Gem Of Persia 12 Days

Day 1: Arrive to Tehran. Visit Tehran

Tehran is a cosmopolitan city, with great museums, parks, restaurants, and warm friendly people. Acombination of factors make Tehran a pleasant place to visit: The dry climate which is constantly cool (at least in the evenings), the proximity of the mountains, the parks and gardens where flowers blossom all through the year, the alleys of trees in the avenues or even smaller streets, and even the water that runs down from the upper city along deep and wide gutters which look like small rivers during spring. The Alborz range on the north of Tehran, which hosts the highest peak in Iran, provides fantastic conditions for ski lovers in the winter.O/N in Tehran.Today's tour includes visiting:

- Golestan Palace

- Bazar

- Archeological Museum

- Jewels Museum

Note:Jewelery Museum is closed on Wednesday, Thursdays and Fridays. It will be replaced with Carpet Museum. Tehran Grand Bazaar is closed on Fridays and official holidays and only some shops are open around the Bazaar.

Day 2: Visit Tehran and fly to Shiraz

Saadabad is a cultural and historical complex that covers an area of 110 hectares and is located at the northernmost part of Tehran. The complex contains 18 palaces belonged to the royal families of Qajar and Pahlavi, in a unique and beautiful garden.

The complex was 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, and his son, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, moved there in the 1970s. After the 1978 Revolution, the complex became a museum.O/N in Shiraz.Today's tour includes visiting:

- Sa'ad Abad Palace

- Tabiat Bridge

- Tajrish Bazar

- Azadi Tower

Day 3: Visit Shiraz

Shiraz is the sixth most populous city of Iran and the capital of Fars Province. It has a moderate climate and has been a regional trade center for over a thousand years. It is regarded as one of the oldest cities of ancient Persia. Shiraz is known as the city of poets, literature and flowers.

Shiraz is the birthplace of two famous Persian poets Hafez and Saadi. It is also considered by many Iranians to be the city of gardens, due to the many gardens and fruit trees that can be seen in the city.O/N in Shiraz.Today's tour includes visiting:

- Nasir Almolk mosque

- Hafez Tomb

- Ali-Ebn-e-Hamzeh Shrine

- Karim Khan Citadel

- Vakil mosque

- Vakil Bazaar

Day 4: An excursion to Persepolis, Necropolis

Magnificent Persepolis, the center of the great Persian Empire, ceremonial capital of the Achaemenids embodies the greatest successes of the ancient Achaemenid Empire. Persepolis, Founded by Darius I in 518 B.C., was built on a huge terrace, where the king of kings created an impressive palace complex. The monumental staircases, exquisite reliefs and imposing gateways leave you no doubt how grand this empire was.

Next is Necropolis, the magnificent burial place of Achaemenid kings. The site also provides seven bas-reliefs dating back to Elamite and Sassanid periods.O/N in Shiraz.Today's tour includes visiting:

- Persepolis

- Necropolis

Day 5: Drive to Zeinoddin Caravansarai via Pasargade and Abarkoh

Today on the way we will have a stop in Pasargadae to visit this world heritage site. The tomb of Cyrus the Great, the founder of Achaemanian Empire, is the highlight of Pasargadae. The wonderful architecture of his tomb, the huge fertile land over there beside the brave personality of Cyrus the Great inspires the visitors.O/N in Zeinodin Caravansarai.Today's tour includes visiting:

- Pasargadae

- Abarkoh Ice house

- Abarkoh Old Cypress Tree

Day 6: Drive to Yazd via Saryazd Village

Saryazd has a castle belonging to Sassanid era which is used as a haven in time of war. Another historical place out there is caravanserai in Saryazd which dates back to Seljuk and Safavid era.O/N in Yazd.Today's tour includes visiting:

- Saryazd Village

- Jame Mosque

- Amir Chakhmagh Complex

Day 7: Visit Yazd

The city of Yazd is located in the eastern part of central Iran situated on the high, desert plateau that forms much of the country. Amidst the immense desert, Yazd retains its sterling of old in religion, traditions and architecture. Recognized by UNESCO as holding one of the oldest architecture all over the world. The word Yazd means, feast and worship. The city of Yazd has resisted the modern urbanization changes and maintained its traditional structure. The geographical features of this region have made people developed special architectural styles. For this reason, in the older part of the city most houses are built of mud-bricks and have domed roofs. These materials served as insulation preventing heat.O/N in Yazd.Today's tour includes visiting:

- Towers of silence

- Fire Temple

- Old part of city

- Zorkhaneh

Day 8: Drive to Isfahan via Meybod and Naein

Meybod in Yazd Province is a desert city with an ancient past. Meybod’s proximity to Dasht-e Kavir has bestowed desert climate on the city and as a result it experiences extremely hot summers and cold winters with mild springs and falls. Meybod is rich in historical sites that are scattered in and around the city. Narin Castle is one of the major attractions of the city. This mud brick Parthian structure, which has been built in five stories on a hill overlooking Meybod, was used as a military fortress for most of its life but there are expert who say that the castle was originally an Elamite Ziggurat (temple) built over 4,000 years ago. Meybod is famed for its ceramics and countless shops throughout the city sell these fine Persian creations.

Naein is a desert city in Isfahan Province, which has desert climate and experiences extremely hot summers and relatively cold winters. The history of the city dates back to the Achaemenid and Parthian eras when Naein served as an administrative center for Yazd. Naein is the producer of one of the finest and most sought-after Persian carpets. The Naein is made of high quality wool or silk and has a Shah Abbasi design. The Naein rug often has blue highlighting on cream or ivory backgrounds. The city highlight of attractionsin Naein is the Jame Mosque, which is one of the first Islamic places of worship built in the country.O/N in Isfahan.Today's tour includes visiting:

- Meybod Narin Castel

- Ice House

- Shah Abbasi Caravanserai

- Naein Jame Mosque

Day 9: Visit Isfahan

A city of immense beauty and unforgettable experiences, Isfahan has been dazzling travelers for ages. Isfahan, the legendary city which never fails to enchant its visitors, is the pearl of traditional Islamic archeology. Nesf-e Jahan, Half the world, is a popular rhyme with the name of Isfahan and an example of praise lavished by the inhabitants and poets on their city. Its profusion of tree-lined boulevards, Persian gardens and important Islamic buildings gives it a visual appeal unmatched by any other Iranian city and the many artisans working here underpin its reputation as a living museum of traditional culture. Walking through the historic bazaar, over the picturesque bridges and across the UNESCO-listed central square are sure to be highlights of your holiday.O/N in Isfahan.Today's tour includes visiting:

- Imam Square (Naqsh-e-Jahan Square)

- Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque

- Imam Mosque

- Aliqapu Palace

- Chehel Sutoon Palace

- Bazaar

Day 10: Visit Isfahan

One of the oldest and most important religious structures of Iran, the Jame Mosque of Isfahan is magnificent example of the evolution of mosque architecture as well as the development of Islamic arts over twelve centuries.

Archaeological findings suggest that the mosque was built over the ruins of a Sassanid (226-651 CE) Fire Temple during the Buyid era (934 - 1062). After the Seljuq conquest (1038-1118) when Isfahan became the capital of the new empire, much importance was placed on embellishing the city's Jame Mosque. When a fire damaged the mosque, a new four-iwan plan was given to the mosque during reconstruction efforts, making it the first Islamic building to adapt the four-courtyard layout of Sassanid palaces to Islamic religious architecture. The Jame Mosque of Isfahan is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.O/N in Isfahan.Today's tour includes visiting:

- Jame Mosque

- Armenian Quarter

- Vank Cathedral

- Khaju Bridge

- Si-o-Seh Bridge

Day 11: Drive to Abyaneh village

With a history of more than 2,000 years, Abyaneh Village is located at the foot of Karakas Mountain outside Kashan in Isfahan Province. Because of its red soil and the red clay used in the construction of its houses it has been nicknamed the Red Village.

Abyaneh is a tiered village meaning houses are built so that the roofs of the ones built lower on the slope serve as the courtyard of the higher ones. In some parts of the village, there are up to four tiers of houses. The village has several structures surviving from ancient times including a Zoroastrian Fire Temple and a site locals believe was once an Anahita Temple.

The inhabitants of Abyaneh have for thousands of years maintained their culture, customs and costumes, wearing outfits that are said to have been worn during the Sassanid era (224-651 CE) and speaking a dialect that is believed to have been the language of ancient Persia. The traditional costume of the women of Abyaneh consists of a below the knee skirt, cotton stockings made by hand and colorful, floral patterned headscarves that fall below the waist.O/N in Abyaneh.Today's tour includes visiting:

- Abyaneh Village

Day 12: Drive to Kashan. Visit Kashan. Transfer to IKA and depart Iran

The city of Kashan, which lies in a desert at the eastern foot of the Central Iranian Plateau, 220 kilometers south of Tehran, was once a popular vacation spot for Safavid Kings.

The pearl of Iranian deserts is the birthplace of many arts and crafts. Tilework or Kashi-kari is one of the many arts perfected by Iranians and it is notable that the Persian word for tile (kashi) is derived from the name of this city. Zari bafi or the art of weaving with a gold string has been passed from fathers to sons in Kashan for over 2,000 years which you can eye witness in Kashan Bazaar .

The city has also found fame for its many traditional mansions. The most delicate of Persian arts and crafts have been employed in the design and decoration of these mansions. Today's tour includes visiting:

- Fin Garden

- Tabatabaee House

- Borjerdi House

- Agha Bozorg Mosque

Note:

- Prices are based on 2 people sharing a room. If you want to book a single room for the tour then additional supplement is charged.

- In Budget tours hotels are 2*. In Budget tours public transportation will be used and you will have local guide in each city.

- In Standard tours private car will be used and hotels are 3*/4*.

- In Luxury tours private car will be used and hotels are the best options in each city, mostly 4*or 5*.

- We have designed our tour packages to cover a wide-range of tastes and to be fun. If you don't find what you are looking for here please contact us and we will design a package especially for you.