Sistan Baluchestan Tourist Attractions | 30 Places to Visit in Iran

Zahedan Tourist Attractions

Zahedan, the capital of Sistan and Baluchestan Province, is a treasure trove of pristine historical and natural attractions. Key historical landmarks include Ladiz Castle, Abouei House (a Yazdi-style architectural gem), Nosratabad Caravanserai (a Safavid-era trade hub), Haftad Molla Cemetery, Zahedan Khanqah, and Khaneh Shams. Prominent religious sites feature Zaranj Mosque, Yazdis’ Hosseinieh, Feizur Rahman Mosque, Shah Ali Mosque, and Makki Grand Mosque, a symbol of regional unity. Natural highlights encompass Ladiz River, Hamoon Wetland, Ladiz Cave, Musa Mineral Spring, Lucho Mountain, and Mount Taftan, a volcanic peak with panoramic desert vistas. Tourist villages include Ladiz Village and Tamin Village, while shopping centers span Rasouli Market, Shared Market, Historic Covered Bazaar, Hamoon Commercial Complex, Lipar Mall, and Salmazadeh Bazaar. Cultural institutions such as Master Kambouzia Library, Postal and Communication Museum, and Regional Museum of Southeastern Iran showcase the region’s heritage.

Chabahar Tourist Attractions

Chabahar’s natural wonders include Lipar Wetland (a pink-hued lagoon), Martian Mountains (alien-like sedimentary formations), Hara Forest (mangrove ecosystem), Makran Fig Tree, Mud Volcanoes, and Banmasity Caves. For shopping, visit Tis Commercial Complex, Rimdan Border Bazaar, and Chabahar Street Stalls. The city’s coastlines feature Makran Beach, Beris Beach, Rocky Beach, and Tis Coastal Plaza. Historical sites include Chabahar Local Museum, Piruz Gat Fortress, and Gen Cemetery. The Gando Protected Area is Iran’s sole habitat for the endemic Gando Crocodile (Crocodylus palustris), a critically endangered species.

Iranshahr Tourist Attractions

Iranshahr, known for its warm hospitality and pristine, untouched attractions, draws significant tourism during winter. Key landmarks include Naseri Castle (a Qajar-era relic), Bampur Castle (a Sassanian-era marvel), and Espidej Cemetery (a 5,000-year-old prehistoric site). Natural highlights feature Gelafshan Ab-Bad (a rare cold mudflow phenomenon), Bazman Hot Springs, Ketukan Mineral Spring, Tasht Spring, Hudiyan Hot Spring, Bampur River, Damen River, and Jazmourian Lake. The Iranshahr Daily Market serves as a vibrant shopping hub.

Zabol Tourist Attractions

Zabol County, located in Sistan and Baluchestan Province, boasts numerous invaluable historical attractions, including Shahr-e Sukhteh (Burnt City), Kooh-e Khajeh (Khajeh Mount), Zahedan-e Qadim (Ancient Zahedan), Havzdari Windmills, Mochi Windmill, and Jalalabad Fortress. The city of Zabol and its surroundings feature several historic castles, such as Sam Castle, Forty Girls Castle, Rostam Castle, Seh Kooh Castle, and Mochi Castle. Other notable sites include Karkuyeh Fire Temple, Dahaneh-ye Gholaman Hill, Neyatak Forest, and Bibi Dust Shrine, a significant religious pilgrimage site.

Chabahar Martin Mountains | Sistan-Baluchestan Iran Tourist Attractions

Chabahar Martin Mountains, Experience Walking on Mars!

Martin Mountain | Miniature Mountain

Along the Chabahar-Gwatar Road, travelers encounter Miniature Mountains—a surreal landscape dubbed “Martian” for its extraterrestrial resemblance. These natural wonders, once buried under layers of sediment, were unearthed by millennia of erosion and shifting climates, revealing a breathtakingly unique vista.
These 5-million-year-old sedimentary formations were sculpted by wind, water, and tectonic forces, their uniform grooves and gray-white hues evoking Mars’ rugged terrain. Composed of clay, sand, and marine fossils, they stand as a testament to geological artistry.
A 40–50 km drive from Chabahar, these pristine, vegetation-free peaks offer hiking trails, stargazing, and photography opportunities against a backdrop of desert and coastline. Visit spring, autumn, or winter to avoid summer heat and immerse in their otherworldly beauty.

Chabahar Harra Jungle

Chabahar Mangrove Forest

Located in Gwatar Bay, where the Bahokalat River merges with the Oman Sea, Chabahar’s mangrove forests are a natural wonder of southeastern Iran. Dominated by the resilient Avicennia marina species, these ecosystems thrive in intertidal zones and are locally cherished as “Hara” forests. Globally recognized for their ecological significance, they adapt to saline conditions through specialized aerial roots that filter salt and stabilize sediments.
Mangroves form a dynamic intertidal ecosystem, oscillating between submerged and exposed states with the tides. Their unique roots create nutrient-rich habitats for marine life, supporting over 80% of the Persian Gulf’s marine species. Beyond their ecological role, these forests are a cultural treasure, blending desert wildlife with coastal biodiversity. The sweet fragrance of their golden flowers and almond-shaped fruits attracts wild bees, which produce prized honey in spring.

Chabahar Mangrove Forest

Chabahar Harra Jungle

Accessible via boat tours, the forests offer surreal landscapes of floating trunks during high tide and exposed roots at low tide. While pollution threatens some areas, they remain a sanctuary for flamingos, eagles, and dolphins. For an immersive experience, camel rides through the mangroves provide a unique perspective on this desert-meets-coastal ecosystem.
The mangroves’ aerial roots and tiny golden flowers (barely visible but intensely fragrant) highlight their botanical marvels. However, these ecosystems face challenges like pollution, overfishing, and climate change, which disrupt habitats and threaten species. Despite these pressures, rising temperatures may paradoxically expand mangrove ranges in higher latitudes, as observed in Hormozgan Province.
The best time to visit spans late autumn to late April, when mild weather and peak bird migrations align. To protect these forests, initiatives focus on reducing pollution, restoring degraded areas, and raising awareness about their ecological and economic value. Chabahar’s mangroves remain a testament to nature’s resilience, blending scientific fascination with cultural charm in a region often overlooked by travelers.

Chabahar Lipar Lagoon

Located in Sistan and Baluchestan Province, this striking wetland is one of only four globally recognized pink lagoons. Situated 20 km east of Chabahar along the coastal road to Gwatar, it lies in a rocky gorge near the Oman Sea. The water’s distinctive hue arises from phytoplankton blooms (90% of the wetland’s composition) and organic/mineral-rich inflows from rivers and estuaries. Monsoon-driven marine currents amplify plankton growth, peaking in December.
The wetland thrives with flamingos, pelicans, Tawny eagles, Dashti Eagles, and migratory birds like coots and herons. Surrounding flora includes tamarisk, acacia, reeds, mangroves, oak, and nettle species, creating a picturesque landscape. Adjacent lies Dashtar, a lush area dubbed the “Bride” in Balochi, reflecting its verdant beauty. Locals harvest wild cotton to craft mattresses and pillows, while camels are stationed nearby for rides.

Chabahar Pink Lagoon

Access the wetland via the Chabahar-Gwatar coastal road (18 km from Ramin village), though swampy terrain requires parking at a distance and walking to the lagoon. A daily market offers sea salt, traditional jewelry, seashells, and henna body art by Baluchi artisans. The best time to visit is midwinter to early spring (February–April) for optimal water levels and birdwatching. This blend of natural spectacle and cultural immersion makes Lipar Wetland a standout destination in southeastern Iran.

Chabahar Makran Coasts

Makran, a historical term for the Balochistan region, stretches along the Makran Coast from Ras Al-Kuh west of Jask, Iran, to Las Bela near Karachi, Pakistan. Its Oman Sea coastline, part of Sistan-Baluchestan Province, features tourist attractions like the Chabahar-Gwatar coastal highway, often likened to Australia’s Great Ocean Road for its dramatic scenery. Chabahar, Iran’s sole oceanic port, anchors this region.
Key attractions include Chabahar’s Martian Mountains, Lipar Wetland, Ban Misti Caves, Jinn Cemetery of Tis, Bris Beach, Bandar Tang’s bioluminescent shores, and Bandar Tang’s mud volcanoes.
The sunrise over the Zagros Mountains and golden sunsets over the ocean create enchanted vistas, while the desert-sea fusion adds unique allure. Winter is ideal for visiting, offering mild weather.

Chabahar Jinn Cemetery

Chabahar’s Jinn Cemetery, a mysterious burial ground, features massive, anomalous tombstones adorned with intriguing carvings that rank among Chabahar’s most enigmatic wonders.

Tiss Great Mosque

Jameh Mosque of Tis, a Sunni mosque in Chabahar, features a single minaret and domes adorned in green and red hues.

Chabahar Traditional Bazar

Among Chabahar’s leisure activities, such as camel riding on the beach and fishing, exploring Chabahar’s markets and interacting with warm-hearted locals stand out. The traditional Chabahar Market (Dakkeh Bazaar) is a vibrant hub filled with colorful stalls and vendors, where friendly merchants and hospitable traders showcase the region’s cultural charm. Visitors can purchase beautiful handicrafts, spices, and medicinal herbs, sample local cuisine, and immerse in the community’s hospitality.

Gwater Bay

Gwadar Bay (also called Gwadar Port), a small, historic inlet along the Makran Coast in the Oman Sea, is a prime attraction in Chabahar. Situated at Iran’s southeasternmost coastal point, it shares a border with Pakistan. Locals here engage in traditional crafts: girls sell handmade bracelets and embroidered accessories, while boys trade fish, shark fins, pearls, and seashells. The region’s cuisine includes spicy biryani and karahi, prepared with Pakistani and Indian spices. Swimming is prohibited due to maritime security concerns, but cautious boat tours are permitted, provided they avoid crossing into Pakistan’s territorial waters.

Chabahar Portuguese Castle

In Tis Village, a key Achaemenid-era port, the Portuguese Castle (Tis Castle) stands atop a hill overlooking the village and the Gulf. Constructed during the Safavid era under Shah Suleiman Safavi, this fortress—resembling Shah Abbasi caravanserais—served as a 10th-century Hijri (16th-century CE) stronghold for Portuguese influence in Iran and Persian Gulf nations. Colonial forces utilized the castle to counter local uprisings, though its origins trace back to earlier Sassanid foundations.

Chabahar Tis Beach Resort

Tis Beach Resort

At Tis Beach, visitors enjoy amenities such as snack bars, supermarkets, showers, traditional gazebos, water slides, and inflatable pools, ensuring comfort and entertainment for travelers.

Konarak Late Bazar

In Bandar Konarak, a historic coastal marketplace known locally as "Lateh Bazaar" serves as a key attraction. This bustling hub features shops lining both sides of the street, offering outdoor gear such as skiing equipment, hiking gear, sports supplies, blankets, and fabrics at affordable prices, available in new and secondhand conditions.

Gel-Afshan Volcano

Near Bandar Konarak in Bandar Tang Village, Sistan-Baluchestan Province, lies one of Iran’s most striking natural wonders: mud volcanoes (locally called "gelafshan" means "mud emmission"). These non-eruptive geological formations mimic volcanic activity but emit cool, dense gray mud instead of molten lava. The mud, driven by underground pressure, erupts in rhythmic bursts—every 10–15 minutes—accompanied by gunshot-like sounds and ground tremors.
Locally termed "naf-e darya" (navel of the sea) or "bulubulu", these formations are prized for their therapeutic properties, with mud used to treat joint and spinal disorders (some varieties exported for medicinal use). The dense clay is also utilized in pottery, ceramics, and brick-making. Part of a broader network of mud volcanoes along the Oman Sea coast, their activity stems from tectonic forces and the subduction of oceanic crust, reflecting the region’s complex geology

Konarak Darak Beaches

In Zarabad County, Konarak, boasts Iran’s most pristine, untouched, and picturesque coastline, featuring ancient mangrove forests and the historic Galk Estuary. Darak Beach in Konarak County is Iran’s sole location where the desert and sea converge, creating a rare landscape where arid dunes meet the ocean. Here, the desert’s extreme aridity—marked by scarce rainfall—blends with the sea, forming a unique ecological boundary.

Kalporgan Pottery Museum | Sistan Baluchistan Iran Tourist Attractions

Kalporegan Pottery Museum

The Kalpurkan Living Pottery Museum is the world’s sole living pottery museum, boasting a 7,000-year-old heritage. Its ceramics are crafted entirely by hand—without pottery wheels—by Baloch women in Kalpurkan Village, Saravan County, Sistan-Baluchestan Province. Registered as a national heritage site in Iran in 2002 and recognized by UNESCO, this museum operates within a historic domed structure that also serves as a sales venue for its artifacts.

Post Office Museum

The Zahedan Postal Museum, a key tourist attraction in Zahedan, features artifacts such as ancient seals from Shahr-e Sukhteh, a dovecote replica, a postal worker statue, vintage stamps (pre- and post-revolution), and antique telephones. Visitors can also explore an audiovisual hall equipped with sound and visual systems to learn about their historical context. The museum building itself is a Pahlavi-era relic, originally constructed for postal and telegraph administration purposes.

Zahedan Grand Makki Mosque

Zahedan Makki Mosque

The Makki Mosque of Zahedan, one of the world’s largest Hanafi mosques and Iran’s most prominent Sunni mosque, attracts numerous tourists annually. Founded in 1971 by Abdul Aziz Malazada, a leading Sunni figure in Iran, its architecture blends Iranian and Ottoman influences. The mosque hosts annual religious conferences, drawing scholars from Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and etc, including prominent Deobandi speakers like the president of Karachi’s Darul Uloom.
Exterior Design: Inspired by Ottoman-era mosques and Istanbul’s Sultan Ahmed Mosque, its white façade, four minarets (92 meters tall), and 52 domes evoke grandeur.
Interior Features: Strategically placed windows and skylights illuminate the space, creating a serene ambiance reminiscent of Medina’s Mosque of the Prophet Mohammad. Decorations such as plasterwork, vaulted ceilings, and mihrabs, reflect Iranian artistic traditions, attracting domestic and international visitors.

Tafan Mountain

Mount Taftan, Iran’s only active volcano, is located in Sistan and Baluchestan Province and ranks among Iran’s tallest peaks. The Taftan mountain range features four summits and three volcanic craters. It forms part of a volcanic zone extending into northern Pakistan, linked to the dormant Sultan Kuh volcano. The volcanic peak is named Chehel Tan (“Forty Bodies”). Volcanic sulfur dust emanates from this summit, situated 100 km from Zahedan, nearly year-round. Locals believe the name derives from the disappearance of 40 religious riders at the main peak. A notable feature is the presence of three picturesque lakes at higher elevations, making it a popular destination for hikers.

Ladiz Cave & Waterfall

Ladiz Cave, nestled in a desert landscape near Mount Taftan (Iran’s fourth-highest peak), is a natural marvel distinguished by its acoustic resonance of dripping water and cool, inviting air. A brief walk reveals a seasonal waterfall bursting from rocky cliffs, though its year-round vitality depends on regional rainfall. Adjacent to the cave lies Ladiz Village, renowned for traditional crafts like needlework and handwoven rugs.

Hamoon Complex

Hamoon Konar Recreational Complex, situated within Mellat Forest Park, offers family-friendly amenities including a restaurant, traditional teahouse, event hall, and buffet. The facility includes child-focused play areas and a popular zoo, enhancing its appeal as a leisure destination.

Zabol Burnt City

Shahr-e Sukhteh, located 56–60 km south of Zabol in Sistan and Baluchestan Province, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site (2014) renowned for its Bronze Age civilization (c. 3200–2300 BCE). While its cultural achievements are notable, comparisons to Crete remain speculative. The site exemplifies one of the earliest complex urban societies in eastern Iran, spanning 151–280 hectares (sources vary), with distinct zones: residential areas, industrial sectors (located outside the city), ceremonial spaces, and a vast cemetery containing 25,000–40,000 graves.
The city’s layout reflects advanced planning, with stepped houses, kilns, furnaces, and evidence of a burnt palace. Its strategic placement on the Helmand River’s fertile alluvium supported agriculture, though climate shifts and water-course diversions led to its abandonment by c. 2300 BCE (revised from earlier estimates of 1800 BCE).

Shahr-e Sukhteh

Technological and Cultural Innovations

Medical Advances: A 4,800-year-old skull with surgical marks and the world’s oldest artificial eyeball (hemispherical, ~2.5 cm diameter, dated to 2900–2800 BCE).
Art and Entertainment: The oldest known backgammon, dice, and an earthen goblet depicting a proto-animation of a goat climbing a bush.
Craftsmanship: Evidence of marquetry, ceramics, stone vessels, and a unique fabric not found elsewhere in Iran.
Trade Network: Artifacts mirror styles from Mesopotamia, the Indus Valley, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, and Balochistan.

Zabol Khajeh Mountain | Sistan-Baluchestan Iran Tourist Attractions

Zabol Mount Khajeh

Mount Khwaja, a historical site in Zabol, holds sacred significance for three major religions: Islam, Christianity, and Zoroastrianism. The area surrounding the mountain features a diverse array of historical artifacts from the Parthian and Sassanian periods, along with remnants of Islamic sites and a Buddhist temple. It is believed that the tomb of Rostam Dastan is situated atop this mountain. The region's fame as Mount Khwaja is attributed to Khwaja Mahdi, a follower of the Ahl al-Bayt. In the Avesta, this area is referred to as Oshida, meaning the place of intellect and wisdom. Notable historical sites in the region include Kaferun Castle, Kekhazad Castle, Forty Girls Castle, the tomb of Khwaja Gholtan, the Pir Gandom Beryan building, and the House of Satan. Locals believe that inserting one's hand into a hole at the graves with a specific intention will yield something in accordance with that intention.

Zabol Mochi Castle

Mochi Castle is situated 60 kilometers southwest of Zabol city, nestled between Shahr-e Sukhteh and Tasuki. It served as the headquarters and palace for the Ra'isi family, who ruled over southern Sistan. Constructed from mud and clay, the castle and its adjacent structures belong to the Safavid era. The name 'Mochi' originates from the local term for palm tree, reflecting the abundance of palm groves in the area.

Forty-Girls Castle

The Forty Girls Castle, a notable attraction in Zabol, originates from the Sassanian era. Situated in the Shib Ab section of Kuh-e Khwaja village, this castle boasts captivating architecture. The name 'Forty Girls' stems from a captivating legend that has been orally transmitted for centuries. According to local lore, forty virgin girls once resided here, their joyful laughter resonating throughout the site. The castle is constructed on a stone platform and is also referred to as the Zoroastrian temple.

Iran and England Bank

Zabol Bank of Iran and England

The Iran-England Bank, spanning over 3,000 square meters, is a notable attraction in Zabol, dating back to the late Qajar era. This historic site is a testament to colonial heritage, functioning as an open museum that offers a unique opportunity to explore colonial commercial and political activities in northern Sistan and Baluchestan. The Iran-England Bank was officially listed as a national heritage site in 2005.

Ancient city with urban planning

Zabol Dahaneh-ye-Qolaman

A magnificent city, hidden beneath a sandy hill, reveals the presence of a sophisticated civilization that thrived in this region during the illustrious Achaemenid era. The city, whose structures were entirely constructed from mud and clay with meticulous urban planning and architectural principles, is uniquely notable as the only ancient Achaemenid city where engineers of the time first designed the city map before commencing construction. Dehaneh Gholaman boasts large public edifices, a temple, residential quarters, thoroughfares, waterways, military, and industrial sectors. One of the most significant remaining structures in this city is a grand shrine that served as the site for religious ceremonies for the city's inhabitants. In Achaemenid inscriptions, such as those found at Bisotun, Persepolis, and Naqsh-e Rustam, this city is referred to by the name "Zaruk" or "Zarnakai". This site, known as the "Ruins of the Old Capital of Sistan", is situated in Zehak County, near Qaleh Now village, and is a prominent tourist attraction in Zabol. Another distinctive feature of Dehaneh Gholaman is the absence of towers and defensive walls, which underscores the lack of fortifications, defensive walls, towers, and gates. This can be interpreted as a testament to the economic stability and political prosperity of the Achaemenids in Iran, where such defensive structures were deemed unnecessary.