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Voykit pocket guide · Iran
Aran va Bidgol
آران و بیدگل
Half a day is enough to see the desert edge and caravansary; stay overnight only if you want a desert camp or camel ride.
Aran va Bidgol is a small desert town 12 km northeast of Kashan, best known as a gateway to the Maranjab desert with its salt lakes, sand dunes and the restored Maranjab caravansary. Most travellers visit on a half-day trip from Kashan or as a stop between Isfahan and Tehran.
- Country
- Iran
- Local name
- آران و بیدگل
- Best months
- Mar–May, Sep–Nov
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (extreme heat), Dec–Feb (cold nights)
- Stay
- 0–1 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- IRR
- Money
- Foreign cards and ATMs do not work in Iran: see Insurance & payments above.
- Daily spend
- Budget IRR 5,000,000–10,000,000 excl. bed · Mid IRR 10,000,000–20,000,000 excl. bed · High IRR 20,000,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- Emergency
- Police 110 · Fire 125 · Ambulance 115
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Taxi from Kashan to Aran va Bidgol | IRR 500,000–1,200,000 |
| Camel ride (1 h) | IRR 1,000,000–2,000,000 |
| Simple meal (kebab or stew) | IRR 1,500,000–3,000,000 |
| Bottle of water (1.5 L) | IRR 20,000–50,000 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- IFN · Isfahan Shahid Beheshti International
- About 2.5 h by car via Road 71; check
- IKA · Tehran Imam Khomeini International
- About 2.5–3 h by car via Freeway 7; check
Typical fares
- Taxi Kashan → Aran va Bidgol
- about IRR 500,000–1,200,000, about 20 min (check)
- Taxi Aran va Bidgol → Maranjab caravansary
- about IRR 800,000–1,500,000, about 30 min (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The town is walkable; for the desert and caravansary you need a taxi or private car. Arrange desert trips through local guesthouses or tour operators in Kashan.
See and do
Known for
- Maranjab desert and salt lake
- Maranjab caravansary
- Camel and horseback desert trips
- Silk Road history
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Kashan | Taxi or local bus, about 20 min | About 30 min |
| Maranjab caravansary and desert | Taxi from Aran va Bidgol, about 30 min | About 1 h |
| Isfahan | Car via Road 71, about 2.5 h | About 3 h |
| Varzaneh | Car via Road 71 and local roads, about 2 h | About 2.5 h |
Sleep
- Town centre
- A few guesthouses and basic hotels; close to local shops and transport.
- Maranjab caravansary
- Historic caravansary offering basic accommodation; book ahead.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | سلامsalaam |
| Thank you | ممنونmamnoon |
| How much? | چقدر؟cheghadr? |
| Water | آبaab |
| Taxi | تاکسیtâksi |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Scams and watch-outs
- Desert temperatures can exceed 45°C in summer: carry water, sun protection and a hat.
- Mobile coverage is patchy in the desert; download offline maps.
- The caravansary accommodation is basic: no heating or cooling in some rooms; check.
Aran va Bidgol is safe for tourists; the main risks are desert heat, dehydration and limited mobile coverage. Follow local advice and carry enough water.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Aran va Bidgol yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Maranjab desert and salt lake
- Maranjab caravansary
- Camel and horseback desert trips
- Silk Road history
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Aran va Bidgol official website: aranbidgol.ir
- Wikivoyage: Aran va Bidgol, revision 5232927 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5232927
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Aran va Bidgolآران و بیدگل
به این آدرس، لطفاً
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
Most embassies are in Tehran; check your government's travel advice for the nearest consulate.
Prices are often quoted in tomans (1 toman = 10 rials); confirm the unit before paying.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/aran-va-bidgol). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.