IRAN GLORY (23 DAYS – 22 NIGHTS)

BASIC INFORMATION

Duration  Duration: 23 days trip – 22 nights
blank   Start: Tehran, Iran
blank   Finish: Tehran, Iran
blank   Included meals: 23 Breakfasts, 0 Lunches, 0 Dinner
blank   Accommodation grade: 3, 4, and 5-Star Hotels
blank   Transport: Private Car, Van, A.C. Minibus, and Bus
blank   Internet: Free Wi-Fi in Vehicle and at the hotel

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

» It is our most complete tour.

» You will enjoy a great variety of scenery from the green cities of the north to the Black Church, Anahita temple, Choghazanbil, and Isfahan’s Imam square.

» On this tour visited Bishapour trace back to the Sassanid era and you will acquaintance with the temples and rituals of this dynasty.

» This tour enables you to see the traditional way of life of the unique inhabitants of the ochre mud brick houses at Abyaneh village.

» Discover Pasargadae and Persepolis, cities of the Achaemenid Empire that rank among the world’s greatest sites of antiquity.

» In a word, you will feel and enjoy Iran’s grandeur. Your arrival is welcome to us.

MAP

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ITINERARY

Day 1: Tehran

Arrive at Tehran airport, welcome by a Gashttour representative. Then transfer to hotel and rest. O/N Tehran

Day 2: Tehran - Qazvin

(155 Kilometers distance)

In the Morning, drive toward Qazvin. Near Qazvin, in Alamut Valley climb Alamut and visit the ruins of Hasan Sabah castle, a sacred mountain fortress that was occupied from the end of the 11th to the middle of the 13th century by a community of extremists named Assassins. Then continue to Qazvin, O/N Qazvin

Hasan Sabah castle

Day 3: Qazvin - Lahijan - Rasht

(180 Kilometers distance)

Qazvin, a 1000-year-old city, was once the capital of Iran. After breakfast we will visit Friday Mosque with the largest ‘Mihrab’ of any mosque in Iran, the Shrine of Shahzadeh Hossein, a Muslim saint, Heydarieh Theological School, Darb-e Kushk (the city’s old entrance gate), Ali Qapu and Chel Sotoun of Qazvin now converted to a museum. Then drive to Rasht. En route, we will visit traditional Caspian houses, Chahar Oleya (4 Guardians) mosque, and the mausoleum of Sheikh Zahed in Lahijan. O/N Rasht

Day 4: Rasht - Masuleh - Astara

(175 Kilometers distance)

In the morning we drive to the mountain village of Masuleh with its yellow-clay-clad external façade of the houses. This 1000-year-old village resembles an anthropological and architectural museum. We continue to Astara a port border city on the west Caspian coast. En route, we pass tea plantations and traditional houses of residents. O/N Astara

rasht

Day 5: Astara - Heyran Pass - Ardabil - Shourabil Lake - Sarein

(305 Kilometers distance)

After breakfast, drive to Ardabil. The route winds its way up along a river passing through steep gorges named Heyran pass. In Ardabil we will visit Sheikh Safi -Ad-Din (the great Sufi) mausoleum UNESCO heritage topped by the dome of Allah Allah (about 56 feet high). The Ardabil bazaar is a traditional bazaar with small shops, aisles, a public bath, and a mosque in the center. Continue to Shourabil Lake and then drive to Sarein. O/N Sarein

Day 6: Sarein - Lahrood - Meshkin Shahr - Ahar - Tabriz

(205 Kilometers distance)

Sarein is a Spa region with numerous hot mineral springs of various temperatures known for their therapeutic values. Drive to Tabriz. En route, we will pass through Lahroud, Meshkin Shahr, and Ahar (well known for its carpets). In Tabriz, we will visit UNESCO heritage the 13th-century blue mosque (Masjid Kaboud) and El Goli, a pleasant hillside garden around an artificial lake. O/N Tabriz

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Day 7: Tabriz - Maku

(510 Kilometers distance) [Round Trip]

Drive to Maku valley at the very northwest point of Iran. There we will view the Baqcheh Jug Palace and the 1000-year-old Ghare Kelisa (Black Church) site of the grave of Saint Thaddeus UNESCO heritage. Return to Tabriz. O/N Tabriz

Day 8: Tabriz - Kandovan

(110 Kilometers distance) [Round Trip]

In the morning drive to Kandovan village, a living example of human adaptation to exceptionally unusual natural surroundings with its dwellings excavated from volcanic ash deposits. Historians have recently quoted specific geographical references as evidence that links the surrounding area of Kandovan with the Garden of Eden. Then, return to Tabriz. O/N Tabriz

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Day 9: Tabriz - Maragheh - Takab

(305 Kilometers distance)

Drive to Takab, en route we will visit the blue and red domes of Maragheh and Ghaffariyeh. One of UNESCO’s world heritage sites is Takht-e Suleiman a Sassasanian ceremonial center built around a small lake in the center of a huge volcanic caldera. The buildings date from the 3rd century AD. O/N Takab

Day 10: Takab - Hamadan

(255 Kilometers distance)

Drive to Hamadan, en route we will visit the 700-year-old mud brick Sultanieh dome, the great mausoleum of a Mongol Sultan, the third highest dome in the world (after the Blue Mosque in Istanbul and St Paul’s in London). O/N Hamadan

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Day 11: Hamadan - Kangavar - Bisotun - Kermanshah

(195 Kilometers distance)

We will visit the tomb of biblical Ester and Mordkhay now a Jewish shrine., the, Alaviyan dome, Hegmataneh hill, and the Achaemenian rock inscriptions at Ganjnameh. Then drive to Kermanshah, en route we will visit the Anahita Temple in Kangavar, built in honor of the Goddess of water. Continue to Bisotun, could be regarded as a museum of the Persian civilization from ancient times to the present day and UNESCO listed Bisotun as one of the World Heritage Sites. We also visit the stone statue of Hercules in the mountain. Then, continue to Kermanshah. O/N Kermanshah

Day 12: Kermanshah - Andimeshk - Dezfoul

(340 Kilometers distance)

According to historical documents, Kermanshah has been an important center. There we will visit Taq-e Bostan and a group of rock sculptures showing scenes of battles and hunts. Drive southward to Dezful. O/N Dezful

hamadan

Day 13: Dezfoul - Shush - Choghazanbil - Shushtar - Ahwaz

(165 Kilometers distance)

Drive to Ahwaz, en route we will visit the Tomb of Prophet Daniel, the Acropolis, Darius Palace (Apadana), and a museum in Shush. Continue to Choghazanbil UNESCO heritage, one of the oldest Ziggurats in the world, then we will visit the Friday Mosque at Shushtar. O/N Ahwaz

Day 14: Ahwaz - Bishapour - Shiraz

(540 Kilometers distance)

Drive to Shiraz via Bishapour, an ancient partly excavated Sassanian city built as a commemoration of Persia’s victory over the invading Romans. According to an inscription, the city found in 266 by Shapur I (241-272), who was the second Sassanid king and inflicted a triple defeat on the Romans, having killed Gordian III, captured Valerian, and forced Philip the Arab to surrender. In addition, we will visit six Bas-reliefs on the rock walls of Tang- e Chogan depicts the Persian’s victory over the invading Romans. Afterward, the route takes us along the foothills of the Zagros Mountains a region containing many of Iran’s giant oilfields. O/N Shiraz

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Day 15: Shiraz - Firuzabad - Shiraz

(220 Kilometers distance) [Round Trip]

In the Morning, we leave Shiraz to see a Sassanid Castle near Firuzabad, also known as the Atash-Kadeh, which is a castle on the slopes of the mountain on which Dezh Dokhtar is situated. This was built, in AD 224 by King Ardashir I of the Sassanian Empire. Later we shall have the chance to mingle with the Qashqai nomads. These colorful and hospitable people preserve their traditions in their encampments of black woven goat hair tents. Finally, return to Shiraz. O/N Shiraz

Day 16: Shiraz

We will visit the Eram 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. Then, toward Hafez and Saadi mausoleums who were 2 famous Persian poets in the world. Afterward, we will visit the Vakil mosque complex and the most astonishing mirror decoration of the Ali Ibn Hamzeh Holy Shrine. O/N Shiraz

Eram Garden

Day 17: Shiraz - Persepolis - Necropolis - Pasargadae - Isfahan

(490 Kilometers distance)

Drive to Isfahan, we depart from Shiraz via the Quran gate, 45 km north of Shiraz we stop at 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. Then, we continue through mountain scenery to visit Pasargadae another UNESCO heritage, the earliest Achaemenian capital where the tomb of Cyrus the Great is well-preserved and forms an impressive monument on the plain of Dasht-e Morgab. Continue to Isfahan. O/N Isfahan

Day 18: Isfahan

In the morning, we will visit Naghshe Johan 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. In the afternoon, we will visit Si-o-Se Pol (thirty-three arches) and Khajoo bridges spanning the Zayanderud River. Then, we will visit Music Museum. O/N Isfahan

IRAN OLD ROADS

Day 19: Isfahan

We will visit the Armenian quarter of Jolfa, Vank cathedral, Friday Mosque, Shaking Minarets, and the Chehel Sotoun (forty columns) reception palace renowned for its exquisite frescos. O/N Isfahan

Day 20: Isfahan - Abyaneh

(175 Kilometers distance)

Drive to Abyaneh, an ancient fascinating village with its colorfully dressed inhabitants and ochre mud brick houses, characterized by a peculiar reddish hue, the village is one of the oldest in Iran where little has changed for several centuries. En route, we will visit the Natanz Friday Mosque. O/N Abyaneh

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Day 21: Abyaneh - Kashan - Tehran

(325 Kilometers distance)

Continue to Tehran. 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 Borujerdiha and Tabatabaei Houses, and the unique Agha Bozorg Mosque and Madrasah. Then, continue to Tehran. O/N Tehran

Day 22: Tehran

We will visit Archaeological and Islamic Art Museums, where you will view a collection of artifacts from the ancient Persian civilizations and a fine display of articles of Islamic art. Later, in the northern suburbs, we visit the Niyavaran palace complex before returning to central Tehran to visit the Jamshidiyeh park. O/N Tehran

Day 23: Tehran - Departure

Transfer to Tehran Intl. airport for your return flight.

kashan

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