his way to his field, or to furtively see the shape of a woman under her Tchador, pushing a wheelbarrow packed with giant cooking pots, on her way to the public washhouse. In the same time, the young generation is well equipped with the latest smartphones and lives a relatively public life on social media. The incredible mixture of tradition and modernity you can witness all over Iran, appears even more surprising while occurring in such a restricted area like Mesr.
This wind of modernity was undoubtedly initiated by the arrival of the Internet (in 2014) and the development of tourism - local at first, then international. The main asphalt road, linking Mesr to the closest town, Khoor at 55 km, is not older than 10 years and enabled the first intrepid Iranian tourists to reach Mesr. Some photographers and famous film makers, like Reza Mirkarimi ("Kheily Dour, Kheily Nazdik" - 2005), fell in love with Mesr and its inspiring desert.
Today, Mesr fills up with Iranian tourists from all over the country and all social origins on the week-ends and public holidays. When international tourists are mainly attracted by the desert silence and immensity, Iranian visitors enjoy the multiple attractions offered by this giant playground: sensational 4x4 rides, ATV, camel rides, off-road tours and of course, let's say "social gathering"...
Although Mesr became a famous recreational spot among Iranians, like the shores of the Caspian sea are, it remains still little frequented by foreign tourists. And I know that it is what you are looking for, you independent and adventurous traveller! Far from the full-on Iranian way of experiencing the desert, there is much to do to explore the surroundings at their best: walking, cycling, cameling, riding a 4x4 or even sandboarding.
One of Mesr Desert's feature is the incredible diversity of landscapes offered in such a limited area. Sandy, rocky and salty deserts cohabit, surrounded by the majestic mountains of Central Iran mountain chain. Neizar - the Reed, 3km from the village, is a tiny oasis where wild animals like foxes, jackals, hares or colourful birds come to trench their thirst. You can easily hike to Neizar from the village.
Takht-e Aroos - The Bride's Throne, and Takht-e Abbasi - Abbas' Throne, are two highlands offering 360° panorama on the desert stretching for more than 200km north-east. Sunset on Takht-e Aroos, which overlooks the sand dunes fields to the infinite, is a highlight while in Mesr. People often say, there is hardly no other easily-reached place in the world left, where you can feel alone in the world like here.
Another curiosity in Mesr Desert is the Salt River. Don't expect a flooding river, although there is more or less water around the year. But the naturally salted water underground draws the river bed, like a big white trail snaking among the canyons. Breathtaking. The river flows 90km south-east into Dariatcheh Namak, the largest seasonal salt lake in Iranian Plateau, located close to Khoor.
4x4 off-road tours remain the easiest way to discover all these places through a 50ish km loop through the desert. However it is perfectly possible to go for short hikes in the dunes around the village. Another highlight, a sunrise camel ride. A super nice way to admire the desert, the dunes and the mountains changing colour with the rising sun.
Your desert experience would not be totally achieved without a camping night in the sand dunes... Definitely a highlight. You will reach the camp site after a nice off-road journey through the sand dunes, have time to wander around and admire the scenery while you diner is prepared on the fire. Then the Milky Way is all yours. Mesr Desert is a famous place for stargazing, you will easily understand why. Early morning, watch the sunrise and its fifty shades of colours. After a tasty breakfast cooked on the fire, you're ready to head back to the village, either hiking or by 4x4 car. Not to be missed.
You got it, Mesr Desert has plenty to offer. This place has a special something that any blog post and any words could properly describe. This place takes you right into yourself, yup, where it is all soft and emotional. You don't know how, you dont why. But you know it's good.
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