IRAN – 9 DAY , 5 City Tour-  1,300 Euro / 1,500$

Iran is one of the world's most intriguing countries.  It is regularly portrayed in a negative light by parts of the Western media, in truth it is a country full of history, culture and packed full of warm, friendly people who will leave a strong impression on you long after you've left the country.

Tour begins and ends in Tehran, with enough flexibility if people need to arrive or leave one day early. All meals will be in genuine restaurants used by local people, not tourist traps, nor will we be taken on expensive shopping trips. 

The tour is guided by experienced Iranian and western guide and can be combined with Caucuses’, Unrecognized countries tour at a discount when booking as a combined tour. 

All photos below taken by Marko Moudrak on previous tours

Day 1 – Tehran

• Morning and afternoon arrival by flight
• Free afternoon to walk around Tehran, get to know your group
• Money change at good rates
• Visit National Jewelry museum – the contents of this place actually back up the Iranian currency, a truly amazing experience and certainly one of the highlights of the trip regardless of if you are into jewelry or not!
• Visit to the heart of Old Tehran to soak up the atmosphere, drink some local tea and people watch
• Overnight at Asareh Hotel

Day 2 – Tehran

• Drive through Tehran past anti-US propaganda and the US embassy (possibility of actually seeing inside the embassy, something considered impossible only a year ago!)
• Visit Saad Abad & Niavaran palaces, the last Palaces of the last Shah of Iran
• Lunch at Darband hills followed by 1 hour free time or tea by the river
• One hour free time for shopping etc at Tajrish Bazaar of Tehran
• Traditional Iranian dinner of kebabs at famous restaurant Ayaran restaurant
• Nighttime walk around the city, with us taking the opportunity to try some shisha, fresh juice bar and mingle with locals
• Overnight in Asareh hotel

Day 3 – Tehran/ Shiraz

• Check out of hotel and transfer to airport for a morning flight to Shiraz
• Check into Shiraz Niyaesh Boutique hotel
• Visit the citadel in the centre of the city & get some famous Shirazy ice-cream
• Visit Grand bazaar nearby for some shopping, photos. Chance to buy old anti American stamps from a local shop owner and collector
• Lunch in Saray E Mehr restaurant in the middle of a bazaar for traditional Di Zi dish
• Free walk around the bazaar or relaxing time with tea and shisha at a poet’s house/ tea house. Great chance to mingle with locals and students
• Visit traditional Madrasa or religious school
• Visit the Eram botanic gardens of Shiraz
• Dinner at hotel or out to a famous “110” local fast food place
• Finish the evening on a hotel’s roof patio relaxing over some tea and shisha

Day 4 – Shiraz/Persepolis/Yazd

• Up bright and early to visit and amazing Nasir ol Molk colour stained mosque
• Visit a famous Hafez Iranian poet’s park and tomb. Great opportunity to mingle with locals and take photos
• Drive to Persepolis, the capital of the Achaemenid Empire 550–330 BCE
• Lunch near by at traditional restaurant Paradise on the way to Necrapolis (tombs)
• Necropolis, site of tombs
• Continue to Yazd and check into Silk Road hotel
• Dinner at hotel or near by restaurant in the bazaar

Day 5 – Yazd

• Full day city tour of Yazd - Jame mosque, Tower of Silence and Zorostarian fire temple
• Check out nearby old bazaar and walk around old mud brick house street
• Visit Takyeh Amir Chakhmagh square to mingle with locals and people watch near a famous fountain
• Watch Zurkhane, a traditional Persian sport for strengthening body and fighting spirit
• Diner in traditional restaurant in the bazaar
• Night at Silk Road hotel

Day 6 – Yazd

• Breakfast at hotel, check out, and depart towards Esfahan
• Visit Kharanaq, a virtually deserted and crumbling 1000 year old mud-brick village
• See Chak Chak, considered the holiest Zorostanian site
• Stop at Meybod for lunch and see oldest Mud fortress tracing back to 6,000 years
• Drive to Naein and visit local caravanserai and a traditional icehouse
•  Continue to Esfahan, and check into Suite hotel
• Walk for dinner across famous Khaju bridge
• Visit a 300 year old Abbasi hotel for some tea and sweets
• Overnight at Suite Hotel

Day 7 – Esfahan

• Visit the beautiful Safavid Chelsetoon Palace
• Naghsh-E-Jahan Square with visits to Aliqapu palace, Sheikh Lotfollah and Shah Mosque
• Lunch in a traditional restaurant at the square
• Free time to see square and shop for gifts at a surrounding bazaar
• Visit one of the oldest carpet shops to hear about more than 30 styles of carpets from around Iran
• Overnight at Suite Hotel

Day 8 – Esfahan/Tehran

• Morning departure to Kashan
• Side stop at 1,500-year-old picturesque village of Abyaneh situated at the foot of Mt Karkas (3899m). Chance to haggle with colourfully clad, toothless old women over the price of dried apples
• Check into Ehsan House courtyard hotel
• Lunch Hammam-e Khan restaurant
• Visit beautiful traditional merchant houses Khan-e Tabatabei and Khan-e Ameriha, the largest and most impressive of the town’s mansions
• See 500-year-old Hammam-e Sultan Mir Ahmad, a superb example of an Iranian bathhouse
• Diner at Ehsan House

Day 9 – Tehran

• Check out and travel to Tehran
• Visit Mausoleum of Ayatollah Khomeini and the revolutionary Martyr’s Cemetery
• Stop at Azadi tower, opportunity to go to the top for a panoramic views of the city
• Check into Asareh Hotel, free time
• Farewell meal at the Armenian Club. Opportunity to have a drink of Armenian wine and vodka, the only legally allowed place to have alcohol in Iran.
• Overnight in Asareh hotel

Day 10 – Tehran

• Free morning to do last minute shopping
• Departure by flight or continue with Caucasus unrecognized countries extension (Nagorno Karabakh, Armenia, Georgia, Abkhazia)

Price Inclusive of:

• Visa (invitation letter)
• 9 Nights Accommodation in mentioned hotels on TWIN sharing basis B/B
• A/C comfortable coach with professional driver throughout trip
• Iranian and Western English Speaking Guides
• Entrance fees for all mentioned monuments
• Portage at hotels and airport
• Tehran/Shiraz domestic flights

Price Exclusive of:

• Fee for issuing Visa (at Iran embassy)
• International air tickets
• Tip of the guide and driver
• Any personal expenses & services not included in the above itinerary
• Meals (around 5-10 Euro per day) 

Visa

Please note the following requirements when applying for visa:

­   1 copy of the first page of applicant’s passport ( Passport validity must be more than 6 months)

­   Fill out attached visa form

1,300 Euro / 1,500$

Please send at least 15 days before group/fit arrival. Kindly note that it will takes 7-10 working days for MOF to process the Visa for American, Canadian and British takes longer .

Some nationalities can get on-arrival airport visa 15 days stay in Shiraz/Tehran/Tabriz/Mashad airports.