THE TRUE FACE OF IRAN REVEALED

At 1300hrs on the 18th January 2010, after 60 days and 1700km, professional explorer, adventurer and speaker Mark Kalch completed a solo trek across the Islamic Republic of Iran from its northern border on the Caspian Sea to its southerly border in the Persian Gulf. Beginning in the coastal city of Chalus, he crossed the Alborz Mountains heading south to the capital Tehran, before continuing south-west to Qom, Esfahan, through the Zagros Mountains, and onto the Persian Gulf at Bushehr.

Mark trekked and climbed through subtropical forest, 5000m+ mountains, high plateau and desert landscapes. The aim? To reveal a country much misunderstood and misrepresented in the West.

Mark says, “Iran is not simply about demonstrations, nuclear ambitions and politics. Its people are some of the most hospitable on the planet and its geography some of the most extreme and diverse. After travelling across the entire country on foot and living with so many of its people I know this to be true”.

He continues, “Our view in the West of Iran has come about only through the narrow view of the latest breaking headlines. We do not see a country of people going about their lives in much the same way we do. I hope that having traveled the length of Iran on foot and meeting the average Iranian citizen, I can now help to expose the glaring similarities between Iran and the West.”

Mark slept in mosques, sheds, hospitals, fields, huts, homes, stadiums and of course his tent. He crossed 2 of the major mountain ranges on earth, the Alborz and Zagros, as well as Iran’s inhospitable central plateau. He was welcomed with open arms in every settlement, village, town and city he passed through.

For further information please visit www.markkalch.com/expeditioniran OR www.markkalch.com

For information on Mark’s previous expedition please visit www.expeditionamazonas.com

Mark Kalch is a professional explorer, adventurer and speaker who has completed successful and exceptionally difficult expeditions all over the world. The 2 most recent being a 60 day, 1700km solo and on foot crossing of the Islamic Republic of Iran (www.markkalch.com/expeditioniran) and a human-powered, 153 day, 6800km, source to sea descent of the Amazon River (www.expeditionamazonas.com). Mark’s presentations regarding these journeys have been given to schools and universities across the UK and Australia, Royal Geographical Society, National Geographic Society, public audiences and corporates. He has written numerous articles for print and online publications and has begun work on a book regarding his expedition in Iran.