Qeshm is an amazing island in the south of Iran with a lot of unique and fascinating attractions that are mostly scenery which you won’t see a similar place to them in any other place on earth like colorful beaches, historical sights, forests, villages, caves, etc. The picturesque nature of Qeshm has made it into a place full of wonders that will please and amaze every person with any knowledge about the earth.
In this article, we are going to name some of Qeshm’s greatest attractions that you shouldn’t miss on your trip to this magical land situated on the crystal-clear water of the Persian Gulf and introduce every one of them a little bit.
TOP 11 attractions of Qeshm Island
- The Valley of Stars
- Hara Forest (Mangrove forests of Qeshm)
- Chahkooh Canyon
- Portuguese Castle (Qeshm Portuguese Fort)
- Naz Islands
- Hengam Island
- Khorbas Cave
- Hormoz Island
- Namakdan Cave
- Qeshm Geopark
- Qeshm Bazaar Ghadim
The Valley of Stars
One of the most popular and magical places in Qeshm is the valley of stars. The valley of stars is an area on Qeshm island which is more than 2 million years old. Over these many years the seasonal rains, surface water, hurricanes, and other natural disasters and routines have created a mysterious landmark by washing or shaping the soil (basically by erosion).
There are various shapes of columns made from soil in the valley of stars and the wind blowing between the columns makes a mysterious and scary noise. Local people in Qeshm believe that the noise coming from the valley of stars is from the ghosts that live among the columns. The valley of stars is one of the most mysterious places on earth and it gets very creepy at night.
Hara Forest (Mangrove forests of Qeshm)
Hara Forest is another picturesque landmark in Qeshm island that you shouldn’t miss visiting on your trip to Qeshm island. You have to throw away everything you knew about forests to imagine the Mangrove forests of Qeshm. You can’t just walk among the trees of Hara forest. The mangrove forests of Qeshm are surrounded by waters of the Persian Gulf and drowned in the sea. You can only move between the trees with a boat or motorboat. The fact that these trees are evergreen and survived in the salty waters of the Persian Gulf for centuries is what made this place special.
Chahkooh Canyon
Chahkooh Canyon is one of the spectacular places in Qeshm that you have to put on your trip plan to this glamorous island. Chahkooh Canyon is a natural reservoir that the local ancestors used to store water. They built wells in the canyon for saving rainwater and used it for personal needs or for their livestock’s drinking. This fascinating canyon is so grand that will amaze you with over 100 meters in depth and so many magnificent notches and cracks on the wall that create a unique natural sight.
You can visit this mysterious place on Qeshm island every day of the week from 8 AM to 5 PM. Unlike most of Qeshm’s natural sights, Chahkooh Canyon requires an entrance fee to get in.
Portuguese Castle (Qeshm Portuguese Fort)
Most of Qeshm’s attractions are its beautiful natural sights but the Portuguese Castle is a historical sight from the early 16th century. At the beginning of the 16th century, a Portuguese sailor got familiar with the Persian Gulf and the magical landmarks around it so he came to Hormoz Island next to Qeshm and occupied the island. After taking over the area he started building forts to protect the land from reclaiming from the Iranian empire at the time. This Fort is a building that survived from those days in the past and informs you about the importance and beauty of Hormoz.
Despite the Fridays that the Portuguese Castle is open 24 hours, on the other days of the week, you can only visit this fantastic historical sight from AM to 5 PM.
Naz Islands
Naz Islands are two tidal islands on the coastline of Qeshm and the most popular island and beach on Qeshm. These fascinating islands don’t have many amenities but there are a lot of activities you can enjoy on the coast of Naz Island including camel riding, off-road, paragliding, etc. Despite the many activities and entertainment, you get on Naz Island, the picturesque and spectacular nature of this area is the reason that made this beach and island very popular and special.
Hengam Island
Hengam is a small island on the south of Qeshm island which is considered a part of Qeshm’s land area. You have to take a boat from Shib Dreaz Beach to get to Hengam Island. This magnificent island in the waters of the Persian Gulf amazes you with its pristine nature and glamorous scenery. Don’t let the small land of Hengam island fool you. Hengam Island has a lot of attractions that you need more than a day to explore them. There are local shopping centers, endangered and unique species, picturesque natural sights, and a lot more attractions on Hengam island that make this small village and island special.
Khorbas Cave
Another charming natural sight on Qeshm island is Khorbas Cave. This amazing place dates back to the Medes. The narratives of Qeshm’s ancestors believe that this cave was the main temple for worshiping Anahita (one of the ancient Persian goddesses). The unique structure and outstanding architecture of the Khorbas cave which were all created by natural causes are the reason that this place is very special among local and foreign visitors.
You can visit Khorbas Cave every day from 6 am to 8 pm. Entering Khorbas Cave requires a small amount of entrance fee but in return, you get welfare amenities including parking space, WC, eateries, camping space, green space, etc.
Hormoz Island
Hormoz island is not just one place to visit but the reason that we named it here was its importance. Most people agree that the main tourist attractions of Qeshm are located on Hormoz island and it is the main reason that Qeshm hosts a lot of tourists from all over the world every year. Hormoz is an island located next to Qeshm in the crystal clear waters of the Persian Gulf.
Hormoz is full of wonders and is known as the colorful island. Every little thing that you see on Hormoz island amazes you; even the color of soil and sand. Hormoz is like a fairyland that came to life that you have to visit on your trip to Qeshm.
Namakdan (salt) Cave
Another wonderful place on Qeshm island that encourages travelers from all over the world to visit this magnificent island is Namakdan Cave. Namakdan Cave is the world’s longest salt cave and one of Qeshm’s many wonders. This outstanding cave which dates back to the Cambrian period is a colorful salt cave that is made of a lot of layers that every one of these layers has its own story and goes back to a period of history. Crystals made from salt are hanging from the roof and walls Namakdan Cave and made a unique structure inside the cave that is worth visiting. The locals believe that Namakdan Cave can be helpful for medical purposes.
Timings: Every day from 8 AM to 6 PM.
Qeshm Geopark
If you’re looking for a place to gather information about Qeshm island’s importance, heritage, history, and natural features you can go to Qeshm Geopark which is the first geopark in Iran and the Middle East that has been registered by UNESCO. Qeshm Geopark has 25 Geosites including Namakdan Cave, Chahkooh Canyon, the Valley of Stars, the roof of Qeshm, and a lot more places that we talked about some of them in this article.
Qeshm Bazaar Ghadim
Another popular place among tourists in Qeshm island is its traditional shopping center. Qeshm Bazaar Ghadim started is the oldest shopping center in this city. If you are looking for a place to purchase traditional handicrafts or souvenirs you have to explore this shopping center. This shopping center also offers organic goods, vegetables, freshly caught fish, fruit, and all kind of eating goods to the local people and visitors.
Timings: Every day from 8 AM to 10 PM.
Final Words
Qeshm is a magical island located in the Persian Gulf with so many wonderful and outstanding attractions and scenery that amazes you with its beauty. In this article, we tried to introduce some of Qeshm’s most popular attractions that you must visit on your trip to this glamorous island.
