Driving east to west across the Lut Desert you'll see plenty of mirages, but when you reach Rud Shur, amazingly, the water is no mirage. Though usually only a tiny trickle, seeing a crystal-clear stream meandering across the barren landscape is quietly affecting – with the scene made more interesting by the surrounding merikhi (rounded, wind-smoothed erosion-ridges).
Note that cheeky drivers wanting to sell you a 4WD package often mention Rud Shur as part of the bait, not letting on that the main asphalted Nehbandan–Shahdad road crosses a section of the river (14km east of Kalout) that is perfectly accessible in a standard car.
