IMPORTANT POINTS

TEHRAN: - - NATIONAL MUSEUM OF - TREASURY OF NATIONAL JEWELS MUSEUM - CARPET MUSEUM - - - NIYAVARAN PALACE - SAAD ABAAD PALACE - DARBAND MOUNTAIN - BAZAAR

SHIRAZ: - NASIR-OL-MOLK - KARIM KHAN CITADEL - , BAZAAR AND MOSHIR SARAY - - HAFEZ TOMB - QURAN GATE - PERSEPOLISE - NAQSH-E ROSTAM

YAZD: - TOWER OF SILENCE - FIRE TEMPLE - WATER MUSEUM - QANAT - FAHADAN DISTRICT - AMIR CHAKHMAKH COMPLEX - DOWLAT ABAD GARDEN

ISFAHAN: - CHEHEL SOTUN PALACE - MEIDANE EMAM - IMAM MOSQUE - THE PAVILION OF ALI’QAPU - . - GRAND BAZAAR - JAME MOSQUE - VANK CATHEDRAL - MENAR-JONBAN - SIYOSEPOL & KHADJU BRIDGE

KASHAN: - FIN GARDEN - TABATABAEI TRADITIONAL HOUSE - BOROUJERDI TRADITIONAL HOUSE

A CLASSICAL VIEW OF IRAN

OJJ OVER NIGHTS: , , YAZD, ISFAHAN, KASHAN TOUR LENGTH: 11 DAYS, 10 NIGHTS

Day 1: Arrival in Tehran leisure time in the nature to enjoy spectacular sceneries and great food You will arrive in Iran early in the morning and we have a lot to venture, in its restaurants in the mountain. It is a fabulous choice to breathe numerous places to visit, so get some good rest to get up all energetic some fresh air and be away from the air-pollution of the mega city. and fresh in the morning. Then we will visit Tajrish Bazaar one of the oldest areas of Tehran. This O/N Tehran center of commerce is decorated with well-designed arches. The bazaar has many passage ways leading to different sections where you Day 2: Tehran can purchase a variety of goods and products.in the next we will A full day Sightseeing in Tehran including: We will enjoy ourselves transfer to Airport to have flight to where the Capital of ancient Persia while visiting Golestan Palace (WHS) one of the oldest of the historic located in ,Shiraz. monuments in the city of Tehran. The glory and perfection in design of O/N Shiraz this building will surpass all your expectations of beauty. It consists of gardens, royal buildings, and collections of Iranian crafts and European presents from the 18th and 19th centuries. Next we visit which holds an incredibly wide range of pre-Islamic as well as post-Islamic remaining works including pottery vessels, metal objects, textile remains, and some rare books and coins. Make sure not to miss Treasury of National Jewels Museum. Here is the most dazzling collection of gemstones and jewelry known in the world; the 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 century to the present. In addition to its attractive carpet and rug galleries, the museum building has a beautiful architecture and facade resembling a carpet-weaving loom, then we will visit Azadi Tower. At night we will drive to the tallest tower in Iran and 17th-tallest 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 landmark accommodates a variety of sections and parts on each floor ranging from a cafeteria, a public art gallery, a library to a five-star hotel. O/N Tehran

Day 4: Shiraz In the morning, you will open your eyes to a majestic city; Shiraz, the home to numerous internationally-recognized Poets and Rose is waiting to welcome you right outside your hotel room. After being served with a tasteful and delicious breakfast, your exiting tour will begin; we will visit Nasir-ol-Molk Mosque, a master piece of innovation and creation. Sun rays will paint the floor and the columns with various and vibrant colors by passing through the colorful window glasses. Afterwards, you will be taken to see Karim Khan Citadel, a well-built fort, and a most see monument. Then we move on to enjoy the Day 3: Tehran-Shiraz (1 Hour Flight) fabulous architecture of Vakil Mosque and admire the beauty of We will start our day with The Niavaran Palace that is a historical carpets, rugs, and woven handicrafts found in , then we complex which consists of several impressive buildings and monuments get to Moshir Saray a traditional Bazaar, the next step we will visit began being constructed by Qajar dynasty. There are numerous colorful paradise that named Eram Garden (WHS). We will call it a day fabulous rooms and halls built different purposes through which visitors by Hafez Tomb, one of the most prominent poets of Iran. We driving through Quran Gate which was the entrance gate of the city. can roam and appreciate the design, architecture and decoration . O/N Shiraz Visiting Saad Abbad Palace is a great way to become more familiar with various historical, cultural and artistic aspects of Iran. At the foot Day 5: Shiraz-Yazd (449 Km Drive) of the ranges, north of Tehran, lays Sa’ad Abad Palace. The We will start the second day by driving to the history of ancient Persia glorious structure was first erected as summer residence of Qajar kings by visiting (WHS), a complex accommodating a cluster of and now is turned into a majestic museum to represent the finest works palaces. Afterwards we will visit Naghsh-e Rostam which is an of art from Iranian and non-Iranian artists to a large number of visitors. ancient Necropolis, a large ancient cemetery with There we visit Darband Mountainside where most Iranians spend their elaborate tomb monuments. Here you can see a group of ancient

Iranian rock reliefs cut into the cliff, from both the Sassanid periods. We visit Mud-Brick Ice house which has a shaped of an up-side down cone will continue to have the privilege by visiting (WHS), where which has a subterranean storage space; it was often used to store ice, Cyrus the Great is resting for centuries. These ruins are among the only but sometimes was used to store food as well. We should leave remains reflecting the glory of ancient Persian Empire. Meybod to visit Nain Jame Mosque situated in the old texture of the O/N Yazd city. The Mosque was built after the Mohamad’s Mosque in Medina. O/N Isfahan

Day 8: Isfahan Get ready to visit half of the world; Isfahan was once the capital of Persia and one of the largest cities in the world. Even today, the city retains much of its past glory. This hub of creativity was rightly granted the title “Half-of-the-World” due to its flourishing commerce and a great variety of astonishing arts ranging from poetry and handicrafts to unique architectural styles. We begin our journey through Isfahan by visiting Chehel-Sotun Palace. This architectural masterpiece is a pavilion in the midst of a park at the far end of a long pool which is a typical design of all Persian Gardens.

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 The palace has been constructed for the King's entertainment and attractions of Yazd, here we will visit Amir Chakhmakh Complex. The receptions during Safavid-era. Chehel Sotun Palace literally means complex is decorated by along rectangular pool, surrounded by small “Forty Columns” which was inspired by the twenty slender wooden shops; not only can one enjoy shopping for souvenirs from such columns supporting the entrance pavilion, which, when reflected in the traditional and local shops which mainly sell handicrafts, but he/she can water of the fountain, are said to appear to be forty. The most startling also rest their eyes on alluring beauty of the architecture of the feature of the pavilion is the brilliant interior design and paintings mosque. Last but not Least, is Dowlat Abad Garden (WHS) which is which includes fabulous roofs, old tile-covered floors, and painted walls renown all across the globe due to its tallest wind tower of the world. featuring scenes of battles and celebrations hold by the king. Chehel- O/N Yazd Sotun Palace is not just an old building; it tells us about history and each and every crack on the walls or the floors holds a story of the past. Day 7: Yazd-Isfahan (323 Km Drive) We will continue our tour to Meidane Emam (Naghsh-e-Jahan) (WHS) In the morning drive to Isfahan, En-route to Isfahan, we will have a Square which is an oblong-shaped square built in Safavid era. The short stop in Meybod. The city receives great credit for minting-coins square with its lively atmosphere has always been a perennial tourist workshops which we also will visit. On the way to Isfahan we stop to attraction; it is bordered on all sides by aesthetically remarkable visit Narin Castle Remains located in the middle of historical texture of monumental buildings linked by a series of two-storied arcades of Meybod. Another must-see monument in Meybod is -Abbasi shops. Caravanserai built in Safavid era. Just like travelers in the past who The monuments surrounding the square are named , The could rest and recover from the day's journey, we also stop here on our Pavilion of Ali-Qapu Palace, Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque and last but not way to Isfahan to enjoy the architecture of the structure having rooms least Isfahan Grand Bazaar. Next, we visit Imam Mosque situated on all around it traditionally used as shops and stores. Now it is time to the south side of the Shah square. The mosque was built during Safavid

period by the order of the first Shah Abbas of Persia. The undeniable Khadju and next to see Shahrestan Bridge the oldest bridge beauty and Sophistication in design of the mosque do mirror ages and on Zayandeh Rood River. Years of experience in constructing by Iranians. All parts of O /N Isfahan the mosque have been woven together in great harmony to present a Day 10: Isfahan-Kashan (219 Km Drive) seamless, matchless whole. Religious concepts along with traditional In the morning drive to Kashan, on the way to Kashan we will visit symbols are all fully tangible in the design of the structure. The dome of Abyaneh. The village has a brilliant architecture; houses are the mosque standing on top with tall Minarets soaring into the sky, constructed using peculiar reddish hue mud. The other attractive seem to invite every passerby in to worship and pray the Lord. Sheikh feature of the place is the women clothes which have colorful and Lotfollah Mosque, standing on the eastern side of Naghsh-e-Jahan happy patterns and an under-knee skirts. Abyunaki people have Square, is considered as one of the marvels of Persian architecture. persistently maintained this traditional costume. Every element of the building is a true embodiment of elegance; it O/N Kashan enchants every viewer by its dome changing color from dawn to dusk. There is an underground corridor offering a passage from the building to Ali-Qapu palace which is going to be the next piece of history to visit. The Pavilion of Ali-Qapu is a grand palace located on the western side of the Naghsh-e-Jahan Square, opposite of Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque. 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. It is the longest bridge on Zayandeh Rood River connecting east of Isfahan to its west. The Zayandeh Rood River can be considered as a contributing factor to the growth of the population and the economy of the city; it helped established Isfahan as an influential center, and gave a green landscape to Isfahan, a city in the middle of a desert. O/N Isfahan

Day 11: Kashan- IKA airport (236 Km Drive) While being Kashan, we will visit Fin Garden (WHS) a lush garden Day 9: Isfahan renowned as being the very epitome of the Persian garden. In the We are going to have a great day with a great start; first thing in the garden you can enjoy a delightful atmosphere as water from a natural morning we will visit Jame-Mosque (WHS). This is one of the oldest spring flows through a series of turquoise-colored pools and fountains. mosques still standing in Iran claiming its place as a masterpiece in Then we will visit Boroujerdi and Tabatabaei Traditional Houses, Persian architecture for its structural clarity and geometric balance. Tabatabaei Traditional house is a perfect place to gain an insight as to The mosque is renowned for reflecting classic art in a traditional and how great taste of art and exquisite workmanship can come together Islamic structure. We then should not miss Vank Cathedral which is to build a splendid house about 2 centuries ago. Almost all of the classic one of the most celebrated example of the colorful architecture to features of traditional Persian residential architecture such as interior mirror Christians’ religious and spiritual concepts. Another amazing and exterior yards, central pools and elegant wall paintings can be seen masterpiece of engineering and genius design is Menar-Jonban. The in Tabatabaei house. Then we will drive to IKA airport for departure name of the monument is quite self-explanatory about the structure. flight. Menar-Jonban literally means shaking minaret; the monument consists Saying goodbye is never easy, but it is time to go to the airport. Iran is a of two minarets facing each other. Its notable feature is that if one of kind of place that you cannot get enough of it and to appreciate its the minarets is shaken, the other minaret will shake as well. We then beauty thoroughly in such few days is not possible. Therefore, until visit another well-known bridge over Zayandeh Rood River called next time we will have the honor to host you here in Iran take care and enjoy your flight.