0

IMPORTANT POINTS TABRIZ: - GRAND BAZAAR - BLUE MOSQUE - AZERBAIJAN MUSEUM - KANDOVAN VILLAGE

BANDAR-E ANZALI: - ANZALI LAGOON

TEHRAN: - - NATIONAL MUSEUM OF - TREASURY OF NATIONAL JEWELS MUSEUM - -

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

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

SHIRAZ: - PERSEPOLISE - NAQSH-E ROSTAM - PASARGADAE - 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 - SAADI TOMB

IRAN CONTINENTS

OJJ OVER NIGHTS: TABRIZ, BANDAR-E ANZALI, , ISFAHAN, YAZD, SHIRAZ TOUR LENGTH: 12 DAYS, 11 NIGHTS

Day 1: Tabriz architecture is unique. The houses have been built into the mountain and Being in Tabriz is surly a fabulous experience. Not only is Tabriz famous are interconnected. Courtyards and roofs both serve as pedestrian areas for its industry but it also has been a birthplace of modern style of similar to streets. The small streets and many stairs simply wouldn't Persian poetry. We embark on our journey through Tabriz by visiting make it possible for vehicles to enter. Besides its wonderful architecture, Tabriz Bazaar a historical market situated in the city center of Tabriz. there are waterfalls, small rivers and springs, and luxuriant forests that This Bazaar was once one of the most important commercial centers on totally have created a beautiful and eye-catching natural landscape. the Silk Road. Next we go to Blue Mosque. The mosque was built upon O/N Anzali the order of Jahan the ruler of Kara Koyunlu dynasty which made Tabriz the capital of his Kingdom. The building enjoys an impressive Day 4: Bandar-e Anzali - Rasht - Tehran (366 Km Drive) architecture which makes it a worth-while visit. Then we move on to visit Here we will visit a house in which a national hero once resided. Azerbaijan Museum which is the major archaeological and historical Mirzakochak Khan was the founder of a revolutionary movement based museum in Tabriz. The museum mostly contains ancient objects In the forests of Gilan in northern Iran that became known as the Forest discovered from excavations in Iranian Azerbaijan, alongside with movement. It sure is a great story to listen to while walking through the astonishing artworks and sculptures. Last but not least, we visit house. Our next stop will be the Rural Museum. The visitors of the Gilan Kandovan Rocky Village. Not only is the area famous for its scenic Rural Heritage Museum will be immersed into a genuine world of beauty and the healing power of its spring waters, Kandovan is also customs and traditions and have the opportunity to sightsee and explore home to a remarkable modern age troglodyte (cave dweller) rural living environment. The vernacular architecture, the local artistic community. manifestation such as handicraft and a wide range of traditions are O/N Tabriz exposed lively, in an authentic surrounding in the Rural Museum. Houses in the museum display local tools left lying around. Special sites have been considered for restaurants, Teahouses, Bazaars, Mosques, Tea Gardens, handicraft workshops, inns, etc. in a nutshell, Such Museum is one of the major places for transferring the culture to future generations as well as tourists. O/N Tehran

Day 5: Tehran A full day Sightseeing in Tehran including: We will enjoy ourselves while visiting Golestan Palace (WHS) one of the oldest of the historic monuments in the city of Tehran. The glory and perfection in design of 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.

Day 2: Tabriz - Ardabil - Bandar-e Anzali (469 Km Drive) In Ardabil we will visit Sheikh Safi Mausoleum where you can see a tall, domed circular tower decorated with blue tile to both experience spiritual atmosphere and appreciate the creative design of the structure. En-route to Anzali we definitely should visit Hyrcanian Forests and wetlands to enjoy the spectacular sceneries offered by Mother Nature. O/N Anzali

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 Day 3: Bandar-e Anzali - Masouleh - Bandar-e Anzali (104 Km Drive) one of the most distinguished manifestations of Iranian culture and art. A vast body of water covered by amazingly beautiful lotus flowers, Carpet Museum exhibits a variety of fine Persian carpets, kilims and Anzali lagoon has always been an alluring tourist attraction. Anzali sophisticated carpet designs from all over Iran, dating from the 16th lagoon is a coastal lagoon, in the Caspian Sea near Bandar-e Anzali, in century to the present. In addition to its attractive carpet and rug the northern Iranian province of Gilan. The lagoon is known as a fantastic galleries, the museum building has a beautiful architecture and facade place to enjoy watching flocks of birds flying above your head. Another resembling a carpet-weaving loom, then we will visit Azadi Tower. At Must-see place while in North of Iran is Masouleh; a heritage tourism night we will drive to the tallest tower in Iran and 17th-tallest site, Masouleh is visited by thousands of tourists every year. Masouleh 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 of astonishing arts ranging from poetry and handicrafts to unique landmark accommodates a variety of sections and parts on each floor architectural styles. We begin our journey through Isfahan by visiting ranging from a cafeteria, a public art gallery, a library to a five-star hotel. Chehel-Sotun Palace. This architectural masterpiece is a pavilion in the O/N Tehran midst of a park at the far end of a long pool which is a typical design of all Persian Gardens. The palace has been constructed for the King's Day 6: Tehran - Kashan - Abyaneh - Natanz - Isfahan (449 Km Drive) entertainment and receptions during Safavid-era. Chehel Sotun Palace In the morning drive to Isfahan, on the way to Isfahan we will visit literally means “Forty Columns” which was inspired by the twenty Kashan. Fin Garden (WHS) a lush garden renowned as being the very slender wooden columns supporting the entrance pavilion, which, when epitome of the Persian garden. In the garden you can enjoy a delightful reflected in the water of the fountain, are said to appear to be forty. The atmosphere as water from a natural spring flows through a series of most startling feature of the pavilion is the brilliant interior design and turquoise-colored pools and fountains. Then we will visit Boroujerdi and paintings which includes fabulous roofs, old tile-covered floors, and Tabatabaei Traditional Houses. Tabatabaei Traditional House is a painted walls featuring scenes of battles and celebrations hold by the perfect place to gain an insight as to how great taste of art and exquisite king. Chehel-Sotun Palace is not just an old building; it tells us about workmanship can come together to build a splendid house about 2 history and each and every crack on the walls or the floors holds a story centuries ago. Almost all of the classic features of traditional Persian of the past. We will continue our tour to Meidane Emam (Naghsh-e- residential architecture such as interior and exterior yards, central pools, Jahan) (WHS) Square which is an oblong-shaped square built in Safavid and elegant wall paintings can be seen in Tabatabaei House. After being era. The square with its lively atmosphere has always been a perennial in Kashan we will have excursion to Abyaneh, The village has a brilliant tourist attraction; it is bordered on all sides by aesthetically remarkable architecture; houses are constructed using peculiar reddish hue mud. monumental buildings linked by a series of two-storied arcades of shops. The other attractive feature of the place is the women clothes which The monuments surrounding the square are named Shah Mosque, The have colorful and happy patterns and an under-knee skirts. Abyunaki Pavilion of Ali-Qapu Palace, Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque and last but not people have persistently maintained this traditional costume. A short least Isfahan Grand Bazaar. Next, we visit Imam Mosque situated on the stop in Murche khoort and visit Madrasah Caravanserai will take us south side of the Shah square. The mosque was built during Safavid back to the Silk Road era. After all, we will have a late Check - in to hotel. period by the order of the first Shah Abbas of Persia. The undeniable O/N Isfahan beauty and Sophistication in design of the mosque do mirror ages and Years of experience in constructing mosques by Iranians. All parts of the mosque have been woven together in great harmony to present a seamless, matchless whole. Religious concepts along with traditional symbols are all fully tangible in the design of the structure. The dome of the mosque standing on top with tall Minarets soaring into the sky, seem to invite every passerby in to worship and pray the Lord. Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque, standing on the eastern side of Naghsh-e-Jahan Square, is considered as one of the marvels of Persian architecture. Every element of the building is a true embodiment of elegance; it 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 8: Isfahan-Naein-Meybod - Yazd (323 Km Drive) In the morning drive to Yazd, Just like travelers in the past who could rest and recover from the day's journey, we also stop here on our way to Yazd

to enjoy the architecture of the structure having rooms all around it Day 7: Isfahan traditionally used as shops and stores. Now it is time to visit Mud-Brick Get ready to visit half of the world; Isfahan was once the capital of Persia Ice house which has a shaped of an up-side down cone which has a and one of the largest cities in the world. Even today, the city retains subterranean storage space; it was often used to store ice, but much of its past glory. This hub of creativity was rightly granted the title sometimes was used to store food as well. We should not leave Nain “Half-of-the-World” due to its flourishing commerce and a great variety before visiting Nain Jame Mosque situated in the old texture of the city.

The Mosque was built after the Mohamad’s Mosque in Medina. En-route palaces. Afterwards we will visit Naghsh-e Rostam which is an to Yazd, we will have a short stop in Meybod. The city receives great ancient Necropolis, a large ancient cemetery with credit for Minting-coins workshops which we also will visit. On the way elaborate tomb monuments. Here you can see a group of ancient to Isfahan we stop to visit Narin Castle Remains located in the middle of Iranian rock reliefs cut into the cliff, from Sassanid periods. We will historical texture of Nain. Another must-see monument in Nain is Shah- continue to have the privilege by visiting Pasargadae (WHS), where Abbasi Caravanserai built in Safavid era. Cyrus the Great is resting for centuries. These ruins are among the only O/N Yazd remains reflecting the glory of ancient Persian Empire. We driving through Quran gate which was the entrance gate of the city. O/N Shiraz

Day 9: Yazd Reaching Yazd, we begin by visiting Zoroastrian’s Tower of Silence Day 11: Shiraz which a circular and raised structure built by Zoroastrians on top of a hill. In the morning, you will open your eyes to a majestic city; Shiraz, the It was used for incarnation for dead bodies to be exposed to carrion birds. home to numerous internationally-recognized Poets and Rose is waiting We next have the chance to visit Yazd Fire-Temple, a place of worship to welcome you right outside your hotel room. After being served with a for Zoroastrians, which contains in its heart a 2500-year-old fire and the tasteful and delicious breakfast, your exiting tour will begin; we will visit Zoroastrians’ Museum containing numerous ancient writings. We then Nasir-ol-Molk Mosque, a master piece of innovation and creation. Sun head to the Water Museum, an ancient house which possesses a Qanat rays will paint the floor and the columns with various and vibrant colors (WHS) in its basement providing the house with a fabulous cool pleasing by passing through the colorful window glasses. Afterwards, you will be air. We will experience walking through narrow allies of Fahadan taken to see Karim Khan Citadel, a well-built fort, and a most see District with tall mud and straw walls, which are reminiscent of the monument. Then we move on to enjoy the fabulous architecture of ancient architecture of the city. The passages of the city was previously Vakil Mosque and admire the beauty of carpets, rugs, and woven replete with arcs, curves, and bends, wide enough for just two or three handicrafts found in Vakil Bazaar, then we get to Moshir Saray a pedestrians to walk through. Among in numerable attractions of Yazd, traditional Bazaar, the next step we will call it a day by Hafez Tomb, one here we will visit Amir Chakhmakh Complex. The complex is decorated of the most prominent poets of Iran. We driving through Quran Gate by along rectangular pool, surrounded by small shops; not only can one which was the entrance gate of the city. enjoy shopping for souvenirs from such traditional and local shops which O/N Shiraz mainly sell handicrafts, but he/she can also rest their eyes on alluring beauty of the architecture of the mosque. Last but not Least, is Dowlat Day 12: Shiraz-SYZ airport Abad Garden (WHS) which is renown all across the globe due to its Today is our last day in Iran. So after check out bring us to Full day city tallest wind tower of the world. tour of Shiraz after breakfast including: Orange garden Narenjestan – e O/N Yazd - Qavam the Narenjestan is composed as a walled rectangular garden with a pavilion at its northernmost edge. This pavilion is the biruni of a larger residential complex, with the function of receiving guests and serving as a place for reception and celebration. Khan School (school of Theology), this school is one of the most famous and greatest schools in Shiraz that located in Isaac Big district. There are beautiful decorations and tiling in entrance of school. Imamzadeh Ali Ebn-e Hamze shrine, the Highlights include the eye-catching bulbous Shirazi dome, dazzling Venetian mirror work, stained-glass windows and an intricate, ancient wooden door. In the afternoon a visit to Eram Garden (UNESCO sight) The abundance 100 kind of beautiful flowers, refreshing air, aromatic myrtles and towering cypress trees, including a tree dating back to 3,000 years (Sarv-e naz) have made Eram Garden a major tourist destination, especially during the spring and summer. And at night we will visit Tomb of Saadi, Transfer to the airport and depart early morning. Saying goodbye is never easy, but it is time to go to the airport. Iran is a kind of place that you cannot get enough of it and to appreciate its beauty thoroughly in such few days is not possible. Therefore, until next time

we will have the honor to host you here in Iran take care and enjoy your Day 10: Yazd-Shiraz (441 Km Drive) flight. We will start the second day by driving to the history of ancient Persia by visiting Persepolis (WHS), a complex accommodating a cluster of