Category: Group tours

Day 1: London – Tehran
Depart from London Heathrow on an afternoon flight.

Day 2: Tehran
Arrive early morning and transfer to hotel. Morning rest. After lunch visit Sa’ad-abad Palace complex, one of the Royal Family & court’s former residences. On to the Carpet Museum.

Day 3: Tehran
Visit the Archaeological and Glass Museums with their fine collection of antiques. Lunch at a traditional tea house. Visit the stunning Crown Jewels held in the vaults of the Central Bank.

Day 4: Tehran – Yazd
Morning train to Yazd. This desert town, famous for its wind towers, is the Zoroastrian centre of Iran. Visit the Atashkadeh Fire Temple. Although the temple is modern (1940), the sacred fire has been burning since 470 AD. On to Alexander’s Prison and Jame’h Mosque.

Day 5: Yazd – Shiraz
Morning visit to the Towers of Silence, ancient Zoroastrian burial grounds. Afternoon drive to Shiraz.

Day 6: Shiraz
In Shiraz visit Narenjestan Palace, Eram Gardens and the mausoleums of the Persian mystics and poets Hafez & Saa’di.

Day 7: Shiraz – Persepolis
Excursion to the wind swept ruins Persepolis & Naghsh-e-Rostam, the tomb of the three powerful Achaemenian Kings carved into huge rocks, overlooking one of the oldest Zoroastrian fire temples in Iran.

Day 8: Shiraz – Firuzabad
Drive to Firuzabad near Shiraz, winter quarters of the Qashqaii nomads. Visit the fire temple & Palace of Artaxeres. Dinner & overnight with Qashqaiis. Overnight in tents.

Day 9: Firuzabad – Yasuj
Breakfast with the Qashqaiis. Drive to Kazerun, home to many of the Qashqaiis. Visit the silent ruins of the old city of Shapour and its rock carvings dating back to the Sassanian period. Drive to Yasuj, the main nomadic centre of Iran.

Day 10: Yasuj – Isfahan
Drive to Isfahan. This route rarely taken by tourists offers scenery beyond imagination. Land of Waterfalls, as this region is referred to, offers the traveller a most memorable image.

Day 11: Isfahan
Tour of Isfahan’s magnificent buildings, some of the greatest examples of Islamic architecture, including the Royal (Imam) Square, the Shah & Seikh Lotf-Allah Mosques, Ali-Qapu Palace. After dinner evening tour of Isfahan including Si-o-Se & Khaju Bridges.

Day 12: Isfahan
Visit Chehel Sotun (Forty Columns) and Hasht Behesht (Eighth Heaven) Palaces. On to Jolfa, the Armenian quarters south west of the city, to see Vank Cathedral. Visit the Shaking Minarets. In the evening, visit a Zoorkhaneh (House of Strength) to watch this traditional Iranian sport : a combination of physical and spiritual aerobics, with participants chanting to the powerful drums of their master.

Day 13: Isfahan
No trip to Isfahan would be complete without a visit to its famous bazaar, spanning 5km. Free time to shop.

Day 14: Isfahan – Kashan – Tehran
Drive to Kashan via Abyaneh : a picturesque village dating back to the Sassanian period, it is protected by UNESCO as a world heritage site. Kashan is an oasis town famous for its beautiful Fin Garden, Agha-Bozorg Mosque & House of Borujerdi. Evening arrival in Tehran. Finish the evening with a traditional Persian dinner.

Day 15: Tehran – London
Depart early morning from Tehran to London Heathrow.

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

Day 1     London  – Tehran  

Depart from London Heathrow, on the 21:10 British Airways flight.

Day 2    Tehran   

Arrive early morning, after a brief rest spend the day in Tehran visiting Golestan Palace, the Crown Jewels Museum, the Archaeological museum and the Ceramics and Glass museum. Overnight in Tehran.

Day 3     Tehran  – Tabriz – Kandovan Village 

Morning flight to Tabriz, followed by a drive to the extraordinary caves of Kandovan, to  explore this wonderful  and unique village.  Overnight in Kandovan.

Day 4     Kandovan –  Jolfa  – Tabriz  

Drive to the border town of Jolfa, the main settlement for the Armenian Persians. Visit the stunning Saint Stepanos Monastery, situated in a deep canyon, built in the 9th century and rebuilt in the Safavid era after earthquakes damaged it. Return to spend the night in Tabriz.

Day 5      Tabriz – Tehran 

City tour in Tabriz,  including the bazaar &  Blue Mosque. Lunch at the old Bathhouse (now Shahriar restaurant).   Overnight train to Tehran.

Day 6     Tehran  – Kashan

Drive to the desert town  of  Kashan, to  visit Fin Garden, Agha-Bozorg Mosque.  Onto Houses of Borujerdi and Tabatabaei.  Overnight in Kashan.

Day 7      Kashan – Abyaneh – MadarShah Caravanserai – Isfahan

Drive to Abyaneh to visit this picturesque village dating back 1600 years and a UNESCO protected world heritage site. Lunch in Abyaneh with time to  explore the village and optional  short hike into  the mountains  around Abyaneh.  Continue  on to  Isfahan  with  a stop  for early dinner at ‘Madarshah’  (King’s mother) Caravanserai  in the outskirts of Isfahan –  recently renovated with  excellent food.   Overnight in Isfahan.

Day 8      Isfahan

Tour of Isfahan’s magnificent buildings, some of the greatest examples of Islamic architecture in the world, including the Royal (Imam) Square, the Shah & Sheikh Lotf-Allah Mosques, Ali-Qapu Palace. Onto the Bazaar and then Jameh Mosque. Overnight in Isfahan.

Day 9      Isfahan

A short walk up  the hill to  visit the Zoroastrian fire temple perched at the top,  providing beautiful views of the city of Isfahan and surrounding area.  On to Jolfa, the Armenian quarter south west of the city, to see Vank Cathedral and ‘Bayt’-ol’ Lahm (Jerusalem) church. Visit the Shaking Minarets. After dinner there is an evening tour of Isfahan including Si-o-Se & Khaju Bridges. Overnight in Isfahan.

Day 10      Isfahan – Maybod Citadel – Yazd

Visit Chehel Sotun (Forty Columns) Palace in Isfahan. Then drive on to Yazd (around 5 hours) via Maybod to visit the  well  preserved remains of  its Citadel. Overnight in Yazd.

Day 11      Yazd

In Yazd visit Towers of Silence, the Zoroastrian burial grounds nearby,  Jame’h Mosque and the Fire Temple.  Then take a walk in the old city, through the narrow winding streets with mud walls and tiny houses.

In the evening visit a Zoorkhaneh (House of Strength) to watch this traditional Iranian sport – a combination of physical and spiritual aerobics, with participants chanting to the powerful drums of their master. Overnight in Yazd.

Day 12      Yazd – Pasagard – Shiraz

Drive to Shiraz via Pasargad –  tomb of ‘Cyrus’ –  founder of the Achaemenid Empire.  There will  an  opportunity to take a walk  around several  temples in the complex.  Overnight in Shiraz.

Day 13        Shiraz – Persepolis

Early morning excursion to the windswept ruins Persepolis & Naghsh-e-Rostam, the tomb of the three powerful Achaemenian Kings carved into huge rocks, overlooking one of the oldest Zoroastrian fire temples in Iran.  Overnight in Shiraz.

Day 14     Shiraz – Tehran

Visit Narenjestan Palace,  Nasirol-Molk mosque and Eram Gardens (housing one of the colleges of the Shiraz university). Onto visit the tomb of the Persian mystic poet Hafez with its beautiful gardens.  Evening flight to Tehran. Overnight in Tehran.

Day 15      Tehran – London

Transfer to the airport, and a morning British Airways flight back to London.

Tehran – Tabriz – Jolfa – Tehran – Kandovan – Kashan – Abyaneh village – Isfahan – Yazd – Shiraz

Day 1  London – Tehran
Depart from London Heathrow, on the 21:10 British Airways flight.

Day 2  Tehran
Spend the day in Tehran, visiting local sites including Golestan Palace, the former residence of Iran’s Royal Family, the Crown Jewels Museum and Carpet & Archaeological Museums. Lunch at a traditional teahouse. Overnight in Tehran.

Day 3  Tehran – Shiraz
Morning flight to Shiraz. Half-day tour to visit Narenjestan Palace, Nasirol Molik Mosque and Eram Gardens. Overnight in Shiraz.

Day 4  Persepolis, Shiraz
Excursion to the wind swept ruins of Persepolis & Naghsh-e-Rostam, the tomb of the three powerful Achaemenian Kings carved into huge rocks. After lunch we drive back to Shiraz to visit the tomb of the Persian mystic poet Hafez. Overnight in Shiraz.

Day 5  Shiraz – Isfahan
Early morning drive to Isfahan. A tour of Isfahan’s Royal square with its magnificent buildings, including some of the greatest examples of Islamic architecture: Naqsh-e Jahan Square, the Shah & Sheikh Lotf-Allah Mosques & Ali-Qapu Palace, and shopping the the Bazaar.

Day 6   Isfahan
A full day tour of Isfahan, visiting the iconic Chehel Sotun (Forty Columns) and Hasht Behesht (Eighth Heaven) Palaces. Continue onto Jolfa, the Armenian quarters of the city, to see Vank Cathedral & the Shaking Minarets. In the evening visit a Zoorkhaneh (House of Strength) to watch a traditional Iranian sport of a combination of physical and spiritual aerobics, with participants chanting to the powerful drums of their master. Evening visit to the beautiful Si-o-Se & Khaju bridges. Overnight in Isfahan.

Day 7  Isfahan – Kashan
Free time to shop or explore the city. Afternoon drive to the historic city of Kashan. Overnight in Kashan.

Day 8  Kashan – Tehran
In Kashan visit the beautiful Fin Garden, the old houses of Borujerdi (Samovar merchant) and Tabatabaei (carpet merchant). Take a walk through the old part of town. After lunch drive to Tehran. Visit the Carpet Museum. Farewell dinner. Overnight in Tehran.

Day 9  Tehran – London
Depart Tehran on the British Airways flight in the morning.

London – Tehran – Shiraz – Persepolis – Isfahan – Kashan – Tehran – London