Iran Encompassed 16 Oct 2016 - 11 Nov 2016 (27 days) Iran Encompassed 2016 2 Although it has earned quite a reputation for its politics, Iran is also one of the world’s most culturally diverse and interesting countries to visit; woven together to form a rich tapestry of religion, culture and heritage. At an astonishing 636,372 square miles (or 1,648,195 square kilometres) it is the Middle East’s second largest country and it stands to reason that it has a great deal to offer the intrepid traveller. Tour Highlights… Visit 18 out of the 19 UNESCO World Heritage Sites throughout the country. Explore 37 cities, towns and villages and interact with people who are famous for their exceptional hospitality. Experience the varied, diverse and ever-changing terrain of Iran from the ground level as we cover 3,000 miles in an overland loop. The remarkable museums and palaces of Tehran. The traditional villages and troglodytes such as: Masuleh, Rayen, Maybod, Na’in and Abyaneh. The Armenian church of St Stephanos and the turquoise mosque in Tabriz. The imposing Mausoleum of Öljeitü and the Sassanian watch towers, palaces and fire temples at Takht-e Soleyman. The temple of Anahita, Goddess of water and fertility, Kermanshah. The gardens of Shiraz, where Persia’s poets are celebrated. Classical sites of Persepolis and Pasargadae. The desert city of Yazd, with its evocative Zoroastrian and medieval sites. The UNESCO World Heritage city of Isfahan, center of the ‘renaissance’ Abbasid period. Visit to Shush (Shushan, the setting of the Biblical Book of Esther), and Susa (UNESCO) dating back to before 6,000 B.C. Visiting glittering shi’ite holy shrines and Imamzadehs. The opportunity to interact with a civilization which predates the Egyptians by 500 years, the Indians by 1,000 years, the Chinese by 2,000 years, the Greek by 3,000 years, and the Romans by 4,000 years. Tour at a glance… Tour Price US$6,950 Tour Size 12 participants & 1 Tour leader Day 1 Arrival in Tehran Day 2 Qazvin via Alamout Day 3 Zanjan via Soltanieh Day 4 Masuleh via Rasht Day 5 Bandar-e Anzali and Anzali Lagoon Day 6 Ardabil via Astara Iran Encompassed 2016 3 Day 7 Jolfa via Kaleybar Day 8 Tabriz via Maku Day 9 Tabriz and Kandovan Day 10 Takht-e Soleyman Day 11 Hamedan Day 12 Kermanshah via Kangavar Day 13 Ahvaz via Shushtar Day 14 Susa via Chogha Zanbil Day 15 Shiraz via Bishapur Day 16 Pasargadae via Persepolis and Naqhsh-e Rostam Day 17 Shiraz Day 18 Kerman via Meymand Day 19 Kerman, Arg-e-Bam, Rayen and Mahan Day 20 & 21 Kerman and Yazd Day 22 to 24 Isfahan via Meybod and Na’in Day 25 Kashan via Natanz and Abyaneh Day 26 & 27 Tehran for departure via Qom Tour in detail… Day 1: Arrival in Tehran We will arrive at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport in the early hours of the morning. Later in the day, after checking into our hotel and resting, we will visit the Golestan Palace/Museum Complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the former residence of the 19th century/early 20th century Qajar Kings of Iran, with several palaces including the Marble Throne Room, Shams-ol-Emareh (Sun Palace) and the Ethnographic Museum. We will also visit the Grand Bazaar of Tehran, which is located in southern Tehran. It is comprised of a myriad of corridors which span over 10km in length. In the afternoon we visit the fabulous Treasury of National Jewels, also known as Crown’s Jewels Museum, housed in the vaults of the Central Bank of Iran, displaying the most dazzling and priceless collection of jewels and gems in the world. Time Iran Encompassed 2016 4 permitting, we will also visit the Abguineh Glass and Ceramics Museum, which is impressive not only for its exhibits but for the building itself. Built as a private residence for a prominent Persian family, it later housed the Egyptian Embassy. Day 2: Qazvin via Alamout The day starts with an early morning departure to Qazvin where we will divert to the Valley of Alamut (the so-called Valley of the Assassins) to visit the remains of Qaleh (Fort) of Hassan-e- Sabah, referred to as “The Old Man of the Mountains”, and the Leader of the Isma’ilis, at Gazor- Khan, which entails climbing the some one hundred steps. Although the castles are mostly in ruins, it is pleasant to walk among the beautiful mountain scenery. We will return to the main road and continue to Qazvin where we will spend the night. Day 3: Zanjan via Soltanieh We will start our day in Qazvin where we will be visiting Friday Mosque and the Shahzadeh Hossein Shrine before driving to Soltanieh, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where we will visit the magnificent tomb of Uljaitue, the Ilkhanid Ruler of Iran, before heading on to Zanjan for the night. Iran Encompassed 2016 5 Day 4: Masuleh via Rasht Today we will drive to Rasht, the center of Guilan Province, via the spectacular mountainous roads of northwestern Iran. We will explore the city of Rasht and visit the Rasht Rural Museum and continue to the traditional village of Masuleh, which is one of the oldest and longest inhabited villages in Iran, and declared as a heritage site by the Iranian Cultural Heritage Organization. Masuleh, which is over 3000 feet in altitude in the mountains above the Caspian Sea, is a fascinating and unusual village that is built right into the slope of a mountain and has a unique, purpose-built architectural style where the front yard of each of the houses on the incline is actually the roof of the house below it. The buildings are so tightly packed that there is only room for a maze-like network of stairs and narrow roads connecting each of the structures. In fact, automobiles are not allowed in Masouleh simply because there is no room for them! Day 5: Bandar-e Anzali and Anzali Lagoon In the morning, we drive to Bandar-e Anzali, which has a slightly different atmosphere to other Iranian cities. It has had a strong influence resulting from its trade with Russia over the years and has been an important port city for some time with an eclectic mixed population of Russians, Armenians, Caucasians, and Turkmen on the Caspian Sea. We will visit the interesting local markets and take a boat ride on the Anzali Lagoon, which is home to both the Selke Wildlife Refuge and the Siahkesheem Marsh and is an excellent spot for birding. Iran Encompassed 2016 6 Day 6: Ardabil via Astara We will set off on a morning drive through spectacular scenery of forest-covered mountains via Astara and Heyran Pass, visiting the city of Astara and continuing on to Ardabil, which is now a province in its own right, owing its fame to the monumental mausoleum of the great Sufi leader and the ancestor of Safavid Kings, Sheikh-Saffi-eddin Ardebili, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Day 7: Jolfa via Kaleybar Early in the morning, we drive to Jolfa through Kaleybar County to visit the fortress of Babak Khorramdin, one of the main Persian revolutionary leaders of the “Khorram- Dinān”, which was a local freedom movement fighting the Abbasid Caliphate. We continue to Jolfa to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of St. Stephanos Church, Iran Encompassed 2016 7 which is one of the oldest and most beautiful Armenian churches in the area (10-12 century A.D). The church, which is named after St Stephanos, one of the first Christian martyrs, is located in the green valley of Darreh Sham, some 15km west of the city of Jolfa. A thick, tall wall made of stone, with seven watchtowers provided a good protection for the church. On the facade of the church one can see depictions of Mary and Jesus, as well as angels and apostles beautifully carved on stone. Day 8: Tabriz via Maku Starting with an early morning drive to Maku, we visit the Church of Saint Thaddeus, also known as Qara Klisa or the Black Church, located about 20km south of Maku. It is one of the oldest churches in Christendom, and holds a special meaning for Iran’s Armenian minority who gather there every year in July for the feast of Saint Thaddeus, the early Christian apostle who was martyred there. The original building is constructed of black and white stone and dates back to about 10th century A.D. Later we will continue to Tabriz for the night. Day 9: Tabriz and Kandovan We will begin the day sightseeing in Tabriz with a visit to the Blue Mosque, known as the Turquoise of Islam, and the Azerbaijan Museum, which displays a fine collection of pre- historic and historic artifacts found in the area, and drive by the 13th century Arg-e Alishah, which was originally a magnificent Friday Mosque, but turned into a Iran Encompassed 2016 8 fortress in the 19th century. In the afternoon we will drive to the intriguing troglodyte village of Kandovan, up in Mt Sahand, a volcanic mountain. In Kandovan people have carved their homes in the rocks and still live in them as in ancient times. Day 10 Takht-e Soleyman The day begins with an early morning drive to Takht-e Soleyman, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which is located in a broad and remote mountain valley near Takab. Dating back to the Sassanid period, the fire temple Azar Goshasp was constructed alongside the artesian lake and is one of the greatest sanctuaries of Zoroastrianism (one of the world’s oldest religions) bringing together two of the elements of fire and water.