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. Persepolis is just one of the many reminders of this rich history – words cannot describe just how impressive this site is.
Difficulty level:
Moderate
Duration :
16 Days
Age Range:
15-85
Transportation Type:
Bus
Trip Type:
Culture &Nature
Group Size:
16
Operated languages:
English
16 Days
From
Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival
Arrival at Tehran IKA International Airport, transfer to hotel. Check-in and rest.
Day 2: 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 café to have lunch. Afternoon visit to National Jewelry Museum.
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.
National Jewelry Museum
The national Jewelry museum is housed in the Central Bank of Iran. Heavily guarded this impressive collection of jewelry is unique. One of the highlights is the Crown Jewel, last used by the Shah of Iran.
Note: National Jewelry Museum is open only on Saturdays-Tuesdays from 14-16
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 3: Drive To Damghan, En-route Visit Caravanserai, Visit Cheshmeh Ali And Tarikhaneh At Damghan
Drive via Silk Road to Damghan, en-route we will visit old Caravanserai, visit the oldest mosque of Iran, Tarikhaneh, and then visit the summer residency of Qajar kings. Evening checks in and rest in Damghan.
Day 4: Damghan To Farahzad
Drive from Damghan to Jandaq through the only route that connects the northern part of the Central Desert to the south part and used by caravans for centuries, we will continue the route to reach Farahzad Oasis.
Day 5: All Day In Desert
A full day hiking on dunes from Farahzad toward Aroosan Oasis; Get back to Farahzad Barandaz Lodge by 4WD.
Day 6: Drive Farahzad To Yazd, Visit Anarak, Nain, Meybod And Amir Chakhmaq Sq. In Yazd
Drive from Farahzad to Yazd, en-route we will visit Anarak an ancient city by the desert, and then we will go to visit Pirnia house and desert anthropology museum in Nain, continue the route to Meybod, visit functional pottery workshop, check-in and rest in Yazd. “Amir Chakhmagh” historical zone is our evening plan in Yazd.
Day 7: City Tour In Yazd
According to UNESCO, Yazd is one of the oldest cities in the world; it is like a living museum. We visit the old historical part of the city “Fahadan” in the morning, there would be possible to go on the roof of Fahadan hotel and see the panoramic view of Yazd and the silk weaving workshop where exquisite brocades are still made on traditional looms. Visiting the oldest fire in the world at “Bahram-e-Yazd” fire temple, where a sacred fire has been kept alive for hundreds of years and is now a Zoroastrian pilgrim center. This is an opportunity to learn about Zoroastrianism which had been the Persian religion until the Arabs brought Islam to Iran. We will visit “Jame mosque” from the 14th century, visiting “Zoorkhane”, literally the “house of strength”, the place for traditional Iranian exercise is our last plan in Yazd.
Day 8: Drive From Yazd To Pasargadae
The next day of our journey will start with driving to Shiraz, en-route we will visit the Pasargadae Archeology Site and the tomb of Cyrus the Great, the first Achaemenid king.
Day 9: Nomad Day
Today we bring a visit to the Qashqai nomads. The traditional nomads travel twice a year with their flocks from the summer highlands north of Shiraz, to the lower lands near the Persian Gulf, where they stay in wintertime. Nowadays, most of them have permanent residents.
Day 10: Drive From Pasargadae To Persepolis, Visit Persepolis And Achaemenide Necropolis (Naqsh-e Rostam)
It is time to travel through history. It’s about one hour to the highlight of our journey, Persepolis the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenids at the height of their domination.
Note: No backpack and tripod allowed at Persepolis.
Necropolis called Naqsh-e Rustam in Farsi. Here are four tombs, cut high into the cliff face. The tombs are from the former kings of the Achaemenid dynasty. Also, several reliefs can be found here of the Sassanid period.Day 11: City Tour In Shiraz
Shiraz is a city of sophistication that has been celebrated as the heartland of Persian culture for more than 2000 years; the city is well known for poems and tall cypress trees. In the morning we visit the astonishing colorful Nasir-ol-Molk Mosque or Pink Mosque that makes our day. Walking through one of the oldest streets in Shiraz we arrive at Qavam Naranjestan Garden. Then we will continue to visit Karim Khan Citadel, Vakil Mosque, and Vakil Bath, and end our day by walking in the old Bazaar of Shiraz.
Day 12: Shiraz To Yasuj, Hiking in the Zagros Mountains
After breakfast we will leave Shiraz to Yasuj, hiking in the Zagros Mountains for about 4-5 hours alongside the river and enjoying the view of the unique scenery of the Persian oak forest special to the Zagros Mountains.
Day 13: Yasuj To Isfahan
Drive from Yasuj to Isfahan, en-route we will visit Kerik village, in the evening, relax in one of the traditional tea houses under “Khajoo” bridge and drink tea.
Day 14: Full-day City Tour In Isfahan
Today we visit Imam Square, the huge open square in the center of Isfahan with its artistic monuments on four sides including Imam Mosque with intricate turquoise tiles, Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque with some of the best mosaics from the 17th century, Ali Ghapoo Palace which was the first skyscraper in Iran and the old Bazaar. Walking through one of the largest squares in the world and visiting history, culture, architecture, and handicrafts as well, is an experience you have never had before. Then we walk to the Chehel Sotoun Palace and after visiting this beautiful royal pavilion of Safavid and one of the Persian Gardens registered on the UNESCO World Heritage list it’s time to explore more of Isfahan at leisure time in the old Bazaar with hundreds of shops displaying the art of handicraft.
Note: Imam Mosque in Isfahan is closed on Fridays and religious ceremonies.Day 15: Half-day City tour In Isfahan Then Drives To Kashan, En-route Visit Abyaneh Village.
Continuing our journey in Isfahan, we visit the Armenian quarter of Isfahan named Jolfa. There we bring a visit to Vank cathedral then drive to Kashan. En-route we visit Abyaneh village with the colorfully dressed inhabitants
and the red mud-brick houses with lattice windows and fragile wooden balconies. Where the elderly residents speak Middle Persian, which disappeared centuries ago from other parts of Iran. Continue the road to Kashan.Day 16: Departure
Transfer to Tehran IKA International Airport, departure and fly back home.
Included:
• Visa process.
• English speaking guide all day.
• Local guide in the desert.
• All daily meals & snacks as a program.
• Private air-conditioned vehicle with experienced driver during the journey
• 4WD transportation in the desert
• All entrance fees for sightseeing as mentioned in the program.
• VAT and all other taxes
Excluded:
• Tips for guides and drivers
• Extra accommodations in hotels or camps more than mentioned in the itinerary.
• Insurance
• Visa fee
• International flights and airport taxes
• Personal expenses or beverages
• Personal climbing or ski gear such as sleeping bag, etc
• 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.