Discover the depth of Iran’s history

Overview

Take a captivating two-week trip and discover the charm of Iran’s rich history and breathtaking architectural marvels. Join us as we explore the undiscovered gems of this fascinating nation. Prepare yourself for an amazing journey through the center of Iran! Come explore with us now.

Explore the oasis city of Yazd with its unique architecture and Zoroastrian culture, see the ancient city of Pasargadae, and take a leisurely stroll through Shiraz’s breathtaking Persian gardens. One of the most important ancient sites in the world, Persepolis, is visited for the entire day as part of the tour.

Day 1: Tehran

Our representative will meet and greet you upon your arrival at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKA), after which you will be taken to the hotel for a break.

Day 2: Tehran

We’re going to take you to the Sa’d Abad Palace today, which is located in a beautiful park-like area. This was the Pahlavi Dynasty’s palace of coronation and marriage, and the final Iranian Shah lived there as well. Its vast collection, which is currently housed in a museum, comprises historical furniture and décor as well as the last Shah’s personal belongings. Additionally, our guests get to have a unique tour of a small gallery devoted to the last Empress of Iran’s collection of 20th-century art.

After that, we’ll go to the Imamzadeh Saleh Mausoleum and the Tajrish bazaar. They are situated in Tehran’s northern region.

Then, we’re heading to Darband. In Shemiran, Darband is an ancient settlement. This is one of the primary beginning points, about 1700 meters above sea level.

Day 3: Tehran

We’re going to take you to the opulent Golestan Palace this morning, which is a World Heritage Site. Constructed in the late 1700s during the Qajar Dynasty, this magnificent walled compound is centered around a beautifully manicured garden featuring serene pools.

Many of the features you see today were created in the 19th century by local Qajari architects and craftsmen who wanted to combine Western and Russian influences with traditional Persian design. The palace structures are still hailed as the pinnacle of the Qajar era and are among the oldest in contemporary Tehran.

After that, we’ll stroll through Tehran Bazaar. You will visit the National Museum of Iran in the afternoon, where amazing artifacts from 5000 BC to the contemporary era.

Day 4: Tehran – Kashan (245 Km distance)

We’ll leave Tehran behind and head south to Kashan, a town better known for Fin Garden, its vast market, and its hammams than for its textile and ceramic manufacturing industry.
Our first trip is to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Fin Garden, a serene and striking Persian garden with water channels flowing through a central pavilion. Outside the site, there’s also the opportunity to purchase some rose water, a specialty of the area.
You will next go to the Boroujerdi Traditional House. Approximately 130 years ago, during the Qajar period (1857), it was constructed by the renowned Iranian architect Ustad Ali Maryam. Haj Seyed Hasan Natanzi, a prominent businessman who mostly catered to residents of Boroujerd city, was the proprietor.

We will next go to the bazaar area, which is a large complex full of mosques and hammams. For those who need a break from shopping, we will stop at a hammam that has been transformed into a traditional teahouse.

Day 5: Kashan – Abyaneh – Esfahan (269 Km distance)

You will be arriving in Abyaneh village this morning after leaving Kashan behind. Because of its red soil and homes, Abyaneh Village is also known as the Red Village. The homes in Abyaneh are constructed in an antiquated architectural style with latticed windows and wooden doors in addition to the usage of clay as a construction material.

In Isfahan, you resume your overland trek. One of the greatest cities in the world, Isfahan served as the capital of the Safavid Empire in the 17th century. It was the center of a vast Persian Empire that stretched from the Euphrates River in modern-day Iraq to the Oxus River in Afghanistan. It was also aesthetically stunning, extraordinarily wealthy, and politically powerful, drawing visitors from Europe, the Ottoman Empire, India, and China. In fact, the rhyming adage “Isfahan nesf e Jahan” (Isfahan is half of the World) was inspired by its majesty. You will start your tour of the city with your knowledgeable guide by seeing some of the exquisite, centuries-old bridges that cross the Zayandeh River. For instance, the well-known bridges at Khaju and Sio-ce-pol.

For any male who wishes to sing, these archways offer a fantastic acoustic space. Under the bridge, you can usually find a man or a group of men singing. Typically, the songs deal with unrequited love or betrayal. You can listen to their tunes and have a conversation with these men.

Day 6: Isfahan

In Naghshe Jahan Square, your exploration continues. One of the biggest public areas in the world is located at this 17th-century site. Visit the Shah Mosque in the square, which dates back to the 17th century. It is regarded as a masterpiece of Islamic architecture and can be clearly identified by its stunning tile work, tall minarets, and dome. You will also go to Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque, which is also called the Ladies Mosque because it was constructed for the Shah’s harem and is famous for its colorful domed ceiling, which casts shadows like peacocks.

Admire the stunning music rooms and balconies where Safavid kings used to sit and watch the polo tournaments taking place in the square below when visiting the Ali Qapu Palace. Visiting the Qeisarieh Bazaar will round out your tour of the square. It’s a great place to shop for ceramics, enamel, jewelry, and finely inlaid board games, as there are hundreds of local sellers who specialize in traditional crafts.

Chehel Sotun Pavilion comes next. Shah Abbas II constructed this elegant pavilion for amusement and royal events. It is situated in a manicured woodland park in front of a serene reflecting pool. You enter through a portico supported by twenty thin wooden columns, and rise into lofty rooms adorned with paintings, mosaics, and frescoes—the Hall of Mirrors is particularly striking.

Day 7: Isfahan

Visit a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Isfahan to continue your exploration. Covering approximately 5 acres in the center of this medieval city, the Masjed-e Jamé is another classic of Iranian architecture, stunning in its rich detail and dramatic design despite its initial simplicity. One of the nation’s oldest communal mosques, its construction and ornamentation over the past twelve centuries reflect several significant Islamic architectural eras.

You will learn more about the intricate history of the area by touring other churches in the city’s Armenian neighborhood, such as the 17th-century Vank Cathedral, which is known for its opulent interior decoration and distinctive fusion of European and Islamic architectural styles.

We will also go to the Music Museum in the same quarter, which has a variety of Iranian national and local instruments. We are going to the Hasht Behesht Palace and Garden in the afternoon. This octagonal mansion is home to groups of old men who spend their leisure time chit-chatting with guests.

Day 8: Isfahan – Naein – Central Desert (440 Km distance)

You will be leaving Isfahan this morning and heading to the ancient community of Naien, which dates back to the eighth century. We are going to the Jame mosque in Naien over there.
Following that, we’ll carry on to the stunning Central Desert of Iran, also known as “Kavir-e-Markazi” in the local dialect. Here, you can explore the sandy desert’s edge, which makes your stay especially memorable as most other locations in the area are rather removed from the actual desert.
You’ll get to see the Mesr desert, the ancient settlements, and the locals there. You may also eat food that is prepared locally and get to know their way of life.

Day 9: Central Desert – Meybod – Yazd (300 Km distance)

You will continue your overland trek to Meybod, a little village whose distinctive monochromatic architecture made of desert brick may catch your attention right away. Nevertheless, Meybod, which is situated along an old trade route, also has many interesting places to see, such as its caravanserai.
Constructed in the traditional Safavid manner, this historic sand dunes hotel boasts verandas, shady hallways, and about a hundred rooms, some of which are currently being utilized as artisan workshops. Learn about the thick-clay structure and underground bunker that allowed the community to store food and ice before refrigeration—even in the sweltering summer heat of the desert—at the neighborhood Icehouse.

Day 10: Yazd

Yazd is among the oldest towns in Iran to have been inhabited continuously. Minarets and cleverly constructed wind turbines that gather desert breezes to cool residences during the scorching summer months give it a distinctive look. You start the day’s touring in Yazd, which is also the hub of Iran’s Zoroastrian community.

You can discover one of the customs of this antiquated pre-Islamic faith at the Tower of Silence. The dead were brought to this tower until the middle of the 19th century when they were allowed to decay and be eaten by birds. According to Zoroastrian custom, a dead person’s corpse is “unclean,” and the excarnation procedure keeps the deceased person from coming into contact with fire or the earth—two things that are revered. There is a flame at the Zoroastrian Fire Temple that is still in operation and is reported to have burned for the past 1,500 years. This is a significant place of worship for the devout, and our knowledgeable tour will provide further context for one of the oldest monotheistic religions in the world.

Amir Chakhmaq Square is home to the magnificent Hussainiya, a gathering place used for Shia memorial services. Its front, with its three perfectly proportioned layers of recessed alcoves, is one of the city’s most photographed sites. At the Tower of Silence, you can learn about one of the traditions of this ancient pre-Islamic religion. The Jame Mosque, which was constructed in 1324, is the next location to see the tallest minarets in the nation. Beautiful old houses and the Dowlat Abad Garden are only two of Yazd’s many other historic landmarks. The old cypress trees provide shade as you stand beside the garden’s large reflecting pool.

We’re going to see a Zurkhaneh performance at the night. Men in Iran engage in body-building exercises such as calisthenics and various forms of ancient martial arts called “Zurkhaneh” in a ring. 2010 saw the intangible cultural heritage of humanity’s representative list include the Pahlevani and Zoorkhaneh rites.

Day 11: Yazd – Shiraz (440 Km distance)

We will be traveling to Shiraz for the entire day, so it would be wise to prepare ahead of time by buying dates and pistachio nuts that can be easily acquired locally.
We will visit the historic Ice House in Abarkooh on our drive. This adobe structure was used to keep food and ice before the refrigerator was invented. The village is home to the Abarkooh Cypress, which is thought to be the second-oldest tree in the world at nearly 4,000 years old. On our route, we can see the tree.
After that, you’ll travel to Pasargad, the former Achaemenid Empire capital and home to Cyrus the Great’s tomb, which is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Day 12: Shiraz – Perspolis – Shiraz (120 Km distance)

Following breakfast, we will travel to the fabled city of Persepolis, which was established in 512 BC and served as Darius the Great’s previous capital. With the possible exception of the Karnak in Egypt, Persepolis was the most magnificent building in antiquity. The terrace, Apadana (a large audience hall), Tachana (a palace), and the Monumental Staircases were constructed by Darius; the Harem and the Hall of 100 Columns were added by his son Xerxes.
In January 330 BC, Alexander the Great stormed into Persepolis and carried out an unprecedented act of wanton destruction that confounds historians to this day, burning the great city to the rest. The towering pillars, terraces, and statues of Persepolis are still there.

Day 13: Shiraz

You will visit the Pink Mosque, also known as Nasir-al-Mulk Mosque, after breakfast. It is located close to Vakil Bazaar. One of the lords of the Qajar Dynasty, Mirza Hassan Ali Nasir-al Mulk, ordered its construction, which took 12 years to finish in 1888. Its interior displays an amazing work of art in color and design.
This is an area where worship and light coexist. At sunrise, the mosque comes to life, and throughout the day, colors dance like spinning dervishes. The ground, walls, arches, and tall spires all reflect it. It even reflects back to the guests as though the first sunbeam struck a vibrant ball, causing it to burst into hundreds of butterflies everywhere.

Take a closer look at Shiraz’s stunning, fragrant Narenjestan Garden, which was designed in the Qajar Dynasty of the 19th century.
Next, you will take a look at the exterior of the Zand Dynasty-built Karim Khan Citadel.
You’ll have time to stroll through and buy at the vibrant Vakil Bazaar, which is home to a historic caravanserai in addition to hundreds of shops and lovely gardens. Along with the bazaar, we’ll also go to the well-known Traditional Vakil Bath. One characteristic that sets Vakil Bath apart is the lighting, which comes from goblets incorporated into the ceiling design. Additionally, there are specific platforms for changing areas.
We make and share dinner with a Shirazi family in the afternoon. Experiencing the lives of others is an intriguing adventure.

Day 14: Shiraz – Tehran (with flight)

We will carry on our city exploration after breakfast. We will visit Eram Garden, one of Shiraz’s well-known gardens, which boasts towering cypresses (one reputed to be 3,000 years old), fragrant myrtles, and lovely flowers.
After that, you’ll go to the Tomb of Saadi, a famous poet and writer from Persia who was born in Shiraz in the twelfth century. He is regarded as one of the best poets in the world of the classical Iranian literary heritage. His aphorisms, poetry, and regular visits to his tomb demonstrate the pervasiveness of his knowledge of Iranian culture and language.

Day 15: Tehran (Back to Home)

You will go to the Imam Khomeini Airport by our transportation agent and after doing your ticket checking process, back to your country.