17 Days Cultural Tour | Tehran - Hamedan - Kermanshah - Ahwaz - Shiraz - Kerman - Yazd - Isfahan
Written by Iran Travel Agency
1 Arrive Tehran Upon arrival, we are
welcomed to Tehran, the pearl of Persia. After checking into our hotel, we
enjoy a leisurely evening and rest up, Overnight Tehran.
2 Tehran Our half day tour of the
capital starts off with the visit to the Fine Arts and the Archeological
Museums. Its massive collections include a stone capital of the winged lion
from Susa and a 6th century B.C. audience hall relief of Darius the Great from
the Treasury at Persepolis. The museum's exhibits date from 4500 B.C. to
contemporary times, Overnight Tehran.
3 Tehran - Hamedan An early start takes us on
a scenic drive to Hamedan , one of the oldest inhabited towns in the
world. An afternoon tour of Hamedan will include a stop at the charming
waterfall Ganjnameh before proceeding to the magnificent and dominating
Avicenna Memorial & Baba Taher Tombs. Next follows a visit to Ester &
Murducai the most important Jewish pilgrimage sight in Iran. Before we lose
ourselves in the maze that is the colorful oriental Bazaar of Hamedan , we pay
a visit to the famous 14th century Stone Lion, Overnight Hamedan.
4Hamedan - Kermanshah We depart in the morning
for Kermanshah via Bisotoun , where the famous bas relies are carved out of a
dramatic mountain. This region hosts the most interesting and famous
archeological sites in Iran. We view many Achaemenian inscriptions including
one of about 1200 lines where we get insight into the hard fought battle of
Darius , defeating the governors who tried to dismantle the Empire. Leaving the
famous Tablets of Darius we visit the Temple of Anahita , the goddess of
abundance and the guardian of water in ancient Iran. In the evening we visit
the traditional bazaar in Kermanshahan where we'll have the opportunity to
sharpen our bargaining skills, Overnight Kermanshahan.
5Kermanshahan - Susa - Ahvaz We travel south on a scenic
countryside drive to Ahvaz. En route , we stop at Susa , one of the
oldest archaeological sites in Iran. This prehistoric settlement (from at least
4000 B.C. and an important Elamite city) reached peak under the reign of Untash
Gal , who built Susa as his administrative capital and founded Chogha Zanbil as
his religious center. Chogha Zanbil remains the best surviving example of
Elamite architecture, Overnight Ahvaz.
6Ahvaz - Shiraz After breakfast , we depart
for Shiraz , en- route visiting a famous Sassanid Relies and Palace of Bishapur,
Overnight Shiraz.
7Persepolis excursion to Persepolis,
Our tour will also include the Naqsh-e-Rustam, the tombs believed to be of
Darius I and II , Artaxerxes and Xerxes I. In the afternoon we visit
Kuh-I-Rehmat , Naqsh-e-Rajab and Passargade where we view the impressive six
tiered tomb of Cyrus the Great, Overnight Shiraz.
8 Shiraz Our day is spent exploring
Shiraz where we start with a visit to the picturesque Eram Garden , famous for
its cypress trees. Next we visit the tombs of Persia's best known poets: Saadi
and Hafiz. Our next stop takes us to the "modern" Nasiro-Molk mosque
and the pretty Afif-Abad Garden followed by a visit to the Church of Saint
Simmon the Zealot with the famed stained glass windows and then off to see the
ornately mirrored Shrine of Shah-Cheragh, Overnight Shiraz.
9 Shiraz - Kerman The morning journey to
Kerman is breathtaking as we travel in this land of mountains and deserts.
Kerman , the carpet capital , The old part of the city located in the bazaar
district , houses the famous Friday Mosque dating back to the 14th century.
This well preserved mosque , with its four lofty minarets and shimmering blue
tiles , welcomes all faiths, Overnight Kerman.
10Bam - Mahan A day excursion takes us to
Bam. This desert oasis dates back to legendary times but all that is left today
are the remains of the old city. Located on a 6 sq. km site and built in the
11th century , the Citadel of Bam's unique mud-brick structure is the largest
clay structure in the world. Next we visit Mahan , the final home of the Sufi poet
Shah Nematollah Vali. The poet spent many years wondering through Central Asia
before finally settling here where he was enchanted by the surroundings of
violet-colored mountains. His tomb is a perfect example of how traditional
Persian architecture creates harmony with nature. The day's experience
culminates with a visit to the beautiful terraced Shahzadeh garden in Mahan, Overnight
Kerman.
11Kerman - Yazd Our morning begins with a
visit to Jame Mosque , the fascinating Ganj-Ali-Khan Bath , the Wax Museum and
a trip to the old bazaar where you can consider shopping for your collection of
colorful souvenirs. Later, we visit an old Caravan Seray before reaching Yazd, Overnight
Yazd.
12 Yazd - Isfahan As Yazd is home of the more
traditional Persian architecture , we begin our day with a visit to the
magnificent Masjid-e Jame and Amir-Chakhmaq Mosques. We continue to the
Zoroastrian Towers of Silence and the Fire Temple (where fire worship is still
practiced) and then visit Doulat Abad Garden with its traditional ventilation
shaft (wind tower). In the afternoon we depart on a beautiful drive to
Esfahan. , Overnight Isfahan.
13Isfahan. Our tour of this
magnificent city begins with Madrasah-ye Chahar Bagh , the pride of the last
Safavid King , Shah Sultan Hussein. Next , we visit Hasht Behest Palace , a
charming garden palace , built in 1680 , with impressive mosaics and stalactite
moldings. Then we are off to see the richly decorated and serene Armenian Vank
Church followed by the glorious Friday Mosque. No trip to Esfahan is complete
without visiting the famous old bridges that cross the Zayandeh River, Overnight
Isfahan.
14Esfahan Our morning begins with a
visit to Naghsh e Jahan Square. This majestic square , built in 1612 , Then ,
we take in the beautifully proportioned and decorated 17th century Masjid-e
Sheikh Lotfollah and then off to see the magnificent Emam Mosque - one of the
most stunning buildings in Iran. Next , a visit to the 6 story Ali Ghapou
Palace followed by a tour of the most impressive pavilion and garden , Chehel
Sotoun Place built with 40 pillars by Shah Abbas. We finish off this day of
exploration with a trip to the most famous bazaar in Iran, Overnight Isfahan.
15Esfahan - Tehran On our scenic drive to
Tehran we stop at Kashan , an attractive oasis town , We visit Khan-e (
House of )Tabatabaie and Boroujerdi, built as a private residence , now a
charming museum with a lovely courtyard. We then take in the famous Fin Garden
and witness its breathtaking pools , orchards and natural springs. Next we
visit Agha Bozorg Mosque famous for its lovely portals and minarets. After
lunch , we visit the exquisite Shrine of Fatima in Qom and later we view the
Tomb of Ayatollah Khomeini, Overnight Tehran.
16Tehran Our culminating tour of
Tehran begins with the impressive Glass & Ceramic Museum , continues in the
Sa'dabad Garden Museum (with its 18 opulent Palaces) and the world renowned
Carpet Museum which houses a spectacular collection of Iranian hand woven
carpets. Our next museum is the Reza Abbasid's. Its artifacts date back to the
14th century and the museum exhibits stunning examples of Islamic calligraphy
and exquisite jewelry from several dynasties. The day ends with a visit to the
bazaar to pick up some last minute gifts and souvenirs followed by a special
Iranian farewell dinner at a traditional local restaurant, Overnight Tehran.
17Departure Transfer to Airport
according to your Departure time
