The Sangesari tribes have kept horses as part of their pastoral tradition for centuries, and organised horseback rides with tribal guides are one of the more unusual activities available around Mahdishar. The rides typically take you into the mountain valleys north of the city, through terrain that the nomads have been crossing seasonally for generations.
The Sangesari people speak their own Northwestern Iranian language — Sangsari — which is distinct from Persian and is still used by around 50,000 speakers in the region. Riding with a tribal family or guide offers a genuine window into a way of life that has contracted but not disappeared: the Sangesaris are known for their carpets and hand-woven textiles, and many households still maintain flocks and make dairy products — yogurt, butter, and fresh cheese — from sheep milk in the traditional way. The best time to engage with the tribe directly is in the spring migration period, when some families begin their long seasonal movement.