Jewels Of The Ancient Persian Culture

Day 1: Arrive Tehran (I.K Airport), rest at hotel

Arriving Tehran I.K. Airport, welcoming and regarding the group by our English language guide, transport to Hotel. Have a rest at hotel, dinner at restaurant in Tehran, O /N at hotel.

Day 2: Drive to Kashan, sightseeing

Today morning we leave Tehran toward Kashan historical city in center of Iran, it’s about 200 km far away from Tehran in the south (2 and half hours driving). The etymology of the city name comes from the Kasian, the original inhabitants of the city, whose remains are found at Tapeh Sialk dating back 9,000 years; later this was changed to “Kashian”, hence the town name. Between the 12th and the 14th centuries Kashan was an important centre for the production of high quality pottery and tiles. In modern Persian, the word for a tile (kashi) comes from the name of the town Kashan. In Kashan you can visit some historical sites like Brodjerdian house, Abbasian house, Fin garden (paradise garden), Soltan Amirahmad Bathroom, and etc. Afternoon we’ll drive 230 km to Isfahan via south highway (about two and half hours). 30 km Before Isfahan in “Mourcheh Khort” we’ll have a short stop to visit a “Madar Shah caravansary” from Safavieh dynasty. Today it’s repaired and changed to rest area and restaurant. Then we drive to Isfahan. We have enough time to walking around our Hotel, and enjoy landscape of old bridges at the evening. O /N in Hotel.

Day 3: Driving toward Yazd, Abyaneh & Naein sightseeing

Today we drive to the South, after about 50 km we turn in Abyane village road. The ancient village of Abyaneh is the perfect answer to Iran’s bustling, traffic-clogged cities.
Serenely situated at the foot of mount Karkas, Abyaneh’s steep, twisting lanes of mud and stone wind through a maze of red mud-brick houses with lattice windows and fragile wooden balconies. It is testament to both the age and isolation of Abyaneh that the elderly residents speak Middle Persian, an earlier version of Farsi that largely disappeared centuries ago. The village is at least 1500 years old and faces east across a picturesque valley. Eating lunch in Abyaneh and drive to Naein City in about 185 km distance on South highway. Na’in (also known as Naein and Naeen) lies 170 km north of Yazd. Na’in lies at an altitude of 1545 m above sea level. Unique to Na’in are some of the most outstanding monuments in all of Iran: the Jame Mosque, one of the first four mosques built in Iran after the Arab invasion; the Pre-Islamic Narej Fortress; a Pirnia traditional house; the Old Bazaar; Rigareh, a qanat-based watermill; at the evening we’ll arrive to Yazd, O /N at Hotel.

Day 4: Full day sightseeing Yazd

Yazd Wedged between the northern Dasht-e Kaivir desert, and the southern Dasht-e Lut, Yazd boasts the best old-and inhabited-city in Iran. At an altitude of 1230m,Yazd can be quite cold in winter, but very hot in summer. Yazd was an important center for pre-Islamic Zoroastrianism, and there is still a substantial minority of Zoroastrians today. The city has always been a great weaving center, known for its silks and other fabrics even before Marco Polo passed through along one of the Silk Roads in the late 13th century. According to UNESCO, Yazd is one of the oldest towns in the world – every visitor should spend a few hours getting completely lost in this living museum. Look out for the tall wind-towers (Badgirs) on rooftops, designed to catch even the lightest breeze and direct them to underground living rooms. In the hot summers they are very necessary, and more healthy than modern air-conditioning. Today we’ll see Wind Catchers, Atashkadeh (Fire Temple), Amir chekhmag complex, Doulat Abad Garden, Jame mosque. O /N at Hotel.

Day 5: Driving toward Shiraz, Abarqu, Pasargad sightseeing

Today morning we leave Yazd to Shiraz (about 440 km). After 150 km we stop at Abarqu city to visit one of the oldest live cypress trees in the world. Sarv-e Abarqu, also called the “Zoroastrian Sarv,” is a cypress tree in Yazd province, Iran. The tree is estimated to be at least 4,000 years old and, having lived through the dawn of human civilization not far away, it is considered an Iranian national monument. Many have noted that Sarv-e Abarqu is most likely the oldest living thing in Asia. Then we drive to UNESCO World Heritage Pasargadae (about 170 km). Pasargadae was the first dynastic capital of the Achaemenid Empire, founded by Cyrus II the Great, in Pars, homeland of the Persians, in the 6th century BC. Its palaces, gardens and the mausoleum of Cyrus are outstanding examples of the first phase of royal Achaemenid art and architecture and exceptional testimonies of Persian civilization. Particularly noteworthy vestiges in the 160-ha site include: the Mausoleum of Cyrus II; Tall-e Takht, a fortified terrace; and a royal ensemble of gatehouse, audience hall, residential palace and gardens. Pasargadae was the capital of the first great multicultural empire in Western Asia. Spanning the Eastern Mediterranean and Egypt to the Hindus River, it is considered to be the first empire that respected the cultural diversity of its different peoples. This was reflected in Achaemenid architecture, a synthetic representation of different cultures. At the evening we drive to Shiraz, O /N at Hotel.

Day 6: Persepolis & Shiraz sightseeing

Today after breakfast, we leave Shiraz to Persepolis UNESCO World Heritage Site. just a mere 55km from Shiraz are the magnificent and atmospheric ruins of the ancient UNESCO city of Persepolis, which was awarded world heritage status in 1979. This beautiful site is overwhelming on the eye with its exquisite statues, decorated walls and towering gates. Known as the city of Persians and home to the ancient Achaemenid Empire (550 to 300BC), Alexander the Great razed it to the ground where it lay hidden for centuries under desert sands. It was only rediscovered and excavated in the 1930S and, the quality of the architecture makes it an important and impressive archaeological site. The city is spread over a large area and we will wander through the city’s gates passing throne rooms, monumental stairways, sculpted wall freezes and the remains of decorative columns from large halls. Persepolis is impressive and it’s amazing location and history makes it a wonderful place to experience. Close by we’ll also pay a visit to the rock tombs of Naqsh-e Rostam, the resting place of Darius I, Darius II, Xerxes I and Artaxerxes. Afternoon we came back Shiraz to visit Eram Garden (Bagh-e-eram), beautiful complex contains a vast network of gardens, as well as a colorful palace and a system of small artificial rivers flowing throughout the entire area. Nasir al-Mulk Mosque was built during the Qajar era, the mosque has extensively colored glasses in its facade, and other traditional elements such as panj kaseh-i (five concaves) in its design. Vakil Bazaar, Shah Cheragh, Narangestan Qavam. O /N at Hotel.

Day 7: Shiraz to Bishpour

Today after breakfast, we’ll drive to Bishapour town (about 140 km). Bishpour, or ‘Shapur’s City’, was the grand capital of possibly the greatest of the Sassannian kings, Shapur I. Bishapur, “the beautiful [city] of Shapur”, is situated south of modern Faliyan, just off the ancient road between Persis and Elam, which connected the Sasanian capitals Istakhr (close to Persepolis) and Firuzabad to Susa and Ctesiphon. The city was built near a river crossing. The site has been partly excavated, revealing the Palace of Shapur and the nearby Anahita’s Temple, where a stairway leads underground to a pool around which the faithful once walked and prayed. Afternoon we drive back to shiraz, and have a visit to Hafezieh (Mausoleum of Hafez). Hafez, who was a 14th-century poet in Iran, is best known for his poems that can be described as “antinomian”. He was a Persian poet who lauded the joys of love and wine but also targeted religious hypocrisy. O /N at Hotel.

Day 8: Drive to Isfahan, Izadkhost sightseeing

Today we’ll start our journey to Isfahan (about 480 km). Isfahan is located on the main north–south and east–west routes crossing Iran, and was once one of the largest cities in the world. It flourished from 1050 to 1722, particularly in the 16th and 17th centuries under the Safavid dynasty, when it became the capital of Persia for the second time in its history. Even today, the city retains much of its past glory. It is famous for its Persian–Islamic architecture, with many beautiful boulevards, covered bridges, palaces, mosques, and minarets. This led to the Persian proverb “Esfahān nesf-e- jahān ast” (Isfahan is half of the world). About 140 km before Isfahan, we turn to Izadkhost city, to visit the Complex of Izadkhast, consists of Izadkhast Castle, a caravanserai, and a Safavid -period bridge. At the evening we have enough time to walking around, visit the beauty of old bridges on Zayanderoud River, drinking tea and enjoy enjoy the landscape of old bridges. O /N at Hotel.

Day 9: Isfahan full day sightseeing

Incredible Isfahan “Pearl of Asia” is the number one destination in Iran due to its beautiful Persian gardens, tree-lined boulevards and important Islamic buildings. Surrounded by mountain ranges and located on a plateau, this fertile oasis was home to the Safavids and to this day still remains glorious. The reign of Shah Abbas the Great began in 1587 and he transformed the city, firstly creating the Chahar Bagh Gardens and then the famous “Meydan-e –Naghsh-e-Jahan” square (UNESCO World Heritage Site), which at its time was the world’s largest public space. By the 1660s, Isfahan had 162 mosques, 1800 caravanserais, 48 colleges and 273 public baths before the Safavid collapsed amid invasions by Afghan rebels and outbreaks of plague. Today is a wonderful day of sightseeing as we visit the main sites including the magnificent Meydan-e –Naghsh-e-Jahan square, the Masjed-e Sheikh Lotfallah mosque plus the former palaces of the Safavid Shahs, the Ali Qap and the Chehal Sotun. Isfahan is a colourful and wonderful place to explore on foot and no visit would be complete without a stroll through the Bazaar! During the afternoon we’ll enjoying the evening ambience of this city and the bustling main square after sunset, we’ll head back to our hotel after a full day in this incredible city. O /N at Hotel.

Day 10: Isfahan full day sightseeing

Today, we continue our sightseeing in Isfahan. Vank Cathedral of Saint-Sauveur, Monarjonban, Friday Mosque, Fire Temple and Traditional Bazar, are places that we will see today. O /N at Hotel.

Day 11: Drive to Qum & Tehran

Today after breakfast and buying famous Sweet Souvenir of Isfahan, Gaz, we’ll drive toward Tehran via Qum highway (about 400 km). We’ll visit Qum city, before arrive Tehran.   Qom is considered holy by Shi’a Islam, as it is the site of the shrine of Fatema Ma’sume, sister of Imam `Ali ibn Musa Rida. The city is the largest center for Shiʿa scholarship in the world, and is a significant destination of pilgrimage. Qom is famous for a brittle toffee called Sohan ,considered a souvenir of the city. Arrive Tehran at the evening.     O /N at Hotel.

Day 12: Full day Tehran sightseeing

Today we’ll go to Tehran sightseeing tour. Tehran is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With a population of around 9 million in the city and 16 million in the wider metropolitan area. Today we can visit “Tehran Grand Bazar”, “Golestan Palace”, one of the oldest historic monuments in the city of Tehran, and of world heritage status the Golestan Palace belongs to a group of royal buildings that were once enclosed within the mud-thatched walls of Tehran’s arg (citadel). It consists of gardens, royal buildings, and collections of Iranian crafts and European presents from the 18th and 19th centuries), “Iran National Museum” that is an institution formed of two complexes, including the Museum of Ancient Iran (Muze ye Irān e Bāstān) which was inaugurated in 1937, and the Museum of the (post-) Islamic Era (Muze ye Dowrān e (pasā) Eslāmi) which was inaugurated in 1972.It hosts historical monuments dating back through preserved ancient and medieval Iranian antiquities, including pottery vessels, metal objects, textile remains, and some rare books and coins. “The national treasury of the jewelry of Iran” namely the Treasury of Royal Jewelry was established in Tehran in 1955 in order to take care of the national jewelry of Iran. Most of the royal jewelry of Iran is in display in this museum from Safavid, Afsharid, Ghajarid and Pahlavid dynasties such as the Darya-ye-Noor dimond (the sea of light), Naderi Paisley, the crown of Queen Farah Pahlavi, Kiyani crown, the gemmed globe, the Peacock bed (Ghajarid) (The sun bed), and the Naderi bed. At the evening we’ll go to one of the best traditional restaurant in Tehran for Farewell dinner and say goodbye to the group. O /N at Hotel.

Day 13: Fly back Home

Depends on your flight time we transport the group to the airport and you’ll fly back to your home.