Middle East - Has anyone been to Iran recently? What is the climate like?

Hey everyone,

Have you been to Iran recently?

What is the climate like and what about the costs?

Thanks.

I was there for 3 weeks in April 2011 traveling independently as a single woman. People were very helpful and friendly. Not much English spoken but enough to get by. My costs were US$65 per day, staying in 2-3 star hotels, traveling by bus between cities and a few day tours/drivers to sites like Persepolis and Pasargardae. Inflation is supposed to be about 25% per year. If you mean weather, rather than political climate, it was pretty hot already in April, up to 38C in the desert, but Iran is a huge country so presumably it will vary quite a bit. I loved Iran and would certainly recommend a visit.

Thank you for the precious info.
It great to know about the political climate as well as the costs.
I think Iran is a lovely country and I like to visit probably in October if I can get the visa.
What else do you recommend beside Persepolis?
(I know it is pretty big country so I have to make a good plan)

Places I went: Tehran, Masouleh, Nowshahr (to see the Caspian), Kashan, Isfahan, Yazd, Shiraz, Kerman. All pretty much on the beaten track and deservedly so. Highlights were Kashan for the market and historical mansions and sidetrip to the Maranjab salt flats, Yazd for its Zoroastrian sites and architecture, Shiraz and its gardens, Kerman with side trips to Mahan and an overnight in the kaluts/desert.

I used the Lonely Planet and Tripadvisor forums for planning the trip as there are a lot more travelers to Iran there. For a guidebook Lonely Planet is pretty accurate for hotel, transportation and sightseeing. Some restaurants are closed and prices are all higher than listed due to inflation.

Iran is an amazing country with friendly people. It is totally different from the distorted image we get from the media. At least the people make it a big difference. I have just returned from a 7 day visit to Iran and I can say the political climate is calm. Of course inflation is very high and the prices are very different from those written on Lonely planet guidebook.
I am mostly interested in people but visiting Isfahan is a must. Read my Iran trip report to find out more about my experience.

i have been in Iran back in february/march 2009 a few months before the massive demonstrations of june.

You can read http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trip-reports/930688-dxb-ifn-esfahan-iran-air-more.html if you want to have a glimpse of this great country.

Go to this great country, Iranians are the most friendly people i've ever met ^

Thanks everyone for sharing your experience. I will check the link on your Iran trip.

@ jadecocoa

that is really helpful. I am making an initial plan based on the places you mentioned. Yeah, lonelyplanet and tripadvisor have active Iran forums and much easier to find answers there.

Just coming back to post link to my blog and photos (http://blog.travelpod.com/travel-blog/hhchua/2/tpod.html) of my Iran trip for anyone interested in a recent report (April 2011).

I spent 2 weeks in Iran in July/August

It was hot. But if you spread out your activities - you did ok in the morning, evening.

I came in overland from Turkmenistan, stopped in Mashad, took train to Esfahan, bus to Yazd, bus to Shiraz, and then bus to Tehran for flight out.

Costs were about $50-$55 a day living well, eating out and staying at typical budget hotels (no dorms)

Also did a trip to stay with the nomads around Shiraz - unforgettable experience, as well as some side trips from Mashad and Yazd.

Everywhere you go, people will be bending over backwards to make you feel welcome and help you out.

The new LP is coming out next year, until then, the old one is accurate for everything but pricing.

US$ are readily exchangeable, and in August going rate was 1.16 khomeinis per $ (11600 rials)