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Home , Ab Anbar, Amir Chakhmaq Complex, Bangkok, Ganjali Khan Complex, Sarvestan Palace, Tehran

12Days 10Nights Legend of Ancient Persia

DAY 01 / / (Meal on Board / Dinner) TG 402 Singapore / Bangkok 0740 / 0900 (2.5 hours) TG 527 Bangkok / Tehran 1530 / 1930 (7.5 hours)

Check in at Singapore Changi International (Terminal 1) for your flight to Tehran via Bangkok.

Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel for a good night’s rest.

Overnight : 4* Hotel

DAY 02 TEHRAN / (Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner) Your morning begins with a visit to the Golestan , an immense area of 1,100,000sqm housing 18 magnificent historical , 2 of which you will visit. This complex was built by the and it will undoubtedly leave a lasting impression on you.

Catch your domestic flight to Shiraz after lunch. On the way to your hotel, make a stop at Shah-e-Cheragh. This is one of the most beautiful in , the beautiful dome; wonderful lighting and impressive mirror-work will capture your attention.

Overnight : 5* Chamran Grand Hotel

DAY 03 SHIRAZ / / NECROPOLIS / SHIRAZ (Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner) After breakfast, full day excursion of Persepolis and Necropolis awaits you.

Persepolis was founded by Darius I in 518BC, as the capital of the . It was built on an immense half artificial, half natural terrace, where this at that time created an impressive palace complex inspired by Mesopotamian models. The historical importance and quality of the monumental ruins make it a unique archaeological site. It seems that Darius planned this impressive complex of palaces not only as the seat of government but also, and primarily, as a show place and a spectacular centre for the receptions and festivals of the Achaemenid kings and their empire, such as for the celebration of Nawruz. Next stop will be Necropolis, located opposite the mountain of Rahmat, is the magnificent burial place of Achaemenid kings. This is also the site of 7 bas- reliefs back to Elamite and Sassanid period.

Return to Shiraz with a stop at Vakil for its splendid architecture and interesting ethnic souvenir shops.

Overnight : 5* Chamran Grand Hotel

DAY 04 SHIRAZ (Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner) Spend your full day in this long been celebrated centre of Persian culture for over 2,000 . Hailed as the of Love, City of Roses and the House of Learning, this Middle Eastern is a great place to explore the local Iranian culture.

Your day will cover Nasir Alk Molk . Completed in 1888, the mosque stands out as one of the most impressive in the country, primarily for its overwhelmingly intricate interiors. Make photo stops at Quran Gate and Tomb of . Hafez was one of Persia’s greatest poets who have impressed the world with his poetic mastery. End the tour with a visit at Delgosha Garden. The garden comes from before in Sassanid era. The building was constructed in style of architecture of Sassanid palaces mirror art works, oil paintings, ceiling is covered with stucco and wood works, with garden and stone pool.

Overnight : 5* Chamran Grand Hotel

DAY 05 SHIRAZ / / (Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner) Travel to Kerman via Sarvestan with a stop at the Sarvestan Palace.

Being an archaeological complex now, Sarvestan Palace, which is topped with the biggest brick dome in the country, was built during the reign of Bahram Gur (420-438 AD), and used as the summer hunting mansion of Sassanid kings. Located in province, south of Iran, the whole complex covers a 25-hecatre plot of land, amid a plain 9km south of Sarvestan . Besides its unique splendor in architecture, this magnificent palace was also revered a sacred place during Sasanid dynasty. The building of Sarvestan palace consists of different parts including an entrance porch, a dome and a court yard. As compared to other contemporary palaces and mansions, this palace enjoys a more complicated and advanced architectural plan. Since 1956, major renovations took place. This is registered on the list of National of Iran.

Overnight : 5* Pars Hotel

DAY 06 KERMAN / / KERMAN (Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner) A trip to the uncharted desert and the fantastic city of Kalout, in southern province of Kerman, is a special treat, cherished even by native Iranians. You will experience the walk among the fantasy land structures, carved out of sand hills through echoes of the blowing winds. You will let yourself roll down the soft sand hills, see the Nebka's (the flower pots of the desert), the in-congruent citrus gardens in the heart of the desert and old fortresses.

Return to Kerman, the 10th most populous city of Iran, Kerman is home to numerous historical mosques and Zoroastrian fire temples. Kerman neighbours Lut Desert on the north and east, Bam and on the south and the cities of , Zarand, and in the west. Because of its proximity to Lut Desert, Kerman has hot summers and winters with very cold night temperatures. Some of Kerman's surrounding mountains are snow-topped all round.

The most famous of Kerman's attractions is the next to the Kerman Grand Bazaar. This Safavid era complex consists of a square, bazaar, bathhouse, mosque, Ab-Anbar (water reservoir), mint and a monument.

Overnight : 5* Pars Hotel

DAY 07 KERMAN / (Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner) Situated in a remote area where 2 deserts converge, Yazd dates back to 3000BC. It is also one of the most distinctive cities in Iran, renowned for its Persian architecture. It was a stop on the fabled Silk Road but its location kept is safe from the ravages of war and destruction for centuries.

Besides being a desert port for trade, Yazd was one of the principal centres of the Zoroastrian religion. Zoroastrians venerate fire as a holy entity that comes from the supreme god and invokes truth in the hearts and minds of believers. The is the where the scared flames were kept burning continuously. The of Silence is where Zoroastrians took their dead to avoid contaminating the earth. The Amir Chakhmaq complex is one of the extraordinary in all of Iran, noted for its symmetrical sunken alcoves. It is a mosque located on square of containing a , a , a bathhouse etc. Round off the day with a visit to the local Yazd Bazaar.

Overnight : 5* Safaiyeh Hotel

DAY 08 YAZD / MEYBOD / (Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner) Our journey continues to the once capital of the old Persia - Isfahan. The city is today, the second largest city in Iran after the .

Enroute stop by Narin Castle in Meybod and an Old Caravanserai. The crumbling Narin Castle rises imposingly above the town that has grown up around it. Revealing 3 layers of construction, the oldest foundations suggest some kind of settlement was built here as early as 4000 BC. Legend has it that the castle belonged to King Solomon and was built by spirit, but whatever the original provenance of the castle's foundations, most of what can be seen today dates from the Sassanian era. Lying on the silk route, the castle was used by soldiers who provided an armed escort for passing caravans at a tax for their services. The view from the top of the castle gives an interesting view of the town of Meybod and shows how the growing population of the citadel spilt beyond the castle walls. Watchtowers dotted around town until recently formed the further reaches of the but these have since been breached as new houses stretch into the surrounding desert.

If time permits, make stops at and 33 Bridge upon reaching Isfahan. The Vank Cathedral in the Jolfa Armenian quarter of Isfahan is a gorgeous fusion of Armenian and . The longest bridge on Zayandeh River consists of 2 rows of 33 arches from either side therefore the name of Si O Se Pol which means 33 Bridge or the Bridge of 33 Arches.

Overnight : 4* Hotel Khajoo

DAY 09 ISFAHAN (Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner) Begin your walking tour with visit Hasht Palace, this city is revived by the works of contemporary artists. Isfahan prides itself in having fascinating historical garden palaces city was founded at the time of Tahmoures or Keykavous and because of its glories has been entitled “Half the World”. Visit the Unesco world heritage site of Imam Square (Naqsh-e-Jahan) - a public urban square in the centre of Isfahan, a city located on the main north-south and east-west routes crossing . It is one of the largest city squares in the world (second after ’s Tiananmen Square) and an outstanding example of Iranian and Islamic architecture. Built in the early 17th century, the square is bordered by two-storey arcades and anchored on each side by four magnificent buildings: to the east, the Sheikh Lotfallah Mosque; to the west, the pavilion of Ali Qapu; not to be missed is the Imam Mosque which has the largest dome in the city. Round off the day with a stop at a bazaar. This is where you can purchase arts and crafts for which Isfahan is well known.

Overnight : 4* Hotel Khajoo

DAY 10 ISFAHAN / / TEHRAN (Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner) Return to Tehran passing by Kashan.

There are several old residential buildings left from 19th and 20th centuries in Kashan and it’s certainly worth a visit to explore its old historical houses. Built in the 1880s, the Tabatabaei House in Kashan belonged to a wealthy merchant family of the same name. This historic house, which is located in the old texture of Kashan, is considered the bride of all classic Persian homes. With an area of 4,700sqm, it has 40 rooms, 4 courtyards, 4 basements, 3 wind and 2 underground water and importantly it has Persian residential architecture features.

Overnight : 4* Ferdowsi International Grand Hotel

DAY 11 TEHRAN / BANGKOK (Breakfast / Lunch) TG 528 Tehran / Bangkok 2100 / 0655+1 (6.5 hours)

Make a stop at Saad Abad White Palace. Saadabad is a cultural and historical complex that covers an area of 110 hectares and is located at the northernmost part of Tehran. The complex contains 18 palaces belonged to the royal families of Qajar and Pahlavi, in a unique and beautiful garden. The complex was first built and inhabited by Qajar monarchs in the 19th century. After an expansion of the compounds, of the Pahlavi Dynasty lived there in the 1920s, and his son, , moved there in the 1970s. After the 1978 Revolution, the complex became a museum. White Palace is the largest mansion in this complex. In addition to ceremonial and official affairs this building was used as a summer residence of Mohammad Reza Shah (the second king of Pahlavi dynasty) and the queen Farah. The first king of Pahlavi, Reza Shah ordered to build this palace in 1932 which was completed by 1937. But it was effectively used three years later. Many artists and engineers were involved in building this palace. Layout plan was designed by Mr Khorsandi and engineering drawings were developed by Leon Taavosian, Pesyan and Russian Boris. Iranian , usually have very old structures and architecture. They were first formed as a set of shops colonized together in the heart of cities to have better security and also income. They were roofed later and changed into the forms we see today in some parts of the world. Bazaars can be seen in almost all of old cities and of Iran. For shopping lovers looking for the best products and the best deals and travelers who seek to see the daily life of folks, navigating Tehran, presents some sizable challenges. From food markets, to touristy goods and souvenirs, from bargain antiques, to everyday items, Tehran has a bazaar for all your needs at Bazaar.

Depart for the airport for your flight home via Bangkok.

DAY 12 BANGKOK / SINGAPORE (Meal on Board) TG 413 Bangkok / Singapore 1115 / 1430 (2.5 hours) Arrive in Singapore at Terminal 1.