Iran Ancient Tour 14 Days Available from: January 1, 2019 To December 31, 2019 Tour Destinations: Tehran to Tehran Duration: 14Days Tour styles: Style Cultural Historical Code: PIAT-S Tour route: Tehran Kerman Mahan Shahdad Yazd Shiraz Isfahan Kashan Tehran Tailor made Tour highlights Get acquainted with the history of ancient Iran at the great Iran National Museum, walk along the traditional bazaars and enjoy its oriental atmosphere, learn about the glory of the Achaemenid Empire art in Persepolis and Necropolis, travel in time and visit Safavid legacies of Isfahan like the fancy Ali Qapu Palace and Chehel Sotoun Palace, enjoy the Persian architecture by wandering through the historical cities of Kashan and Yazd. What you need to know about this tour Discover the ancient heritages of Iran from the earliest civilizations like the glorious Persepolis and necropolis besides the cultural and architectural masterpieces of Islamic dynasties including traditional bazaars, awe-inspiring mosques and meet the hospitable Iranians in Tehran, Kerman, Yazd, Shiraz, Isfahan, and Kashan on our 14-day Iran Ancient Tour What is Included 13 nights accommodation at hotel Private vehicle Professional English speaking guide Arrival and departure airport transfers Visa service Tour accommodations: Nights stay in Hotel in Tehran, Nights stay in Hotel in Kerman, Night stay in Hotel in Yazd, Nights stay in Hotel in Shiraz, Nights stay in Hotel in Isfahan, Night stay in Hotel in Kashan Tour Meals: 13 Breakfasts, 1 Dinner Day 1: Arrival Day Welcome to Iran, the land of Persian history and culture. Your 14-day Iran trip will start from Tehran, the chaotic and modern capital of Iran with 14 million residents. You will be transferred from the IKA Airport to your hotel, meet your guide, take a rest and prepare for the Iran adventure ahead. If you have enough time, you can explore some city attractions like the Carpet Museum or the Iranian Artists Forum. Included Excursions None Optional Excursions Iranian Artists Forum Carpet Museum Accommodation: Hotel in Tehran Day 2: Tehran city tour Start your Tehran city tour by visiting the lavish Golestan Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site which was the seat of the Qajar dynasty. It displays a combination of traditional Iranian and western architecture. Then walk along the labyrinth of Tehran Grand Bazaar and take a rest at a local restaurant or tea house. In the afternoon head to the Iran National Museum to view the historical masterpieces from pre historic and ancient times. In the evening you will be transferred to Mehrabad Airport to fly to Kermran, located in east of Iran (Flight: 1 hour and 10 minutes). Included Excursions Golestan Palace Tehran Grand Bazaar Iran National Museum Accommodation: Hotel in Kerman Tour Meals: Breakfast Day 3: Rayen and Mahan Kerman is a historical city and the center of the Kerman province. It has a semi desert climate, with a diverse nature and a very rich culture and history. Early in the morning, hit the road and drive 106 kilometers to Rayen Castle, inhabited since Sassanid Era until 150 years ago! On the way back to Kerman, you will stop in Mahan and enjoy the atmospheric holy shrine of Shah Nematollah Vali, a Sufi Master and poet during the 14th and 15th century. Then visit the Shazdeh Garden (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and be amazed by the beauty of this lush garden constructed in the heart of barrennes and desolation. Arriving in Kerman, you will visit Kerman Jame Mosque and the Jabalieh Dome. Included Excursions Rayen Castle Shah Nematollah Holy Shrine Shazdeh Garden Kerman Jame Mosque Jabalieh Dome Accommodation: Hotel in Kerman Tour Meals: Breakfast Day 4: Shahdad Desert adventure Explore the Shahdad Desert (96 km), a part of Lout desert protected by UNESCO as a world natural heritage site. Be amazed by the surreal splendor of this desert, its famous Kalout sand formations and silence. You will drive back to Kerman in the afternoon and explore the historical Ganj Ali khan Complex, including the bathhouse, bazaar, mint and the caravanserai. Included Excursions Shahdad Desert Ganj Ali Khan Complex (the bathhouse, bazaar, mint and the caravanserai) Accommodation: Hotel in Kerman Tour Meals: Breakfast Day 5: Kerman to Yazd After a late breakfast drive towards Yazd (366 km) and the attractions awaiting you in this historical city known as the city of sunshine and wind catchers. The narrow lanes (Kucheh), arches, mud brick houses and wind catcher towers, functioning as air-conditioners in desert climate are what you'll see in the old quarter of Yazd, which is a UNESCO world heritage site. Your city tour today includes visiting the Zoroastrian Fire Temple, the Tower of Silence and the Yazd Jame Mosque. Included Excursions Yazd old city walking tour Zoroastrian Tower of Silence Fire Temple Yazd Jame Mosque Accommodation: Hotel in Yazd Tour Meals: Breakfast Day 6: Yazd to Shiraz Leave Yazd and drive toward Shiraz (440 km). En route you will visit the glorious UNESCO world heritage site, Pasargadae (the tomb of Cyrus, the great Achaemenid king and the founder of the Persian Empire). Arrive in Shiraz in the afternoon and enjoy a Persian home cooked meal with a local family. Included Excursions Pasargadae Accommodation: Hotel in Shiraz Tour Meals: Breakfast Dinner Day 7: The Achaemenid Day Drive for 60 kilometers to visit the ancient city of Persepolis founded by Darius the great in 518 B.C., to host the unforgettable Nowruz ceremony. The UNESCO listed Persepolis, with its masterly bass reliefs, palaces and high columns, is considered as one of the most exquisite legacies of the ancient world. Afterwards visit the Necropolis, located a few kilometers from Persepolis. This is a collection of Achaemenid kings’ rock tombs and Sassanid bass reliefs telling heroic stories about kings. Drive back to Shiraz and enjoy a free afternoon in the city of roses and nightingales. Included Excursions Persepolis Necropolis Accommodation: Hotel in Shiraz Tour Meals: Breakfast Day 8: Shiraz city tour Shiraz is the city of poetry, cypress trees, gardens and charming mansions with colorful tile-work. In the morning we first visit the Nasir Al Molk Mosque, known for its pink tile-work and colorful stained glass reflections. Venture through Shiraz's old quarter and view the Naranjestan Palace (The Orange Garden) and walk through the Vakil Bazaar, the beating heart of Shiraz. In the afternoon visit the Eram Garden, which is one of the nine Persian Gardens protected by UNESCO. Finish your Shiraz city tour by visiting the Tomb of Hafez, the great Iranian poet and hearing some of his impressive poems. Included Excursions Nasir al Molk Mosque Naranjestan Palace Vakil Bazaar Eram Garden Hafez Tomb Accommodation: Hotel in Shiraz Tour Meals: Breakfast Day 9: Shiraz to Isfahan Start your road trip to Isfahan (489 km). On the way stop at the historical city of Izadkhast and visit its Sassanid fortress located over a massive rock and the Safavid caravanserai. After your check in at the hotel in Isfahan and taking a short rest, explore Khaju and Si o Se Pol Bridges, where you can meet the locals of Isfahan, who gather here every evening and sing old Persian songs. These two bridges crossing over the Zayandeh River date back to the Safavid Dynasty. Included Excursions Izadkhast Sassanid fortress and Safavid caravanserai Khaju and Si o Se Pol Bridges Accommodation: Hotel in Isfahan Tour Meals: Breakfast Day 10: The Safavid Day Today, enjoy an Isfahan city tour and admire the fantastic heritages of the Safavaid Dynasty, constructed during the 16th and 17th centuries, when Shah Abbas ruled Iran and Isfahan was one of the most impressive cities in the whole world. First, explore the royal Ali Qapu Palace, its music hall, wall paintings and balconies which faced Naqsh-e Jahan, where the Safavid kings used to sit and watch polo games. Continue your Safavid trip and visit the two mosques around this square, Sheikh Lotfollah and Imam Mosques, and learn about Islamic architecture during the Safavid time. Then walk through the bazaar and get familiar with handicrafts of this city. Isfahan was honored as a world city of handicrafts by the World Crafts Council in 2015. Finish your day by viweing the Chehel Sotun Garden and Palace, a UNESCO listed garden with fascinating wall paintings inside its pavilion. Included Excursions Naqsh-e Jahan Square Ali Qapu Palace Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque Jame Imam Mosque Isfahan Bazaar Chehel Sotun Palace Accommodation: Hotel in Isfahan Tour Meals: Breakfast Day 11: Isfahan city tour In the morning visit the Jame Mosque of Isfahan (Masjed-e Jame of Isfahan). This graceful UNESCO world heritage site displays the evolution of architecture over 12 centuries and the first example of a four-Ivan layout in Iranian mosques. Then travel to New Julfa, the Armenian quarter of Isfahan and visit the Vank Church. In the afternoon visit the Safavid Hasht Behesht Palace and its pavilion. Included Excursions Isfahan Jame Mosque New Julfa, the Armenian quarter Vank Church Hasht Behesht Palace Accommodation: Hotel in Isfahan Tour Meals: Breakfast Day 12: Isfahan to Kashan Drive to Kashan (218 km). Stop in the magnificent Abyaneh village and enjoy its weather, hospitable locals and the scenic landscape of reddish mud brick houses located on the slopes of the Karkas Mountains hills. In Kashan, visit the UNESCO protected Fin Garden, then explore the Tabatabai historical house and admire the architectural ornaments of the Persian house, walk through Kashan bazaar, one of the most thriving bazaars in Iranian history. Included Excursions Abyaneh Village walking tour Fin Garden Tabatabai historical house Kashan Bazaar Accommodation: Hotel in Kashan Tour Meals: Breakfast Day 13: Kashan to Tehran In the morning say farewell to the exquisite Kashan and drive back to Tehran.