Persian Wonders

Salam! Welcome to Tehran. After our representative meets you at IKA airport and assists with the transfer to your hotel, you’ll get to know your tour guide and fellow travellers at the tour briefing and welcome dinner.

Overnight Tehran Enghelab 4 star dinner

Today we’ll spend a full day exploring Tehran. We’ll visit the National Museum of Iran (containing exhibits dating back 35,000 years); Golestan Palace, one of the city’s oldest monuments and a UNESCO World Heritage site; the national  Grand Bazaar; and the Treasury of National Jewels, featuring the world’s most magnificent collection of jewellery and gemstones.

Overnight Tehran Enghelab 4 star breakfast & lunch

After breakfast, we’ll leave for Kashan, stopping in the city of Qom en route to vist the Fatima al-Masumeh Shrine (interior access may be restricted).  Fatima Masumeh is honoured as a saint by Shia Muslims and many miracles have been recorded at this shrine.

Overnight Kashan Negin 3 star breakfast & lunch

Our Kashan tour includes the spectacular, world heritage-listed Fin Garden; the Agha Bozorg Mosque (considered among the finest of the mid-19^th century); the ancient archeological site of Teke Sialk; and Borujerdi House, a beautiful example of Persian traditional architecture.

Overnight Kashan Negin 3 star breakfast & lunch

After breakfast, we’ll leave for the traditional village of Abyaneh, famed for the unusual reddish hue of its buildings, before heading on to magnificent Isfahan, the ancient Persian capital and modern Iran’s third-largest city. There, we’ll take an evening stroll from Si-o-Seh Pol (“Thirty Three Bridges”) to Khajou Bridge, built in 1650.

Overnight Isfahan Piroozi 4 star breakfast, lunch & dinner

Isfahan was once one of the world’s largest cities and is renowned for its architecture. We’ll begin by visiting the Safavid emperors’ palaces of Chehel Sotoun (“The Palace of Forty Columns”), Hasht-Behesht (“The Palace of Eight Paradises”) and Aali Qapu (“The Royal Palace”). Then we’ll stroll through Naqsh-e Jahan Square (UNESCO world heritage site) to the magnificent Imam and Sheikh Lotfollah mosques before heading to the Armenian district of Jolfa for a tour of Vank Cathedral.

Overnight Isfahan Piroozi 4 star breakfast & lunch

Enjoy a free day exploring Isfahan at your leisure. There’s plenty to see, including the Shahi and Qeysarie Bazaars, four museums, the Isfahan aquarium, and historic mosques and churches.

Overnight Isfahan Piroozi 4 star breakfast

In the morning we’ll leave for Yazd, stopping on the way to visit the 9^th century Jame Mosque (one of Iran’s oldest and still in use) and the Old Bazaar in the desert city of Naein. Next, we’ll stop at Meybod, an ancient city dating back to pre-Islamic times, and visit Narin Castle.

Overnight Yazd Safaieh 4 star breakfast & lunch

We’ll spend the full day in World Heritage-listed Yazd, also known as the City of Windcatchers due to its unique architecture. We’ll see Badgir (wind towers), visit the striking Amir Chakhmaq Complex, and explore the Grand Mosque of Yazd with its magnificent dome and mosaic work. We’ll also visit the Zoroastrian Fire Temple and the very atmospheric Zoroastrian Tower of Silence.

Overnight Yazd Safaieh 4 star breakfast & lunch

Today we take the road to the very ancient stone village of Maymand (UNESCO World Heritage Site) with its hand-dug houses, some of which have been inhabited for 3,000 years. Then we continue on to the city of Kerman, famed for its mosques and Zoroastrian fire temples.

Overnight Kerman Govashir 3 star breakfast & lunch

We’ll take an early morning excusion to the World Heritage-listed walled Shazdeh (Prince) Garden in Mahan. Then we’ll head back to Kerman to visit the enormous Ganjali Khan Complex, and Jabalieh or Rock Dome, an octagonal stone monument dating back to 2,000 BC.

Overnight Kerman Govashir 3 star breakfast & lunch

Today we drive to the romantic city of Shiraz, renowned for its poetry and gardens. En route, we’ll visit another UNESCO world heritage site: the Pasargad Complex, containing the tomb of Cyrus the Great (founder of the Achaemenid Empire). Then we’ll head to the medieval mud brick citadel of Rayen and marvel at the Kalouts, stunning natural rock formations in the desert.

Overnight Shiraz Karimkhan boutique breakfast & lunch

Shiraz is one of ancient Persia’s oldest cities. We’ll start our tour at the World Heritage-listed Bagh-e Eram (“Garden of Paradise”), then move on to Nasir al-Mulk Mosque and Narenjestan-e Qavam (“Qavam’s Orange Garden”—named for its plentiful sour orange trees). Next, we’ll see Arg-e Karimkhani (“Citadel of Karimkhan”), explore Vakil Bazaar and continue to the Shah Cheragh Mausoleum. Finally, we’ll visit the last resting places of two of Iran’s greatest poets: Hafezieh (“Tomb of Hafez”) and Sa’dieh (“Tomb of Sa’adi”).

Overnight Shiraz Karimkhan boutique breakfast & lunch

We’ll leave Shiraz in the morning for a full day excursion to Persepolis (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). The earliest palace and temple remains of this capital of the ancient Achaemenid Empire date back to 515 BC. We’ll also visit the awe-inspiring Naqsh-e Rostam necropolis, containing the tombs and carved reliefs of Achaemenid and Sassanid emperors, before heading back to Shiraz.

Overnight Shiraz Karimkhan boutique breakfast & lunch

We’ll spend a free morning in Shiraz (so much to see, so little time!) before taking an afternoon flight back to Tehran.

Overnight Tehran Enghelab 4 star breakfast & lunch