Fahraj Village

Fahraj village in Yazd is one of the oldest human settlements, with a history attributed to the pre-Islamic era. Counted among the attractions of Yazd, the village offers a wide range of historical, cultural and natural sights, and even some adventure activities. With suitable facilities in the heart of the desert, Fahraj is an excellent opportunity to experience desert trekking. It is a village of mud-brick houses, warm-hearted people, delicious food and clean air, and the memory of staying here will stay with you for years. Fahraj dates back to the pre-Islamic period, and some believe the village is more than five thousand years old. In the past, Fahraj was the gateway to Isatis and one of the four main districts of the historic city of old Yazd. Until the 8th century AH (Hijri), it was regarded as one of the important towns of Yazd, and Ibn Balkhi, in his descriptions, mentioned its important role in agriculture. The name of Fahraj, like its history, goes back to the pre-Islamic era. The village was originally known as "Farafar"; but over time, in the 4th and 5th centuries AH, it was renamed "Pahreh" or "Pahresht", and later "Fahraj".

The layout of Fahraj and most of its houses and buildings, like other settlements in the desert province of Yazd, follow the traditional architecture of Iran's hot and desert regions: houses of mud brick, clay, fired brick and iron that invite you on a journey into the past. The old part of the village lies around the Jame Mosque in the heart of Fahraj, in a semi-clustered, linear pattern. The modern part of the village extends all around the historic core and surrounds its ancient structures. On the rooftops of some of Fahraj's authentic houses you will see wind catchers (badgirs), a sign of Iranian ingenuity in cooling homes during the hot days of the desert year. To earn a living and meet their needs, the people of Fahraj work in farming, orchard keeping, animal husbandry and mining, and the village's agricultural products include wheat, barley, millet, mung beans, pistachios, grapes, peaches, apricots and cherry plums. Interestingly, Fahraj is the most prominent village in Yazd Province for greenhouse cultivation, and also the hub for producing high-quality Mozafati dates in the province.

Fahraj has a semi-desert climate, which means this scenic village is extremely hot in summer, but mild and even cool in winter. It should also be mentioned that the large temperature difference between day and night means that tourists visiting in winter spend their nights in the village's eco-lodges rather than camping in tents. Summer nights in Fahraj, however, are very pleasant and mild, with a cool breeze. According to some travellers, the best times to visit Fahraj are early spring, autumn and early winter; however, note that Fahraj's busiest season is late winter and early spring (Esfand and Farvardin), when the village receives the most tourists.