11 Days Untouched Western Iran: Part Two Travel Date 19 Apr to 29 Apr 2020 TOUR INFORMATION WESTERN IRAN

Home , Doha, East Azerbaijan Province, Western Iran

11 Days Untouched Western Iran: Part Two Travel date 19 Apr to 29 Apr 2020 TOUR INFORMATION WESTERN IRAN

INTRODUCTION

Iran is the heart of the Perisan civilization and is one of the most ancient & long lasting! Though it has been under Islamic influence for nearly 1,500 years, the true spirit of Persia still prevails in the Iranians’ daily life today.

For those who have been charmed first time, revisit Iran and take the road less travelled into the rarely visited Northwestern region of the country. Discover the step shape village of Palangan and enjoy the scenic mix of forest, mountain. Wonder at the volcanic rock houses of Kandovan. Sip tea with Azaris, Gilakis and Taleshis. Marvel at the longest roofed Bazaar in the world in Tabriz.

For our complete Iran experience, join us on our Iran Classic Route, – through Shiraz, Lut Desert, Yazd, Esfahan and ends in Tehran. There are now 24 UNESCO sites in Iran and you will be able to visit half of them by joining both trips!

SPECIALS

• The remote and historical Iran experience with UNESCO sites • Dinner at a local Kurdish house with local dishes and dance; • Private Home cook dinner food in a Tabriz Traditional House • Zoorkhaneh rituals, an UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, takes place in underground • All meals included with unlimited drinks (Note: no alcoholic drinks allowed in Iran) • Small group size of maximum 16 people • Escorted by Scott Dunn Travel Concierge • Tipping to Guide, Driver & Porter included • Comprehensive Travel Insurance included

DEPARTURE DETAILS ITINERARY DAY BY DAY • Land Tour Price: Twin Sharing: S$ 6,320/-; Day 1 19 Apr (Sun) Arrive Tehran Single Supplement: S$ 1,160/- Day 2 20 Apr (Mon) Tehran/ Hamedan • Airfare (subject to availability) Economy from S$ 2,477/-; Day 3 21 Apr (Tue) Hamedan Business from S$ 8,011/- Day 4 22Apr (Wed) Hamedan / Kermanshah • Deposit amount: Day 5 23Apr (Thu) Kermanshah / Sanandaj S$ 2,000/ per person Day 6 24 Apr (Fri) Sanandaj • Registration Closing Date: Day 7 25 Apr (Sat) Sanandaj / Zanjan 19 Jan 2020 or when tour is fully Day 8 26 Apr (Sun) Zanjan / Soltaniyeh / Kandovan subscribed Day 9 27 Apr (Mon) Kandovan / Tabriz • Early Bird Promotion: First 4 room bookings with deposit enjoy Day 10 28 Apr (Tue) Tabriz / Jolfa / Tabriz Complimentary upgrade to Jr. Suite in Laleh Day 11 29 Apr (Wed) Tabriz / Depart Tehran Park Hotel. Combine our Iran Part 1 & 2 and enjoy 1-night complimentary stay at Espinas Hotel Tehran (Standard room) on 18 Apr and get total S$250/- off per person!

Raffles City Tower #10-03, 250 North Bridge Road, Singapore 179101 | Tel: +65 3165 4050 | Travel Licence No: 029233 [email protected] | www.scottdunn.com ITINERARY WESTERN IRAN

DAY 01 - 19 APR (SUN) - SINGAPORE DOHA TEHRAN

Flight:

19 Apr Singapore / Doha QR 945 0220/0535 (8h 15m) 19 Apr Doha / Tehran QR 482 0800/1135 (2h 05m)

Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel, relax and lunch. After lunch, you may want to revisit some sights in Tehran or you may want to experience a different side of Tehran toDarband , a cultural gem set into the slopes of Mount Tochal. Enjoy a leisure hike or a chair lift for the scenic view on one of Iran’s highest mountain. Sip tea and sample traditional Persian Dizi cuisine with locals in Darband. On the way back, we will visit the breath-taking Imamzadeh Saleh mirrored shrine.

Accommodation: Espinas Hotel Meals: Lunch, dinner included

DAY 02 - 20 APR (MON) - TEHRAN | QAZVIN | HAMEDAN

This morning we drive northwest around 165km (3 hours) to Qazvin, a former capital of the Persian Empire under Safavids. It is a provincial capital today that has been an important cultural center throughout history. Visit the glittering shrine of Imamzadeh Hossein, then the UNESCO’s mosque – Jame Mosque. Continue around 237km (3.5 hours) to Hamedan.

Accommodation: Parsian Hamedan Hotel Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner included

DAY 03 - 21 APR (TUE) - HAMEDAN

Full day tour of Hamadan that will introduce you to one of the world’s oldest cities. Begin the day by visiting the charming Ganjnameh Waterfall, home to ancient Achaemenian rock inscriptions. Then visit the massive tomb of Avicenna; known nationally as the “doctor of doctors,” Avicenna is widely considered the greatest Persian philosopher and physician. His medical treatments and philosophical ideas are still observed by the world’s scholars today. Explore the tomb of famed Persian poet Baba Taher, and the tomb of Esther & Mordecai, Iran’s holiest Jewish site. Finish your day by touring the ruins of Ecbatana, made famous by Greek traveler Heredotus in the 5th century BCE, and the Dervish Monastery of Gonbad-e- Alavian, noted for its brilliant stucco design.

Accommodation: Parsian Hamedan Hotel Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner included

Raffles City Tower #10-03, 250 North Bridge Road, Singapore 179101 | Tel: +65 3158 6530 | Travel Licence No: 029233 Raffles City Tower #10-03, 250 North Bridge Road, Singapore 179101 | Tel: +65 3165 4050 | Travel Licence No: 029233 [email protected] | www.scottdunn.com [email protected] | www.scottdunn.com ITINERARY WESTERN IRAN

DAY 04 - 22 APR (WED) - HAMEDAN | KERMANSHAN

This morning, we travel to Kermanshah via Kangavar, 92km (1.5 hours), visit Anahita Temple and Bisotoun. Bisotoun, dates to the Middle Paleolithic period; the 1,200 lines of Achaemenian inscriptions offer details about the battles of Darius the Great, who fought against the governors trying to dismantle the empire originally founded by Cyrus the Great. Continue to Kermanshan, 100km (1.5 hours).

In the afternoon, city tour of Kermanshah, including the Sassanian rock carvings of Tagh-e- Bostan; these bas-reliefs, cut from the stone cliff, depict royal scenes of battles and hunts that reflect the glorious history of the Sassanid Kings. Then visit the beautiful old Mansion of Maaven ul Molk.

Accommodation: Parsian Hotel Kermanshah Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner included

DAY 05 - 23 APR (THU) - KERMANSHAN | SANANDAJ

This morning we head north to the Kurdistan Province, 110km (2 hours), visit one of the old Kurdish village of Palangan. One of Iran’s most picturesque villages. Its earth-coloured stone houses climb steeply up both sides of a rocky chasm while traditionally dressed villagers shoe horses in the narrow pathways or simply stand gazing from their flat rooftops. Afterwards we continue to Sanandaj, 122km (2 hours).

Accommodation: Shadi Hotel Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner included

DAY 06 - 24 APR (FRI) - SANANDAJ

Sanandaj is the twenty-third largest city in Iran with its economy mainly based upon the production of carpets, processed hides and skins, milled rice, refined sugar, woodworking, cotton weaving, metalware and cutlery.

This morning, we begin our tour with a visit to the Vakil Almolk mansion and the Khosro Abad mansion. Then we take a look at the history and culture of these people with a stroll through the halls of the Sanandaj historic bazaar and then a visit to the Jame mosque. Then conclude our day with Sanandaj museum and Asef mansion.

Accommodation: Shadi Hotel Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

DAY 07 - 25 APR (SAT) - SANANDAJ | ZANJAN

This morning we drive toward Zanjan, 385km (6.5 hours). En route, visit UNESCO site Takht-e- Soleyman. This is 1500-year old fortress, located on a crater rim, the remains of this Zoroastrian fire temple provide visitors a chance to experience remnants from numerous civilizations that inhabited the temple, ranging from the Sassanids to the Byzantines, one of the best Sassanid architecture this is certainly a highlight of Western Iran.

Accommodation: Zanjan Hotel Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Raffles City Tower #10-03, 250 North Bridge Road, Singapore 179101 | Tel: +65 31653158 65304050 | Travel Licence No: 029233 [email protected] | www.scottdunn.com ITINERARY WESTERN IRAN

DAY 08 - 26 APR (SUN) - ZANJAN | SOLTANIYEH | KANDOVAN

Morning a short excursion, 45km (1 hour) to the majestic Soltnieh Dome, Gonbad-e-Soltanieh, (World Heritage Site), a mausoleum built for local Mongol ruler Oljaytu. Then visit Zanjan’s Salt Men Museum and Rakhtshouy Khaneh Edifice.

Continue on to the ancient village of Kandovan, 385km (4.5 hours) rumored to be the site of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, which is also known as the Cappadocia of Iran. Upon arrival, check in to the Laleh Kandovan International Rocky Hotel. This unique hotel has rooms built into natural cone-shaped rocks, providing an authentic Persian experience as locals have lived similarly for centuries. The remainder of the day is at leisure for you to explore this charming village.

Accommodation: Laleh Rock Hotel Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included

DAY 09 - 27 APR (MON) - KANDOVAN | TABRIZ

Enjoy a leisure morning, then we head towards to Tabriz, 60km (1 hour), Iran’s fourth-largest city, located in the East Azerbaijan province. Become acquainted with Tabriz this afternoon with a visit to the Blue Mosque; one of Iran’s largest and most famous mosques, the Blue Mosque was built in 1465 and is famous for its spectacular calligraphy. Continue your tour with stops at the House of Constitution and Tabriz’s traditional bazaar, UNESCO site.

Accommodation: Laleh Park Hotel Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included

DAY 10 - 28 APR (TUE) - TABRIZ | JOLFA | TABRIZ

Today, we make a full day excursion to Jolfa which is about 132km (2 hours) drive away and the border city with Azerbaijan. Here you will explore the spectacular Red-rock canyon, visit the Church of St. Stephanos and travel into the Biblical Aras River Valley. The Aras River Valley is a spectacular River Canyon with ancient churches and mud-walled castles. At the completion of the tour, transfer back to Tabriz in the late afternoon.

Accommodation: Laleh Park Hotel Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included

DAY 11 - 29 APR (WED) - TABRIZ TEHRAN DOHA SINGAPORE

Today is free at leisure, you may want to do some shopping before our flight back home.

29 Apr Tabriz / Tehran Iran Aseman 641 1720/1830 (1h 10m)

Enjoy dinner before your international flights.

29 Apr Tehran / Doha QR 499 2340/0015 (2h 05m) 19 Apr Doha / Singapore QR 946 0250/1545 (7h 55m)

Arrive home on Day 12, 30 Apr (Thu)

Accommodation: N/A Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included

Land tour price per person Hotels Twin share Single Supplement Tehran : Espinas Hotel (Standard room) Hamedan : Parsian Hamedan Hotel (Standard room) Kermanshah: Parsian Hotel (Standard room) Sanandaj : Shadi Hotel (Standard room) S$ 6,320/- S$ 1,160/- Zanjan : Zanjan Hotel (Standard room) Kandovan : Laleh Rock Hotel (Standard Room) Tabriz : Laleh Park Hotel (Standard Room)

These prices are based on minimum eight persons traveling together.

Airline Airfare price per person Economy Class Qatar Airways (QR) S$2,014 + S$463 (taxes) = S$2,477/- Singapore / Doha / Tehran return Business Class: S$7,224 + S$787 (taxes) = S$8,011/-

Airfare & Taxes are calculated as of 04 Jul 2019 and subject to change & availability. Should you wish to explore alternative flying routes, do consult our friendly consultants.

COST INCLUDES COST EXCLUDES

• Accommodation on twin/double basis; • Airfare Singapore/Doha/Tehran/Doha/Singapore by • Meals as stated with unlimited beverages; Qatar Airways as quoted above; • Domestic flight Tabriz/Tehran on ATA by Economy • Visa; Class; • Personal expenses such as tips, laundry, bar bills and etc. • Tours and transfers in air-conditioned vehicle with English speaking guide, • Entrance fees where applicable; • Tipping to Guide, Driver & Porter; • Visa approval letter; • Comprehensive Travel Insurance; • Service of Scott Dunn Travel Concierge;