OK, we have to admit that it’s not exactly the same as skiing Colorado this winter or skiing Switzerland this winter. But skiing in Iran does have some distinct advantages. For one thing, it is quite inexpensive. You can say goodbye to pricey lift tickets and hotels. If you go to the ski resort of Dizin in Iran your cost will be around half or less of what it would cost to go to Colorado or Switzerland. And this includes the airfare to get there.
Another advantage of skiing in Iran is that it is easy to combine a ski vacation with a tour of the many historical sites of Iran. In other words, you can spend a few days skiing in the mountains north of Tehran and then travel south of Tehran to visit such World Heritage sites as Isfahan and Shiraz, home of Persepolis. All of that is easy to arrange.
And, if you are after more challenging, off-piste skiing, then we can recommend the near-by ski area of Shemshak, designed for expert skiers.
The largest ski resort, Dizin, is around a 2-hour drive from the Tehran airport. Due to its high altitude, the ski season in Dizin is a long one, from late November until late May.
The base at around 9,000 feet is higher than the summit of many Alpine resorts. Dizin, with its dry climate, boasts some of the best powder skiing in the world. The fact that it faces north also contributes to the high quality of the snow. And the surrounding scenery is fantastic.
The lifts take you to an altitude of almost 12,000 feet above sea level. Dizin has a large variety of ski runs for anyone from beginners to professional skiers, but it should be said that Dizin is geared towards the more experienced skier.The vertical drop is substantial.
You can count on long powder runs and the vertical drop of over 3,000 feet. The snow quality at Dizin is fantastic and rivals that of many European and Rocky Mountain snow areas.
At Dizin you will find a variety of green, blue black diamond and double black diamond runs. If you should opt for ski instruction you’ll find that you can have an instructor for the whole day for not much more than you would pay for an hour of instruction in the U.S. or Europe.
The Dizin Ski Resort is recognized by the International Ski Federation and is home to many international competitions.