DAY 1 ARRIVE SHIRAZ
Upon arrival at Shiraz Airport you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Check in at the hotel in Shiraz is at 1500hrs. (Early check-in is subject to availability).

Shiraz is one of the most beautiful, historical cities in the world and houses the origin of first samples of Persian gardens and many historical and ancient attractions and old cities of Persian Empire showing the glory of a nation such as Persepolis and Necropolis and Pasargadae.

Overnight in Shiraz.

DAY 2 SHIRAZ
Breakfast at the hotel.

This morning will begin our educational adventure with our Group Leader on Guided Tour of Shiraz. Among the highlights we will see Narenjestan Garden, circa 1257 CE, Which includes richly decorated pavilion set among graceful trees. Then we will walk to the Vakil Bazaar, originally established in the 11th century CE, one of the finest and important bazaars of historical Iran. Then visit to the tomb of Hafez, Iran's greatest lyric poet, followed by the tomb of Sa’adi whose poems and tales are still known to every Iranian.

Afterward we will take a field trip to the Arg-E Karim — Karim Khan Citadel — located in downtown of the city and named after a king of the 18th century Zand Dynasty who made this city his capital. We will learn about the citadel, King Karim Khan, and the dynasty. At the end we will visit the exterior view of Ali Ebn-e Hamze and Holy shrine of Shah Cheragh and enjoy its shining domes.

Overnight in Shiraz.

DAY 3 SHIRAZ – PERSEPOLIS – PASARGADAE – YAZD
Breakfast at the hotel.

After checking out of the hotel, we will board the vehicle and head towards Yazd, one of the most distinctive cities in Iran, renowned for its Persian architecture. En route visit Persepolis (Takht-é Jamshid) in the heart of the fabled Persian Empire. Once one of the greatest architectural wonders of the ancient world, it was founded by Darius the Great, who made it his capital in 518 BCE.

Persepolis was a treasure city and one of the richest in the world. When he conquered it in 330 BCE, Alexander the Great took possession of 2,500 tons of gold and silver in addition to other fabulous assets. One night, he and his companions were feasting and drinking, as the story goes, they decided in their drunkenness that the royal palace should be burned in revenge for the Persian destruction of Athens a century earlier. And so the jewel of Persia went up in flames. Enough remains so that we can imagine its original splendour. We will see massive statues of winged bulls, a grand stairway wide enough for five horsemen to ride abreast, elegant columns, and hundreds of carved figures.

Then we will stop in Pasargadae, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to view the austere tomb of Cyrus the Great (c. 600-530 BCE). Alexander the Great paid his respects here because Cyrus was one of his role models as an ideal ruler. At night we will arrive to Yazd and check in hotel.

Overnight in Yazd

DAY 4 YAZD – ISFAHAN
Breakfast at the hotel.
Today will be one of the more fascinating field trips in our program. Situated in a remote area with two deserts converge, Yazd dates back to c. 3,000 BCE. It was a stop on the fabled Silk Road, but its location kept it safe from the ravages of war and destruction for centuries and so its local culture remained strong.

The city is made almost entirely of adobe and mud brick. Beyond its importance as a desert “port” for trade, Yazd was one of the principal centers of the Zoroastrian religion. Zoroastrians venerate fire as a holy entity that comes from the supreme god, Ahura Mazda, and invokes truth in the hearts and minds of believers. We call their places of worship fire temples, where sacred flames were kept burning continuously.

We will visit the most important remaining fire temple in Iran, Atashkadeh in Yazd. We will also see one of the so-called towers of silence where Zoroastrians took their dead to avoid contaminating the earth. Then in afternoon the field trip goes to Bagh-E-Dolatabad, a unique octagonal house with the tallest wind tower in the city. Here we get a demonstration of the effectiveness of these towers first hand.

We’ll then visit the Amir Chakhmaq complex, one of the most extraordinary in all of Iran. In addition to the distinctive 3-storey mosque, there are a number of other exceptional structures. We will also explore the renowned Yazd bazaar with its narrow, covered passages that feature products for which Iran is known including high quality textiles, carpets, sweets, nuts, and much more.

When we finish visit, we take the road to Isfahan. Less than 350 km drive with frequently stops en route. After arrive to Isfahan it will be relaxing to walk in the bank of famous Zayanderoud.

Overnight in Isfahan

DAY 5 ISFAHAN
Breakfast at the hotel.

Iranians say that Isfahan, capital of the Safavid Dynasty from the 16th century on is “half the world.” This morning proceed a comprehensive city tour Isfahan.

Our exploration will include two of the most impressive mosques amid a myriad of remarkable sites. At the centre of the city is Naqsh-e Jahan, one of the world's biggest squares, created in the 17th century. The huge, open plaza is framed by a wall of arches and surrounded by the Masjed-e Sheikh Lotfollah and the Masjed-e Emam mosques. We will admire their magnificent architecture and tile-work. We will also walk through the Ali Qapu Palace with its enchanting music room and balcony overlooking the Maidan where the Safavid kings sat to watch polo tournaments.

We will cross through Meydan and entre to the bazaar that was and is one of the most important elements of every Persian and Iranian city, sitting at the centre of the neighbourhood and social consciousness.

The Isfahan Bazaar is one of the country’s most famous. In addition to the stalls of textile and carpet merchants, makers of jewellery and handicrafts, vendors of spices, and much more.

Overnight in Isfahan

DAY 6 ISFAHAN – MATINABAD – CAMP
Breakfast buffet at the hotel.

We will check out of the hotel and begin our journey to Matinabad. But first we get to know Isfahan even better with field trips to several memorable sites. First is the magnificent Jame Mosque with its famous Uljaytu Mihrab of the Il-Khanid Period, artistic treasure stucco densely decorated with Quranic inscriptions and continue to visit Chehel Sotun, a pavilion constructed as a reception hall for visiting dignitaries by Shah Abbas II, and Hasht Behesht, an octagonal pleasure palace built a few years later.

Proceeding to Matinabad, we will meet local villagers and before we sleep, we will experience Atashouni, gathering around a campfire to enjoy a starry night.

Overnight at the camp in Mitanabad


DAY 7 MATINABAAD – KASHAN – TEHRAN
Breakfast buffet at the hotel.

After camel riding and enjoy cycling (optional) in Matinabad, drive to Kashan—the "City of Carpets and Roses"—with a rich history and culture. After our arrival in Kashan, proceed on a city tour, visiting the Fin Garden. The garden is a historical Persian garden that contains Kashan's Fin Bath. Amir Kabir, the Qajarid chancellor, was murdered by an assassin sent by King Nasereddin Shah in 1852.

Completed in 1590, the Fin Garden is the oldest extant garden in Iran. Continue to Tehran and stop at the entrance of Tehran to visit Imam Khomeini mausoleum. Check in hotel.

Overnight in Tehran.

DAY 8 TEHRAN
Breakfast buffet at the hotel.
Today we will explore Iran’s capital city on guided city tour. Tehran has grown tremendously since it was reinstituted as the national capital and is now home to some 12 million residents. We will begin our exploration at Golestan Palace, the city’s oldest historical monument and one of the most lavish.
The palace was built around a garden. Its richly ornamented interiors feature artistic styles emblematic of the Qajar dynasty — also incorporating technological advances of the 18 th century — that have continued to inspire Iranian art and architecture. The palace complex houses the Versailles-inspired, mirror encrusted Marble Throne Hall used for the coronation of the last Shah, and an Ethnographic Museum.

Next, we will explore the National Museum of Iran that preserves the country’s historical and cultural record through the presentation of some 300,000 artifacts — the oldest dating back more than 30,000 years. Its two buildings are dedicated to pre-Islamic and post-Islamic periods. Highlights include everything from gigantic stone reliefs found in Persepolis to ancient coins and historic copies of the Qur’an. In the evening and for the last visit, we will go to Milad tower. A multi-purpose tower which gives you skyline view of Tehran. The last landscape of Tehran will be memorable of above.

PLEASE NOTE: For November fixed departure travelers would visit the Carpet Museum instead of National Museum.

Overnight in Tehran

DAY 9 DEPARTURE TEHRAN
Breakfast buffet at the hotel.

This morning you will be transferred to Tehran Airport to board your flight back home.

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