Iran is a country split in two; the Alborz mountains north of Tehran divide the lower section of the Islamic Republic, made up largely of deserts, from the green and wet top corner bordering Turkey, Azerbaijan and Armenia. The four-hour drive from the capital Tehran to Rasht takes us through the range of peaks to the edge of the Caspian Sea, then inland to the hills on the outskirts of Rasht. As you move further north, the temperature drops and the air gets heavier as the humidity increases. The Caspian coast has long been an escape for Tehranis during the hotter months in the middle of the year.

Read More: Iran’s Verdant North is Home to Some Fine Historic Castles