Taftan

Taftan and heights around it, are known as heights of Khash area located at Iran's Sistan and Beluchistan province. The province of Sistan and Baluchistan is located in the south-eastern part of the Iran and has an area of 181, 578 sq.km. Though it is the third largest province of the country, it is sparsely populated. Anyway  Taftan semi-active volcano is one of the attractions of the province.

"Taftan" means hot and molten, something that has got hot under the the sun or on the fire, well this is not a strange name for this semi-active volcano.
From viewpoint of geology in quaternary, there have been the volcanoes in Iran which their peaks are constitute important heights today. Presently, some of those volcanoes are in sulfur producing stage and so steam and sulfuric gases come out of their craters. Mount Taftan is one of these volcanoes located in southeast of Iran 380 km. north of the Oman Sea, so far from Tehran.

Taftan's volcanic summit is known as Chehel Tan this summit has two main branches, the northern one and the highest is called Ziarat, whereas the southern one is known as Madar Kooh. From the northeastern direction this peak is known as Sobh Kooh and in the west is called Lor Kooh. I feel this name system is wired and a little bit complex, so we call the summit only as Taftan.

The first climb was done in 1893.

Existence of Khash heights including Taftan peak causes pleasant climate of Khash and nearby areas, higher altitude of Khash area helps to gain more downpour in comparison to other parts of the province and to be much more vegetated and less arid.
There are several spas mineral waters around the Khash mountains, some of them which are located in northwest of mount Taftan are named Jamchin, Amani, Barab and Barabak.

Standing on Taftan gives you a view of distances plane desert !

These features turn Taftan into one of the most interesting natural attractions of the province which attracts many of the travelers, specially mountain climbers every year.

Access to Taftan appears to be straightforward, as a number of roads run high up on the flanks of the massif, including one which crosses northwest of the central cone reaching as high as 9000 ft (2700 m).
 

• Travel to Zahedan(center of Sistan and Balouchestan province)  by car or plane.
  Zahedan is one of the most far cities from capital Tehran [1605km on road Tehran- Yazd- Kerman- Zahedan] or [909m flying]. And 1001km far from Mash-had.
• Go to Khash city via Zahedan-Khash road (190km), there is an airport in Khash too but I don't know if...
• Enter the dirt road that reaches Tamandan and Kooshe villages (south to Taftan summit) the long road goes toward north (90km).
• When you reach Kooshe, you will see the cliff named Pir-bi-back at the north of the small village, reach the cliff and go to the back side of it, climb zigzag toward north until you reach Sobah shelter(3350m),
• The route to Taftan: climb in north position, reach the north pass located on the Narkooh-Taftan ridgeline, Narkouh(3950m) is obvious at the left side, so continue right toward Taftan summit.

• Sobah shelter(3350m) is a large and well equipped shelter, south-west to Taftan summit, south to Narkouh(3950m) and north west to Sobah(3500m).
• There is no problem for camping on the mountain anyway.