Hospitality in Iran is second to none. Which means it’s first. Iranians are by far and away the most welcoming and friendly nationality I have ever met. On every corner of every street in the cities of Iran you will be greeted with warm, genuine welcoming smiles. “Welcome to Iran” 100 people will say to you as you backpack in Tabriz. At the start of our fourth and final week in Iran, we arranged to meet up with Rasool, a friend of ours who we met in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Amazing Iranian Hospitality: The Longest Night Dinner in Shahr-e Kord, Iran
Rasool offered to pick us up from our hotel in Esfahan and drive us up the mountains to Shahr-e Kord. Shahr-e Kord is a standard yet unknown Iranian town, which also happens to be Rasool’s home.
Chilling out with Rasool in Shahr-e Kord, Iran
Rasool and his family are one of the nicest families you could ever wish to meet. We stayed two nights and two days only as we wanted to head south to Persepolis and Shiraz next, but Rasool says we could have stayed there “as long as you like” and he was serious. Most Iran visas only last 30 days however.
Our home for 2 nights in Shahr-e Kord – stay as long as you like said Rasool!
After the drive up through the mountains, we arrive in dreamy Shahr-e Kord. I previously wrote a guide to the top 7 sights when backpacking in Shahr-e Kord.
Driving through the mountains and it’s already dark on the longest night in Shahr-e Kord, Iran.
It’s the longest night of the year. We have came to Shahr-e Kord on the longest night of the year! In other words, more darkness less light.
Our welcome to Shahr-e Kord. Endless tea and afternoon cake just for warm up!
And in Iran this gives an excuse to stay in, mingle and chat and even better EAT and DRINK all night. It really is a feast!!
Afternoon tea and nuts.
On arrival at Rasool’s house we greet his family. Mohsen and Mohammed the brothers. Plus Rasool’s parents.
At home meeting the family at Rasool’s place
Afternoon Tea
We are given an afternoon tea. You just get addicted to drinking tea in Iran. It’s not just tea though. The tea comes with a massive chunk of sweet sugar in it, adding to the flavour. On the side we have cake and an endless supply of nuts – monkey nuts, pistachios and sunflower seeds. Standard in “the Kord” (self titled nickname for Shahr-e Kord).
Tea, sugar, nuts – standard afternoon relaxing in “the Kord”
Watching TV during afternoon tea in Shahr-e Kord, Iran.
Dinner
Dinner time comes and it’s more than a 3 course meal. You don’t go hungry in Iran. It’s never happened and the food gets better by the day.
Fish dish, jelly, vegetables, rice, bread. Endless food in Shahr-e Kord, Iran.
Our table for dinner in Shahr-e Kord.
Ready for the longest night feast in Shahr-e Kord.
Gorgeous fish dish with vegetables, endless rice, a soup to die for, jelly and plenty of vegetables. Plus yoghurt and bread. You just cannot go hungry in Iran!
The soup
The main meal including vegetables, rice and fish.
Jelly!
Feast of a table in Iran.
After Dinner
After tea, the banquet continues – more tea arrives, then cake, then nuts, then watermelon! It’s a feast!
More tea!
The feast continues – after dinner snacks!
The feast continues – after dinner snacks!
We also get to smoke Shisha. Alcohol and drugs are forbidden in Iran but Shisha is a common alternative.
Smoking shisha in Shahr-e Kord, Iran.
Smoking shisha in Shahr-e Kord, Iran.
Supper
If you thought afternoon tea, dinner, post dinner was enough – think again. On the longest night in Iran we also had a big supper.
Thanks forever to my friend Rasool and family for this wonderful evening and experience. It was truly a once in a lifetime.
Here are some videos from the Longest Night in Shahr-e Kord, Iran:
What was it like smoking shisha? And what is in it?
Ray recently posted…The Long Road to Iguassu
Hi Ray – I first smoked shisha in 2004 in England and have had it a lot of times in different countries (Malaysia, England, Turkey, China etc.). The onyl real difference with the Iranian experience was that I wasn’t drinking alcohol at the same time, so I enjoyed the actual flavours of the shisha more in Iran than in the other countries. In the other countries, it was merely the experience of it. This was one of our best nights from our travels, not just in Iran. Safe travels. Jonny
Iranian hospitality is so amazing, the way they sit on ground and enjoy the tea with shakar(sugar), and their hearts full of love and respect for the guests, i know you have enjoyed a lot.
Hi Kazim, thanks for the comment. I am glad you enjoyed my post and yes Iranian hospitality is superb. Safe travels. Jonny