INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
clear turquoise waters.Qeshm is fringed with biologically diverse mangrove forests, attractive beaches, and 60 Bandari villages
Its blistering interior features geologically significant canyons, hills, caves, and valleys, most of which are protected as part of the
gleaming skyscrapers, it remains refreshingly attached to the age-old Bandari way of life
Here, locals wear traditional dress, live in houses cooled by badgirs (wind towers), and work in boat-building yards turning out Lenges, the
large wooden cargo boats that have crisscrossed the Persian Gulf for centuries.The sun-scorched island is delightful
It is home to an abundance of wildlife, including birds, reptiles, dolphins, and turtles.There are so many more reasons to vacation there
Here are the destinations for off-the-beach adventures.LaftSituated on the northern coast of Qeshm Island, the fishing village of Laft is a
top place to encounter the fast-disappearing culture of the Persian Gulf.Perched on a rocky slope overlooking the Khoran Strait, Laft has a
wonderfully photogenic roofscape of badgirs (wind towers) and minarets
Views are best from the hill near the ruins of the Portuguese-built Naderi Fort
These traditional cargo boats are still used to carry goods back and forth across the gulf
Laft is also the place to go for a boat trip into the nearby Harra Sea Forest.Lenj vessels are traditionally hand-built and are used by
inhabitants of the northern coast of the Persian Gulf for sea journeys, trading, fishing, and pearl diving
The traditional knowledge surrounding Lenjs includes oral literature, performing arts, and festivals, in addition to the sailing and
navigation techniques and terminology, weather forecasting that is closely associated with sailing, and the skills of wooden boat-building
seemingly carved into the earth by a master builder
The exposed rock and lack of plant life are quite startling and invoke a quiet sense of awe
narrow vertical canyons and drink from a Chah (well) that has been used by shepherds for centuries.Hengam IslandThis lovely island off the
southern coast of Qeshm is surrounded by impressive soft-coral reefs that offer great diving.Hengam is also known for its wildlife,
including birds, gazelles, and dolphins
The beaches are pristine, but only men are allowed to swim
The small fishing village overlooking the main beach features a row of simple eateries selling seafood
Get there by boat from the village of Shibderaz.CanyonOne of the most spectacular natural sites on Qeshm Island, the Valley of Stars
features a series of majestic gorges and canyons that were formed over centuries by erosion
Many Iranians come here to shop in one of the numerous duty-free malls dotted around the center.The main attractions include the crumbling
Park, a patch of greenery that overlooks a large beach.Harra sea forestIn the local dialect, Harra is the word for grey mangrove, and this
migrating birds can be found here, including the great egret and the western reef heron
The finless porpoise, humpback dolphin, common dolphin, and the endangered green turtle are also regularly spotted
Boat tours are easily organized from Tabl or Laft.ShibderazThe picturesque village of Shibderaz enjoys a long beach where hawksbill and
able to watch the action at night (from a distance, of course)
The village is also the obvious base for those who want to visit nearby Hengam Island or take a dolphin-watching excursion.Naz BeachThis
3km-long golden strand caressed by clear, shallow, and mostly calm water is easily the most popular beach on Qeshm Island
There are no amenities, but you can enjoy paramotoring and camel riding along the beach
drag is at its most active in the morning
It includes a fruit and vegetable area and a fish market.Ancient Iranian bazaars are traditionally roofed for protection against the hot
desert sun, either with a single roof, with individual vaulted cupolas or domes, or with awnings.Browsing through a traditional bazaar may
provide new experiences and fresh points of view on the ancient land
some traditional bakeries known only by locals and shopkeepers.Khorbas CavesOn the southeast corner of the island, one may find an array of
almost vertical limestone cliffs pockmarked with caves
The stronghold was built upon the orders of Portuguese commander Alfonso de Albuquerque when his forces seized the islands in the early
sixteenth century.The Portuguese also left other military structures on the Iranian islands of Hormuz and Larak and in the port of Kong as
legacies of their colonialism in the Persian Gulf.UNESCO-registered geoparkThe UNESCO-registered Geopark embraces some remarkable wildlife
and geological phenomena including Namakdan Cave which is one of the longest salt caves in the world.Chahkooh ValleyAs part of the Qeshm
Island Geopark, Chahkooh Valley, literally meaning a mountain of wells, shows the erosion of sedimentary rocks and has a depth of 100
meters.Chahkooh Valley is famed for its three or four wells in its heart, which have been dug since ancient times by the inhabitants of the
The valley is part of those areas, which have been once underneath the water, and when pulled up, it has been heavily eroded by sea waves
erosion caused by the wind, rain, and showers, making the valley a rare natural masterpiece on Qeshm Island.According to local legend, a
star fell from the sky and hit the ground right in the heart, forming a huge, mysterious, and strange valley that we now know as Stars
