The most magical moments are not the ones you are already aware of, but they appear unexpectedly and suddenly in front of you, and I experienced this in the depths of the Khotbeh Sara forests.

On the way to Khotbeh Sara waterfall, in the forests of Gilan, Iran, we locked our bicycles and with fresh energy, we started the path by crossing the river to visit the tall waterfall.

Even though I’ve had seen this waterfall before and I knew what to expect, I was still full of indescribable eagerness.

The path had ups and downs, and the soft, wet soil was under our feet. Thick trees from above and below, into the valley and on the body of the rocky ground above the head were staring at us.

Within 20 minutes, we climbed the 2 km route and from there we descended a slope and finally reached the incredibly high waterfall. The Rivo Falls, like several silver stripes, flowed down the surface of dark rock.

I reached the waterfall with great enthusiasm. Although it was cold, I could not stop myself. I took off my shoes and went into the water. The coolness of the water and the freshness of the place reigned everywhere.

On the way back, we decided to go down the same way we came, until one of our companions suggested we try a different route. I protested, saying that if the path was difficult, I might not be able to come.

At the insistence of our friend, we moved in another direction. Instead of going toward the main river, this path seemed to go deeper and deeper into the forest.

We walked a little along the streams until we came along a handmade wooden ladder made of thick tree branches.

We came down the ladder and it was there that we suddenly encountered extraordinary beauty, far from our imagination. All the paths had these ladders and each ladder was installed over a small waterfall by locals to make it possible to go across.

From each ladder you descended, small natural chambers were created among the rocks, surrounded by leaves, trees, and greenery. The cozy places that the forest had built with its own hands and the waterfalls would splash inside this small paradise. Such cozy, and enchanting chambers  …

I never wanted to leave there …