International Header

NOT ONLY MOUNTAINS: BIKEPACKING IRANIAN KURDISTAN

Photographer Ana Zamorano spent a month pedaling through Iranian Kurdistan, getting to know its lush landscapes and warm locals.

NOT ONLY MOUNTAINS: BIKEPACKING IRANIAN KURDISTAN

Last updated:
September 16, 2021
|  5 min read
Ana Zamorano Ruiz stands next to bike with bikepacking gear and other community members

NOT ONLY MOUNTAINS: BIKEPACKING IRANIAN KURDISTAN

NOT ONLY MOUNTAINS: BIKEPACKING IRANIAN KURDISTAN

YouTube video highlight

Photographer Ana Zamorano spent a month pedaling through Iranian Kurdistan, getting to know its lush landscapes and warm locals.

Read more about the project

NOT ONLY MOUNTAINS: BIKEPACKING IRANIAN KURDISTAN

Thumbnail Slider Image
No items found.

NOT ONLY MOUNTAINS: BIKEPACKING IRANIAN KURDISTAN

Photographer Ana Zamorano spent a month pedaling through Iranian Kurdistan, getting to know its lush landscapes and warm locals. Along the way, she documented the places and people she encountered in this unique and infrequently visited region. Find her report here, paired with a beautiful set of photos…

I’d been eager to experience Iran for many years, but it wasn’t until I was cycling through South America that the idea finally began to take form. Whilst enjoying some days off in Sucre, Bolivia, I met my first Iranians, who fuelled my desire to visit their country. After finishing my trip in the Americas, I flew straight to Teheran to begin my Iranian adventure.

I spent my first days in the capital where I had the opportunity to discover and attempt to understand a completely new country. Since everything changed drastically coming from America, it took me more than a week to feel ready to hit the road, or, the off road, as was the case. As a solo woman in a country where the tough laws not only require women to wear a hijab but forbid them from cycling, I was initially afraid. I left Teheran asking myself if I’d made the right decision.

From there, I started the typical route to the southern part of the country. I visited places like Shiraz, Isfahan, and Yazd. They were beautiful, but the people I met were undoubtedly the highlight. Out of all my travels, Iranians were generally the kindest and most wonderful people I’ve ever met, and even they described the Kurdish as the warmest of them all.

Read the full article from Ana Zamorano on Bikepacking.com's website here.

NOT ONLY MOUNTAINS: BIKEPACKING IRANIAN KURDISTAN

NOT ONLY MOUNTAINS: BIKEPACKING IRANIAN KURDISTAN

Photographer Ana Zamorano spent a month pedaling through Iranian Kurdistan, getting to know its lush landscapes and warm locals. Along the way, she documented the places and people she encountered in this unique and infrequently visited region. Find her report here, paired with a beautiful set of photos…

I’d been eager to experience Iran for many years, but it wasn’t until I was cycling through South America that the idea finally began to take form. Whilst enjoying some days off in Sucre, Bolivia, I met my first Iranians, who fuelled my desire to visit their country. After finishing my trip in the Americas, I flew straight to Teheran to begin my Iranian adventure.

I spent my first days in the capital where I had the opportunity to discover and attempt to understand a completely new country. Since everything changed drastically coming from America, it took me more than a week to feel ready to hit the road, or, the off road, as was the case. As a solo woman in a country where the tough laws not only require women to wear a hijab but forbid them from cycling, I was initially afraid. I left Teheran asking myself if I’d made the right decision.

From there, I started the typical route to the southern part of the country. I visited places like Shiraz, Isfahan, and Yazd. They were beautiful, but the people I met were undoubtedly the highlight. Out of all my travels, Iranians were generally the kindest and most wonderful people I’ve ever met, and even they described the Kurdish as the warmest of them all.

Read the full article from Ana Zamorano on Bikepacking.com's website here.

Photo thumbnail Blog Author
Media Mentions from Bikepacking.com
Bikepacking
Founded in 2012, BIKEPACKING.com is the leading resource for bikepacking routes, in-depth gear reviews, inspiration, planning insight, adventure stories, news, and events.
Media Mentions

NOT ONLY MOUNTAINS: BIKEPACKING IRANIAN KURDISTAN

NOT ONLY MOUNTAINS: BIKEPACKING IRANIAN KURDISTAN

Photographer Ana Zamorano spent a month pedaling through Iranian Kurdistan, getting to know its lush landscapes and warm locals. Along the way, she documented the places and people she encountered in this unique and infrequently visited region. Find her report here, paired with a beautiful set of photos…

I’d been eager to experience Iran for many years, but it wasn’t until I was cycling through South America that the idea finally began to take form. Whilst enjoying some days off in Sucre, Bolivia, I met my first Iranians, who fuelled my desire to visit their country. After finishing my trip in the Americas, I flew straight to Teheran to begin my Iranian adventure.

I spent my first days in the capital where I had the opportunity to discover and attempt to understand a completely new country. Since everything changed drastically coming from America, it took me more than a week to feel ready to hit the road, or, the off road, as was the case. As a solo woman in a country where the tough laws not only require women to wear a hijab but forbid them from cycling, I was initially afraid. I left Teheran asking myself if I’d made the right decision.

From there, I started the typical route to the southern part of the country. I visited places like Shiraz, Isfahan, and Yazd. They were beautiful, but the people I met were undoubtedly the highlight. Out of all my travels, Iranians were generally the kindest and most wonderful people I’ve ever met, and even they described the Kurdish as the warmest of them all.

Read the full article from Ana Zamorano on Bikepacking.com's website here.

Photo thumbnail Blog Author
Media Mentions from Bikepacking.com
Bikepacking
Founded in 2012, BIKEPACKING.com is the leading resource for bikepacking routes, in-depth gear reviews, inspiration, planning insight, adventure stories, news, and events.
Media Mentions
browse all articles
Here at Sawyer
September 27, 2021
6 Min
Down East: Ultra-Athlete Katie Spotz Bikes 360 Miles Across Maine
Read More

Media Mentions

We’ve used this filter for over 800 miles in the backcountry and it’s still the best option for clean drinking water.

Brett Kretzer
Brett Kretzer
Adventurer. Writer. Creator.

Media Mentions

Squeeze Water Filtration System by Sawyer

Garage Grown Gear
Media Mentions from Garage Grown Gear

Media Mentions

This popular repellent from Sawyer has 20% Picaridin, which protects against a wide range of insects, including mosquitoes, ticks, biting flies, gnats, chiggers and sand flies.

Amylia Ryan
Associate Editor
<<  Previous Post
No previous post!
Check out our Directory
Next Post  >>
No next post!
Check out our Directory