While traveling to Iran prepare yourself to face amazing open arms people, delicious food, old history, deep culture, and many strange things that you cannot believe! The architecture is amazing with breathtaking mosques, cleverly designed wind towers (Badgirs), and impressive structures such as the Zoroastrian Towers of Silence. The country’s history is astonishingly rich, having embraced and been dominated by countless civilizations.
Besides the unique Persian culture during this tour, the experience of the desert and Hyrcanian forest will be a beautiful contrast in this four-season country.
Difficulty level:
Challenging
Duration :
9 Days
Age Range:
15-85
Transportation Type:
Bus
Trip Type:
Culture &Nature
Group Size:
16
Operated languages:
English
9 Days
From
Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival
Arrival at Tehran IKA International Airport, transfer to hotel. Check-in and rest.
Day 2: Drive To Qazvin, City Tour In Qazvin
After a 2-hour drive alongside a part of the ancient Silkroad connecting Northwest Iran to Rey, we arrive in Qazvin a historical city not far from Tehran. We start with Jame mosque and Sardar Bozorg Ancient Water reservoir the largest single-dome water reservoir in Iran and the world. After lunch, we walk and visit the reconstructed caravansary and bazaar of Sadol-Saltaneh.
Day 3: Drive To Alamut Valley, Hike To Alamut Fortress And Visit The Castle Of Assassins, Visit Ovan Lake, Drive Back To Qazvin
We start our day by driving to Alamout valley through a narrow road to visit a historical fortress which is located between Qazvin and the Caspian Sea in the heart of Alborz Mountain. Hassan Sabbah founded this fortress, a leader of the Islamic branch of Ismailian converted a local population, and founded a “Hashashian” or Assassin group in the 11th Century. Then after visiting and stopping by the natural lake of Ovan we return to Qazvin.
Day 4: Drive To Fuman, En-route Visiting And Walking in Guilan Rural Heritage Museum Then To Visit The Historical City Of Masouleh And Walk Around In Pedestrians
Visiting the ecomuseum of rural heritage and walking in the forest while visiting the Guilan rural houses and culture is as exciting as spending a month visiting all parts of this green province of Iran. Then visiting the historical city of Masouleh with 800 years of history will make the day until evening. In Masouleh the buildings have been carved straight into the mountain and are interconnected. The flat roofs and open courtyards also serve as connected pedestrian areas similar to streets.
Day 5: Half-day Forest Hiking To Visit Rudkhan Castle, After Enjoying Local Cuisine For Lunch Drive To Zanjan
Forest hiking and using the long stairway to reach Rudkhan castle one of the beautiful and old castles of Iran surrounded by Hyrcanian forest (found in 500 AD and developed in 1050 by Seljuks).
Day 6: Drive To Takab For Visiting The Takht-e Soleyman Archaeological Site And Hiking Up To Zendan-e Div Mountain. Drive back to Zanjan
After about 2 hour drive, near Takab is one of Iran’s most important historical sites, Takht-e Soleyman, or the throne of Solomon. Here you will find the remains of a fortress on a hill near a lake, once the armchair of the Parthians, the Achaemenids, and the Sassanids. It is said that this is the birthplace of the Zoroaster. The oldest excavations are those of a Sassanian palace and some Zoroastral fire temples.
Day 7: Zanjan Half-day City tour, Drive To Tehran, En-route Visiting Soltaniyeh Dome
Today we leave the hotel for a half-day city tour of Zanjan, this city was an important stopover on the ancient trade route between east and west., we visit the Anthropology museum and grand bazaar, after having lunch, we drive back to Tehran and visit Soltaniey Dome on the way back. The mighty dome of the Oldjeitu mausoleum with its eight minarets is a huge building built by the Mongol ruler Oldjeitu in the early 14th century. Having converted to Islam, he wanted to demonstrate his loyalty to the new faith with the grandiose complex (highest brick dome in the world, UNESCO World Heritage).
Day 8: Tehran City Tour
National Museum
Today is a day to go through history from the 5th millennium BC to 648 AD the pre-Islam archaeological museum covers Persia’s history to a view of Islamic works of art. We can walk to get into an old traditional cafe to have lunch.
Golestan Palace
The Golestan Palace from the Qajar period is listed on the UNESCO heritage list. Build on the leftovers of a citadel is one of the oldest buildings in Tehran. The complex has several palaces and a lovely garden. The Qajar family was ruling Iran from 1785 to 1925.
The Grand Bazaar in Tehran is less than 200 years old, but for a much longer time spot trading has been going on. In total there is more than 10 kilometer of lanes full of stores. Each part of the bazaar has its specialty, for example, copper, paper, gold, spices, and of course carpets.Day 9: Departure
Transfer to Tehran IKA International Airport, departure, and fly back home.
Included:
• Visa process.
• English speaking guide during all days
• All daily meals & snacks as a program.
• Private air-conditioned vehicle with experienced driver during the journey
• All entrance fees for sightseeing as mentioned in the program.
• VAT and all other taxes
Excluded:
• Tips for guides and drivers
• Visa fee
• Extra accommodations in hotels or camps more than mentioned in the itinerary.
• Insurance
• International flights and airport taxes
• Personal expenses or beverages
• Any individual transfer more than the program
• Extra expenses that aren’t mentioned in the program.
• Changing accommodation in case of client’s request
• Unexpected events and weather conditions or preliminary evacuation costs
Recommended Tips:
• The group with 6 and more pax (excluding tour leader) has 1 special price for their tour leader. It is based on accommodations in a double sharing room and tent.
• The prices are calculated based on mentioned hotels and accommodations. After your confirmation, we start to check availability and inform you of the probable change. in case of any change in the final booking, the price could be changed.
Cancelation policy:
• After your final confirmation, we send you the invoice. You will pay 50% of the total amount 90 days before arrival.
• Any cancellation before 90 days to arrival, has NO charge.
• Any cancellation between 89 days to 30 days before arrival date: 15% charge.
• You will pay the rest of 50% of the amount and settle the invoice 30 days before arrival.
• Any cancellation between 29 days to 15 days before arrival date: 50% charge.
• Any cancellation less than 14 days: 100% charge.