16
Days
Original
Style
Reviews
$6,985NZD
Inclusive
2021 & 2022
Overview
A medium-paced tour, perfect for visiting Iran’s main highlights. Persian Wonders visits a UNESCO World Heritage site at every stage from Golestan Palace to Persepolis.
| Start | Tehran, Iran |
| Finish | Tehran, Iran |
| Duration | 16 Days |
| Group size | Max 10 |
| Room | Double/Twin |
| Private Room | +690NZD |
| Style | Comfort |
| Theme | Explorer |
| Physical rating | ⚫ ⚫ 〇〇〇 |
| Transport | Private Mini Bus |
| Meals | 15 Breakfast, 16 Meals (lunches and/or dinners) |
| Accomodation | Hotel 3&4 star, Traditional Home Stay |
Highlights
Features
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-19th 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 9th 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
The tour concludes after breakfast, followed by transfer to IKA Airport for your departure flight. Khoda hafez! We hope your Persian Wonders experience has given you beautiful memories of this ancient land and we look forward to welcoming you back!
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Janet, Wellington –
The occasions that we were invited by local hosts were absolute treats! It was such a privilege to be invited into these homes and be given a meal there. In Shiraz, our first experience of such hospitality, I was amazed at the generosity and kindness of our wealthy hosts.
Nigel, Port Vila VANUATU –
There is no reason to feel insecure. The hotels are of good international standards and internal travel whether by air or private taxi is inexpensive and reliable. The only time we were “accosted” by people was people wanting to talk with us and have a photo taken. This happened at Persepolis but not much elsewhere. When we left personal property in a taxi a couple of phone calls had it promptly returned to us.
Dress Code: My wife wore a headscarf throughout the trip but even attitudes to that were somewhat more relaxed than we anticipated.
Susanne –
I had a fascinating time in Iran. The 16 days was good for me – any shorter and I would have felt under pressure. The tour was well organised and planned. Mohi and Moshen made our trip and they ensured that we had the best experience possible. Thank you , Mehdi. It was a great experience, made very easy by your company.
Isfahan was such a vibrant city. But the wonderful thing about the trip was the variation in the sites visited. I mean there was a mix of culture, religion, architecture, gardens, food. The advantage of having just the four of us, and friends at that, meant it gave us some flexibility. For example, we happened to come across a Suffi in the bazaar one night and then the next day, altered our programme a little so that we could go to a mosque where Suffis go for retreat – not sure of the term used for this so have just used the word retreat. It was so interesting. Also, the opportunity to go to a Nomad wedding was sensational. And we gals had the opportunity to go to a hamam.