Mount Damavand

Damavand rises to 5,610 metres in the central Alborz, a dormant stratovolcano with an almost perfect cone that stands well clear of the surrounding range and is visible from Tehran on clear days. It is the highest peak in Iran and the highest volcano in Asia, and it has a large place in Persian mythology, appearing in the Shahnameh as the mountain where the tyrant Zahhak was chained. The standard southern route from Polur is a walk rather than a climb, with camps at about 3,000 and 4,200 metres and a summit day of six to eight hours, but altitude is the real difficulty and sulphurous fumes at the crater rim affect some climbers. Snow lies late and the season is short. Acclimatisation matters.

What you actually see

• A 5,610-metre volcanic cone - the highest point in Iran and the Middle East.
• The summit crater and fumaroles - sulphur venting at the rim.
• Frozen waterfalls on the flanks - ice features on the northern side.
• The Shahnameh associations - the mountain in Persian myth.

When to go

July to September; outside that the route is a serious winter mountaineering proposition. Three to four days including acclimatisation. Camps are basic and crowded at weekends in season.

Honest expectations

Altitude sickness is common and people are evacuated regularly; do not rush the ascent. Sulphur fumes near the summit cause breathing difficulty. Weather changes fast. Huts and camps are crowded and basic. A guide and proper equipment are needed.

Nearby

Polur is the southern trailhead; Lar National Park lies west.