Tour Name: 9 Days Mysterious Island Tour Tour code: OT1209028 Tour Duration: 09 Days and 08 Nights Tour Category: Discovery Tour Difficulty: 2/5 Tour Tags: Tour Best Date: Autumn, Winter, and beginning of Spring Tour Services Type: Bronze (economy) Tour Destinations: Shiraz/ Qeshm/ Hengam/ Hormuz/ Isfahan Related tours code: Max Group Size: 2-20 Overview: Landing to PERSIA, Iran is a country with endless history, many traditions, four-season nature with a mixture of mountains, deserts, coastal areas, and forests. you will explore Persia in both cultural and natural views. This 9-day Iran Mysterious Island Tour which is actually the tour includes the natural and historical attractions of the central and southern parts of Iran. Highlights: . Visit amazing UNESCO world heritage sites in Iran . Visit an International Geopark Tour Map:

Tour Itinerary:

In-Depth Shiraz Welcome to Persia. After arrival, you’ll be transferred from Shiraz Airport to Hotel. Explore lovely Shiraz, the City of Roses and Nightingales. Begin in Narenjestan Gardens, with the richly decorated pavilion featuring a mirrored porch set among graceful trees. We continue to Arg of Karim Khan (is a citadel located in the downtown Shiraz, and in shape, it resembles a medieval fortress.). Late this afternoon, spend some time in the Vakil historical complex (Public Bath, Bazar, Mosque) and famous Shiraz bazaar (Shiraz shopping paradise). Continue to Eram Persian Garden*, with its beautiful cypress-lined avenues leading to an elegant summer palace. Finish the day in the tomb of two Iran’s greatest poets, Hafez and Saadi. O/N Shiraz

The Glory of Persia Today, your tour guide will pick you up to visit ancient historical monuments Persepolis* and Pasargadae*. Persepolis (Takht-é Jamshid) is the heart of the Persian Empire and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here, walk through a complex of palaces and temples that are said to be one of the architectural wonders of . Massive winged bulls, derived from Assyria but given a characteristic Persian stateliness, greet us at the head of a grand stairway wide enough for five horses to ride abreast. The stairway leads up to the vast platform on which the entire site is built. On the stairway up to the Apadana, the reception hall to the palace of King Darius I, survey the hundreds of figures carved in low relief exactly as Darius and Xerxes saw them. They look so fresh they might have been carved yesterday. The small museum in Persepolis has been created from the ruins of a building called the “harem of Xerxes” Then our explorations take us to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Pasargadae* to see the impressive, elevated Tomb of Cyrus and to walk through the different sections of the ancient city: the Presidential Palace, the Audience Hall, the Gatehouse, and the curious Zendan-e Soleyman. And at the end, we come back to Shiraz and visit Shah Cherah Holy Shrine. O/N Shiraz

Welcome to Qeshm Today before departure to Qeshm we will visit the pink-tiled 19th-century Nasir-al Mulk Mosque and after that fly to Qeshm. Visiting the mangrove forest, and windsurfs, Seven colors mountains (in the middle of February to mid-April, staying in the village of Shibbaraz as a local home to visit the egg-laying Qeshm turtles). O/N Qeshm

Excursion in Today is one of the most exciting days of Qeshm trip. In the morning before 9 o’clock, we will go for a tour by boat. Visit the famous dolphins of Qeshm, Natural Aquarium and the beauties of Hengam island. For lunch, use island products like Falafel and Samosa. After we will visit Local Bazaar and get Tattoo by Hana color (a temporary tatoo) in the Naz (Cute) island. We can visit the valley of the stars after visiting the Naz islands and go to Hotel. O/N 3* Hotel or Traditional Guest House

Jewelry of Persian Gulf

Today is the day in which we visit the Island of Hormuz. The morning after breakfast we go to the island’s quay. From there, the route to the beautiful island of Hormuz begins. On this one-day tour, we visit the Crystal Valley, Rainbow Mountains, the Sculpture valley, Portuguese Castle and visit the Red clay mine of Hormuz. O/N 3* Hotel or Traditional Guest House

Chah kouh and Mangrove Forest One of the attractions of is the Chah Kouh Canyon, located at the westernmost point of the island, and is far from the center of Qeshm. So, first, we will go to Chah kouh Canyon, and then we will go to visit Salt Cave. (This attraction is not suitable for the elderly and people who walk hard). On the way back to Qeshm we may visit Mangrove Forest again (depends on the time). O/N Qeshm

Isfahan Walking Tour

Today we will go to Airport to Fly to Isfahan. In Isfahan, we will visit Jame Mosque of Isfahan*. After lunch, we go to visit the famous historical Bridges Si-o-Se Pol and Pol-e Khaju as a walking tour beside Zayande Rood. In the afternoon we can have some free time and fun. O/N Isfahan

In-Depth in Isfahan Today is Isfahan day. We go to visit Naqsh-e Jahan Square* (also known as Imam Square) that refers back to 500 years ago, Shah (Imam) Mosque*, Aliqapu Palace*, Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque*, Grand Bazaar, and Chehel Sotoon palace* which is known as the palace of fourthly columns and finally Vank Cathedral. O/N Isfahan

Missing Persia

From Isfahan, you will be transferred to IKA airport in Tehran for 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 guest houses. And also, in these places, sleeping equipment is traditional, comfortable Mattresses and Blankets. No Bed!  There is a guide assistant in addition to the tour guide for 16 pax and more.  The priority in sightseeing may be changed. It is due to the time of your arrival, your guide’s discretion, and official and unofficial holidays of some museums. Also, some activities in the itinerary may be changed depending on the weather conditions.  The best seasons to visit Qeshm are Autumn and Winter and Spring.

Services Included:  8 Nights Hotel or Traditional House Accommodation  All transfers and transportations (Private car for 2-3 pax. Suitable minibus for bigger groups).  Professional licensed guides and drivers  Meals: B&B  Refreshment (2 bottles of water/ fruits/ snacks per day)  Visa authorization code processing fee  2 Domestic Flights

Services Not Included:  International flights  Visa stamp/ label fee  Travel insurance  Any Private Expenses  Tips to local guides and drivers  Entrance Fees  Room Service Fees  Food Meals

Optional Services and Activities upon Request  Visiting Lenj (Local wooden ships) Workshop

 Local music, photography, Local snacks  Fishing  Harra (Mangrove) forest tour (Bird watching, Photography, Camping)  Traditional /Sportfishing  Naz islands journey with Jet Ski  Ritual ceremonies  Traditional cooking classes  Paragliding/ Bicycling/ Diving