☰Day Trips

Mashhad's hinterland is one of the most rewarding parts of a visit. The literary pilgrimage to Tus, with its ruined citadel and the tomb of Ferdowsi, takes a morning; pair it with the city of Neyshabur, birthplace of Omar Khayyam, for a full day of Khorasan's poets. The resort towns of Torghabeh and Shandiz, tucked into the cool foothills of the Binalud range, make for long afternoon lunches by the river. For something quieter, the stepped mountain village of Kang and the Akhlamad waterfall each reward a full day on their own.