Hostels
Orient Hostel
The Orient Hostel is located inside a beautiful old Persian building and only 150m away from the Jameh Mosque. The view from the rooftop of the Orient towards the Jameh Mosque is beautiful, you can see it below. The hostel is located inside a hotel really, but one of the rooms down in a basement area has been turned into a dorm room. The room is very pleasant and spacious. There is good air flow despite it being quite low in the building. Breakfast is served for free and is delicious! There is a buffet choice of basic foods as well as scrambled eggs or omelette. Book Orient Hostel here!
The view from the Orient Hostel roof.
Silk Road Hotel
The owners of Silk Road Hotel are actually the same as Orient Hostel. Silk Road appears to be the main hotel as it offers well priced tours and an excellent restaurant. I was directed to come here for both while staying at Orient. I didn't actually stay here, but did eat here several time and enjoyed it a lot. I am certain it would be a good option. Book Silk Road Hotel here!
Badgir Hostel
I didn't stay here while in Yazd but I did hear a lot of good things about the place from other travellers. This a proper hostel with only dorm rooms as opposed to a hotel that has a couple of dorms for backpackers. The common area is very highly rated and it's a really good place to chill out for a few days. Next time I am in Yazd I plan to stay here. Book Badgir Hostel here!
Sights and Highlights
Kharanaq
Kharanaq, a 4,000 year old abandoned town, is located 70 km from Yazd. Kharanaq is a city built entirely out of mud brick’s. While the town has been inhabited for 4,000 years, the mud brick buildings you see in these images date back around 1,000 years. The drive out to Kharanaq is very pleasant. Lots of mountains towering over the desert landscape. I was informed my the driver that this area of Iran reaches peak temperatures over 50°C in summer so keep that in mind if you are here in summer. I visited Kharanaq as part of a day tour organised by Silk Road Hotel. The price was 500,000 IRR (12.5€) and included stops in Chak Chak and Meybod as well. This appears to be about the cheapest you will find for this day trip.
Check out my blog post, Yazd – Trip to Kharanaq, to read more about Kharanaq and to see more of my photos.
Chak Chak
Chak Chak is a small village in the mountains of Iran and located 65km from Yazd. It is also a Zoroastrian fire temple and the most sacred of the mountain shrines of Zoroastrianism. The story goes that Nikbanou, second daughter of the last Persian ruler, Yazdegerd III of the Sassanid Empire, fled here under attack by an Arab army in 640 CE. I visited Chak Chak as part of a day tour organised by Silk Road Hotel. The price was 500,000 IRR (12.5€) and included stops in Kharanaq and Meybod as well.
Check out my blog post, Yazd - Trip to Chak Chak, to read more about Chak Chak and to see more of my photos.
Meybod
Meybod is an ancient city that dates back to the pre-Islamic era of Iran and is located only 55km from Yazd. A visit to Meybod is often included in tours that visit Kharanaq and Chak-Chak. The centrepiece of Meybod, and the reason that it’s included in day trips, is the Narin Qal’eh castle. Narin Qal’eh is a mud brick fort built around 2000 years ago. I visited Meybod as part of a day tour organised by Silk Road Hotel. The price was 500,000 IRR (12.5€) and included stops in Kharanaq and Chak Chak as well.
Check out my blog post, Yazd - Ancient City of Meybod, to learn more about Meybod and to see more of my photos.
Towers of Silence
There are two Towers of Silence located on the outskirts of Yazd, 10km or 15mins drive from the city centre. Both of these towers can be seen in the image above. According to Zoroastrian tradition dead bodies would be placed inside the pits atop the Towers and left exposed to the elements. As the bodies break down, carrion birds would perform an excarnation of the bodies.
The easiest way to get to the towers is by taxi. Any taxi off the street in Yazd will be able to take you here for around 100,000 – 150,000 IRR (less than 4 euro). Lots of backpackers in Iran are going here so it’s easy to share a ride. The best time of the day to visit is around sunset. If you do, it is wise to speak to a taxi driver near the entrance and arrange for him to wait for you to finish and then take you back to your hotel/hostel afterwards.
Check out my blog post, Yazd - Towers of Silence, to learn more about the history behind the Towers of Silence.
Jameh Mosque of Yazd
The Jameh Mosque of Yazd, or Friday congregation mosque, is a nearly 700 year old mosque. The mosque is a fine specimen of the Azari style of Persian architecture. The mosque is crowned by a pair of minarets. At 52m high, they are the highest in Iran, and the portal's facade is decorated from top to bottom in dazzling tile work, predominantly blue in colour. The Jameh Mosque of Yazd is located very close to Silk Road and Orient Hostels
Amir Chakhmaq Complex
The Amir Chakhmaq Complex is a prominent it structure in Yazd noted for its symmetrical sunken alcoves. It is also a mosque located in the square of the same name. It also contains a caravanserai, a bathhouse, a cold water well, and a confectionery. At night, the building is lit up after sun set with orange lighting in the arched alcoves. Amir Chakhmaq is quite centrally located and easy walking distance from most accommodation.
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