Abarkuh

Abarkuh is a small desert town between Yazd and Shiraz with just over 20,000 residents. It sits on a plateau 1,500 meters in central Iran. Abarkuh is best known for its more than 4000 year old Cypress Tree Sarv. This Sarv-e Abarkuh is 25 meters high and 18 meters thick and was once the sacred center of the Zoroastrian population.

Abarkuh is a welcome stop on the desert road from Yazd to Shiraz. You can get acquainted with the characteristic desert architecture. For example, a traditional merchant house with badgir (wind towers) to keep the house cool. Or the interesting yakhchal (ice house) to store ice and keep cold, even in the hot summer!