DISCOVER ANCIENT PERSIA

22 days

What’s Included / Excluded

WHAT’S INCLUDED
• Arrival and departure airport transfers
• 21 nights of accommodation
• Land travel in Iran by an air-conditioned vehicle
• Services of an Iranian English speaking tour guide throughout the tour
• Meals: all breakfasts, 0 lunches, 2 dinners (1 Persian night)
•Two bottles of mineral water per day (per person)

WHAT’S EXCLUDED
• International airfares, taxes, and surcharges
• Travel insurance
• Visa authorization number fee
• Entrance fee
• Visa costs
• Tips

Day 1: Tehran

Salam!
Welcome to Iran. When you arrive at the Tehran IKA airport, meet your leader and transfer to hotel. check in and get rest for first day. If you arrive early, maybe step into the city and check out the freedom tower and have a panorama city tour. Then head out to dinner with your guide and get to know over some Iranian cuisine.

Accommodation:
In 3*, 4* or 5* hotels according to your request.

Meals:
Dinner

Optional activities:
Freedom tower
Panorama city tour

Special information:
If you are going to be late, please let your travel agent know.

Day 2: Tehran

Spend your morning exploring the central part of Tehran and visit some historical monuments, Museum, national garden gate and a UNESCO World Heritage Site then stroll through Tehran’s bustling bazaar.
In the afternoon head to the north of Tehran to visit Saad Abad palace a lavish palace and garden then visit a colorful local market.
Enjoy your evening in Darband one of the most famous recreational places in Tehran.

Accommodation:
In 3*, 4* or 5* hotels according to your request.

Meals:
Breakfast

Included activities:
Iran National museum
National garden gate
Golestan palace ( UNESCO HERITAGE SITE )
Saad Abbad palace
Tajrish local market.
Darband

Day 3: Zanjan

Start a fascinating journey from Tehran to Zanjan, where architectural and historical wonders await you.
After about 2 and a half hours of driving, stop in the city of Qazvin. Visit the Friday Mosque and the Saad al-Saltaneh Caravanserai and enjoy its architecture. Then head towards Zanjan and on the way visit the World Heritage Site of Soltaniyeh Dome, one of the architectural masterpieces of the Islamic era, the largest dome in Iran and the third largest brick dome in the world, and admire Iranian architects.

Accommodation:
In 3*, 4* or 5* hotels according to your request.

Meals:
Breakfast

Included activities:
Friday Mosque
Saad al-Saltaneh Caravanserai
Soltaniyeh Dome( Unesco World Heritage)

Special Information:
The distance from Tehran to Zanjan is about 350 KM.
The approximate driving time today is about 4 hours.

Day 4: Zanjan

This morning, head to Takht-e-Soleyman, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, once the capital of the Sasanian Empire and home to magnificent palaces and temples. Takht-e-Soleyman was the largest educational, religious, social, and worship center of pre-Islamic Iran. Imagine the glory of the past as you walk through the ruins.
After visiting Takht e Soleyman, return to Zanjan and visit the Rakhtshooy khane Museum, a place where clothes were washed by women, then head to the traditional Zanjan Bazaar.

Accommodation:
In 3*, 4* or 5* hotels according to your request.

Meals:
Breakfast

Included activities:
Takht-e-Soleyman(UNESCO World Heritage Site)
Rakhtshooy khane
Zanjan Bazaar

Special Information:
The distance from Zanjan to Takht e Soleyman is about 150 KM.
The approximate driving time today is about 3 hours.

Day 5: Tabriz

This morning, depart from Zanjan to Tabriz, where history, nature and culture are intertwined. Be amazed by the vibrant colors of the colorful mountains of Aladaghlar. Visit the vibrant Tabriz Bazaar, a World Heritage Site, the largest covered bazaar in Iran and the world. In the afternoon, visit Il-Goli Park, the most popular recreational spot for the people of Tabriz.

Accommodation:
In 3*, 4* or 5* hotels according to your request.

Meals:
Breakfast

Included activities:
Grand bazzar(UNESCO World Heritage Site)
Il goli park

Special Information:
The distance from Zanjan to Tabriz is about 300 KM.
The approximate driving time today is about 4 hours.

Day 6: Tabriz

This morning after breakfast, visit the Blue Mosque of Tabriz. This 600-year-old mosque is known as the Turquoise of Islam. This mosque is a monument to Iranian identity, culture, and art. Then visit the exterior of the Alishah Citadel, the tallest brick structure in Tabriz. Then head to Kandovan, one of Iran’s rocky villages, and enjoy its unique architecture, pleasant climate, and beautiful nature.

Accommodation:
In 3*, 4* or 5* hotels according to your request.

Meals:
Breakfast

Included activities:
Blue Mosque
Alishah Citadel
Kandovan village

Special information:
The distance from Tabriz to Kandovan is about 65 KM.
The approximate driving today is about 2 hours.

Day 7: Hamedan

This morning, after breakfast, start your journey from Tabriz to Hamedan, one of the ancient cities of Iran.
Visit one of the largest, most amazing water caves in the world, about 100 kilometers from Hamedan, and be amazed by the natural beauty of this cave. The natural architecture of the cave with stalagmites and stalactites and flowing water brings you a unique experience of nature and geology.

Accommodation:
In 3*, 4* or 5* hotels according to your request.

Meals:
Breakfast

Included activities:
Ali Sadr Cave

Special information:
The distance from Tabriz to Hamedan is about 500 KM.
The approximate driving today is about 6 hours.

Day 8: Hamedan

Today you will visit the ancient city of Hamedan and its historical monuments.
Hamedan or Ecbatana is one of the most important historical cities in Iran. It was the capital of the Medes and also the summer capital of the Achaemenids, the largest empire in the world.
We will visit the tombs of Avicenna, the famous Iranian physician and author of medical books, Baba Taher, the Iranian poet and mystic, as well as the tomb of Esther and Mordecai, which is revered as a Jewish pilgrimage site.
Step back in time at the Hegmataneh archaeological site and discover the ancient city of Ecbatana. Finally, head to Ganjnameh to see Achaemenid inscriptions and enjoy the natural waterfall and mountain views.


Accommodation:
In 3*, 4* or 5* hotels according to your request.

Meals:
Breakfast

Included activities:
Hegmataneh archaeological site
Tombs of Avicenna
Tomb of Baba Taher
Tomb of Esther and Mordecai
Ganjnameh

Day 9: Kermanshah

This morning we will depart from Hamedan to Kermanshah, on the way visit the historical site of Bisotun, which can be considered a museum of Iranian civilization from ancient times. The historical complex of Bisotun is the only UNESCO-registered monument in Kermanshah, the most famous of which is the inscription of Darius the Great, which is carved in three cuneiform languages ​​and tells the story of his victories.

After visiting Bisotun, go to the historical site of Taq-e Bostan and enjoy the natural scenery and magnificent reliefs of the Sassanid era.

Accommodation:
In 3*, 4* or 5* hotels according to your request.

Meals:
Breakfast

Included activities:
Bisotun ( Unesco World Heritage)
Taq-e Bostan

Special information:
The distance from Hamedan to Kermanshah is about 200 KM.
The approximate driving today is about 3 hours.

Day 10: Ahwaz

This morning, leave Kermanshah after breakfast and head to Ahwaz.
Enjoy views of the Zagros mountain range along the way.
Visit Susa, the capital of the Elamite and Persian empires, and explore its rich history at the Susa Museum.
Visit the remains of the Susa Citadel and Apadana Palace, and the ancient city of Susa. Then, continue to Ahwaz.

Accommodation:
In 3*, 4* or 5* hotels according to your request.

Meals:
Breakfast

Included activities:
Ancient city of Susa

Special information:
The distance from Kermanshah to Ahwaz is about 550 KM.
The approximate driving today is about 7 hours.

Day 11: Ahwaz

Today, embark on a journey from Ahwaz to Shushtar, visiting the ancient wonders of Iran along the way.
First, visit the Chogha Zanbil Ziggurat, Iran’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, one of the oldest stepped temples in the world. Built around 1250 BC during the reign of Untash Napirisha, the Elamite king, the Chogha Zanbil Ziggurat was a place for worshipping the gods.
Then, head to Shushtar and visit The Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System, another UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System symbolize the unique connection of science, art, and nature in the heart of ancient Iran. The Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System are a unique collection of dams, canals, mills, and bridges that date back to the Sassanid period (about 1,700 years ago).


Accommodation:
In 3*, 4* or 5* hotels according to your request.

Meals:
Breakfast

Included activities:
Chogha Zanbil (UNESCO HERITAGE SITE)
Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System (UNESCO HERITAGE SITE)

Special information:
The approximate driving today is about 4 hours.

Day 12: Shiraz

This morning, after breakfast, you will drive to Shiraz. On the way, you will pass through the huge oil fields of Iran. After about 4 hours of driving, you will reach the ancient city of Bishapur and visit the ruins of magnificent palaces, the water temple of Anahita and the petroglyphs of the Sassanid era. Then, after about 2 hours of driving, you will reach Shiraz by passing through the beautiful Zagros Mountains.

Accommodation:
In 3*, 4* or 5* hotels according to your request.

Meals:
Breakfast

Included activities:
Bishapur( UNESCO HERITAGE SITE)

Special information:
The distance from Ahwaz to Shiraz is about 550 KM.
The approximate driving today is about 7 hours.

Day 13: Shiraz

Today you will explore Shiraz with your guide and visit historical monuments from the 18th and 19th centuries. First of all you will visit a beautiful colorful mosque and then tomb of one of the most famous Iranian poets, a holy shrine and a beautiful botanical garden.
In the afternoon,You will enter a huge historical brick complex in the heart of the city and spend a few hours exploring it.
You will also visit the citadel, the bazaar and much more.
And finally, spend your night with an Iranian family and tasting delicious shirazi cuisine.

Accommodation:
In 3*, 4* or 5* hotels according to your request.

Meals:
Breakfast
Dinner

Included activities:
Nasir Almolk Mosque (Pink Mosque)
Hafezieh
Ali Ebn Hamzeh shrine
Gate of Quran
Eram Garden( UNESCO HERITAGE SITE)
Vakil Complex

Day 14: Shiraz

Today you will visit two World Heritage Sites and the glory of the Achaemenid Empire. After 1 hour driving from Shiraz you will visit the most beautiful capital of the Achaemenid Empire, Persepolis . Here is one of the most highlights site in Iran.
This is where you will be shocked by the elegance and art of stone carving from more than 2,500 years ago.
After 1 hour driving from Persepolis you will visit the magnificent tomb of Cyrus the Great, the founder of the Achaemenid dynasty.
On the way back to Shiraz visit the tombs of the Achaemenid kings at Naghsh e Rustam.

Accommodation:
In 3*, 4* or 5* hotels according to your request.

Meals:
Breakfast

Included activities
Persepolis (UNESCO HERITAGE SITE)
Pasargad (UNESCO HERITAGE SITE)
Naghsh e Rustam

Day 15: Kerman

You will leave Shiraz and head towards Kerman, the largest province of Iran. On the way you will pass a lake which if you are lucky you will find it as pink. You will also visit a pre-Islamic Sassanid palace. You will then cross the mountainous roads and reach Kerman.

Accommodation:
In 3*, 4* or 5* hotels according to your request.

Meals:
Breakfast

Included activities:
Maharloo lack
Sassanid palace

Special Information:
The distance from Shiraz to Kerman is about 600 KM.
The approximate driving time today is about 7 hours.

Day 16: Kerman

This morning after breakfast, head to the Rayen and visit a large historical citadel. Then travel to the Shahzdeh Mahan Garden, one of the most beautiful gardens in Iran, and enjoy the cool air and fountains of the garden in the heart of the desert. Then go to the tomb of one of the most famous Sufis of Iran. And in the afternoon, enjoy the sunset in the Shahdad Desert of Kerman, one of the hottest places on earth.

Accommodation:
In 3*, 4* or 5* hotels according to your request.

Meals:
Breakfast

Included activities:
Rayen citadel
Shazdeh Garden
Tomb of Shah Nemat Allah Valli
Kaloot desert

Special Information:
The approximate driving time today is about 5 hours.

Day 17: Yazd

This morning after breakfast, visit the Ganjali Khan complex and its bathhouse before leaving Kerman. Then head to Yazd and visit the spectacular Zain al-Din Caravanserai on the Silk Road.

Accommodation:
In 3*, 4* or 5* hotels according to your request.

Meals:
Breakfast

Included activities:
Ganjali Khan complex
Ganjali Khan bathhouse
Zain al-Din Caravanserai

Special Information:
The distance from kerman to Yazd is about 370 KM.
The approximate driving time today is about 4 hours.

Day 18: Yazd

After breakfast, you will start your fascinating day by visiting Zoroastrian monuments such as the Tower of Silence. Then you will go to see the 1500-year-old eternal fire and your guide will tell you about Zoroastrian culture, customs and religion. Then you will go to see the world's tallest windcatcher in a beautiful garden.
Here you will admire the Yazdi artists for their access to water through the qanats( underground canals) and access to cool air through the windcatchers in the desert.
In the afternoon, head to the ancient city of Yazd and visit a mosque that has the tallest minaret. Then you will walk through the alleys of the historical and adobe part of Yazd and get to know the life style of the people in the desert.
And finally, you will enjoy the sunset and the city's windcatchers from the rooftops of the old houses.

Accommodation:
In 3*, 4* or 5* hotels according to your request.

Meals:
Breakfast

Included activities:
Silence Tower
Fire Temple
Dolat Abad Garden ( UNESCO HERITAGE SITE)
Friday Mosque
Ancient city ( UNESCO HERITAGE SITE)

Day 19: Isfahan

In the morning after breakfast, drive to Isfahan.
On the way, stop for a few hours in the ancient city of Meybod and visit its historical monuments such as the Pigeon Tower and Ice house.
Walk along the Silk Road and take a break at its 16th century caravanserai and learn about the ancient Silk Road. Then drive to Isfahan and enjoy the night view of the magnificent Naqsh e Jahan Square.

Accommodation:
In 3*, 4* or 5* hotels according to your request.

Meals:
Breakfast

Included activities:
Meybod- City tour
Pigeon tower
Ice house
Abbassi Caravanserai ( UNESCO Heritage Site)
Naqsh e Jahan Square(UNESCO HERITAGE SITE)

Special Information:
The distance from Yazd to Isfahan is about 320 KM.
The approximate driving time today is about 5 hours.

Day 20: Isfahan

Start your morning by learning about Isfahan through a city tour with your leader. First, go to the Magnificent Naqsh-e Jahan Square. ( UNESCO Heritage Site)
Visit its many highlights like its Shah Mosque,Sheikh Lotf Allah Mosque, Ali Qapoo Palace and Cehelsoton palace. Visit its Bazaar and shops, known for its Handicrafts, Print on fabric and carpets, you’ll stop and enjoy the designs of the local craftsmanship. In the afternoon, head to the Armenian Quarter in Jolfa and visit its unique cathedral.
Then head to the historic 33 bridge and Khaju bridge, here enjoy listening to local singers singing under the bridges.

Accommodation:
In 3*, 4* or 5* hotels according to your request.

Meals:
Breakfast

Included activities:
Isfahan - City tour
Naghshe Jahan Sq ( UNESCO HERITAGE SITE)
Shah mosque
Sheik lotf Allah Mosque
Ali Qapoo palace
Chehelsoton palace ( UNESCO HERITAGE SITE)
Vank Cathedral
33 bridge
Khaju bridge

Day 21: Kashan

This morning you will leave Isfahan behind and travel to the historic and desert city of Kashan. On the way, you will visit a charming and unique Iranian village, where the pink color of its houses will captivate you. You will walk through its mud alleys and stone streets, meet the locals and you can also buy organic products from their gardens.
Then you will go to Kashan and visit the evergreen Fin Garden, its bazaar and its famous mosque.
We suggest you try camel meat in Kashan and enjoy its delicious taste.

Accommodation:
In 3*, 4* or 5* hotels according to your request.

Meals:
Breakfast

Included activities:
Abyaneh Village
Fin Garden (UNESCO HERITAGE SITE)
Agha bozorg mosque
Bazaar

Special information:
The distance from Isfahan to Kashan is about 210 KM.
The approximate driving time today is about 4 hours.

Day 22: Tehran IKA Airport

Your trip comes to an end today after visiting the historical houses in Kashan and you will be transferred to IKA Airport.
If your flight is late at night and you have enough time, you can also visit the underground city of Nosh Abad.

Special information:
The distance from Kashan to IKA Airport is about 230 KM.
The approximate driving time today is about 3 hours.

If you need to stay for a few hours and refresh at the airport hotels before your flight, please inform the agency.