Category: Tailor made tours

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Northwest to Southern Iran

Istanbul –  Van –  Tabriz –  Tehran-Isfahan- Yazd- Shiraz- Tabriz –Van- Istanbul

This 20 day itinerary provides the opportunity to take in the highlights of Iran but minimize unnecessarily long rides.  You will have the opportunity to learn about Iranian culture & history  with the guided tours included  in Tehran, Isfahan, Yazd, and Shiraz,  during  the rest days.

Motorcycles will all be brand new 2016 model versions.  BMW’s come with a top case. We will also have our own support vehicle throughout the tour.

You will enter Iran via the border with Turkey in North West Iran and head for the city of Tabriz, then ride all the way to  Southern  Iran to  the city of  Shiraz to visit Persepolis.

If you wish to make the tour shorter, it is possible but it will mean eliminating some rest days.

Itinerary

• Day 1: Arrive Istanbul.  Transfer to hotel.  Overnight in Istanbul
• Day 2: Fly to Van in Eastern Turkey & pick-up motorcycles.  Enjoy an orientation ride around Van and visit the 1,000 year old Armenian church on Akdamar Island. Overnight in Van.
• Day 3: Ride from Van to Dogubeyazit, on the border with Iran. (173 km) o/n Dogubeyazit
• Day 4: Cross border into Iran and ride to Tabriz (310 km).  Overnight  in Tabriz
• Day 5: Tabriz to Ardabil (250 km).  Overnight in Ardabil
• Day 6: Ardabil to Masuleh  village(275 km). Overnight in Masuleh village
• Day 7: Ride to Tehran (380 km). Overnight in Tehran
• Day 8: Free day to discover Tehran.  Guided sightseeing tour of Tehran on bus and on foot (no motorcycles). Overnight in Tehran
• Day 9: Tehran to Matinabad (319 km).  Overnight at an eco-camp in Matinabad
• Day 10: Matinabad to Isfahan (170 km).  Overnight  in Isfahan
• Day 11: Guided sightseeing of Isfahan on bus/foot.  Overnight  in Isfahan
• Day 12: Ride to Yazd (325 km).  Overnight in Yazd
• Day 13: Guided sightseeing tour of Yazd .Overnight in Yazd
• Day 14: Ride to Shiraz (440 km).  Overnight in Shiraz.
• Day 15: Ride from Shiraz to Persepolis (120 km).  Overnight in Shiraz.
• Day 16: Motorcycles will be loaded on a truck to be shipped to Tabriz.  Group flies to Tabriz. Overnight in Tabriz.
• Day 17: Visit the troglodyte village of Kandovan. Overnight  in Tabriz
• Day 18: Cross border back to Turkey, Van. Overnight  in Van
• Day 19: Fly back to Istanbul. Farewell Dinner in Istanbul.
• Day 20: Fly back home

Prices per person based on two people sharing a twin bedded room: 

• 10 – 11 persons:  £9200
• 12 – 14 persons:  £9000
• 15 – 17 persons: £8800
• 18 – 20 persons: £8600
• Single supplement: £1300
• Passenger (pillion): £5500

• Upgrade to BMW 800GS : £850
• Upgrade to BMW 1200GS : £1100

Price includes:

• Rental of a 2016 model BMW 700GS
• Carnet de Passage  which is required for Iran
• Obtaining visa permit on your behalf (excluding consular visa stamp fees)
• All hotel accommodation in Turkey and Iran, 4 or 5 star hotels (or best available) on bed and breakfast basis
• Occasional lunches and dinners
• Welcome and farewell dinners in Istanbul, with wine and beer included
• Services of an expert guide leading the group on a motorcycle
• Services of a local bilingual local expert throughout the trip (riding in the support vehicle)
• Support vehicle throughout the tour, carrying luggage and spare parts, tools, etc.
• All expenses (room, meals, fuel, etc.) of the staff
• Domestic flights within Turkey (Istanbul – Van – Istanbul)
• Domestic flight in Iran (Shiraz to Tabriz)
• Trucking of motorcycles from Istanbul to Van and back
• Trucking of motorcycles from Shiraz to Tabriz
• Guided sightseeing tours (by coach) in Tehran, Isfahan, Shiraz, Yazd, Tabriz
• Entrance fees to all  sites during guided tours
• Transfer from Istanbul Airport to hotel on Day 1

Price does not include:

• International airfare to/from Turkey
• Meals not included in the itinerary
• Gratuities to staff (motorcycle guide, Iranian guide, support vehicle driver)
• Fuel for motorcycles
• Personal expenses

Notes:

• We will avoid a 3 day round trip from Istanbul to Van and back by trucking the motorcycles. Riding back to Turkish border would add another 4 long day ,  so we send the bikes on a truck and fly internally in Iran.
• We only include liability insurance as collision coverage in Iran is not available.  Therefore the riders will be responsible for all damages to the motorcycle.
• There is an amazing amount of paperwork (Carnet de Passage, power of attorney, translations of all paperwork into Persian, etc.) required to enter rental motorcycles into Iran and we will complete this on your behalf, although  we need  a great  deal  of time for this.
• In the event of a breakdown or an accident, we will load the motorcycle on the van and the rider will ride in the support vehicle.

Iran Motorcycling – Kazim Uzunoglu

Province of Lorestan 

This seven day trip provides the unique opportunity to visit an area largely untouched by twenty first century, riding through remote areas and small village settlements, still without electricity or road access.

Persian horses have a good temperament, together with great stamina. They are sure footed and extremely intelligent.

Itinerary

Please ask  us for details as this changes depending on the season you  would like to  ride.

Prices

Prices based on minimum 4 riders £320 per person per night

The price includes:

• Obtaining the visa permit (excludes visa stamp fees which varies depending on your nationality)
• Transfers to and from the airport and all local transport
• Accommodation (simple on the ride)
• Meals (three per day: breakfast, lunch, dinner)
• Use of horses and saddles – expert guides and all the help required with horses.
• Fully equipped car.
• You will be required to provide a sleeping bag.

We had such a fantastic time. I’m sure we would have had a great time anyway just going on one of the standard trips, but trip that yourself and Hossein were able to put together for us was absolutely perfect. I felt it was well-balanced I’m terms of pace and the ground we covered, and included such a great variety of aspects of Iran past and present.

The horse-riding element with Katerina and her family was also a huge success. She has a wonderful family and a great team on the farm who all made us feel very welcome. The horses were A1, and it was fascinating for us as a farming family to spend time in such a rural place, and see an entirely different part of Iran. It was also great to get a few days of rest without travel at the end.

J L-F

Tour Details

• We can accommodate up to 6 riders.
• The ride demands the skills of a physically fit and experienced rider with maximum body weight of 85kg.
• The Persian Arabs horses are experienced and trained for trail rides and long distance rides.
• The pace will be adjusted to the terrains, however you can expect to ride 4-8 hours per day.
• We can organise a ride to suit your preferred dates, weather and seasonal conditions permitting.
• We can combine the ride with visits to other major cities of interest in Iran such as Isfahan and Shiraz.

Tehran ➛ Dizin ➛ Shiraz ➛ Isfahan ➛ Tehran

Iran isn’t the first place that comes to mind when planning your winter sports. And if you’re into being seen sipping gluhwein with the trendy Euro-crowd and joining the interminable queues of self-styled beautiful people at the chairlifts then perhaps our ski scene isn’t for you. Après ski is, to say the least, quiet for some tastes. But should you be planning to travel in November – March and you have a penchant for the alternative experience, the ski –Iran option is definitely worth building into your itinerary.

Before the Islamic revolution in 1978, Iran was starting to get a name amongst those in the know for fantastic powder snow and off-piste skiing. Magic Carpet Travel is now arranging holidays high in the Alborz mountains only an hour and a half’s drive from Tehran. We’ll take you to resorts where the skiing and snowboarding compares with some of the high Alpine resorts or the American West – only a great deal less busy. Snow conditions are generally favourable as the climate tends to be slightly colder than in European resorts – but sunnier.

The two main resorts of Dizin and Shemshak have been redeveloped relatively recently and are not over-populated: many lifts are new, queues are short and pistes are groomed daily. Runs are for all levels – at Dizin there are 23, suitable for beginners to experts.

There are no set dates for this tour as we will tailor make trips to suit your requirements. We can also vary this itinerary so if you wish to ski for longer or spend more time Isfahan or Shiraz, we will happily arrange this for you.

Questions? Please use our contact form:

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Tehran ➛ Isfahan ➛ Shiraz ➛ Yazd ➛ Tehran

This tour is designed for Zoroastrians or those with a specific interest in the Zoroastrian faith. As well as visiting the major highlights of Tehran, Isfahan, Shiraz and Persepolis you will then spend four days in and around Yazd : the Zoroastrian centre of Iran. Chak Chak, the main place of pilgrimage for Zoroastrians from all over the world, hosts the 10-day festival in June and this may be an ideal time of year to plan your visit.

TOUR DATES:

There are no set dates for this tour, which we can arrange on a tailor made basis to suit your individual requirements.

Cost indications for a tailor-made trip based on 2, 4, 6  or 8 persons 

15 day tour price  per person, based on:

• 2  persons   £4900
• 4 persons    £3600
• 6 persons    £3100
• 8 persons    £2800
• Single room supplement £650
• Visa stamp fees for UK passports £170

The cost of the tour includes:

• Obtaining tourist visa permit (excluding visa stamp fees)
• All airport/hotel/airport transfers
• English speaking national guide throughout the trip and all  his expenses
• Driver with air conditioned private vehicle  throughout the trip
• 14 nights’ accommodation in best available (three/four/five star) hotels in twin bedded standard rooms with private facilities including breakfast
• Sightseeing visits & all entrance fees as per the itinerary
• Local taxes

The cost excludes:

• International flights to Iran
• Internal flights
• Meals other than breakfast
• All personal extras such as laundry, tips and porterage
• All optional excursions, tours and visits
• Travel insurance

Cost Indication on British  Airways for return Economy flight £650 per person including airport taxes.

Questions? Please use our contact form:

Contact form

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Tehran ➛ Shiraz ➛ Persepolis ➛ Firuzabad ➛ Kerman ➛ Yazd ➛ Isfahan ➛ Tehran

If you have more than a passing interest in carpets then let Magic Carpet Travel help you design a trip to learn more about the art of Persian Tapestry. You can witness traditional methods of silk and wool preparation and the production of simple nomadic flat weaves woven in tents. In contrast, you can visit the immense vaulted carpet bazaars of the great cities and the elaborate silk carpet centers of the desert edge.

As you travel in search of the perfect carpet, you could also take in magnificent Persepolis, the monumental capital of Isfahan, beautiful, poetic Shiraz and sun-baked Zoroastrian Yazd. In addition, you would wander somewhat off the beaten track to ancient caravanserai at the desert’s edge (Qom, Kashan, Natanz, Ardistan, Na’in and Kerman) while taking in some ravishing palaces, gardens and shrines against the backdrop of Persia’s stunning and diverse landscapes.

TOUR DATES:

There are no set dates for this tour, which we can arrange on a tailor made basis to suit your individual requirements.

Questions? Please use our contact form:

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Tehran ➛ Tabriz ➛ Kandovan ➛ Takht-e-Soleiman ➛ Sanandaj ➛ Hamedan ➛ Ahvaz ➛ Isfahan ➛ Shiraz ➛ Tehran

The combination of sights we call the ‘East of Eden’ tour allows you to explore the legacy of the Zoroastrian civilisation and its impact on the later, ‘modern’, religions of Persia and Iran. We have brought together under this title the religious sites of the faiths that have co-existed over the centuries: Islam, Judaism, Christianity and the mystic Sufism.

One of the most extraordinary sights in Iran must be a visit to the troglodyte village of Kandovan, where people live in cave dwellings as their predecessors did over 1600 years ago. Historians have recently quoted specific geographical references in the book of Genesis as evidence that link the area surrounding Kandovan with the Garden of Eden. It naturally follows that the village of Noqdi, to the east of this Eden, must be the biblical land of Nod.

In Isfahan you will see Zoroastrian fire temples and ‘shaking’ minarets. Persepolis bears witness to the great Achaemenian kings carved into the massive hulking rocks and, nearby, one of the oldest Zoroastrian fire temples in Iran. Visit Shiraz: beautiful, mystical and poetic.

The tombs of Esther and Mordecai in Hamedan are an important Jewish pilgrimage site. At Sanadaj, in the Iranian part of Kurdistan, you’ll discover more about the mystic Sufis, whose celebration of the trancelike state centuries later brought Byron to Persia. We can arrange for you to attend some of the meetings of the Dervishes for discussions and – if you’re lucky – observe some of the manifestations of their faith.

Tour dates:

There are no set dates for this tour, which we can arrange on a tailor made basis to suit your individual requirements.

Questions? Please use our contact form:

Contact form

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Tehran ➛ Shiraz ➛ Isfahan ➛ Kashan ➛ Tehran

Every year around the villages of Ghamsar & Niasar, five hundred tons of roses are produced, distilled and turned into rosewater and rose oil. Flowers bloom between late April and June, depending on the spring weather. Our Rose Harvest tour departs in May to be sure of catching the roses at their peak.

The entire family including children the old folk gather in their rose gardens each day to pick the flowers before sunrise with the first dew still on the petals. This way they ensure none of the fragrance is lost.

The roses are picked swiftly, before the sun’s heat sets in, and collected in bags made from large pieces of cloth tied around the picker’s necks. The bags are then taken to the distillation workshops, where they will be turned into rose water the same day. Eventually, the distilled rose essence will be exported to France and Bulgaria for perfumes, and to Saudi Arabia, to bathe the holy Kaa’ba curtain in Mecca.

Magic Carpet Travel’s 12-day tour is organized around the harvest but also takes in Shiraz, Persepolis, Isfahan and Tehran.

TOUR DATES:

There are no set dates for this tour, which we can arrange on a tailor made basis to suit your individual requirements.

Cost indications for a tailor-made trip based on 2, 4, 6  or 8 persons 

15 day tour price  per person, based on:

• 2  persons   £3900
• 4 persons    £2800
• 6 persons    £2450
• 8 persons    £2300
• Single room supplement £600
• Visa stamp fees for UK passports £170

The cost of the tour includes:

• Obtaining tourist visa permit (excluding visa stamp fees)
• All airport/hotel/airport transfers
• English speaking national guide throughout the trip and all  his expenses
• Driver with air conditioned private vehicle  throughout the trip
• 14 nights’ accommodation in best available (three/four/five star) hotels in twin bedded standard rooms with private facilities including breakfast
• Sightseeing visits & all entrance fees as per the itinerary
• Local taxes

The cost excludes:

• International flights to Iran
• Internal flights
• Meals other than breakfast
• All personal extras such as laundry, tips and porterage
• All optional excursions, tours and visits
• Travel insurance

Cost Indication on British  Airways for return Economy flight £650 per person including airport taxes.

Questions? Please use our contact form:

Contact form

Book Now

Tehran ➛ Yazd ➛ Shiraz ➛ Firuzabad ➛ Yasuj ➛ Isfahan ➛ Kashan ➛ Tehran

The nomads of Iran are a fast disappearing race – yet in a few areas the nomadic way of life still somehow co-exists with modern influence. Magic Carpet Travel is in contact with several nomadic tribes including the Qashqaii in the south west of Iran, the Bakhtiari in central Iran and the Kurdish Zaferanlou in the north east.

We can arrange for you to spend one or two nights living with the nomads as an add-on to your existing itinerary or, if you prefer, we could tailor-make a whole visit for you to stay with and observe the different tribes.

You will, naturally, be living under canvas. Not the woven goat-hair shelters favored by the nomads themselves, and neither will you be expected to sleep under rough woolen blankets – but for a couple of days your life will be transformed as you watch these busy, colorful people going about their daily business.

Often said to be the ‘true Persians’ the Qashqaii nomads still dress in their colourful tribal costumes. They speak a Turkic dialect: conversation with the people is both possible and welcomed, and can be carried out via our local guides, who will accompany you on your trip and ensure you have everything you need.

A typical day will start at sunrise – about 4 a.m. – when the women will be starting to knead the dough for the fragrant flat bread that will be eaten hot from the mud ovens before the sun creeps higher and starts to bake the land.

As the day progresses, you can watch the women spinning the wool from their sheep and weaving it on looms into the traditional rugs they sell at the market in Shiraz.

The children tend the animals, which need to be watered, grazed and milked. The women are busy from dawn to dusk with cooking and weaving, fetching the water, sweeping and tent keeping. The men keep watch, their rifles by their sides.

TOUR DATES:

There are no set dates for this tour, which we can arrange on a tailor made basis to suit your individual requirements.

Cost indications for a tailor-made trip based on 2, 4, 6  or 8 persons 

15 day tour -mprice  per person, based on:

• 2  persons   £4900
• 4 persons    £3600
• 6 persons    £3100
• 8 persons    £2800
• Single room supplement £650
• Visa stamp fees for UK passports £170

The cost of the tour includes:

• Obtaining tourist visa permit (excluding visa stamp fees)
• All airport/hotel/airport transfers
• English speaking national guide throughout the trip and all  his expenses
• Driver with air conditioned private vehicle  throughout the trip
• 14 nights’ accommodation in best available (three/four/five star) hotels in twin bedded standard rooms with private facilities including breakfast
• Sightseeing visits & all entrance fees as per the itinerary
• Local taxes

The cost excludes:

• International flights to Iran
• Internal flights
• Meals other than breakfast
• All personal extras such as laundry, tips and porterage
• All optional excursions, tours and visits
• Travel insurance

Cost Indication on British  Airways for return Economy flight £650 per person including airport taxes.

Questions? Please use our contact form:

Contact form

Book Now

Tehran ➛ Mashad ➛ Shiraz ➛ Kerman ➛ Yazd ➛ Isfahan ➛ Tehran

This tour takes in the main highlights of Tehran, Isfahan, Shiraz and Persepolis, then visiting north-eastern Iran to see the holy shrine of Imam Reza in Mashad – where Muslim’s from all over the world make their pilgrimage – and the tomb of Omar Khayyam in Neishabur. Finally, a chance to see Kerman  in south-eastern Iran.

TOUR DATES:

There are no set dates for this tour, which we can arrange on a tailor made basis to suit your individual requirements.

Cost indications for a tailor-made trip based on 2, 4, 6  or 8 persons 

15 day tour price  per person, based on:

• 2  persons   £4900
• 4 persons    £3600
• 6 persons    £3100
• 8 persons    £2800
• Single room supplement £650
• Visa stamp fees for UK passports £170

The cost of the tour includes:

• Obtaining tourist visa permit (excluding visa stamp fees)
• All airport/hotel/airport transfers
• English speaking national guide throughout the trip and all  his expenses
• Driver with air conditioned private vehicle  throughout the trip
• 14 nights’ accommodation in best available (three/four/five star) hotels in twin bedded standard rooms with private facilities including breakfast
• Sightseeing visits & all entrance fees as per the itinerary
• Local taxes

The cost excludes:

• International flights to Iran
• Internal flights
• Meals other than breakfast
• All personal extras such as laundry, tips and porterage
• All optional excursions, tours and visits
• Travel insurance

Cost Indication on British  Airways for return Economy flight £650 per person including airport taxes.

Questions? Please use our contact form:

Contact form

Book Now