The Mad Cross-Iran 5 Day Travel Dash

If, like me, you only get a 7 day transit visa for Iran and ıf, again like me, you find out that the money you budgeted with only lasts for 5 days, there’s no need to dispair. It can be done while still seeing something from the country, mainly Yazd and Esfahan.

DAY 1

After taking the overnight bus from Quetta to the border at Taftan have one last milky chai (from now on it’s only sugar) and then proceed through customs so you,re one of the first in line as soon as the Iranian border opens. On the Iranian side you’ll have to wait for your very own and very useless police bodyguard who’ll (or some of his buddies) escort you all the way to the bus terminal ın Zahedan (100.000 Rial), where you’ll arrive just in time for the 2 o’clock overnighter to Yazd (60.000 Rial). You don’t really seem to have a choice at what time you want to leave.

DAY 2

You will arrive very early, around 4 am, in Yazd, so either get a room (Silk Road Hotel ıs great value for money; 50.000 for a dorm/30.000 for a buffet breakfast) and pay for this night as well or find a cozy spot for like 4 hours and then check in to save yourself one nights accomodation. Then you have the whole day to explore the many sights of Yazd, lıke Alexander’s Prıson and varıous beautıful mosques, and enjoy the vıbrant atmosphere of the old city itself.

DAY 3

On the 3rd day take a bus to Esfahan (4-5 hours, 50.000 Rial) and get yourself a dorm bed at the Amir Kabir Hostel, Esfahan’s only (not so) budget option at 60.000 Rıal a night. Do some emailing and wander around the close-by park around sunset when the colorful lights come on.

DAY 4

Check out at midday, store your bag and explore Esfahan until your bus leaves to Tabrız at 18:30 (115.000 Rial, 15 hours). You can book your tıcket at reception. Book early to make sure you have a spot.

DAY 5

You arrive in Tabriz around 7 am. Then get eıther on a bus, whıch leaves at mıdday, or fork out a bit more for a shared taxi (80.000 Rial) to the border at Bazargan and cross into Turkey.

Altogether I spent exactly 60 EUR ın 5 days ın Iran. I arrived in Turkey with no cash whatsoever and had to hitchhike 40 km to the nearest ATM. It’s probably better to not do it like me and budget maybe 15 EUR a day and have some money left over to change ınto turkish lira. 10 of these get you to saıd ATM.