Iran desert tours like all other desert tours require strength and courage. But Rig-e Jenn in particular requires a lot of it. Rig-e Jenn Desert is one of the mysterious areas of the central desert of Iran and the sights of Garmsar, which was out of reach and unknown for years due to its special geographical conditions. Today, travel to this area is booming and invites enthusiasts.
If you are also a person who travels to mysterious areas in search of the unknown, in the shadow of your courage, do not miss the Rig-e Jenn desert. A trip to Rig-e Jenn will be a special and unique experience for any nature traveler due to its dangers and characteristics. Rig-e Jenn is one of the sights of Semnan and an important spot on Iran tours.
.
Where is the Rig-e Jenn Desert?
Rig-e Jenn Desert is one of the most difficult areas in the world, located in the southwest and west of the desert plain, and is an annual destination for many eco-tourists. Rig-e Jenn is located in the border area of Semnan and Isfahan provinces.
This desert region with 3,800 square kilometers is the third largest sand dune in Iran and is mostly attributed to Semnan province.
Rig-e Jenn Desert is located in the geographical area of central Iran. The area extends from northwest to southeast. Rig-e Jenn is also famous among the deserts for its beauty and its scenery amazes tourists.
The southeastern part of the desert is called the “tail of the sand”. Rig-e Jenn desert is formed on an eroded plain whose sediments and erosive materials originated from the slopes of Alborz.
The sand dune is full of Barkhan hills, pyramidal sand dunes, sediments, and salt marshes in which there is no sign of life.
Due to the lack of vegetation in the sand dunes, the sands are constantly moved by the wind and change the appearance of the desert. Sediments and erosive materials of Rig-e Jenn desert originating from the slopes of Alborz.
Rig-e Jenn desert from the north to Semnan military road to teachers, the heights of Sulfur Mountain and Garmsar city, from the west to Kavir National Park, Nakhjir heights, Talha mountain, Satan mountain, Dam and Tang-e-Zalmat mountains, from the east to Jandagh communication axis to teachers and From the south it reaches Anarak, the shepherds and Mount Mollahadi.
Rig-e Jenn is one of the most mysterious and scary regions of Iran and most of the old maps do not even mention its name. There are many sandy swamps in this area that easily kill any creature.
Unfortunately, in recent years, swamps do not form in the area due to frequent droughts and lack of rainfall.
There are no springs or water wells in the Rig-e Jenn desert. The Vargi River, which originates from the Sulfur Mountain to the north, is the only river that enters the Elven Sand and its water is salty.
On the northeastern edge of the Rig-e Jenn desert, there are the largest desert rivers in Iran called Hableh Rud and Rudsar Darreh, but their water is salty. Other rivers such as the Ramah and the Zurmand along the edge of the desert have added to its beauty
Travel History to Rig-e Jenn
Until many years ago, there was no justification for what was happening in the Rig-e Jenn Desert, and its salt flats were the burial places of many living beings and travelers. No one dared to travel to this area and the secret of this desert remained undiscovered.
Drowning and drowning in mud and sludge is one of the deadliest things that can happen to any ignorant traveler in the Rig-e Jenn area.
For years, the Rig-e Jenn Desert was mentioned only in the travelogues of two European desertologists. In 1900, Seven Hedin first referred to the area of Rig Jan and discovered it.
Then, in 1930, Alphonse Gabriel passed by a pebble; But none of them crossed this desert. Crossing the sand dunes was like a dream for deserters. In 1997, Ali Parsa, a desertologist living in the United States, and Miranzadeh, the then head of Kavir National Park, flew over the sand for the first time. A year later, Ali Parsa drove into the heart of the sand, and since then many desert travelers have traveled to this area.
The Access Routes to Rig-e Jenn Desert
The Jandaq route to Rig-e Jenn is suggested for navigation, which is actually the route used by many desert climbers. In this route, you must first reach Jandagh, which is 170 km away from Tehran; Then from the west of Jandagh, he moved towards Rig-e Jenn.
On the way to Jandagh, passing through this city and along a winding road, a wide river can be seen. Crossing the river, mountains and sand dunes stand out. Part of this area is almost flat or has small hills that are relatively easy to cross.
Passing through this area, swampy parts appear, which is almost south of Rig-e Jenn. Trying to cross swamps is not only useless, but it can also be very dangerous. To cross the swamp, you have to go around it and continue the route to the northwest.
Continuation of the route reaches the northern part of Rig-e Jenn, from where Damavand Mountain can also be seen. Crossing the dried Nakhjir River, the Malek-Abad Varamin checkpoint appears. This route is about 1000 km long.
Today, a 70-kilometer road has been constructed and operated in Rig-e Jenn, which has made it much easier to enter the Rig Jan desert.
The best way to access the Rig-e Jenn desert is from the northeastern part of the desert national park, which requires an environmental protection permit.
For this purpose, you have to go from Garmsar to Kavir National Park and then enter the paved road of Malek Abad. After that, he moved towards the desert of Rig-e Jenn.
The best way to access the Rig-e Jenn desert is from the northeastern part of the desert national park, which requires an environmental protection permit.
To cross the sand dune, it should be noted that the presence of the prevailing wind from west to east in the sand dune desert, causes the formation of a steep slope of hills in the eastern part. This makes it very difficult to cross the genie sand in the east-west direction.
The Name of Rig-e Jenn
The Rig-e Jenn Desert or the Desert Jenn (Jinn, Djin) remained unknown and mysterious for many years due to its challenging geographical conditions, to the point that it was called the Bermuda Triangle of Iran.
In the local language, and is called quicksand, and the word jinn means covered and hidden. Genie is also present in words like paradise and fetus because it is hidden from the human view.
The undiscovered secrets of the Rig-e Jenn Desert are another reason for this apparently scary naming. The lack of water and the existence of salt marshes and high hills had caused this amazing area to remain undiscovered for years and to be named after the sand dune.
This desert is very hot. The unbearable heat and fiery sand of the jinn is another reason for this nomination. In the Qur’an, the genus of jinn is considered to be a fire in the southern parts of the sand dunes, due to the presence of sand dunes and the sound of the wind blowing on these hills, a sound can be heard that is scary at first glance.
In the Rig-e Jenn desert, there is a large difference in the temperature of the day and night, and this causes the rocks to crumble. The sound that this makes is known as rock crying. The events that take place at the hands of metaphysical powers are the reason for this naming.
Climatic Conditions of Rig-e Jenn
Rig-e Jenn Desert, like other desert areas, enjoys intense sunlight and the weather is very hot. The temperature difference between day and night in the Rig-e Jenn desert sometimes reaches more than 50 degrees.
For eight months of the year, this desert has a hot and dry climate, and in the cold months, the air gets a little humid.
The Legends of Rig-e Jenn
As the name implies, the myths about it are related to goblins and ghosts. The events that took place in this desert, which remained unjustified for a long time, led to the telling of these legends.
Garmsar Rig-e Jenn desert is known as sand dunes and salt marshes and this feature is the source of many superstitions about it.
Deadly swamps are one of the scariest parts of the Rig-e Jenn desert. The Rig-e Jenn Desert, or “Regen” in the local language, was created by jinns based on some beliefs and myths.
Existence of deadly swamps, which are one of the most dangerous parts of the desert; This desert is considered much scarier than other deserts. When part of the salt sand gets wet, it collapses very suddenly.
This is not uncommon in the desert, and if one is unfamiliar with the area, one may suddenly fall under his feet and it seems as if someone is pulling the person down.
Residents of the Rig-e Jenn desert believe that the ghosts and goblins take all desert travelers to the heart of Rig-e Jenn. They even claim that the camels stopped when they reached the area of Rig-e Jenn and stopped moving.
According to the locals, the constant deformation of the sand dunes and their displacement is due to the presence of evil forces in the region; But in fact, it is the wind that moves these hills easily due to the lack of vegetation.
In the book “Deserts of Iran”, Swedish geographer, explorer, and avid desert traveler Sven Hedin narrated a legend about Rig-e Jenn as follows:
At the center of the sand is a lost paradise. There is a lake in this paradise and there are dense forests next to it. The demons have left the camels’ wool there, and whoever reaches this area will become rich. There is no lake or forest in the center of the sand dunes and only saline, dry and waterless grasslands can be seen. In the legends of the locals, the salt marshes are considered to be the burial place of many living waves. Strange noises are heard in this desert, which are referred to in legends as goblins talking to each other; But the scientific reason for these sounds is that the sand collides with the wind.
Not all Rig-e Jenn’s legends end in death and drowning in the swamp. In legends, it is said that ghosts kill the remnants of caravans by imitating the voices of their friends; Or big snakes that go to desert travelers by lighting fires.
About 30 km below the center of the Rig-e Jenn desert, there is a part where black rocks are scattered and this view is very attractive. These rocks are actually slag (impurities in metal ores when metal is separated in a furnace) from melting metals.
Of course, this method of smelting metals has not been used for years. In this method, a shrub called hawthorn is used, which has a black color.
In the part of the sand dune where slag is present, the accumulation of ridges is much less. So it can be concluded that in the past, people in the heart of the Rig-e Jenn desert, where there is no water and no life, have been engaged in smelting metals, and the scary thing is that there are no names or addresses of them in history. This incident is also proof of the presence of jinns.
Common Recreational Activities in Rig-e Jenn
During the day and night of the desert, one can witness the infinite greatness of God with all one’s being. Perhaps all the hardships of crossing the Rig-e Jenn Desert are worth the pleasure of watching the beautiful, starry sky at night.
It is a dream to sleep on quicksand and high hills with your eyes fixed on the sky. In this sky, meteors are more prominent and even with the naked eye, several constellations can be observed.
Rig-e Jenn travel is different from the general perception of common desert recreation activities, such as car riding and camel riding, and these facilities do not exist in the area. This trip is mostly recommended for adventurers, nature lovers, and professional deserters. If you’re eager to discover more breathtaking Iran Nature Attractions to enhance your journey, don’t miss our comprehensive guide.
A trip to Rig-e Jenn should be fully equipped, calculated, and calculated. Only then will it bring the most benefit and pleasure.
In addition to walking on the soft and velvety sands of the sand dunes and drowning in the silence of its peaks, if you have the necessary equipment, activities such as motorcycling in the desert and skating on the sand dunes will be very enjoyable.
Where to stay on a trip to Rig-e Jenn desert?
The night before entering the Rig-e Jenn, you can settle in the villages around Rig-e Jenn, such as Jandagh and Anarak. In these villages, there are eco-tourism resorts and houses for permission.
Garmsar and Semnan hotels are also good options for accommodation. Rig-e Jenn desert trip takes a few days and you should have camping tools and equipment with you to double the beauty of your trip by camping and sleeping under the starry desert sky.
The Best Time to Travel to Rig-e Jenn
In general, travel to deserts and deserts is recommended in the second half of the year. Among the seasons of the year, autumn, especially October, is the best time to visit Rig-e Jenn.
In winter, traveling to the desert is also good; However, due to the unpredictability of the weather this season, it is necessary to check the exact weather. Summers are hot in the sand.
Travel Tips to Rig-e Jenn Desert
Despite its calm appearance, the desert is actually very dangerous, and paying attention to technical points, safety and skill and experience are the necessities of this trip.
Rig-e Jenn Desert is definitely not a good choice for the first desert hiking experience and crossing it has many dangers for inexperienced people. Even professionals should not travel to this area alone, and you should definitely go to the heart of the sand with a tour, as a group, and with good equipment.
It is very dangerous to travel alone in the desert of Rig-e Jenn. Given that an accurate map of Rig-e Jenn is not available, having GPS and recording points can be very helpful.
The presence of a local native in the group is required. In the desert area of Rig-e Jenn, with all its vastness, there are no towns or villages for miles, and all the necessary facilities must be provided for many days. The trip to Rig-e Jenn takes at least four days and it is recommended to take food with you for 10 days.
With adequate, comfortable, and warm clothes, suitable shoes, masked hat, router, compass, travel tent, dishes for cooking and heating food, travel stove, sleeping bag, first aid kit, sunscreen, sunglasses, power bank, flashlight, Lighters or matches, water, food, and enough fuel are essential for travel.
Light-colored clothing with long sleeves protects you from heat and insect bites
Suitable clothing for desert hiking should be made of natural fibers, long sleeves, and light colors to protect the body from direct sunlight and insect bites. Very warm clothes are necessary for the night. On desert nights, scorpions may be attracted when lighting a fire.
It is very useful to have dry and light food with it. Equipment is needed to get the car out of the swamp, such as shovels and wooden boards in the car. Light jeeps, two-wheel drive, and off-road vehicles are suitable for this trip.
Do not pollute the desert environment, avoid noise pollution and respect the principles and beliefs of local people are part of the principles and culture of this trip.
Sights Around the Rig-e Jenn Desert
The area around Rige Jenn like many others is a place where Nature Meets History and Culture. The attractions of this trip do not end only in the desert of Rig-e Jenn. Visiting the surrounding villages and getting acquainted with their lifestyle and architecture can be very interesting. In the following, we will introduce a number of sights around Righ Jan.
Anarak Castle
Anarak city is located south of Rig-e Jenn desert and Isfahan province. This city was formed during the reign of Shah Abbas. The historic castle of Anarak was built by the order of Amir Kabir to protect it from bandits.
The view of Anarak city from the top of this castle is very beautiful. During the Pahlavi period, this city was used as an exile for criminals due to its temperature of about 50 degrees.
Hot Springs of Verton Village
Verton village is 70 km from the center of Isfahan. This village was a recreational destination for kings during the Safavid period and since the time of Shah Abbas due to its hot springs.
Verton Spa is known as “Morad Pond”. This building is located 10 km from the village and in a tourist complex that has facilities such as mineral springs, baths, hot springs, and wooden huts for accommodation.
Ashin Village
The spectacular village of Ashin has located 30 km from Anarak and on a desert tourist route. This village is located on a hill and is one of the pristine rural areas of Iran. The components of Ashin village, such as the mud houses, baths, and historical caravanserai, are very spectacular.
The Austrian geographer, Alphonse Gabriel, during a trip to the deserts of Iran in 1933, lived in this village and described it in detail in his book “Crossing the Iranian Desert”.
