Desert landscape around the highway
The typical circuit around Iran leads from Tehran along a nice highway No.7 (Persian Gulf road) to the southwest direction. The bus will do two hundred and fifty kilometers between Tehran and historical Kashan in three hours. The highway leads through desert countryside tweaked in several places by views of the mountains and volcanic formations. Along the way is also situated interesting salar Hoz-e-Soltan. Roughly halfway to Kashan les the great town of Qom clerics famous by shrine of Fatima.
Area behind Tehran
The first dozen kilometers lead around relatively green countryside. After you pass Khomeini airport, flat desert countryside without anything interesting to see begins. Only attempt for greenery planted along the highway. But it is not worth to sleep, because you will see a couple of interesting sceneries later on.
The area of small ridges
Ten kilometers away is the first interesting place – the area of small rocky ridges and valleys.
The first mountains
At a place called Sari Bolagh the highway crosses not only the original old road, but mainly the first mountain ridge reaching almost 1 900 meters asl. The roads then lead parallel for a long time, so you have a view of the trucks cruising the old road.
At Qom
The bus then bypasses salar Hoz-e-Soltan for a long time before it comes to the border of Qom, where half of the bus passengers usually changes. The bus usually stops only at the edge of the road and doesn´t go to any terminal.
Mountains behind Qom
Behind Qom is relatively fertile and green area that is lined by long ridges with spiky black rocks on the tops.
Table mountains
Some of these mountains look from afar as unconquerable fortresses towering above the flat plain.
Colorful rock formations
The most beautiful part of the journey is along the fabulous colorful rock formations, vaguely reminiscent of Cappadocia. This area (approx. 5×4 km) would be worth at least a half-day trip!
Mountains before Kashan
You will not see the highest mountains till a short way from Kashan. Their barren ridges, however, do not look very kindly for tourism.