Tandoureh National Park

Tandoureh National Park lies between the cities of Dargaz, Nokhandan, Bajgiran and Quchan. It was once a recreation area and picnic spot for the people of Dargaz and Quchan. This scenic, unspoiled region has some of the most beautiful and deepest steep-sided gorges, along with rolling hills, and it is one of the best habitats for wildlife, especially the Urial wild sheep. Most of the people living in the areas around Tandoureh National Park are Kurmanji Kurds. In Kurdish, "Tandoureh" means "oven-like" and hollow, and the word is mostly used to name the deep parts of valleys and the deep whirlpools of rivers.

Tandoureh National Park is beautiful and lovable all year round, but as you would expect, its beauty reaches its peak in spring. If you are eager to see the pristine nature of Tandoureh Park, we recommend visiting in spring. The park's distinctive environment, its soil structure, changes in elevation, the amount and pattern of precipitation, and the warmth of the climate have given rise to a diverse range of vegetation in this area. The slopes of the high mountains, especially the park's mid-elevation heights, the foothills and the sunny slopes, are covered with wormwood (Artemisia) and a variety of grassy species. The steep slopes of this region have only sparse cover of shrubs and trees. Of Iran's seven wild cat species, five live in Tandoureh National Park: the Persian leopard, the jungle cat, the wildcat, Pallas's cat and the Eurasian lynx. In 1370 (Solar Hijri), 134 leopards were observed in Tandoureh National Park.

Visiting Tandoureh National Park is not possible without a permit from the Khorasan Razavi Department of Environment. For guidance on obtaining an entry permit for this national park, you can contact the Department of Environment of Khorasan Razavi Province. Given the park's location, getting there is not particularly easy. The mountainous terrain, the layered valleys and the lack of suitable access roads mean that the park's rangers use horses to get around in some areas. Under these conditions, you will probably also need a four-wheel-drive, off-road-capable vehicle to reach the area.