Classical Iran

Our travel begins from Tehran, the multicultural capital of Iran. As the largest city in Iran, Tehran is home to one of the most ethnically diverse populations in the country. Upon your arrival at Imam Khomeini Airport, you will be greeted by a tour guide who will transfer you to your hotel.

Overnight in Tehran

The energetic morning of Tehran begins, and after breakfast, we will visit the National Museum of Iran, Iran’s largest museum and a historical monument in Tehran. It also is known as Iran Bastan Museum.  A perfect complex to gain more knowledge about the long history and the rich culture of Iran. After having a glance, we will continue our way to another fantastic museum, the National Jewelry Treasury. Take your time and wander around but don’t forget to take a glance at one of the largest uncut diamond in the world named as Daryaye Nour before leaving the area to visit Sa’d Abad complex. There is perhaps a no better place to see the lifestyle of the ‘Last Shah’ than the Sa’d Abad Palace Complex. It displays many historical artifacts and documents that reflect Iran’s rich cultural history. For the rest of the day let’s take a walk on a new bridge that’s undoubtedly one of the best new architecture for a bridge, Nature Bridge. Nature Bridge is one of the best places to go to observe how the people interact with each other.

Note: Depend on the time and day of the week, we will visit the National Jewelry Treasury or Glassware Museum. You observe a vast collection of ancient glass and ceramic pieces at Glassware Museum of Tehran. The exhibition features works dating from 4000 BCE to modern day contemporary art.

Overnight in Tehran

Drive to Hamedan, capital of the Medes (6^th century BC), one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world. After arriving in Hamedan, we will visit the Tomb of Esther and Mordechai, a well maintained and holy places for Jewish people in Iran. After that, we head to Avicenna Mausoleum. Avicenna was an outstanding philosopher and physician of his time whose written works were taught in many medieval universities of the time. Then we go to the 2200 m height Ganjnameh valley at the foothills of Alvand Mountain. Ganjnameh is a historical inscription of the Achaemenid era that is written in 3 different languages, i.e., ancient Persian, Elamite, and Babylonian.

Overnight in Hamedan

How pretty it can be if we start our day by crossing the king road and visit all those ancient places and getting lost in the history with their stories. Drive to Kangavar, a small town of great antiquity on the modern road from Hamadan to Kermanshah identical with a trace of the Silk Road, ruins of a historic site start to appear right by the roadside, temple of Anahita, the goddess of waters. This temple was dated to the 2nd or 1st century CE. By following our way to Kermanshah, there is another fantastic ancient palace that deserves a visit, the world heritage site of Bisotun. Bisotun is located along the old trade route linking the Iranian high plateau with Mesopotamia and features remains from the prehistoric times to the Median, Achaemenid, Sassanian, and Ilkhanid periods. The principal monument of this archaeological site is the bas-relief and cuneiform inscription ordered by Darius the Great when he rose to the throne of the Persian Empire, 521 BC.

After visiting Bisotun, we drive to Khorramabad along the Zagros mountain range, en route over viewing of Oakwoods of central Zagros.

After breakfast in Khorram Abad visit Falakol-Aflak Fortress. On the top of a hill, on the riverside and at the center of the city, makes for all the pros of a tourist attraction. Falakol-Aflak literary means the sky of all the heavens and might be called so because of its spectacular height. Enjoy the trip through the impressive landscape of the Zagros Mountains. Excursion to the old city of Susa and museum (UNESCO Site), visiting of Choghazanbil ziggurat (UNESCO Site). Choghazanbil is made of mud brick and has decorations with baked bricks and colored glass. Out of the five original levels of the ziggurat temple, today only two of them with a height of 25 meters stand, which still resemble the heritage and religion of the time.

Overnight in Dezful

Susa was the city in which Darius the great made himself a grand winter palace called as Apadana which was later invaded. Archeologists say that at its time, the Apadana palace could have accommodated 10000 people. Although as of today, not much of it remains, but it holds an excellent history inside it. Drive to Shushtar and visit Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System (UNESCO Site) on Karoun River.

Overnight in Dezful

Coming to a city of enormous and splendid gardens and a city that reminds you of knowledge, culture, poetry, and love. In addition to the peaceful atmosphere and stunning beauty of gardens, those who have an interest in botany can also enjoy observing different species of plants in this city. The combination of poetry, flower, and nightingale can be a source of romantic inspiration and openness of heart. Shiraz people are famous for their calmness, kindness, and hospitality.

Overnight in Shiraz.

Shiraz, the city of colors, lights, flowers, and history. The most magnificent complex on the passing of time in the heart of art. First, in the morning you find yourself in the spiritual surroundings of Nasir al-Mulk Mosque. It also is known as the Pink Mosque because of its Pink and deep blue tiling. With its stained glass arches, Nasir al-Mulk Mosque showcases a mesmerizing blend of rainbow colors and intricate shapes. The combination of color shades can easily hypnotize any viewer at first glance.

The Persian Empire created some of the most astonishing feats of engineering the world has ever seen. Magnificent palaces that rose up from barren desert, roadways, bridges, and canals. Persepolis is one of these engineering masterpieces. The city that was once the richest on the earth. Massive Persepolis entails the greatest successes of the ancient Empire

The monumental staircases, valuable reliefs, and dramatic gateways leave you in the thought that how grand this empire was, just as the broken and fallen columns show that an ancient rivalry with Greece would erupt into an epic clash and change the course of history.

Then we head Naqsh-e Rostam (Necropolis). Stand in awe of the tombs of four ancient kings of Persia, carved into the side of a mountain, at Nagsh-e Rostam. The reliefs that decorate the surroundings are impressive.

Visiting Saadieh, the tomb of Saadi, in a pleasant and different atmosphere that can be an excellent choice to sit and watch the sunset with a large and cheerful crowd.

Overnight in Shiraz

On the way of Shiraz to Yazd, we will visit the ruins of Pasargadae, the capital of Achaemenid Empire and the tomb of Cyrus the Great. The empire over which Cyrus the Great rolled, was the largest the ancient world had ever seen and maybe to this day.

Going straight forward to Abarkuh, one of the oldest cities in the central part of Iran that makes this way more exotic by its historical sites like ice reservoir. This Icehouse is built 400 BCE when Persian engineers had mastered the technique of storing ice in the middle of summer in the desert.

Drive to Yazd and get into the mysterious world of Zoroastrians by the tower of silence, where we can feel and see one of the unique buildings, a silent cemetery with no sign but full of story.

Overnight in Yazd

Step back in time as you explore the old city of Yazd, a desert town known for its distinct Persian architecture style, punctuated by mud-brick buildings, wind towers, domed ice houses, and water reservoirs.

We leave the hotel early in the morning to visit the Zoroastrian Fire Temple. See the flame allegedly lit in the Zoroastrian Fire Temple since the 4^th century. It is seen as spiritual and cultural landmarks for one of Iran’s oldest continued faiths. This temple gives you celestial tranquility. Then we head to Amir Chakhmaq Complex, which is completed during centuries from Teymorid era to the Safavid era. Today Amirchakhmaq complex is the largest Tekeyeh in Iran (an Iranian architecture structure which is built in religious sites for ceremonies like Ashura).

After that, we go to the Jameh Mosque of Yazd. The first thing that grabs the notice of viewers is its blue tiles under blue sky in the heart of the desert and its tall minarets. The most important thing is the serene atmosphere of this mosque. Finally, we drive to Meybod Caravanserai also known as Shah Abbas Caravanserai to discover how tourist did stay at the Caravanserai on Safavid era.

Esfahan, a piece of jewelry that despite the historical fluctuations in the area has still retained its luster and glory throughout the centuries The city’s rich culture and beautiful nature is in such perfect harmony that one seems to be a reflection of the other.

Overnight in Esfahan

Esfahan is undoubted, one the most beautiful cities in the world. Every year thousands of tourists come from around the globe to Esfahan to appreciate the treasures and masterpieces of Iranian art and architecture.

A cultural hub in the center of the country, Esfahan boasts a proud heritage of art, architecture, and craftsmanship. Esfahan is known for historic sites, religious sites, sightseeing, museums, and shopping. We start with one of the biggest city squares in the world, Naqsh-e Jahan. A UNESCO world heritage that used to be one of the main points for visitors where they can feel the life in it beside of bazar and mosques also the art on the buildings around, all are wonderful together. The colors of monuments surrounding the square change throughout the day as sunlight fades away. You can take horse and carriage rides or walk around and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere. The square holds several splendid structures including Sheikh Lutfollah Mosque, Ali Qapu Palace and Qeysarieh bazar, all seen as great legacies of the Safavid Dynasty. Sheikh Lutfollah Mosque is a mosque with no minarets. Walk through the gateway of the mosque and stop at the doorstep and look up at the ceiling. You will be nothing but mesmerized as you set your gaze upon the inside structure of the mosque. Another arrangement of Naqsh-e Jahan is Ali Qapu Palace. The most spectacular part of the palace is a terrace which grants an excellent view of the famous Naqsh-e Jahan Square.

Then we will visit one of the most amazing sites that shows a simple but exciting relationship between math and architecture. Chehel Sotoun, a great mix of architecture and garden in Isfahan. The beautiful garden surrounding this palace mesmerize you.

Eleven bridges cross the Zayandehroud River in Isfahan. Six of these are ancient, and the most important of them are Siosepol, Khaju, and Shahrestan. We finish this day by visiting Siosepol Bridge with 33 stone arches spanning and Khajou Bridge that is spanned the Zayandehroud River with 21 graceful stone arches.

Overnight in Isfahan

The daylight rises over the horizon and returns the city to its morning life. After breakfast, we will visit the Jameh Mosque which is a sprawling mosque complex that has been restored and decorated many times over the past millennium. Then we visit an Orthodox Christian gem in Isfahan, Vank church displays a striking blend of Armenian and Safavid architecture. After that, we head to the Atashgah Fire Temple.  Atashgah Fire Temple also known as Marabin Fire Temple of Zoroastrian and dating back to the Sassanid era. Atashgah Fire Temple is an amazing one because of the architecture. There are seven windows on seven sides of the building and a portal on the eighth side. So the fire could be seen from any external view.

Visit one of the largest and oldest Bazar in the Middle East, Bazaar of Isfahan.

Overnight in Esfahan

En route to Tehran we will visit a village of great antiquity, Abyaneh, where is like a living architectural and anthropological museum. It presents an impressive model of the man adaptation to the environment. After that, we will visit a jewel of desert architecture, Kashan and then drive to Tehran

Overnight in Tehran

Departure flight