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IMPORTANT POINTS

TEHRAN: - GOLESTAN PALACE - NATIONAL MUSEUM OF - TREASURY OF NATIONAL JEWELS MUSEUM - AZADI TOWER - MILAD TOWER

ISFAHAN: - VANK CATHEDRAL - CHEHEL SOTUN PALACE - GRAND - MEIDANE EMAM - IMAM MOSQUE - SHEIKH LOTFOLLAH MOSQUE - THE PAVILION OF ALI’QAPU - SIYOSEPOL BRIDGE

YAZD: - - - WATER MUSEUM - - FAHADAN DISTRICT - AMIR CHAKHMAKH COMPLEX - DOWLAT ABAD GARDEN

BAYAZEH: - CHAK CHAK - - CENTRAL DESERT

TABAS: - SAND DUNES - CAMEL RIDING - DESERT AND SALT LAKE OF TABAQEH

KERMAN: - COMPLEX

SHAHDAD: - LUT DESERT - CARAVANSARAY - NEBKAS - KALUTS - SALT RIVER - DESERT INHABITANT’S

SHIRAZ: - NASIR-OL-MOLK MOSQUE - KARIM KHAN CITADEL - VAKIL MOSQUE, BAZAAR AND MOSHIR SARAY - HAFEZ TOMB - QURAN GATE - NARENJESTAN GARDEN - ALI EBN-E HAMZEH HOLY SHRINE - ERAM GARDEN - PERSEPOLISE - NAQSH-E ROSTAM - PASARGADAE

IRAN DESERT REVIEW

OJJ OVER NIGHTS: , , , BAYAZEH, TABAS, , , TOUR LENGTH: 13 DAYS, 12 NIGHTS

Day1: Arrival in Tehran century to the present. In addition to its attractive carpet and rug You will arrive in Iran early in the morning and we have a lot to venture, galleries, the museum building has a beautiful architecture and facade numerous places to visit, so get some good rest to get up all energetic resembling a carpet-weaving loom, then we will visit Azadi Tower. At and fresh in the morning. night we will drive to the tallest tower in Iran and 17th-tallest O/N Tehran freestanding structure in the world, Milad Tower is a multi-purpose tower standing at 435 meters from base to the tip of the antenna. This Day 2: Tehran landmark accommodates a variety of sections and parts on each floor A full day Sightseeing in Tehran including: We will enjoy ourselves ranging from a cafeteria, a public art gallery, a library to a five-star while visiting Golestan Palace (WHS) one of the oldest of the historic hotel. monuments in the city of Tehran. The glory and perfection in design of O/N Tehran this building will surpass all your expectations of beauty. It consists of gardens, royal buildings, and collections of Iranian crafts and European Day3: Tehran – Kashan – Abyaneh - Natanz – Isfahan (4 H 46 Min Drive) presents from the 18th and 19th centuries. Next we visit National In the morning drive to Isfahan, on the way to Isfahan we will visit Museum of Iran which holds an incredibly wide range of pre-Islamic as Kashan. Fin Garden (WHS) a lush garden renowned as being the very well as post-Islamic remaining works including pottery vessels, metal epitome of the Persian garden. In the garden you can enjoy a delightful objects, textile remains, and some rare books and coins. Make sure not atmosphere as water from a natural spring flows through a series of to miss Treasury of National Jewels Museum. Here is the most -colored pools and fountains. Then we will visit Boroujerdi dazzling collection of gemstones and jewelry known in the world; the and Tabatabaei Traditional Houses. most spectacular objects have been placed on public display and form one of the country's principal tourist attractions. After lunch we will visit Carpet Museum, Carpet-weaving has been around since the advent of early features of urban civilization and is undoubtedly one of the most distinguished manifestations of Iranian culture and art. Carpet Museum exhibits a variety of fine Persian carpets, kilims and sophisticated carpet designs from all over Iran, dating from the 16th

Tabatabaei Traditional House is a perfect place to gain an insight as to how great taste of art and exquisite workmanship can come together to build a splendid house about 2 centuries ago. Almost all of the classic features of traditional Persian residential architecture such as interior and exterior yards, central pools, and elegant wall paintings can be seen in Tabatabaei House. After being in Kashan we will have excursion to Abyaneh, The village has a brilliant architecture; houses are constructed using peculiar reddish hue mud. The other attractive feature of the place is the women clothes which have colorful and happy patterns and an under-knee skirts. Abyunaki people have persistently maintained this traditional costume. A short stop in Murche khoort and visit Madrasah will take us back to the Silk Road era. After all, we will have a late Check - in to hotel. O/N Isfahan The square with its lively atmosphere has always been a perennial tourist attraction; it is bordered on all sides by aesthetically remarkable Day4: Isfahan monumental buildings linked by a series of two-storied arcades of Get ready to visit half of the world; Isfahan was once the capital of shops. Persia and one of the largest cities in the world. Even today, the city The monuments surrounding the square are named Shah Mosque, The retains much of its past glory. This hub of creativity was rightly granted Pavilion of Ali-Qapu Palace, Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque and last but not the title “Half-of-the-World” due to its flourishing commerce and a least Isfahan Grand Bazaar. Next, we visit Imam Mosque situated on great variety the south side of the Shah square. The mosque was built during Safavid Of astonishing arts ranging from poetry and handicrafts to unique period by the order of the first Shah Abbas of Persia. The undeniable architectural styles. We begin our journey through Isfahan by visiting beauty and Sophistication in design of the mosque do mirror ages and Chehel-Sotun Palace. This architectural masterpiece is a pavilion in the Years of experience in constructing mosques by Iranians. All parts of midst of a park at the far end of a long pool which is a typical design of the mosque have been woven together in great harmony to present a all Persian Gardens. The palace has been constructed for the King's seamless, matchless whole. Religious concepts along with traditional entertainment and receptions during Safavid-era. Chehel Sotun Palace symbols are all fully tangible in the design of the structure. The dome of literally means “Forty Columns” which was inspired by the twenty the mosque standing on top with tall Minarets soaring into the sky, slender wooden columns supporting the entrance pavilion, which, seem to invite every passerby in to worship and pray the Lord. Sheikh when reflected in the water of the fountain, are said to appear to be Lotfollah Mosque, standing on the eastern side of Naghsh-e-Jahan forty. The most startling feature of the pavilion is the brilliant interior Square, is considered as one of the marvels of Persian architecture. design and paintings which includes fabulous roofs, old tile-covered Every element of the building is a true embodiment of elegance; it floors, and painted walls featuring scenes of battles and celebrations enchants every viewer by its dome changing color from dawn to dusk. hold by the king. Chehel-Sotun Palace is not just an old building; it tells There is an underground corridor offering a passage from the building us about history and each and every crack on the walls or the floors to Ali-Qapu palace which is going to be the next piece of history to visit. holds a story of the past. We will continue our tour to Meidane Emam The Pavilion of Ali-Qapu is a grand palace located on the western side (Naghsh-e-Jahan) (WHS) Square which is an oblong-shaped square of the Naghsh-e-Jahan Square, opposite of Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque. built in Safavid era. The building was named Ali-Qapu which means “great gate” in as much as it was right at the entrance to the Safavid palaces which stretched from the Naghsh-e-Jahan Square to the Chahar Bagh Boulevard. The structures was a symbol of the government’s power and was originally used as a place to hold important political negotiations. Ali-Qapu is rich in naturalistic wall paintings; they abound with floral, animal and bird motifs. The building is also embellished with mirrors, arcs and magnificent colorful tiles. Siyosepol which literally means 33 arches is a bridge highly ranked as being one of the most famous examples of Safavid bridge design.

Day 6: Yazd Reaching Yazd, we begin by visiting Zoroastrian’s Tower of Silence which a circular and raised structure built by Zoroastrians on top of a hill. It was used for incarnation for dead bodies to be exposed to carrion birds. We next have the chance to visit Yazd Fire-Temple, a place of worship for Zoroastrians, which contains in its heart a 2500-year-old fire and the Zoroastrians’ Museum containing numerous ancient writings. We then head to the Water Museum, an ancient house which possesses a Qanat (WHS) in its basement providing the house with a fabulous cool pleasing air. We will experience walking through narrow allies of Fahadan District with tall mud and straw walls, which are reminiscent of the ancient architecture of the city. The passages of the city was previously replete with arcs, curves, and bends, wide enough for just two or three pedestrians to walk through. Among in numerable attractions of Yazd, here we will visit Amir Chakhmakh Complex. The It is the longest bridge on Zayandeh Rood River connecting east of complex is decorated by along rectangular pool, surrounded by small Isfahan to its west. The Zayandeh Rood River can be considered as a shops; not only can one enjoy shopping for souvenirs from such contributing factor to the growth of the population and the economy of traditional and local shops which mainly sell handicrafts, but he/she can the city; it helped established Isfahan as an influential center and gave a also rest their eyes on alluring beauty of the architecture of the green landscape to Isfahan, a city in the middle of a desert. mosque. Last but not Least, is Dowlat Abad Garden (WHS) which is O/N Isfahan renown all across the globe due to its tallest wind tower of the world. O/N Yazd Day5: Isfahan – Nain – – Yazd (3 H 48 Min Drive) Day 7: Yazd – – Bayazeh / Khoor In the morning drive to Yazd, Just like travelers in the past who could Morning drive to the central desert of Iran where located in the heart rest and recover from the day's journey, we also stop here on our way land. The Shrine of Chak Chak to Yazd to enjoy the architecture of the structure having rooms all One of the most important Zoroastrian shrines in Iran, Chak Chak around it traditionally used as shops and stores. Now it is time to visit (sometimes pronounced Chek Chek or Chak Chakou in local dialects) is Mud-Brick Ice house which has a shaped of an up-side down cone located in in the center of Iran. It attracts thousands of which has a subterranean storage space; it was often used to store ice, pilgrims for an annual festival that lasts for ten days from the beginning but sometimes was used to store food as well. We should not leave of the third month after Nowruz. Nain before visiting Nain Jame Mosque situated in the old texture of The Shrine of Chak Chak is nestled deep in the mountains of Yazd. the city. The Mosque was built after the Mohamad’s Mosque in Medina. Many people mistakenly refer to Chak Chak as a Fire Temple En-route to Yazd, we will have a short stop in Meybod. The city (atashkadeh), the place of worship for Zoroastrians. It is, however, a receives great credit for Minting-coins workshops which we also will holy shrine (ziaratgah) meant for pilgrimage. For the most part, Chak visit. On the way to Isfahan we stop to visit Narin Castle Remains Chak is open to tourists year-round. The only time that it is reserved located in the middle of historical texture of Nain. Another must-see exclusively for Zoroastrians is during a four-day stretch in June every monument in Nain is Shah-Abbasi Caravanserai built in Safavid era. year when Zoroastrians from all over Iran and the world gather for O/N Yazd mass worship, religious ceremonies, community building, and celebration, including playing music and singing traditional songs. Now it’s time to visit more than 1000 years old Village, We will arrived to Kharanagh. We walk with a beautiful view down the valley. A restored wind tower rises up on the square and behind it, lays the ancient village Kharanagh, built in mud. It is a ruin almost in defiance, fighting against the forces of nature. Basting alleyways spread out like a spider web inward in the old and almost abandoned village. Then we will have accommodate in khoor/Bayazeh. O/N Khoor/Bayazeh

Day 8: Bayazeh/Khoor - Tabas Check out the hotel in the morning to explore the unique features of the Desert and experience some of the desert related activities such as: Sand Dunes, Camel riding, Desert and Salt Lake of Tabaqeh. O/N Tabas

Day 9: Tabas Today you will visit incredible places, rice vegetation in the desert, a valley that hot and cold water flows at the same spring and an Iranian garden in the desert. O/N Tabas

Day 10: Tabas – Kerman (6 H Drive) After breakfast, you will check out and settle to the eastern city of Kerman. On the way, we will visit ruins of Esfahak, visit Anthropology Museum of and Ruins of Esfahak. It is an absolute beautiful

tourist attraction and the Old Esfahak is a mirror reflecting the history, Day 13: Shiraz architecture arts and culture, and the inhabitants of this land The In the morning, you will open your eyes to a majestic city; Shiraz, the collection includes a variety of residential and public places such as home to numerous internationally-recognized Poets and Rose is mosques, public baths and treasury, a school and others. The mostly waiting to welcome you right outside your hotel room. After being One-floor buildings and one or two porches are very rare. The texture served with a tasteful and delicious breakfast, your exiting tour will located on the main road of Tabass - Deyhook and the site is a fine begin; we will visit Nasir-ol-Molk Mosque, a master piece of innovation opportunity for enthusiasts to visit is this special place special Nayband and creation. Sun rays will paint the floor and the columns with various Village and Dige Rostam hot spring. Ganj Ali Khan Complex is our and vibrant colors by passing through the colorful window glasses. next sight to visit upon arrival to Kerman. Afterwards, you will be taken to see Karim Khan Citadel, a well-built O/N Kerman fort, and a most see monument. Then we move on to enjoy the fabulous architecture of Vakil Mosque and admire the beauty of Day 11: Kerman – Shahdad carpets, rugs, and woven handicrafts found in Vakil Bazaar, then we After breakfast now it’s time to appreciate a not very common face of get to Moshir Saray a traditional Bazaar, the next step we will call it a the nature, by visiting Shahdad to enter the Lut desert (UNESCO sight) day by Hafez Tomb, one of the most prominent poets of Iran. We and visit Caravanserai, The central Lut is the vast part in the Lut desert driving through Quran Gate which was the entrance gate of the city. that contains the lowest part of the desert. There are several Kaluts in O/N Shiraz this region that are extended from the center Lut to the west. They are the most beautiful natural phenomena. They are unique and can’t be found in any desert of the world, egg shaped hills and Salt River as the samples of eye-catching sights. To experience the Desert inhabitant’s livelihood, we will overnight in a rural residential place. Day 13: Shiraz – Persepolis – Necropolis – Pasargadae – Shiraz O/N Shahdad We will start the second day by driving to the history of ancient Persia by visiting Persepolis (WHS), a complex accommodating a cluster of palaces. Afterwards we will visit Naghsh-e Rostam which is an ancient Necropolis, a large ancient cemetery with Day 12: Shahdad – Mahan - Shiraz elaborate tomb monuments. Here you can see a group of ancient After breakfast in the rural house, a long drive will bring us to the lovely Iranian rock reliefs cut into the cliff, from both the Sassanid periods. We city of Shiraz. We will pass some cities like Mahan, For the next part of will continue to have the privilege by visiting Pasargadae (WHS), where the day, we will travel to an area called Mahan, situated in south of Cyrus the Great is resting for centuries. These ruins are among the only Kerman, where a green patch, known as Shazde Mahan Garden(WHS), remains reflecting the glory of ancient Persian Empire. Saying goodbye appears right in the middle of an arid and sterile Desert. This land mark is never easy, but it is time to go to the airport. Iran is a kind of place is a dazzling pavilion at far end of the pool which is located on top of that you cannot get enough of it and to appreciate its beauty the garden and water flows down from a stair-like path to the entrance thoroughly in such few days is not possible. Therefore, until next time gate. Before arriving Shiraz, we have stop to have an overview of we will have the honor to host you here in Iran take care and enjoy your Maharloo Lake to be fascinated by the pink color of this salt lake flight. O/N Shiraz