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⯈ International-Ferries
⯈ Domestic Ferries
⯈ Informal Speed Boats
⯈ Custom Boat Trips
International Ferries to and from Iran
exist on three lines: Bandar Lengeh and Dubai; Bandar Abbas and Sharjah; and Khorramshahr and Kuwait. The ferries are operated by the Iranian Valfajr Shipping Company.
You can buy tickets yourself at the ports in Iran, UAE, or Kuwait or through an agency. Passenger tickets are comparably cheap, vehicle prices depend on the size of your car or motorcycle.
Customs for vehicles. Keep in mind that you may need to pay for a fixer when arriving in Iran to get your vehicle out of customs (ca. 100$). In the arabic country you may be able to solve customs on your own. Solving customs is easier when traveling by roll-on/roll-off (RORO) ferry (Bandar Abbas and Sharjah; and Khorramshahr and Kuwait). When traveling from or to Bandar Lengeh, the ferry cannot carry a vehicle itself, but a cargo ship will be arranged which typically travels the day before.
Visa. You can only board the ferry to Iran with a valid visa for Iran. Read more on how to get it here.
| Ferry Route ⛴️ | Duration | Type | Timetable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bandar Lengeh ↔ Dubai | 4–6 h | 🧍 Passenger + 🚗 Vehicle (different boat) |
Show timetable
|
| Bandar Abbas ↔ Sharjah | 7–12 h | 🧍 Passenger + 🚗 Vehicle (RORO) |
Show timetable
|
| Khorramshahr ↔ Kuwait | 4–6 h | 🧍 Passenger + 🚗 Vehicle (RORO) |
Show timetable
|
⛴️ Bandar Lengeh ↔ Dubai
🧍 🚗
Duration: 4–6 h · Passenger + Vehicle (different boat)
- Bandar Lengeh → Dubai: Sun. (sometimes) & Wed., 08:00
- Dubai → Bandar Lengeh: Sun. (sometimes) & Thu., 09:00
⛴️ Bandar Abbas ↔ Sharjah
🧍 🚗
Duration: 7–12 h · Passenger + Vehicle (RORO)
- Bandar Abbas → Sharjah: Sun. & Wed., 20:00
- Sharjah → Bandar Abbas: Mon. & Thu., 21:00
⛴️ Khorramshahr ↔ Kuwait
🧍 🚗
Duration: 4–6 h · Passenger + Vehicle (RORO)
- Khorramshahr → Kuwait: Sat. & Wed., 10:00
- Kuwait → Khorramshahr: Sun. & Thu., 10:30
Domestic Ferries
run on a fixed schedule. Times are subject to change due to weather conditiions. Please confirm in advance. Ticket prices are fixed, affordable and can be bought at the terminal prior to departure.The ticket for a foreigner is more expensive. During high season, additional ferries operate.
Vehicle ferries can transport any kind of vehicle. For passenger ferries, you can negotiate the transport of a bicycle or small motorcycle with the captain directly (expect to pay about the same as for your ticket for a motorcycle).
Larak Island is a quiet, most undeveloped island in the region, ideal for snorkeling and relaxing on empty beaches. Day trips by boat are run informally from Qeshm and Bandar Abbas. There are no facilities on the island. Bring supplies and expect a simple, peaceful nature experience.
| Ferry Route | Days | Duration | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bandar Abbas ↔ Hormuz | ca. 6× daily | 1h | 🧍 Passenger |
| Bandar Abbas ↔ Qeshm City | Daily | 1h | 🧍 Passenger |
| Pohl ↔ Laft (Qeshm Island) | Ongoing | 20 min | 🧍 Passenger + 🚗 Vehicle |
| Qeshm City ↔ Hormuz | ca. 6× daily | 1h | 🧍 Passenger |
| Qeshm City ↔ Larak Island | Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat Departure: 08:00 Return: 16:00 |
— | 🧍 Passenger |
| Bandar Charak ↔ Kish Island | ca. 4× daily | 60–90 min | 🧍 Passenger + 🚗 Vehicle |
Bandar Abbas ↔ Hormuz
🧍
ca. 6× daily • 1h • Passenger
Bandar Abbas ↔ Qeshm City
🧍
Daily • 1h • Passenger
Pohl ↔ Laft (Qeshm Island)
🧍 🚗
Ongoing • 20 min • Passenger + Vehicle
Qeshm City ↔ Hormuz
🧍
ca. 6× daily • 1h • Passenger
Qeshm City ↔ Larak Island
🧍
Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat • 08:00–16:00 • Passenger
Route: Qeshm City ↔ Larak Island
Days: Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat
Departure: 08:00
Return: 16:00
Type: 🧍 Passenger
Bandar Charak ↔ Kish Island
🧍 🚗
ca. 4× daily • 60–90 min • Passenger + Vehicle
Route: Bandar Charak ↔ Kish Island
Days: ca. 4× daily
Duration: 60–90 min
Type: 🧍 Passenger + 🚗 Vehicle
Informal Speedboats
Informal speedboats have space for about 8-10 persons. The price is lower than the official ferry price, but must be negotiated. You can negotiate bringing your bicycle on one of these boats; bringing a motorcycle is not possible. These are unofficial small boats; make sure you get a life jacket.
While the boats between Qeshm and Hormuz and Qeshm and Hengam operate daily, you can also try to arrange a speedboat to the main land at Tiyab. Trips can be arranged at a premium price for yourself or you can joining an existing party going this way. This is a great way to save a lot of time and kilometers when traveling along the Persian Gulf coast by not having to pass through Bandar Abbas. However, you might need to wait for days until the next boat is making this journey.
| Speedboat 🚤 | Days | Departure time | Duration | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kandaloo (Qeshm) ↔ Hengam | Daily | On demand | 30 min | 🧍 Passenger |
| Hormuz ↔ Qeshm City | Daily | On demand | 45 min | 🧍 Passenger |
| Hormuz ↔ Tiyab | Irregular | — | — | 🧍 Passenger |
🚤 Kandaloo (Qeshm) ↔ Hengam
🧍
Daily • On demand • 30 min • Passenger
🚤 Hormuz ↔ Qeshm City
🧍
Daily • On demand • 45 min • Passenger
Locations: Hormuz ↔ Qeshm City
Days: Daily
Departure time: On demand
Duration: 45 min
Type: 🧍 Passenger
Custom Boat Trips
There are a number of interesting touristic boat trips available around the islands in the Persian Gulf. While not strictily ferry boats, they may be interesting to some and shall therefore be shortly mentioned here.
- Dolphin Tour around Hengam island. About two hour boat trip to see bottlenose dolphins. Best between October and March. Mornings, when the see is calm increase chances of close sightings. Many tours continue to Hengam Island afterward for local food, small shops, and coastal views, making the full trip about two hours. Departure from Kandaloo.
- A boat trip around Hormuz island. takes you along its famous rainbow-colored coastline, past red cliffs, bright mineral beaches. Make sure you get to swim at some of the hidden coves only accessible by sea. The trip usually lasts about 2 hours. Best to ask around Hromuz harbour for a shared tour the next day.
- Diving in Qeshm or Kish offers clear waters, healthy coral reefs, and diverse marine life. Local dive centers provide guided dives, gear rental, and beginner courses, making it accessible for all levels. Costs for diving in Iran are very affordable. Visibility is best in the cooler months (October–April), when sea conditions are calm and wildlife is most active. Ask around in the cities to find the best offer for you.
- Mangroves Boat Trip in the Harra Sea Forest (Qeshm). The trip takes you along narrow channels into the vast mangrove ecosystem where fresh and saltwater meet, forming one of Iran’s richest coastal wetlands. The reserve —now a tentative UNESCO World Heritage site — supports over 50,000 birds across more than 90 species, making it a key habitat for herons, egrets, ibises, and migratory birds. Negotiate the length of your trip first. Different piers for departure, for example here.
