IRAN CLASSIC WITH OLD ROAD (12 DAYS – 11 NIGHTS)
BASIC INFORMATION
Duration: 12 days trip – 11 Nights
Start: Tehran, Iran
Finish: Shiraz, Iran
Included meals: 11 Breakfasts, 0 Lunches, 0 Dinner
Accommodation grade: 3, 4, and 5-Star Hotels
Transport: Private Car, Van, A.C. Minibus, and Bus
Internet: Free Wi-Fi in Vehicle and at the hotel
TRIP HIGHLIGHTS
» You will visit the most magnificent and ancient treasuries of Iran on this tour.
» We enjoy the desert in the heart of Iran and stay one night in one of the oldest caravansaries in Yazd province.
» Discover Pasargadae and Persepolis, cities of the Achaemenid Empire that rank among the world’s greatest sites of antiquity.
» Come with us and experience the traditions in the old cities of Yazd, Natanz, and Kashan.
» This tour visits impressive sites at Shiraz, Isfahan, Kerman and Yazd. Your trip will leave you with memories of an enchanting ancient land.
MAP
ITINERARY
Day 1: Arrival - Tehran (B/-/-)
Arrival at Tehran airport by a Gashttour representative. Then, we will visit Azadi and Milad Towers from outside and then visit Niavaran Private Palace in Niavaran Palace. Later, visit the Carpet Museum and Nature Bridge (Pole – Tabiat). Afterward, transfer to hotel. O/N Tehran.
Day 2: Tehran (B/-/-)
After breakfast, we will visit Mellat Palace in Saad Abad Palacwas e Complex which was the complex first built and inhabited by Qajar monarchs in the 19th century. After an expansion of the compounds, Reza Shah of the Pahlavi Dynasty lived there in the 1920s. Then, visit the Archaeological and Islamic Art Museums. The pre-Islam archaeological museum covers Persia’s history from the fifth millennium BC to 648 AD while the Islamic art museum provides a display of Islamic works of art. Then, toward the Golestan palace complex, which is UNESCO Heritage and dates from the 18th century AD, and visit Salam Hall and Marble Throne (Takht-e- Marmar) in this palace. O/N Tehran.
Day 3: Tehran - Kashan - Isfahan (B/-/-)
(480 Kilometers Distance)
Continue to Isfahan. En route, we will visit the Kashan, renowned over the centuries for its ceramics, tiles, pottery, textiles, carpet, and silk. We will see the Fin Garden and Tabatabaei Historical House and the unique Agha Bozorg Mosque and Madrasah. Later, visit Sultan Amir Ahmad Bathhouse. Later, continue to Isfahan. O/N Isfahan.
Day 4: Isfahan
In the morning, we will visit Naghshe Jahan Square, a huge open square in the center of Isfahan, which is listed as a UNESCO Heritage. The square periphery is marked by outstanding Safavid buildings, which include the Ali Qapu palace, the Imam Mosque, the Sheikh Lotfollah (ladies) mosque, and to the north the expansive bazaar where we can see artisans crafting metal work, Persian miniatures, printing intricate designs on cloth and other activities. Then, visit Chehel Seton Palace where the huge murals are masterpieces from Safavid times. Later, we will visit Music Museum. In the afternoon, we will visit Si-o-Se Pol (thirty-three arches) and Khajoo bridges spanning the Zayanderud River. O/N Isfahan.
Day 5: Isfahan - Naein - Meybod - Yazd (B/-/-)
(330 Kilometers distance)
We will visit the Armenian quarter of Jolfa where the Vank cathedral and its adjacent museum are of interest. Later we visit the Friday Mosque. Later, we will drive to Yazd. En route, we will visit a carpet workshop at Naein. Later we visit Narin Castle in Meybod. Then, continue to Yazd and visit the Athletic House (Zour Khaneh). O/N Yazd
Day 6: Yazd - Fahraj Village - Yazd (B/-/-)
(80 Kilometer Distance Round Trip)
After breakfast drive to Fahraj village a 5000-year-old village in the desert, and visit the Jame Mosque of Fahraj. Later return to Yazd. Yazd is a very ancient city and is listed as a UNESCO Heritage. Marco Polo wrote of the fine attributes of that city. It is like a living museum. We will visit narrow alleys, a bathhouse converted to a first-class restaurant, and see the high wind towers which form efficient cooling systems in this desert climate. Then, visit the Dowlat Abad Gardens built in the 18th century for a former ruler. Later visit the Syed Jafer shrine, which is decorated with tens of thousands of mirror tiles illuminating the whole mosque. In addition, visit the Friday Mosque dates from the 14th century, and later visit Fire Temple and Silence Tower. O/N Yazd.
Day 7: Yazd - Zein-o-din Caravanserai - Kerman (B/-/-)
(370 Kilometers Distance)
After breakfast, we drive to one of the most beautiful caravansaries in the desert. This traditional caravanserai is the only monument left over from the Safavid period and it was built in the 10th century AH on the Yazd route to Kerman. Later, we drive toward Kerman. In Kerman, we will visit Ganj Ali Bazaar and Bath, which is a Safavid-era building, located in the old center of the city of Kerman. O/N Kerman
Day 8: Kerman - Rayen - Bam - Mahan - Kerman
(380 Kilometers distance) [Round Trip]
After breakfast visit Rayen Castle and adobe castle. Then, visit the remains of Bam citadel, which was the largest adobe building in the world and is listed by UNESCO as part of the World Heritage Site “Bam and its Cultural Landscape”. Then, will visit the magnificent Mausoleum of Shah Nematollah e Vali, the great Sufi, and the lovely Shahzadeh (Prince) Garden in Mahan. Then, return to Kerman. O/N Kerman.
Day 9: Kerman - Sarvestan - Shiraz
(570 Kilometer distance)
In the morning toward Sarvestan visit the Sasanid places. The Sarvestan Palace was built by the Sasanian king Bahramgur in the 5th century AD and was either a gubernatorial residence or a Zoroastrian fire temple. Then, we are going to Shiraz. O/N Shiraz.
Day 10: Shiraz (B/-/-)
After breakfast, we will visit the Eram Garden (Paradise Garden) which was built during the middle of the thirteenth century. Besides, we visit Naranjestan Gardens with its outstanding tile working, mirroring, etc., which was built between 1879 and 1886 by Qavam Family, and visit Nasir-ol-Molk Mosque (Pink Mosque). Then, toward Hafez and Saadi Museums who was a famous Persian poet in the world. Afterward, we will visit the Arg Citadel and Vakil Bazaar. Later, visit the most astonishing mirror decoration of the Ali Ibn Hamza Holy Shrine. O/N Shiraz.
Day 11: Shiraz - Persepolis - Necropolis - Pasargadae - Shiraz (B/-/-)
(280 Kilometers Distance) [Round Trip]
After breakfast, we depart from Shiraz via the Quran gate then, after 40km, we reach Persepolis the outstanding ceremonial palace of the Achaemenians (550BC) which is a UNESCO heritage. At Necropolis, we see four tombs of Achaemenian kings high in the cliffs of limestone. Later, we stop at Pasargadae another UNESCO heritage, the earliest Achaemenian capital where the tomb of Cyrus the Great is well preserved. Then, return to Shiraz and go to restaurants for farewell dinner.
Day 12: Shiraz - Departure (B/-/-)
Transfer to the airport for your return flight from Iran.