Iran
Information | |
Language: | Persian; recognised regional languages are Azeri, Kurdish, Mazandarani and Gilaki |
Capital: | Tehran |
Population: | 70,472,846 |
Currency: | Iranian rial ( IRR ) |
Hitchability: | ![]() ![]() |
Meet fellow hitchhikers on Trustroots | |
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Iran is a very friendly country, at least for male hitchhikers. Some hitchhikers on their way to India even decide to stay in Iran instead.
Although waiting for a ride can be a frustrating experience sometimes, in general, however, it is relatively easy to hit the way with a thumb in this country. Frustration comes when there is a driver stopping for you every few minutes and suggesting taking you to a bus terminal, and sometimes you may find it hard to explain that you travel at low budget and that you actually WANT to hitchhike. When thumbing in the north of the country, it might occur that people stop just to ask if you need some not related to traveling help. In fact, you don't stand longer than 10 minutes without some car stopping for you. It can be even a police/army vehicle (they are in every corner of Iran): they will pick you up and even stop a car for you and convince a driver to take you further.
In Farsi language (official language in Iran spoken as a first or second language by most citizens) the word "hitchhiking" doesn't exist. The translation of this word found in English-Farsi dictionaries seem to have a confusing effect on locals of Iran since they hear it for the first time in their lives.
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Iran has borders to Iraq, Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Getting in
You can't rely on it completely but if you're not American you can probably get a code through iranianvisa.com that you can use at Iranian embassies. People successfully managed to get Iranian visas in Istanbul and Ankara.
Hitchhiker Alex: "Sadly, I had to fly into Iran. I did not manage to get a visa in Yemen or in the United Arab Emirates beforehand (I stayed 7 days in Muscat until the embassies opened again; they told me at the Embassy of Iran that they can only issue for residents in contrast to what I have been told before). Flying into Iran is an option for people from some privileged countries. Larger airports in Iran can issue a 14 days transit visa on the spot. However, I guess this is not an issue as most people here will travel the other direction and will only start their journey when they have this visa (since this is the only visa Germans can not get at the border)."
Personal experiences
Hitchhiker Alex: "I have only experiences with hitchhiking in Northern Iran, Tehran Airport towards Turkey. However, this was quite easy and I assume that it is the same in the rest of the country. Many people do not know the idea of hitchhiking (you start a conversation with an explanation that you do not want to go to the bus terminal) but they are very helpful and hospitable. Generally, I found it easy to notice if a driver is willing to give a free ride, or he expects money, - noticing this in time, it is easier to reject a ride if it is a latter case. Furthermore, I had some rides from couples and families, too."
Cities
Links
- Just hitching rides: A journey from Eid to Christmas, Abgefahren Blogs