Tour Name: 15 Days Cycling Tour in Iran – Classic Route Tour code: OT3415006 Tour Duration: 15 Days and 14 Nights Tour Category: Tour Difficulty: 3/5 Tour Tags: Tour Best Date: Spring and Autumn Tour Services Type: Bronze Tour Destinations: Tehran, Qom, Kashan, Abuzeidabad, Abyaneh, Isfahan, Varzaneh, Yazd, Shiraz Related tours code: Max Group Size: 12 - 15 Overview: Cycling Tour in Iran – Classic Route offers an opportunity to visit the cultural and major heritage sites of the great cities of Iran. In this cycling tour, you will definitely experience endless adventures. Take this Iran journey with us and we will show you the beauties of Iran’s classic route. After this journey, you’ll probably have a surprising view from Iran. In this tour, you will visit not only major historic cities of Iran but also you because you are with a bicycle, you will have the opportunity to stroll through some of Iran’s oldest villages. Highlights: Visit amazing UNESCO world heritage sites in Iran Visit historic villages like Baraghoun, AbuzeidAbad, Abyaneh, Aghda, etc. Meet Iranian people and be welcomed by their hospitality Tour Map:
Tour Itinerary:
Landing to Persia (Tehran) Welcome to Iran! Arrival at Imam Khomeini International Airport; greeted by the guide and transferred to the hotel. We will meet again in the early evening for a briefing of our Cycling Tour in Iran and a welcome dinner. O/N Tehran
Tehran City Tour Today, we explore the bustling metropolis of Tehran, the capital of Iran, which has 14 million inhabitants. Your guide will guide you through the history of Persia when you visit the Golestan Palace*, a vast complex of 17 palaces, museums and halls, the National Museum of Iran, which houses important artifacts of ancient Persia and of post-Islamic Persia, as well as the salt man who was naturally mummified in a salt mine for 2000 years. After lunch, our first experience of Iran cycling tour will start and we will cycle from Karaj to a very old village, Baraghan; 14 km, beautiful scenery. O/N Tehran – 14 Km of cycling
Slope Chart: Tehran - Karaj
Tehran – Qom – Kashan After breakfast, Drive to Kashan via Qom. In Qom, visit one of the most sacred and most respected shrines belonging to Masoumeh, the sister of the 8th Shia Imam. Then we will take the road by car, and about 50 km from Kashan, we take our bikes to continue cycling. On the way, we will stop to visit the underground city of Noush-Abad (Ouyi), perhaps over 1500 years old. After this magnificent visit, we will continue cycling to Kashan. Between the 12th and 14th centuries, Kashan was an important center for the production of high-quality pottery and tiles. In modern Persian, the word “tile” (kashi) comes from the name of the city. We’ll take a look at the historic houses, The Fin Persian Garden* and of course the bazaar. O/N Kashan – 48 Km of cycling
Slope Chart: Qom - Kashan
Kashan – AbuzeidAbad We start the day by having breakfast at the hotel. Then after checking out, by taking the desert road, we will move toward AbuzeidAbad. On our way to AbuzeidAbad, we will visit caravanserai and sand dunes. Then after having lunch, we start cycling to AbuzeidAbad. O/N AbuzeidAbad – 38 Km of cycling
Slope Chart: Kashan – AbuzeidAbad
AbuzeidAbad – Abyaneh
After breakfast, cycling starts from Abouzeidabad to the historic village of Abyaneh in part, 37 km pedaling from AbouzeidAbad to the village of Hanjen that its route is flat and easy to pedal. Then continue to Abyaneh by car. Abyaneh, an ancient village, dating back to 1500 years before the arrival of Islam in Persia, seems to melt in the hills while the raw brick houses melt into the surrounding rock. Spend the afternoon wandering the narrow, sloping lanes of this compact village. O/N Abyaneh – 37 Km of cycling
Slope Chart: AbuzeidAbad – Abyaneh
Abyaneh – Isfahan In day 6 of the Cycling in Iran Classic Route Tour, we will leave Abyaneh to go to Isfahan with bicycle. We will cycle about 40 km of the distance. On our way, we will visit the Historical city of Natanz. Then we continue moving toward Isfahan with a car. We will do a city tour to understand why so many people call it the most beautiful city in the world. With a wealth of tree-lined boulevards, scenic bridges, Persian gardens, a historic bazaar, UNESCO-listed Naqsh-e Jahan Square, and important Islamic buildings, we will have a lot to see in Isfahan. In Isfahan, after checking in to the hotel, according to the time we have, we will visit a few attractions of Isfahan like Si-o-Se Pol and Khaju historical bridges. O/N Isfahan – 40 Km of cycling
Slope Chart: Abyaneh - Natanz
Isfahan City Tour A day without bikes. Today we spend the whole day visiting and getting to know how amazing and beautiful Isfahan is. In this day, we will visit places such as Naghsh-e Jahan Square* (which contains Aliqapoo Palace*, Shah Mosque*, and Sheikh Lotfallah Mosque*), and Vank Cathedral. O/N Isfahan
Isfahan – Varzaneh We will have an early morning departure from Isfahan toward the historical and natural city of Varzaneh. We will transfer to NikAbad and from there we will start cycling toward Varzaneh. After having lunch in Varzaneh and checking in to the hotel, we will have a half-day and off-road tour to Varzaneh’s Salk Lake. O/N Varzaneh – 35 Km of cycling
Slope Chart: Natanz – Isfahan
Varzaneh – Yazd
In the early morning, we will leave Varzaneh to move toward to Gavkhuni Wetland along the Zayanderood River. We take part of the route by bike and then after having field lunch, we will move toward Aghda Village. After visiting Aghda’s pomegranate garden and its attractions, we will continue going to Yazd to stay there for the night. O/N Yazd – 50-60 Km of cycling
Slope Chart: Varzaneh – Yazd
Adobe City/ Yazd City Tour A day without bikes. Today we will visit Yazd and its adobe attractions. Yazd* is the oldest adobe city in ancient Persia, dating back 7,000 years. It has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site because it has preserved its traditional quarters, the qanat system, its traditional houses, its bazaars, its hammams, its mosques, its Zoroastrian temples and the historic Dowlat Abad Persian Garden*. Housing the second largest population of Zoroastrians in Iran, many of the sites we will see during our visit to the city will come from this religion, including Tower of Silence where the dead were left to be cleaned by the vultures. More used, the cemetery is now a quiet and serene place. We will also walk through the maze of alleys and alleys of the old quarter. O/N Yazd
Yazd – Abarkooh
Abarkooh is known for its ancient coolers and home to the second oldest tree in the world, a 4,000-year- old cypress. Today we cycle 66 km, passing through villages and fruit gardens. The road goes through the beautiful little road of Tang-e-Chenar towards the city of Deh-Shir. We will cross some villages but for most of the journey, the beauty of the sand and the sky will be our companion. O/N Abarkooh – 66 Km of cycling
Slope Chart: Yazd – Abarkooh
Abarkooh – PooladKaf We will start our journey to PooladKaf after having breakfast. After about 2 hours and 30′ of driving, we will arrive at Dezgerd. From Dezgerd, our today’s cycling will begin. O/N PooladKaf – 67 Km of cycling
Slope Chart: Abarkooh – Poolad Kaf
PooladKaf – Persepolis
Departure by car towards Persepolis; stopping in Banesh to cycle toward to Persepolis, a 70 km drive. Today counts as the last day of cycling in Iran Classic Route. Today we continue our journey toward the origin of the pre-Islamic history of Iran in a beautiful path. At first, we will transfer to the Banesh area. Then we cycle toward Persepolis from Banesh. On our way to visiting Persepolis, we see Pasargadae* and another attraction. Then continue to Persepolis* to visit its glory and stay the night there. A visit to Persepolis, once the richest city in the world. Founded by Darius I in 518 BC, the capital of the Achaemenid empire was built on a huge half-artificial, half-natural terrace, where the king of kings created an impressive palace complex adorned with gold, silver, ivory and precious stones. The spectacular ruins still reveal the glory of the Achaemenid Empire (it takes about 2 hours). O/N Persepolis – 50 Km of cycling
Slope Chart: Poolad Kaf – Persepolis
Shiraz City Tour Today, we explore the city of Shiraz by discovering some of the most striking sites, including the Eram Persian Garden*, the Jahan Nama Garden and the tombs of poets Sa’di and Hafez, who lived in the 13th and 14th centuries. In the afternoon, we visit the Zand complex which includes a fortress, the Vakil mosque, the Nasir-al Mulk Mosque (aka Pink Mosque), and the bazaar. We are hosting a final celebratory dinner and reviewing all the highlights of our cycling experience through Iran. O/N Shiraz
Missing Persia We will provide a group transfer to Shiraz International Airport (SYZ) for your departure flight.
All sites with * sign are submitted in UNESCO world heritage. Note: In special conditions, the accommodations can be changed to a similar alternative. Hotel check-in time generally is at 2:00 PM. According to your arrival time, if you need an early check- in you must book an extra day. Private or single rooms are not available in some traditional local or guesthouses. And also, in these places, sleeping equipment is traditional, comfortable Mattresses and Blankets. No Bed!
Services Included: 14 Nights Hotel or Traditional House Accommodation (B&B) All transfers and transportations (Since this is a cycling tour, it mostly is with bicycle. Private car for 2- 3 pax. Suitable minibus for bigger groups) Professional licensed guides and drivers (expert eco-tour guide) Refreshment (2 bottles of water/ fruits/ snacks per day)
Visa authorization code processing fee All road tolls and vehicle taxes Extra supplies for emergency situations
Services Not Included: International flights Visa stamp/ label fee Travel insurance Tips to local guides and drivers Any Private Expenses Entrance Fees Food Meals