Iran

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Flag of Iran Iran
Information
Language: Persian; recognised regional languages are Azeri, Kurdish, Mazandarani and Gilaki
Capital: Tehran
Population: 70,472,846
Currency: Iranian rial ( IRR )
Hitchability: Good.png (good) to Verygood.png (very good)
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<map lat='32.10118973232094' lng='57.12890625' zoom='5' view='0' float='right' />

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.

Hitchhiker Fran waiting for a ride in Iran.

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. Some hitchhikers received their visa in Trabzon without the expensive code the same day they applied for it.

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. With the first drivers who gave me a lift I couldn't really communicate as we didn't have a language in common (most people I met spoke Farsi only) -- just hand, feet and PointIt. However, at a later stage many lifts I've got have been from people that spoke to some extend English. It is beneficial when you can read Arabic writing as Farsi uses an extended version of it even though many road signs are in Farsi and English. Many people say you are expected to pay drivers in Iran. Generally, I personally 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. PS: As with in Turkey it is wise to have you own mug along as you are offered tea all the time."

Cities

Hitchhiker Alex in Iran

Links


wikipedia:Iran