Qeshm is a fantastic island in south Iran with many unique and fascinating attractions, mostly scenery, that you won’t find anywhere else. These include colorful beaches, historical sights, forests, villages, and caves. Its picturesque nature has made it a place full of wonders that will please and amaze every person with any knowledge about the Earth.
In this article, we will name some of the most fantastic Qeshm 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. This area on Qeshm island is over 2 million years old. Over these many years, 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).
The Valley of Stars has various-shaped soil columns, and the wind blowing between them makes a mysterious and scary noise. Local people in Qeshm believe the noise is from the ghosts living 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 know 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 have 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 must put on your trip plan to this glamorous island. Chahkooh Canyon is a natural reservoir the local ancestors used to store water. They built wells in the canyon to save rainwater and used it for personal needs or their livestock’s drinking. This fascinating canyon is so grand that it will amaze you. It is over 100 meters deep, and the wall has many magnificent notches and cracks 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.
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 became familiar with the Persian Gulf and its magical landmarks, 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 being reclaimed by 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.
Even though the Portuguese Castle is open 24 hours on Fridays, you can only visit this fantastic historical site from morning to 5 pm on the other days of the week.
Naz Islands
Naz Islands are two tidal islands on the coastline of Qeshm, the most popular island and beach in Qeshm. These fascinating islands don’t have many amenities, but there are many 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, this area’s picturesque and spectacular nature makes this beach and island very popular and memorable.
Hengam Island
Hengam is a small island south of Qeshm island, considered a part of Qeshm’s land area. You must take a boat from Shib Dreaz Beach 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 tiny land of Hengam Island fool you. Hengam Island has a lot of attractions that you need more than a day to explore. Local shopping centers, endangered and unique species, picturesque natural sights, and many more attractions on Hengam Island make this small village and island memorable.
Khorbas Cave
Another charming natural sight on Qeshm Island is Khorbas Cave. This fantastic place dates back to the Medes. The narratives of Qeshm’s ancestors believe 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, created by natural causes, are why this place is very special among local and foreign visitors.
Khorbas Cave is open every day from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. There is a small entrance fee, but you get welfare amenities such as parking, WC, eateries, camping space, green space, etc.
Hormoz Island
Hormoz Island is not just one place to visit; we named it here because of its importance. Most people agree that the main tourist attractions of Qeshm are located on Hormoz Island, which is why Qeshm hosts many tourists from all over the world every year. Hormoz is an island next to Qeshm in the crystal clear waters of the Persian Gulf. Hormoz is full of wonders and is known as a colorful island. Every little thing on Hormoz Island amazes you, even the color of the soil and sand. Hormoz is like a fairytale that came to life, and you have to visit it on your trip to Qeshm.
Namakdan (salt) Cave
Another fantastic place on Qeshm island that encourages travelers worldwide 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 dates back to the Cambrian period and is a colorful salt cave made of many layers. Each of these layers has its own story and goes back to a period of history. Crystals made from salt hang from the roof and walls of Namakdan Cave and create a unique structure inside the cave 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
Suppose you’re looking for a place to gather information about Qeshm Island’s importance, heritage, history, and natural features. In that case, you can go to Qeshm Geopark, the first geopark in Iran and the Middle East that UNESCO has registered. Qeshm Geopark has 25 Geosites, including Namakdan Cave, Chahkooh Canyon, the Valley of Stars, the roof of Qeshm, and many more places we discussed 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. You must explore this shopping center if you want a place to purchase traditional handicrafts or souvenirs. This shopping center also offers locals and visitors organic goods, vegetables, freshly caught fish, fruit, and other foods.
Timings: Every day from 8 AM to 10 PM.
Final Words
Qeshm is a magical island in the Persian Gulf with many incredible 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 you must visit on your trip to this glamorous island.
