Before the war reached Iran’s cities and heritage zones, the country was trying to tell a very different story to the world. It was a story about caravanserais, turquoise domes, mirrored palaces, desert railways, and a tourism economy that officials hoped could grow to...

Most people recognize the Strait of Hormuz from news headlines rather than travel blogs. It’s often mentioned in discussions about global shipping, oil routes, or geopolitical tensions.But here’s the surprising part.You actually can visit the region surrounding the Strait of Hormuz as a traveler,...