21 Days Cultural Tour | Tehran-Ramsar-Anzali-Qazvin-Hamedan-Kermanshah-Ahwaz-Shiraz-Yazd-Isfahan
Written by Iran Travel Agency
1 Arrival-Tehran Arrival at Tehran airport, transfer
to hotel & rest, Overnight Tehran.
2 Tehran After breakfast, we will
visit the Archaeological & Islamic Art Museums This is the finest museum
complex in Iran. There we will view an extensive collection dating back to the
5th millennium BC and a superb array of Islamic Art masterpieces, Overnight
Tehran.
3Tehran - Ramsar Drive by coach through a beautiful mountainous
road which crosses the Alborz range taking us from the semi arid southern
slopes to the northern forested slopes which lead down to the rainforests, tea
plantations and rice paddies of the Caspian littoral, Overnight Ramsar.
4Ramsar - Anzali Drive westwards along the Caspian coast and visit tea
plantations and rice growing farmlands and fascinating wooden houses
which are a feature of this region. Arrive at Anzali the largest Iranian port
on the Caspian. Visit the Anzali lagoon a large stretch of freshwater
paralleling the coast. This area is renowned as a haven for a wide range of
migratory water fowl. We may also have the chance to visit a caviar processing
factory, Overnight Anzali.
5Anzali - Qazvin Drive to Qazvin via another Alborz mountainous road
which takes us past the Manjil Dam. Qazvin is a city of antiquity and was
the first capital of the Safavids dynasty in the 16th century. Here
we visit some archaeological sites, Overnight Qazvin.
6 Qazvin –
Sultanieh - Hamedan Drive to Hamedan, en route we will visit Sultanieh, a
once thriving center whose origins date back to 7000BC. Now it is best known for
the incredible huge Mongol Domed Mausoleum built in the 13th century,
Overnight Hamedan.
7Hamedan The city of Ecbatana of the
Medes in now called Hamedan and has a history as a place of learning. The tombs
of the medical writer Avicenna and the poet Baba Taher are marked by recent
monuments. We shall visit the tomb of biblical Ester and Mordkhay which is
revered as a Jewish shrine. Also we visit the archaeological excavation and
museum at Hegmataneh hill, Overnight Hamedan.
8 Hamedan - Kermanshah Drive to Kermanshah, en route at Kangavar we will visit the
ruins of the Anahita complex, built in honor of the female goddess
of water. Continue to Bisotun which can be regarded as a museum of the
Persian civilization from ancient time to the present day. We view the huge
cuneiform inscribed tablet of Darius I and a bas relief of Hercules preserved
in the mountainside, Overnight Kermanshah.
9 Kermanshah
- Khoramabad
Our
route takes us through the fold belt of the Zagros Mountains. Khoramabad is a
delightful mountain town nestled in a valley in the heart of the Zagros ranges.
In the 12th century this was the center of an Assassin guerilla group who
resisted non-Persian rulers. The imposing citadel of Falak-al Aflak dominates
the town, Overnight Khoramabad.
10 Khoramabad - Ahwaz Drive to Ahwaz. This is a spectacular mountainous route
with superb geological exposures of the fold belt of the Zagros, Overnight
Ahwaz.
11 Ahwaz - Shush Drive to Shush and visit archaeological remains of this
once beautiful city built 5500 years ago. Continue to Choghazanbil, an
Elamite center with one of the oldest ziggurats in the world, Overnight
Ahwaz.
12 Ahwaz - Bishapour -
Shiraz Drive to Shiraz via Bishapour, an ancient Sassanian city
in heart of history, built in commemoration of the Persian Victory in
Persian-Roman war. The route takes us along the foothills of the Zagros, an
important area of super-giant oilfields to Behbahan and Dogunbadan, Overnight
Shiraz.
13 Shiraz We will visit Eram and
Naranjestan Gardens, Nasir-ol-Molk Mosque, Khan Theological School, Hafez (or
Saadi) mausoleum , Vakil complex and the most astonishing mirror
decoration of Aliebnehamze Holy Shrine, Overnight Shiraz.
14Shiraz - Persepolis - Necropolis - Pasargad - Yazd Drive to Yazd, en route we will visit the Quran gate ,
Persepolis , the ceremonial capital of the Achamenian in 550BC ,
Necropolis (tombs of Achamenian kings) and Pasargad , tomb of Cyrus the great
.On then thought the central ranges via Abarqu to Yazd, Overnight
Yazd.
15 Yazd We will
visit narrow alleys, the highest wind towers in Iran (an early
cooling system). The Friday mosque dates from the 14th century. The silk
weaving workshops produce exquisite brocades which are still made on
traditional looms. Yazd is also known as a Zoroastrian center, Overnight
Yazd.
16 Yazd -
Isfahan
In the
morning we will explore this ancient city and visit a Zoroastrian temple where
a sacred fire has been kept burning for hundreds of years. This is now a
Zoroastrian pilgrimage center. This is an opportunity to learn about
Zoroastrianism which was the Persian religion until Arabs brought Islam to
Iran. We visit the Towers of Silence on the city’s outskirts This was a
burial place for the Zoroastrians. In the afternoon we drive to
Isfahan. En route at Meibod we will visit Nareen Castle & an old
caravanserai while at Naeen we will see a carpet workshop. , Overnight
Isfahan.
17 Isfahan
In the morning we will visit the Imam square This huge
open square in the center of Isfahan has monuments of interest
on its four sides. These include the Imam mosque covered inside and outside
with intricate turquoise colored tile work, the smaller Sheikh Lotfollah
mosque contains some of the finest tile mosaics from 17th century, Ali Ghapoo
Palace which was the first multistory building in Iran and the expansive
Isfahan bazaar where we can visit the studios of artists who paint finely
detailed miniatures. In the afternoon, we will visit Si-o-Se Pol
(thirty three) and Khajoo bridges over the Zayanderud river and relax in one of
the traditional tea houses where we can drink tea and smoke a Persian water
pipe, Overnight Isfahan.
18 Isfahan We will the visit
Armenian quarter of Jolfa, the Vank cathedral, Friday mosque, Shaking
Minarets and the palace of Chehel Sotoun. Magnificent murals in the
palace interior are a special attraction, Overnight Isfahan.
19 Isfahan- Abyane Drive through high country to the north east to
reach Abyane, an ancient fascinating village with its
colorfully dressed inhabitants and red mud brick houses. There little has
changed for several centuries. En route we will visit Natanz Friday Mosque,
Overnight Abyane.
20 Abyane- Kashan- Tehran Drive to Tehran, en route we will visit the Fin Garden
complex in Kashan. This city is well known for its fine carpets and restored
merchants houses. Continue to Tehran, Overnight Tehran.
21 Departure Transfer to Tehran
International airport for your departure from Iran.
