Kish Island; The Pearl of the Persian Gulf

Glimpse

Kish is a 91.5-square- km resort island in the Persian Gulf in the southern coast of Iran. It is part of the Bandar Lengeh County in Hormozgan Province of Iran. Owning to its free trade zone status it is known as a consumer’s paradise, with numerous malls, shopping centers, tourist attractions, and resort hotels. It has an estimated population of 40,000 residents and about 12 million people visit the island annually.

Kish Island is the fourth most visited vacation destination in Southwest Asia after Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and Sharm el-Sheikh. Foreigners wishing to enter Kish Free Zone are not required to obtain visas prior to travel. Valid travel permits are stamped for 14 days by airport and Kish port police officials.

Kish Island on Map

 History

This island has been mentioned in history variously as Kamtina, Arakia, Arakata, and Ghiss. Kish Island’s strategic position served as a link for the ancient Assyrian and Elamite civilizations when their primitive sailboats navigated from Susa through the Karoun River into the Persian Gulf along the southern coastline passing Kish, Qeshm and Hormoz islands. When these civilizations vanished, Kish Island’s advantageous position was lost and for a period it was subjected to turmoil and the tyranny of local rulers and other vendors. With the establishment of the Achaemenid dynasty, the Persian Gulf was profoundly affected. This island was, in particular, economically and politically linked with the civilization of the Medes, Persians when they were at the height of their power.

Geography

The island’s surface is flat, lacking mountains or even high hills. Kish International Airport is built in the center on an elevated area 35-40 m from the sea level. Its highest surface inclination extends from the airport to the shores near Shayan hotel.

This island, like the other Persian Gulf Islands, especially the islands in the Strait of Hormoz, is located on a narrow strip of tropical vegetations in the Northern Hemisphere, with the Persian plateau to the north and the Arabian Peninsula to the south. In addition to its special geographic and climatic attributes, Kish Island, like other nearby islands, such as Forur, Hendurabi, Shatuar and Lavan and even Qeshm, is under the fluctuations of the semi-equatorial climate dominating this vegetation. Kish’s climate is considered to be a very dry semi equatorial climate. For 8 years the median annual rainfall in Kish has been 145 mm. The relative atmospheric humidity in Kish makes it like a sea island except in cold seasons. The humidity is about 60% most of the year. In the months of October to April, Kish’s weather is mild, ranging from 18 ◦C to 25 ◦C.

Hendurabi Island

This island is one of the Kish divisions that is among its top attractions. The island is about 23 square km in size, both historically and naturally. Hendurabi is about 28 km from this island but surely, it’s worth visiting. There are very few people living in this place who live in a village called Hendrabi, and live out of fishery. Near the village of Hendrabi, you can watch monuments of the villages “Al-Durrat” and “Al-Sarah”.

Tripp Plans

• 1^st day: Marine Recreation Complex (Scuba diving, jet ski, parasol, panana, shuttle, radar and water ski), Dolphins Park and Birds Garden, Sarina Shopping Center 1 (Nightly Shopping Offer)
• 2^nd day: Greek ship, Kariz aqueduct with 2500 years old, Marjan beach resorts, Marjan shopping center (nightly shopping offer)
• 3^rd day: Village of Baghou and watching deers, Anthropology house, Recreational berth, Hoor cottage
• 4^th day: Portugues valley, green tree – Kish aquarium, Maryam Bowling, Carting Pond, Castle of horror
• 5^th day: Harrieh Ancient city, Saffari with offroad tracks, Aquakum cable ski park
• 6^th day: Kish River, Recreational Ship, Biking, Artist’s corner (Sculptures of Iranian Brilliant Artists)
• 7^th day: Mir Mohana Amusement Park and Recreation Club, Kalhor Riding Club, Kish Shopping Center

Top Hotels

Top Restaurants

• Kouh-e Noor: European
• Mirmohana: Seafood, Persian, Middle Eastern
• Shandiz Safdari: Persian, Halal
• Darchin Restaurant: Persian, Seafood