Chehel Dokhtaran Cave

The Chehel Dokhtar Cave of Sarbisheh lies on the slopes of a mountain called "Chehel Dokhtar", near the village of Kalateh Akhund in Sarbisheh County. The cave is located in a mountainous, semi-arid area, and its distance from the provincial capital (the city of Birjand) is reported to be about 75 kilometres to the southeast.

The cave begins with a porch-like (iwan-shaped) entrance about 1.5 metres high, and has an inner hall whose height averages about 3 metres across its different sections. According to observations, it is possible to pass through and explore the cave to a depth of roughly 40 metres from the entrance, but narrow passages and sediment built up on the cave floor make it difficult to go further. The landscape around the cave consists of mountains and dry to semi-dry rangelands; the climate is fairly arid, and the dominant vegetation is made up of shrubland and hardy plants.

The cave is usually reached by travelling to Sarbisheh and continuing to the village of Kalateh Akhund; from there, a short dirt track leads to the foot of the mountain and the cave entrance. Given the slope of the mountain, the dry trail and the narrow passages, visiting the cave requires physical fitness, suitable equipment and attention to safety precautions, and a guide is recommended. The best time to visit is spring and autumn, when the weather is pleasant and the risk of flooding or extreme heat is lower.