Wave of Iranian tourist hits road and social media

TEHRAN - A travel frenzy is gripping young Iranians, who are inspiring each other through social media to overcome traditional constraints and expand their horizons.

The exploits of young Iranian travelers, hitchhiking and backpacking their way around the globe, have become immensely popular on Instagram and Telegram, the most widely used apps in Iran, with some gathering more than 200,000 followers.

Sara Louee, 31, grew up thinking that holidays were a family trip to the northern coasts of Iran.