THE ANCIENT LAND OF PERSIA

17-Day Iran Cultural Journey

Discover the rich history, breathtaking landscapes, and vibrant cultures of Iran on this unforgettable 17-day journey. From the lush forests of the Caspian Sea to the ancient cities of Tabriz, Isfahan, Yazd, and Shiraz, explore magnificent UNESCO World Heritage Sites, timeless architecture, authentic Persian traditions, and the legendary hospitality of Iran.

WHAT’S INCLUDED/EXCLUDED

WHAT’S INCLUDED

✔️ Visa Authorization Code
✔️ Arrival and departure airport transfers
✔️ 16 nights’ accommodation in hotels according to the selected category (3-star, 4-star, or 5-star)
✔️ All transportation throughout Iran by a comfortable air-conditioned vehicle
✔️ Services of an English-speaking Iranian tour guide throughout the journey
✔️ Meals: Daily breakfast and 2 dinners, including a Persian Night experience
✔️ Two bottles of mineral water per person per day

WHAT’S EXCLUDED

❌ International flights, taxes, and airline surcharges
❌ Travel insurance
❌ Visa authorization number processing fee
❌ Visa application and issuance fees
❌ Entrance fees to monuments and attractions
❌ Tips and personal expenses

Day 1: Arrival in Tehran

Salam! Welcome to Iran.
Upon arrival at Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKA), you will be warmly welcomed by your guide and transferred to your hotel.
Take some time to relax after your journey. If your arrival time allows, enjoy an optional panoramic tour of Tehran, including a visit to the iconic Azadi Tower, one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks.
In the evening, meet your guide and fellow travelers over a welcome dinner while enjoying your first taste of authentic Persian cuisine.

✔️Accommodation:
3*, 4*, or 5* hotel according to your preference.

✔️Meals:
Dinner

✔️Optional Activities:
* Azadi Tower
* Panoramic City Tour

✔️Special Information:
If your arrival is delayed, please inform your travel agent.

Day 2: Discover Tehran

Spend the day exploring Iran’s vibrant capital, where modern life blends with thousands of years of history.
Visit the Iran National Museum before discovering the elegant Golestan Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and former royal residence of the Qajar dynasty. Pass through the historic National Garden Gate and wander through the lively Grand Bazaar, one of the oldest marketplaces in the Middle East.
In the afternoon, head north to visit the magnificent Sa’dabad Palace Complex and explore the colorful Tajrish Bazaar.
End the day in Darband, a lively mountain village where locals gather to enjoy nature, traditional restaurants, and scenic walking trails.

✔️Accommodation:
3*, 4*, or 5* hotel according to your preference.

✔️Meals:
Breakfast

✔️Highlights:
* Iran National Museum
* Golestan Palace (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
* National Garden Gate
* Grand Bazaar
* Sa’dabad Palace Complex
* Tajrish Bazaar
* Darband

Day 3: Tehran – Masuleh – Rasht

Leave Tehran behind and journey toward the lush green landscapes of northern Iran.
Travel through the beautiful Alborz Mountains before arriving in Masuleh, one of Iran’s most picturesque mountain villages. Famous for its unique terraced architecture, the rooftops of one house form the streets of the next, creating a truly unforgettable setting.
Stroll through the charming alleys, browse the local handicraft shops, and soak in the peaceful atmosphere before continuing to Rasht, the culinary capital of northern Iran.
If time permits, enjoy an evening walk around Rasht Municipality Square, one of the city’s most iconic landmarks.

✔️Accommodation:
3*, 4*, or 5* hotel according to your preference.

✔️Meals:
Breakfast

✔️Highlights:
* Alborz Mountains
* Masuleh Historic Village
* Rasht Municipality Square

✔️Travel Information:
Distance: approximately 320 km
Driving time: around 6 hours

Day 4: Rasht – Ardabil – Tabriz

Today’s journey combines spectacular scenery with remarkable history.
Travel through the beautiful Talesh region and admire the breathtaking landscapes of the Heyran Pass, one of Iran’s most scenic mountain roads.
Continue to Ardabil to visit the magnificent Sheikh Safi al-Din Khanegah and Shrine Ensemble, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the finest masterpieces of Safavid architecture.
Later, continue to Tabriz, one of Iran’s oldest and most culturally significant cities.

✔️Accommodation:
3*, 4*, or 5* hotel according to your preference.

✔️Meals:
Breakfast

✔️Highlights:
* Talesh Region
* Heyran Pass
* Sheikh Safi al-Din Khanegah and Shrine Ensemble (UNESCO World Heritage Site)

✔️Travel Information:
Distance: approximately 480 km
Driving time: around 6 hours

Day 5: Discover Tabriz

Today, discover Tabriz, one of Iran’s oldest cities and an important crossroads of the ancient Silk Road.
Begin your morning at the magnificent Blue Mosque, often called the “Turquoise of Islam” for its breathtaking blue tilework. Continue to the historic Arg of Tabriz (Alishah Citadel), one of the largest brick structures in Iran.
Next, explore the UNESCO-listed Tabriz Historic Bazaar Complex, the largest covered bazaar in the world and a vibrant center of Persian trade, craftsmanship, and culture.
Later, travel to the extraordinary village of Kandovan, famous for its volcanic rock houses that have been inhabited for centuries.
End the day with a relaxing stroll through the beautiful El Goli Park, one of Tabriz’s most beloved landmarks.

✔️Accommodation:
3*, 4*, or 5* hotel according to your preference.

✔️Meals:
Breakfast

✔️ Highlights:
* Blue Mosque
* Arg of Tabriz (Alishah Citadel)
* Tabriz Historic Bazaar Complex (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
* Kandovan Village
* El Goli Park

✔️Travel Information:
Distance to Kandovan: approximately 65 km
Driving time: around 2 hours

Day 6: Tabriz – Takht-e Soleyman – Zanjan

Leave Tabriz and travel south through the dramatic landscapes of northwestern Iran.
Along the way, admire the colorful Aladaghlar Mountains, often called the Rainbow Mountains because of their spectacular natural colors.
Continue to Takht-e Soleyman, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Iran’s most important archaeological treasures. Once a major religious center of the Sasanian Empire, this remarkable complex features ancient temples, royal palaces, and a mysterious volcanic lake surrounded by legends dating back thousands of years.
After exploring the site, continue to the historic city of Zanjan.

✔️Accommodation:
3*, 4*, or 5* hotel according to your preference.

✔️Meals:
Breakfast

✔️Highlights:
* Aladaghlar (Rainbow Mountains)
* Takht-e Soleyman (UNESCO World Heritage Site)

✔️Travel Information:
Distance: approximately 300 km
Driving time: around 6 hours

Day 7: Discover Zanjan

Today, discover the fascinating history and architecture of Zanjan Province.
Begin with a visit to the magnificent Soltaniyeh Dome, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the greatest masterpieces of Persian-Islamic architecture. Built in the 14th century, it is the largest brick dome in Iran and one of the largest in the world.
Return to Zanjan to visit the unique Rakhtshoy Khaneh Museum, a historic public laundry that reflects everyday life in old Persia.
Continue to the Salt Men Museum, where naturally preserved ancient miners offer a rare glimpse into life over 1,700 years ago.
Finish the day exploring Zanjan’s traditional bazaar, renowned for its handicrafts, knives, and local sweets.

✔️Accommodation:
3*, 4*, or 5* hotel according to your preference.

✔️Meals:
Breakfast

✔️Highlights:
* Soltaniyeh Dome (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
* Rakhtshoy Khaneh Museum
* Salt Men Museum
* Zanjan Traditional Bazaar

✔️Travel Information:
Distance: approximately 40 km
Driving time: around 1 hour

Day 8: Zanjan – Hamedan

Today, journey to Hamedan, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world.
On the way, visit the spectacular Ali Sadr Cave, one of the world’s largest water caves. Board a small boat and glide through its crystal-clear underground waterways while admiring extraordinary stalactites and stalagmites that have formed over millions of years.
Continue to Hamedan for an overnight stay.

✔️Accommodation:
3*, 4*, or 5* hotel according to your preference.

✔️Meals:
Breakfast

✔️Highlights:
* Ali Sadr Cave

✔️Travel Information:
Distance: approximately 300 km
Driving time: around 5 hours

Day 9: Discover Hamedan

Today, discover Hamedan (ancient Ecbatana), one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities and the first capital of the Median Empire.
Begin your exploration at the Hegmataneh Archaeological Site, where the remains of the ancient city reveal more than 2,700 years of history.
Continue to the Tomb of Avicenna (Ibn Sina), one of the greatest physicians and philosophers of the Islamic Golden Age, before visiting the Tomb of Baba Taher, the beloved Persian poet and mystic.
Next, visit the Tomb of Esther and Mordechai, one of the most important Jewish pilgrimage sites in Iran.
Finish the day at Ganjnameh, where ancient Achaemenid inscriptions carved into the mountainside overlook a beautiful waterfall and the surrounding Alvand Mountains.

✔️Accommodation:
3*, 4*, or 5* hotel according to your preference.

✔️Meals:
Breakfast

✔️Highlights:
* Hegmataneh Archaeological Site
* Tomb of Avicenna
* Tomb of Baba Taher
* Tomb of Esther and Mordechai
* Ganjnameh

Day 10: Hamedan – Kashan

Leave Hamedan and travel toward the historic oasis city of Kashan.
Upon arrival, visit the magnificent Fin Garden, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the finest examples of the traditional Persian garden.
Later, explore Kashan’s historic Grand Bazaar before visiting the beautiful Amin al-Dowleh Timcheh, an architectural masterpiece famous for its elegant brickwork and spectacular domed ceiling.
Spend the evening discovering the relaxed atmosphere of one of Iran’s most charming desert cities.

✔️Accommodation:
3*, 4*, or 5* hotel according to your preference.

✔️Meals:
Breakfast

✔️Highlights:
* Fin Garden (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
* Kashan Grand Bazaar
* Amin al-Dowleh Timcheh

✔️Travel Information:
Distance: approximately 400 km
Driving time: around 5 hours

Day 11: Kashan – Abyaneh – Isfahan

This morning, visit one of Kashan’s elegant historic mansions before continuing toward Isfahan.
Choose between the beautifully preserved Tabatabaei House or Borujerdi House, both masterpieces of 19th-century Persian residential architecture.
Continue to Abyaneh, one of Iran’s oldest villages, famous for its distinctive red-mud houses, traditional clothing, and peaceful mountain setting.
After exploring the village, travel onward to Isfahan, where centuries of Persian art and architecture await.

✔️Accommodation:
3*, 4*, or 5* hotel according to your preference.

✔️Meals:
Breakfast

✔️Highlights:
* Tabatabaei House or Borujerdi House
* Abyaneh Village

✔️Travel Information:
Distance: approximately 220 km
Driving time: around 4 hours

Day 12: Discover Isfahan

Today, explore Isfahan, often described as “Half the World” for its extraordinary beauty and cultural significance.
Begin at the magnificent Naqsh-e Jahan Square, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the largest public squares in the world.
Visit its architectural masterpieces, including the Shah Mosque, Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque, Ali Qapu Palace, and Chehel Sotoun Palace.
Stroll through the traditional bazaar, famous for Persian carpets, miniature paintings, enamelware, and handcrafted souvenirs.
Later, visit the Armenian Quarter of Jolfa and admire the beautiful Vank Cathedral before ending the day at the historic Si-o-se Pol and Khaju Bridge, where locals often gather beneath the arches to sing traditional songs.

✔️Accommodation:
3*, 4*, or 5* hotel according to your preference.

✔️Meals:
Breakfast

✔️Highlights:
* Naqsh-e Jahan Square (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
* Shah Mosque (Imam Mosque)
* Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque
* Ali Qapu Palace
* Chehel Sotoun Palace (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
* Isfahan Grand Bazaar
* Vank Cathedral
* Si-o-se Pol Bridge
* Khaju Bridge

Day 13: Isfahan – Meybod – Yazd

Leave Isfahan behind and journey toward the enchanting desert city of Yazd.
Along the way, stop in the historic town of Meybod, where centuries-old desert architecture still shapes everyday life.
Visit the impressive Pigeon Tower, the traditional Ice House, and the historic Shah Abbasi Caravanserai, an important stop along the ancient Silk Road.
Continue to Yazd and spend the evening exploring Amir Chakhmaq Square, one of the city’s most iconic landmarks, surrounded by beautiful windcatchers and adobe architecture.

✔️Accommodation:
3*, 4*, or 5* hotel according to your preference.

✔️Meals:
Breakfast

✔️Highlights:
* Meybod Old Town
* Pigeon Tower
* Ice House
* Shah Abbasi Caravanserai
* Amir Chakhmaq Square

✔️Travel Information:
Distance: approximately 320 km
Driving time: around 5 hours

Day 14: Discover Yazd

Spend the day exploring Yazd, one of the world’s oldest desert cities and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Begin your journey at the Tower of Silence, where your guide will introduce you to the fascinating history, beliefs, and traditions of the Zoroastrian religion.
Continue to the Zoroastrian Fire Temple, home to an eternal flame that has been burning continuously for more than 1,500 years.
Visit the elegant Dolat Abad Garden, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its beautiful Persian garden design and the world’s tallest windcatcher.
In the afternoon, admire the magnificent Jameh Mosque of Yazd, famous for its soaring minarets and exquisite tilework.
Then wander through the narrow adobe alleys of Yazd’s historic old town, discovering traditional courtyard houses, ingenious qanat water systems, and iconic windcatchers that have cooled the city for centuries.
End the day by watching the sunset from one of the rooftops overlooking the old city, where countless windcatchers create one of Iran’s most unforgettable skylines.

✔️Accommodation:
3*, 4*, or 5* hotel according to your preference.

✔️Meals:
Breakfast

✔️Highlights
* Tower of Silence
* Zoroastrian Fire Temple
* Dolat Abad Garden (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
* Jameh Mosque of Yazd
* Historic City of Yazd (UNESCO World Heritage Site)

Day 15: Yazd – Pasargadae – Persepolis – Shiraz

Today, journey through the heart of the ancient Persian Empire.
Travel toward Shiraz, stopping first at Pasargadae, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the final resting place of Cyrus the Great, founder of the Achaemenid Empire and one of history’s greatest rulers.
Continue to the magnificent ruins of Persepolis, the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire and one of the world’s most extraordinary archaeological sites.
Walk among its monumental gateways, royal palaces, and beautifully carved stone reliefs that have stood for more than 2,500 years, telling the story of one of history’s greatest civilizations.
Arrive in Shiraz in the evening.

✔️Accommodation:
3*, 4*, or 5* hotel according to your preference.

✔️Meals:
Breakfast

✔️Highlights
* Pasargadae (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
* Persepolis (UNESCO World Heritage Site)

✔️Travel Information:
Distance: approximately 450 km
Driving time: around 6 hours

Day 16: Discover Shiraz

Spend the day discovering Shiraz, the cultural capital of Iran and the city of poetry, gardens, and timeless elegance.
Begin your morning at the breathtaking Nasir al-Mulk Mosque, famously known as the Pink Mosque, where colorful stained-glass windows create a spectacular display of light.
Continue to the Tomb of Hafez, Iran’s most celebrated poet, before visiting the beautiful Ali Ibn Hamzeh Shrine, renowned for its dazzling mirrorwork.
Visit the historic Gate of Quran and stroll through the peaceful Eram Garden, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the finest examples of a Persian garden.
Later, explore the historic Vakil Complex, including its magnificent citadel, traditional bazaar, mosque, and bathhouse.
In the evening, enjoy a memorable farewell dinner with a local family and experience the warmth of authentic Persian hospitality while tasting traditional Shirazi cuisine.

✔️Accommodation:
3*, 4*, or 5* hotel according to your preference.

✔️Meals:
Breakfast
Dinner

✔️Highlights
* Nasir al-Mulk Mosque (Pink Mosque)
* Tomb of Hafez
* Ali Ibn Hamzeh Shrine
* Gate of Quran
* Eram Garden (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
* Vakil Complex

Day 17: Departure from Shiraz

Your journey through the Ancient Land of Persia comes to an end today.
After breakfast, transfer to Shiraz International Airport for your departure flight, taking home unforgettable memories of Iran’s magnificent history, breathtaking landscapes, vibrant culture, and legendary hospitality.

✔️Meals:
Breakfast

YOUR IRAN ADVENTURE STARTS HERE!

Ready to Discover Iran?
Every journey tells a story. Let yours begin in Persia.
Explore Iran’s ancient civilizations, breathtaking landscapes, vibrant culture, and world-famous hospitality on this unforgettable 17-day adventure.

✔️Book your journey with Melody Travel today—and let us show you the Iran you’ll never forget.