Cycling In Iran - Yazd To Shiraz - Route Description

Cycling in Iran – Yazd to Shiraz (450km)

km 0

Yazd (1200m) Go straight down Shahid Raja'i (there are signs for Shiraz)

6

At this point you go past a large left turn that you can't get to, so go round the next roundabout and come back 200m to get on this road. This is the Shiraz road

10 23-30

Go under the main North South Highway (signposted Nain) Taft Village, lots of shops. At about 25km on the other side of the river to your right there is a small bakery.

36

Village with shops

38

Eagle rock and Restaurant near it with good cheap food

49

Petrol station and shops

59-61

Aliabad village off the main road, shops

63

Road steepens. Many places to camp in small groups of trees on the way up.

71

Top of Pass (2580) with good place to camp 100m after pass, up side track to right.

93-94

Dehshir Village, Cafes and shops (1810)

102

Police Stop and shops. Don't get the water from the tap, ask in the shop or small village or at the police post. The road is now flattish for a long time.

144

Small village

147

Shamsabad village with shops

152-160 Abarkuh town (1495m) goes on for ever, loads of shops, restaurants etc. 158

Ice making towers to left

182

Cafe

183

Small town with shops

203

Junction with big main road – Surmagh (1870m). Turn right

205

Farm belonging to Sasan Izadi – renowned Iranian tourist catcher – blue gate on large farm compound to left with 'Welcome' written next to door. About 500m before his land there is also a hotel which you can stay at for about $10 a night. From here the road climbs gradually up a wide valley with mountains to left.

215-225 Camping possible behind rocky outcrops, road then heads across valley and starts to climb more steeply. 247

Top of pass (2510m) Shop on top of pass and Police post.

264

Sahfr-Shah Town to left, shops and restaurants

288

Lowest point (2070m) before another climb

293

Another high point (2265m)

321

Turn off to Pasargardae (signposted 4km)

325

Saadat Shah rest area, restaurants and shops (1810m)

328

Turn off left for old road if you want a quieter time. We didn't and the main road now enters a gorge. It often follows the side of the new Yazd to Shiraz railway line and there may be camping opportunities behind it.

334

Saadat Shahr off to left (1810m)

342

Cafe

343

Beautiful river to right – there has to be camping

350

Village (1765m)

351

Small shop (Persepolis sign 40)

365

Cafe and Shops

370-72 Camping possible up side valley 373

Restaurants/Cafes

383

Mavdasht turn left. Persepolis is actually to your left across the field about 2km away but you will have to cycle 6km and then come back 3km up another road. If you can see a short cut through the fields take it. We didn't realise where Persepolis was.

389

Turn left at roundabout for Persepolis

393

Persepolis- You can camp at the main gate on the right. Just ask the security guards and camp in the trees in the area where the Shah held his famous party. There are toilets and good water and a shop not far away selling icecreams, crisps and drinks.

396

Back at the roundabout. This time go straight on into Mavdasht

396-406 Mavdasht. At about 399km there is a row of cafes opposite the university serving good cheap food (especially breakfasts) Follow signs for Shiraz, the road turns a bit but is easy to follow. 407

Rejoin main road

418

Zarqan Town to right..road starts to climb

425

Cafe on right, good food

431

Top of pass (1890m)

433

New low point (1800m) Road climbs again

435

Top of pass (1890m) From here it's all downhill to Shiraz

446

Finally you reach the edge of Shiraz as the road emerges through a break in the cliffs and enters a gorge. This is the junction shown on the Lonely Planet map (1620m)

450

Shiraz Centre (1540m) You will have discovered by now that Shiraz is a hilly town.

General Description of route Look at the profile for a real idea of the route. There are a few long climbs and descents and even the 'rolling hills' can be a bit of a drag. The first day out of Yazd has 71km completely uphill and with a strong headwind could be hell. Water You don't need to carry much water apart from the section between Surmagh and Sahfr Shah Wind The wind can be a real problem although if you travel the opposite way from Shiraz to Yazd you will have it behind you a lot. For us the wind was hell! We were blown off our bikes several times by terrible gusty winds and struggled to pedal down the steep hill to Sahfr Shah at more than 6km/hr. Be prepared for the worst and hitch-bike if it becomes really bad. Heat Heat can be a problem although this route has quite a lot of shelter and villages so there are many opportunities for escape and cold drinks. For women wearing a head covering it can easily get too hot. For men in shorts and a T-shirt it is much easier. Camping Once in the mountains, camping is easy, in the more inhabited areas you will struggle. You may have to ask someone if you can camp on their land. You can also stay at Sasan Azidi's farm near Surmagh or at a hotel near Surmagh. There are also hotels in Taft. Time We took 5 days. With the wind in your favour it would be much easier. A day where you could easily do 150km with the wind can also be one where you struggle to do 50km into the wind. Be careful and always carry spare water and food. If you decide to take the smaller old road then it is about 40km further although the highway is very good for cycling with a large hard shoulder and reasonably polite traffic.

© Simon Taylor 2009

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