Welcome to my latest journey – Expedition Iran – Solo North to South. Please explore the expedition site by clicking on the navigation below. Use your browser’s back button to return here. Enjoy!
Expedition Overview
Tell me. What do YOU know about the Islamic Republic of Iran? Anything? Anyone?
As an adventurer and explorer the biggest question I get asked after the inevitable, WHY?, must be, WHAT’S NEXT? That’s easy. Drumroll please. In late November 2009, after 18 months of planning and preparation, I set out on what will be a most amazing and fascinating journey. Walking solo and lightweight from the northern border of the Islamic Republic of Iran on the Caspian Sea to its southerly border in the Persian Gulf.
Beginning in the coastal city of Chalus, I cross the Alborz Mountains heading south to Tehran. From here I will continue south-west to Qom, before heading south to Esfahan, through the Zagros Mountains and on to Shiraz before reaching the Persian Gulf at Bushehr. Iran is one of the most mountainous countries on earth and over many weeks I will pass through subtropical rainforest, 5000m+ mountain ranges, plateau and desert on course for the Persian Gulf. Just myself, my pack and a notebook. Nothing more. Will I succeed? Maybe. Although there is a much better chance that I will not! But, is that not all the more reason to go?
The Islamic Republic of Iran is shrouded still, in much mystery. Brought about mostly through our ignorance and historical western bias. I am not a crusader for any particular belief or stance and represent no-one but myself, however, the overwhelmingly negative view of this country has come about by gross mis-representation on the part of government and media. I know things are not all ok by any stretch of the imagination, but there are far greater evils on this earth that are accepted with little fuss or given scant attention by western authorities. I appreciate these are strong accusations, but please do use some of the resources available to get an idea of how and why we have arrived where we are today in relations between the west and Iran. Michael Axworthy’s Empire of the Mind is at times hard going, but gives an excellent insight into this country’s illustrious past and confounding present. The relationship between Iran and the west has a tendency to polarise opinion which makes for interesting times ahead. I journey with an open mind and heart. I am not a politician or a campaigner. I am an explorer.
I do not propose to change the world with my short walk. I am not journeying to raise funds for charity or awareness of climate change. I wish to reveal the true Iran. A country of amazing, generous people, not the caricature painted for us by others. I journey to Iran to stay and live amongst it’s people, explore it’s diverse geography and experience what was, once upon time, the greatest empire on earth.
