Iran – Iran Highlights Tour

Itinerary

Day 1 – Tehran

• Arrive at your own convenience in Tehran, the capital of Iran.
• Pre-tour meeting at the hotel, here you will meet your fellow travelers.
• Evening visit to old Tehran, a perfect place for a first meeting with this big capital city.
• Overnight stay in Tehran.

Day 2 – Tehran

• We visit the mausoleum of Ayatollah Khomeini. This mega-complex is a memorial for the Ayatollah and is intended as a place for Iranians to gather.
• Revolutionary Martyrs Cemetery, here many locals come together to pay respect to their lost ones.
• Highlight: Azadi Tower, also known as the Shah’s Monument. This 45m high tower is one of the most famous landmarks in Tehran.
• We stop by the former US Embassy, here you’ll see lots of ant-American propaganda.
• Ebrat Museum, this impressive museum shows more about the secret police during the Shah’s reign in the 1970s.
• Wander around the Tajrish Bazar, this covered bazar is more than 200 years old.
• Overnight stay in Tehran.

Day 3 – Tehran – Kashan – Isfahan

• Drive towards Isfahan, located in central Iran. Along the way we’ll make plenty of stops to stretch our legs and for photos.
• Stop at Kashan.
• Highlight: Upon arrival we visit Tabatabai House, an incredible house from around 1880.
• Visit to the famous Fin Garden, rated one of the most beautiful historical gardens in the world.
• See the Sultan Amir Bath, a traditional Iranian bathhouse from the 16th Century.
• We continue towards Isfahan.
• Highlight: Cross the Khaju bridge, where locals congregate for tea and good conversation.
• Evening visit to the 300 year old Abbasi Hotel.
• Overnight stay in Isfahan.

Day 4 – Isfahan

• Highlight: We visit the world-famous Imam Square; it’s the biggest closed-off square in the world.
• Check out the Ali Qapu Palace and . this palace served as the official residence of Persian Emperors of the Safavid dynasty dating back to 1597 CE.
• Visit Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque, located at the square. It is considered one of the masterpieces of Iranian architecture that was built during the Safavid Empire in 1619.
• Visit the Imam Mosque famed for its traditional architecture which includes seven-colour mosaic tiles and calligraphic inscriptions.
• We’ll visit an official money exchange place located by the square.
• Visit to a traditional carpet shop to learn more about the craftmanship of making carpets.
• See an ancient Persian sport workout at the Zurkhaneh Gym, a workout with drum and bell music.
• Overnight stay in Isfahan.

Day 5 – Isfahan – Yazd

• Drive to Yazd (around 4 hours)
• Highlight: Arrival in Yazd. The beautiful desert town of Yazd is a world apart from the other cities. Especially the old town has a magical feeling with its forest of wind towers. 
• We go to the Amir Chakhmaq Complex, which is located in Yazd’s central square.
• We will check out the Jame Mosque and Rafieian’s Old House, a primary example of the traditional architecture of this area.
• Overnight stay in Yazd.

Day 6 – Yazd – Shiraz

• Visit the historical Dolatabaad Garden, built in 1747, this walled complex includes the country’s tallest wind catcher, orchards & fountains.
• See Fire Temple, the place where Zoroastrians practiced their religion.
• See the Tower of Silence, the Zoroastrians believed that dead bodies should not be buried, so they left them here for vultures.
• Drive to Shiraz(5 hours).
• We will take a walk around the amazing citadel of Shiraz. A great place for any souvenir hunters and to mingle with the locals.
• Overnight stay in Shiraz.

Day 7 – Persepolis – Shiraz

• Highlight: See the well-known Nasir al-Mulk Mosque, famously known as the Pink Mosque. Here you’ll see stained glass, which gives the mosque a special color.
• We depart Shiraz for Persepolis and Necropolis.
• Highlight: Wander around the ruins of the UNESCO-heritage site. This was the main capital of the Achaemenid Empire.
• Head back to Shiraz where we will visit the botanic gardens of Shiraz.
• Stop for traditional Shiraz ice cream at a famous local shop.
• Highlight: We visit the tombs of Sa’adi and Hafez. Especially the poems of Hafez are still very popular in Iran.
• Overnight stay in Shiraz.

Day 8 – Shiraz

• End of the tour, depart on your own convenience.