Sarein

Sarein sits at about 1,600 metres on the eastern flank of Mount Sabalan, and the volcano beneath it feeds a group of hot mineral springs that have been used for a very long time and that now support a town given over almost entirely to bathing. There are several distinct springs with different mineral compositions and temperatures, each with its own bath complex, some traditional and some modern, and Iranians come here in numbers through the summer for treatment of skin and joint conditions as much as for leisure. The town fills completely in the warm months and empties in winter. Beyond the baths, the road continues up toward the Sabalan crater lake and the alpine meadows where Shahsevan nomads bring flocks in summer.

What you actually see

• Several distinct mineral springs - each with its own bath complex.
• Traditional and modern bathhouses - the range of facilities in the town.
• The Sabalan flank setting - the volcano rising above the springs.
• Nomad summer pastures - Shahsevan flocks on the meadows above.

When to go

May to September, which is the season; the town largely closes in winter snow. A day or overnight. Iranian holidays fill it completely and prices rise. Bathing is segregated by sex.

Honest expectations

It is a busy domestic resort with heavy development and little charm outside the baths. Bathing is strictly segregated and rules on dress apply. Hygiene at the cheaper pools varies. Prices rise sharply in season and accommodation books out.

Nearby

Ardabil is east; Mount Sabalan rises to the west.