From Tehran: Deep Excursion Through Iran – 21 Days

Day 1: Arrival in Tehran

After your arrival in Tehran and taking a short rest, our tour of Tehran starts with the Golestan Palace, (a masterpiece and a source of inspiration for Iranian artists and architects to this day). Next we visit a few fabulous museums including National Museum of Iran, (with relics from the 6th millennium B.C. till the Islamic era); Glass & Ceramics Museum, (walking you through the ages from the 2nd millennium B.C. to the modern day), and possibly the Treasury of National Jewelry Museum (with one of the world’s most precious jewelry collection).
One night in Tehran.

Day 2: Tehran – Anzali (364 km Drive)

Our plan for today is driving from Tehran to Anzali, through the Caspian coastal cities to delight in the prospects of the mountains and the sea. (You will see the two distinctive appearances of nature: the semi-arid southern slopes and the humid northern slopes). On the way, we are going to visit Gilan Rural Heritage Museum, an open air museum displaying the rural civilization and culture of people of the north of Iran. Next, we visit the authentic mountain village Masouleh (in which the tops of houses on lower levels are utilized as yards for houses on the levels above them).
One night in Anzali.

Day 3: Anzali – Ardebil (235 km Drive)

In the morning, we are driving from Anzali to Ardabil, visiting the Anzali Lagoon (known as a decent place for bird watching). We then proceed with our adventure over the mists in the Heyran road. Upon your arrival in Ardabil, you will visit the UNESCO World Heritage site, Sheikh Safi complex, where you can find the finest stucco works in Islamic Iranian history. It is a distinctive complex in which the elegance of structural style and spirituality are in a congruous discourse. You may visit the Shorabil Lake in the summer time if there is a free time.
One night in Ardebil.

Day 4: Ardebil – Tabriz (225 km Drive)

On this day, we move from Ardabil to Tabriz. Our full-day city tour in Tabriz includes: visiting Blue Mosque (with unique dark blue color); Tabriz Bazaar (one of the most important commercial centers on the Silk Road and the largest covered bazar in the world that also serves as an exceptional, social, political, and religious complex); the Constitution House (with a skylight and corridor decorated with colorful glass and mirrors); and the largest park in Tabriz, El Goli (once in the past Shah Goli), the largest park in Tabriz.
One night in Tabriz.

Day 5: Tabriz – Hamadan (591 km Drive)

On this day, we are going to drive to Hamadan, visiting the UNESCO Heritage site, Dome of Soltaniyeh on the way. It is one of the remarkable cases of the accomplishments of Islamic Architecture and Art in Iranian history with one of the world’s largest domes built from bricks. In the afternoon we are going to Ganjnameh area for dinner, visiting Ganjnameh Inscriptions, ordered by Darius the Great (521-485 B.C.) and Xerxes the Great (485-65 B.C.). It is an ancient inscription written in three languages (ancient Persian, Elamite, and Babylonian).
One night in Hamadan.

Day 6: Hamadan

We start our morning city tour in the green mountainous city of Hamadan with a visit to the archaeological excavations of Ecbatana, the capital of ancient Media. The next visits includes: the tomb of Avicenna, (a Persian polymath who is viewed as a standout amongst the most significant thinkers of the Islamic Golden Age); the tomb of Baba Tahir, (a well-known Persian poet of love and mystic beauty); the Alavian Dome, (delightfully decorated with flowers and plants); the tomb of Esther (the biblical Queen) and Mordechai which is of historical significance to the Jewish community.
One night in Hamadan.

Day 7: Hamadan – Kermanshah (190 km Drive)

Driving to Kermanshah, we will visit the following sites: first we see the Anahita Temple (the goddess of water); next we move to the UNESCO World Heritage site, Behistun, the important landmark of which is the bas-relief and cuneiform inscription requested by Darius the Great (when he rose to the throne of the Persian Empire, 521 B.C.). It is the longest text about the ancient Persia written in three peculiar cuneiform script languages (Old Persian, Elamite, and Babylonian); then we visit Taq-e Bostan (with a chain of the finest rock reliefs from the time of Sassanid Empire).
One night in Kermanshah.

Day 8: Kermanshah – Dezful (391 km Drive)

Today we drive to Dezful via Khorramabad to visit the ancient Falak-ol-Aflak Castle, a magnificent over the 1,800-year-old castle with 8 towers and 22.5 meters high walls situated on the top of a large hill. You may see scenic views of the city from the walls of this massive fortress that was built in the 3rd century A.D. The castle used to have twelve towers, but only eight of which is surviving today. You also visit the Pol-e Dokhtar (the Maiden Bridge), one of the unique bridges in Iran and Asia due to its size, shape, and architectural features.
One night in Dezful.

Day 9: Dezful

The highlights of today’s tour will be a visit to three World Cultural Heritages: Susa, a standout amongst the most important cities of the Mesopotamia where you have an opportunity to see the remaining parts of monuments from 5000 years ago (Elamite kingdom) and the enigmatic Tomb of Daniel (the burial place of the biblical prophet); heading to Shushtar, on the way, you will visit Choghazanbil ziggurat, an ancient Elamite complex; You will likewise have a look at Shushtar historical Hydraulic System (an ancient island city with an intricate irrigation system).
One night in Dezful.

Day 10: Dezful – Shiraz (563 km Drive)

This is a journey through different atmospheres and scenes (our adventure begins from 60 meters above sea level and proceeds to an elevation of 1,600 meters)! Driving from Ahvaz to Shiraz we will visit, on the way, the Bishapur City (known for its bas-reliefs and the remaining parts of a Sassanian city) and the Anahita Temple, the name of which is depicted from Anahita (goddess of water). A short walk around Bishapur, the rocky walls here are home to six substantial bas-reliefs cut out of limestone. We arrive in Shiraz at night.
One night in Shiraz.

Day 11: Shiraz

Our full-day tour in Shiraz starts by strolling through Zandieh Complex (the citadel, the great Vakil Mosque, Saray-e-Moshir, and Vakil Bazaar) with its superb design and the Nasir Almolk Mosque.During the evening, we will see one of the most appealing and grand greenery gardens of Iran, Eram Garden, and the Tomb of two of the most renowned Iranian poets—Hafez and Saadi. Then the tour ends by going to Ali Ibn Hamzeh Shrine (with mirror tiles covering the whole wall and domed roof) and Quran Gate.
One night in Shiraz.

Day 12: Shiraz

The morning excursion tour begins by driving to Persepolis (an awe-inspiring architectural creation, classified among the world’s greatest archaeological destinations) which still talks articulately of the gloriousness of the Persian Empire as it was about 2,500 years ago. Next, we visit Naqsh-e Rustam (situated inside a small perimeter close to the monuments of Persepolis) that is a standout amongst the most fabulous and sensational ancient locales of the Achaemenid Empire (involving the huge tombs of Persian rulers going back to the first millennium B.C.
One night in Shiraz.

Day 13: Shiraz

Our full-day excursion tour to the ancient Firuzabad includes: the Palace of Ardashir, next to a picturesque pond, with unique domes with squinches; Qal’eh Dokhtar (the Maiden’s Castle) whose loftiness still delivers amazement in visitors. The castle is impressively coherent and contains many of the recurring characteristics of Sasanian royal residences and civic architecture: recessed windows, long halls, the oldest domes with squinches, arches, and stairways. In the afternoon, if it is possible, you will get acquainted with the traditional nomadic lifestyle.
One night in Shiraz.

Day 14: Shiraz – Yazd (500 km Drive)

Today we are going to drive to Yazd. We will be delighted to visit Pasargadae, (the oldest Achaemenid Persian capital), where you have a chance to visit the Tomb of Cyrus the Great (the founder of Achaemenid Empire). As the first magnificent expression of the royal Achaemenid architecture, the Pasargadae provides exceptional evidence to the Achaemenid civilization in Iran. The Four Gardens style in Pasargadae turned into a prototype for Western Asian architecture. We also make a stop on the way (in Abarkuh) to see the 4500-year-old cypress tree.
One night in Yazd.

Day 15: Yazd

We will begin today’s experience with Towers of Silence (Zoroastrian Constructions for the Ritual of Death in the past). Next we visit Zoroastrian Fire Temple and its Sacred Eternal Flame, Water Museum, Amir Chakhmaq square (best known for its symmetrical sunken arched alcoves), Dolat Abad Garden (famous for having the tallest Badgir/wind catcher in Iran and probably in the world, standing over than 33m), and the splendid, congregational Jameh Mosque. Our walking tour of the old area of the city will be carried out in the afternoon.
One night in Yazd.

Day 16: Yazd – Isfahan (350 km Drive)

Today, we will be driving to Isfahan, having an opportunity to look at the Caravanserai Complex of Meybod. Then we will visit Pigeon Tower (with an extraordinary architecture) and Meybod Ice House, both of which are Eco-friendly creations. We have also a glance at the tile and ceramic workshop. Next, we will visit one of the oldest mosques of Persian Islamic architecture (Jame Mosque) in Nain. The city is best known for its preliminary architecture. We arrive in Isfahan in the afternoon, having enough time to visit the historical bridges.
One night in Isfahan.

Day 17: Isfahan

Our full-day tour in Isfahan includes visiting a number of UNESCO World Heritage sites: Naqshe-Jahan square; the especially exquisite Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque; the Imam Mosque (the most publicly known example of the colorful architecture); the elaborately decorated Ali Qapu Palace; and the acclaimed Bazaar where you see the arts & crafts products. We additionally visit Chehel Sotoun Palace and Garden (the best specimen of Islamic Persian painting); the way of life delineated in these works of art is distinctive with the genuine state of society in that
period.
One night in Isfahan.

Day 18: Isfahan

During the half day tour, we will visit the Vank Cathedral, the architecture of which is a mixture of the Safavid style
(high arches) and an Islamic-style dome. Next, we see the Jameh Mosque (the first building from Islamic period that adapted the four-iwan courtyard format of the Sassanid palaces to Islamic religious architecture and turned into the prototype construction for a new aesthetic and layout in mosque design). The Mosque is viewed as a magnificent museum of Islamic periods in Iran because of its various types of architecture from 1,400 years ago to the most recent century.
One night in Isfahan.

Day 19: Isfahan – Tehran (505 km Drive)

Today, we drive to Tehran via Abyaneh and Kashan. First, we visit Abyaneh the best place to see the rural architecture
(harmonious with mountainous land and climate) and traditional dresses of local people. Next, we make a few stops on the way to visit the best Iranian houses in size and architecture (for example, Borujerdis House, Ameri House, and Abbasi House), and the magnificent Mosque of Agha Bozorg (utilized as a theological school and also as a mosque). We then visit the UNESCO World Heritage site Fin Garden, a highlight of Kashan (best known for its seven ponds).
One night in Tehran.

Day 20: Tehran

Today’s city tour of Tehran begins with a visit to the Sa’dabad Complex. Situated in the ever-refreshing foothills of Darband and Tochal, this historical and cultural Complex (with 18 palaces and palace museums) spreads an area of 110 hectares. Next, we will see the delightful complex of Niavaran (an impressive structure the buildings of which belong to the Qajar and the Pahlavi periods). You have also an opportunity to take a glance at the Carpet Museum displaying a number of carpet masterpieces of the world.
One night in Tehran.

Day 21: Tehran – Departure

Fly back to your country with precious memories of the eminent glimpses of Incredible Iran.

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