In French but is worth a view even if you don’t speak French (I don’t). Shows some French skiers and snowboarders coming to Tehran and checking out the piste in both Dizin and Shemshak.
Quick Facts, Ski Resort Specifications
Targeted Activities: Skiing, Snowboarding, Grass Ski
Season Availability: November to May
Height variation 2650m to 3600m
One of the highest ski lifts in the world, lift reaches 3,600 m (11,800 ft),
One of the 40 highest ski resorts in the world.
Resort Altitude : 2700m
Top elevation, Highest Lift : 3600m
Base elevation, Lowest Piste : 2650m
Vertical drop Max 850m
Skiable area: 470 ha
Runs: 23
Night skiing: No
Lift system:
3 gondola, telecabins,
12 chairlifts , Ski Lifts
1 hammer teleski,
7 dish teleskis, drag lifts,
2 skilifts, chair lifts
Snow depths average 2m at bottom to 6m at the top
Established in 1969
Got a tip about TipsFilms, a great travel site with videos from destinations and hotels around the world. Check out their video from Dizin and Dizin Hotel. Also featuring Hoffenberg, the non-alcoholic after-ski alternative.
Need to improve your skills? Or would you rather enjoy the great powder snow instead of teaching your kids not to fall when going down the hill? There are ski instructors available for hire in Dizin. Either as private tutors or as part of a group lesson.
Unfortunately I cannot give you any prices as my reply to a guy in the pro-shop who asked whether I would need a ski instructors was: “I am from Norway”. He laughed away with his Iranian friends quoting what I just said. We have a saying here in Norway that says that Norwegians are born with the skies on their legs. It is also here that both the first indication of skiing as well as modern skiing was invented (in fact not far from where my grandma lives here in Telemark).
For guided off-piste skiing or snowboarding contact Mosayeb Seyd Poor (+98 912-3132773) who grew up in Dizin and has competed internationally as a professional snowboarder. He charges 100 EUR for a day.
I spent all together about 3-4 weeks in Tehran and got to know the city quite well. But what I did not learn by myself I learned from Mr. Mousavi at Firouzeh Hotel. He showed me how to get from Imam Khomeini Square to Tarjish Square for 7 000 rials (roughly nothing) with shared taxi (savarri) compared to the normal 50 000 or so rials (5 USD) with a private taxi. He arranged a taxi for me and my friend Lachlyn from Tehran to Dizin. And did everything he could to assist my two friends Line and Birte who drove a van from Norway to India and came to Iran not knowing they needed a ration card to get petrol.
If you are a backpacker Hotel Firouzeh is a decent place to stay if you want a private room (no dorms) and the great thing except for the help of Mr. Mousavi is the other travelers you will meet there. But even if you decide to stay somewhere else Mr. Mousavi can help you with information about Tehran or arrange transport to Dizin.
Decided on going to Dizin? Great. While the snow there is fantastic I am sure you want to experience more than just going down a mountain. Here is my list of places to see in Iran:
My first suggestion definitevely has to be Yazd. It is the oldest city in the world that is still inhabitated. Walking through the narrow streets between old mud houses is like stepping back two thousands years in time. Some of these houses hide beautiful gardens with pools and rooms enough for a king behind their tall walls. In addition there are some fantastic mosques here.
A beautiful hill-side village where the houses are built so close together in the steep hill that the house-roofs are used as roads. A popular getaway for Tehranians who wants to escape the heat and enjoy a hike in the mountain. Rent a room from one of the villagers and enjoy a kebab in the small bazaar. Also visit nearby Qaleh-Rudkhan, an old hill-top fort.
If you have limited time then a trip to Kashan is the best choice. Only a couple of hours south of Tehran you can see beatiuful old buildings and a great active bazaar. A perfect place to see a real Iranian small city, you will not find many tourists here and the bazaar is operated the same way it always has. Nearby you will also find Fin Garden. For a day-trip from here visit a small mountain village called Abyaneh famous for beautiful red mud houses and women with colorful scarfs. On the way back to Tehran stop in Qom, the religious center of Iran where you will find conservative muslims.
Holds perhaps one of the beautiful man made places in the world: Naqsh-e Jahan Square (after the revolution officially known as Imam Khomeini Square). Also take a stroll over one of the bridges and a stop for a relaxing chai while chatting with the locals.
Been to Iran? What are your favorite places? Leave a comment.
My name is Espen Antonsen. I am a snowboarder from Norway who traveled to Iran and fell in love with the fantastic powder snow and mountains in Dizin, Iran. Here you will find more information about Dizin; available accommodation, transport from Tehran, ski rentals, the piste – and more.