Included:

 

- Iranian visa support documentation (authorization numbers paperwork)

- Guided tour of Fatima Mausoleum - Qom

- Visit to the ruins of Fire temple - Niasar

- Guided tour of Kashan old town: Merchant’s house, Bath house, old city wall and Fin Gardens

- Guided tour of Ali-quapu palace, Sheikh Lotfollah mosque, Imam mosque and Chechel Sotun (40 columns) palace, Old Friday Mosque,     Vank cathedral and Armenian quarter - Esfahan

- Guided tour of Towers of Silence, Zoroastrian Fire Temple (active), Water Museum and Amir Chakhmakh complex - Yazd

- Guided tour of Pasargadae with Cyrus the Great tomb, Persepolis (2 visits), Nasht-e Rostam

- Guided tour of Shiraz: Nasir Al-Mulk (Pink Mosque), Tomb of Hafez, Ark (fortress), Quran Gate, Merchant’s house & garden, Ali Ibn        Hamzeh Holly Shrine

- 11 Breakfasts

- Local guide

- Experienced English speaking Tour Leader

 

Transportation:

 

- private buses, flight Shiraz-Tehran

 

Accommodation (twin shared basis in all hotels and in the caravan serai):

 

- 3-4* hotels

 

Not Included:

 

- visa costs

- Insurance

- sights not listed above

- international flights

- meals not listed (prepare 250-350 USD for meals not included)

- personal expenses

- arrival and departure transfers

- tipping

 

 

ITINERARY

 

Day 1: Tehran. Arrival day

 

Today nothing is planned. Travelers arrive Tehran from all over the world. Please, note that most flights arrive Tehran late at night or early in the morning. Meet your tour leader at the hotel lobby at 6 PM. During the meeting your leader will go through the itinerary and will answer all questions. 

 

In Islamic Republic of Iran every traveler is required to follow traditional dress code: covered hair (scarf is fine), arms and legs for women. Best way to dress is to wear a long-sleeved dress over trousers. The dress should be no shorter than to the middle of your hips. For men – T-shirts and short-sleeved shirts are ok, but they are required to wear trousers. When visiting most important Islamic religious sights, like Fatima mausoleum in Qom, men are asked to cover their arms as well.

 

 

Day 2: Kashan

 

In the morning we leave Tehran and head to Kashan. On the way we have a stop planned at Qom – home to the second most important religious sight in Iran. Imam Reza’s mausoleum in Mashhad is the most worshipped one. His sister – Fatima – was buried in Qom, and her mausoleum is one of the biggest pilgrimage centers among Shia Muslims.

 

After visiting the mausoleum complex, we continue to Niasar – small town famous for its rose water factories. There is an ancient Fire Temple hidden in the mountains surrounding Niasar. Fire temples were used as places of worship by followers of Zoroastrianism - main religion of the region before Islam. 

Evening in Kashan is free to explore streets and try local food.

Meals included: breakfast

 

Day 3: Kashan

 

Kashan is one of the oldest human settlements in Iran. Throughout the centuries it grew, was destroyed, rebuilt and finally became one of the world’s biggest centers of pottery and tiles production.

 

In the morning we head out to the Kashan bazaar. After shopping, sampling local ice-cream and taking photos, we continue to explore the city on the guided tour. Kashan old town has many merchants' houses, old caravan serais, mosques, traditional bath houses and wind towers. In the afternoon we will hide from the heat in the Fin Garden - a beautiful park with fountains and galleries.

Meals included: breakfast

 

Day 4: Esfahan

 

We will leave quiet Kashan in the morning, and will drive about 4 hours through the desert to the pearl of Persia – Esfahan. For lunch we can stop in one of the old caravan serais – traditional guesthouses, built along the Silk Road route.

 

Esfahan is one of the most beautiful cities not only in Iran, but in the whole world. For centuries it was religious, political and government center of Ancient Persia. We will arrive early enough to spend some time to explore streets and squares of the city. In the evening you may opt to visit Zurhaneh – traditional Persian gym practice, originated in warrior’s training.

Meals included: breakfast

 

Day 5: Esfahan

 

Esfahan is one of the biggest cities in Iran, and our city tour will consist of two half-day parts. Today we visit sights surrounding the magnificent Imam square: Ali-quapu palace, Sheikh Lotfollah mosque, Imam mosque and Chechel Sotun palace.

 

Afternoon is free to explore Esfahan on your own, enjoy delicious food and refreshing ice-cream.

Meals included: breakfast

 

Day 6: Esfahan

 

In the morning we are going to visit old Friday mosque – one of the world’s most impressive collections of Islamic architecture, - and Armenian quarter with beautiful Vank cathedral.

 

Afternoon is free to visit museums and bridges of Esfahan.

Meals included: breakfast

 

 

Day 7: Yazd

 

Today's  long drive through the desert brings us to Yazd – the center of modern Zoroastrianism. We will visit ancient Towers of Silence and an active Fire Temple, where the fire is said to have been burning for over 4,000 years.

In the evening walk through small streets and mosque yards of the city. Yazd also has a Zurkhaneh gym that we can visit.

Meals included: breakfast

 

Day 8: Shiraz

 

In the morning after a city tour we will leave Yazd and will head further south to Shiraz - the city of poets, universities and rose gardens.

Meals included: Breakfast

 

Day 9: Shiraz

 

Guided tour of Shiraz includes Nasir al-Mulk (Pink mosque) – one of the most photographed mosques in Iran, Hafez tomb, Ark (fortress), Quran Gate, Ali Ibn Hamzeh Holly Shrine and one of the merchant houses with beautiful garden, where we can stop for a cup of sweet cherry tea.

 

Afternoon is free to shop at the bazaar, enjoy sheesha at the park by the Ark walls and if you fancy - to go to the movies in the local cinema.

Meals included: breakfast

 

Day 10: Shiraz

 

In the morning we will return to Persepolis - the palace is so big, that it takes two days to see everything. After the tour we will continue to Nasht-e Rostam: ancient mountain burial of king Darius I.

Free afternoon on return to Shiraz. The best way to spend an evening in Shiraz is to head out to the Quran Gate where local families have picnics after the sun sets and the weather becomes a bit cooler.

Meals included: breakfast

 

Day 11: Tehran

 

In the morning we will travel to Shiraz airport to catch a short flight back to Tehran. Free day in the capital to visit more museums, coffee shops and art galleries will finish in one of the traditional restaurants, where we will have our final night dinner and share our memories of Iran.

Meals included: breakfast

 

Day 12: Tehran

 

Departure day – travelers are free to depart at any time.

Meals included: breakfast

 

 

 

 

 

 

Check out "Essentials" tab for information about booking conditions, visas, safety, Iranian dress-code, and other details.

Arrival and departure transfers, pre and post trip accommodation are available.

If you wish to book the trip and find out more about additional services, please, contact us directly.