1 Tehran
Arrival at Tehran airport, transfer to hotel & rest. O/N Tehran.
2 Tehran
- Qazvin
Morning drive toward Qazvin. Near Qazvin, in Alamut Valley climb Alamut, visit
ruins of Hasan Sabah castle, a sacred full mountain fort which was residential
from end of 11 to the middle of 13 century by a community of
nationalist named Assassins. Then continue to Qazvin, O/N Qazvin.
3 Qazvin
- Lahijan -Rasht
Qazvin, a
1000-year-old city, was once the capital of Iran .After breakfast we will
visit Friday Mosque with the largest ‘Mihrab’ of any mosque in
Iran, Shrine of Shahzadeh Hossein, a Muslim saint, Heydarieh Theological
School, darb-é Kushk (the city old entrance gate) ,Ali Qapu & Chel Sotoun
of Qazvin converted to a museum. Then drive to Rasht; en route we will
visit traditional Caspian houses, Chahar Oleya (4 Guardians) mosque
and mausoleum of Sheikh Zahed in Lahijan. O/N Rash.
4
Rasht - Masuleh - Astara
Morning drive toward the mountain village of Masuleh with yellow-clay external
façade of the houses. In fact this 1000-year-old village resembles an
anthropological and architectural museum. Then continue to Astara, a
border city. En route enjoy watching tea farms and traditional houses of
local residents. O/N Astara.
5 Astar-
Heyran Pass- Ardebil - Shurabil Lake - Sarein
After breakfast drive toward Ardebil. The route winds its way up along a river
to top of mountains, passing through steep gorges named Heyran pass.
In Ardebil we will visit Sheikh Safi -Ad-Din (the great Sufi)
mausoleum with dome of Allah Allah (about 56 feet high) above the resting
place, Ardebil bazaar composed of all elements formed a traditional bazaar like
small shops, aisles, public bath and a mosque in the centre. Continue
to Shurabil Lake, have a stop there for photo opportunity. Then drive
toward Sarein. O/N Sarein.
6 Sarein
- Lahrood- Meshkin Shahr- Ahar- Tabriz
Sarein is a Spa region with numerous hot mineral springs of various
temperatures known for their therapeutic values. Drive to Tabriz. En route
you’ll pass through Lahroud, Meshkin Shahr and Ahar (well known for
carpet). Tabriz was the capital of Armenia. There we will visit the 13th
century blue mosque (Masjede Kaboud) and El Goli, a pleasant hillside
garden around an artificial lake. O/N Tabriz.
7 Tabriz-Maku
Drive to Maku valley at the very NW of Iran. There we will view the Baqcheh Jug
Palace and the 1000-year-old Ghare Kelisa (black Church) which is the graveyard
of Saint Thaddeus located at the foot of a hill. Black and white stones
were applied in its construction. O/N Tabriz.
8
Tabriz - Kandovan
In the morning drive toward Kandovan Village, a living example of human
adaptation to exceptionally unusual natural surroundings. Historians have
recently quoted specific geographical references as evidence that links the
surrounding area of Kandovan with the Garden of Eden. O/N Tabriz.
9
Tabriz-Maragheh-Takab Drive to Takab, en
route we will visit Blue & Red domes of Maragheh and Ghaffariyeh
dome. One of UNESCO’s world heritages is in Takab named Takhteh-e Suleiman
(Throne of Salomon) built around a small lake about 3rd century AD. There are
remains of buildings from various periods. O/N Takab.
10
Takab- Hamedan
Drive to Hamedan , en route we will visit in Sultanieh (means town of
Sultans) , The 700-year -old Sultanieh dome, the great
mausoleum of a Mongol Sultan, the third highest dome in the world (
after Blue Mosque in Istanbul and St Paul’s in London). O/N Hamedan.
11
Hamedan - Kangavar - Bisotun- Kermanshah
We will visit Ester & Mordkhay tombs (Jewish holy shrine),
Alaviyan dome, Hegmataneh hill and Achamenian Ganjnameh (Treasure Inventory),
a lengthy inscription in cuneiform script carved on face of two rocks in
the mountain. Then drive to Kermanshah, en route we will visit Anahita
temple in Kangavar, built in honor of the female guardian of waters. Continue
to Bisotun which can be called a living museum of the Iranian civilization from
ancient time to present with the biggest Cuneiform inscription (tablet of
Darius I), where you also visit the stone statue of Hercules in the mountain.
O/N Kermanshah.
12
Kermanshah-Andimeshk
According to historical documents Kermanshah has been an important center.
There we will visit Taq-e Boston and a group of rock sculpture shows scenes of
battles and hunts. Drive southward to Andimeshk. O/N Andimeshk.
13
Andimeshk - Shush - Choghazanbil- Shushtar- Ahwaz
Drive to Ahwaz ,en route we will visit Tomb of Prophet Daniel,
Acropolis , Darius Palace (Apadana) and a museum in Shush. Continue to
Choghazanbil, one of the oldest Ziggurats in the world, then we will visit
Friday mosque in Shushtar. O/N Ahwaz.
14
Ahwaz - Bishapour - Shiraz
Early morning drives toward Fars province. En route we will visit Bishapour, an
ancient city in heart of history, built as the commemoration of Persian
Victory in Persian-Roman war. Continue to Shiraz. O/N Shiraz.
15 Shiraz
– Firuzabad- Shiraz
Drive to Firuzabad , en route you’ll see and enjoy Nomad Tents live along
the plains (If at the season) you may get off, sit and drink tea
with them. Then we will visit Sassanid Palace (224-642 AD) in Firuzabad
With an area of 11 thousands sq m. it is one of the biggest monuments left from
the dynasty. O/N Shiraz.
16 Shiraz
We will visit Eram and Naranjestan Gardens, Nasir-ol-Molk Mosque, Khan
Theological School, Hafez (or Saadi) mausoleum , Vakil complex and the
most astonishing mirror decoration of Aliebnehamze Holy Shrine. O/N
Shiraz.
17 Shiraz-Persepolis-
Necropolis-Pasargad - Isfahan
Drive to Isfahan , en route we will visit Quran gate, Persepolis (a temple
palace made by free workers not slaves in 500 BC) , Necropolis (tombs of
Achamenian kings) and Pasargad , tomb of Cyrus the great which was the
Achamenian center. Continue to Isfahan. O/N Isfahan.
18 Isfahan
In the morning we will visit Imam
square, the huge open square in center of Isfahan with four monuments at
four sides including Imam mosque covered inside and outside with intricate
turquoise tiles, The smaller Sheikh Lotfollah mosque contains some of the
best mosaics from 17th century, Ali Ghapoo Palace which was the first
skyscraper in Iran and Isfahan bazaar where we can visit the workshop of
artists who paint miniature sometimes on bone. In the afternoon, we will
visit Si-o-Se Pol (thirty three) and khajoo bridges over
zayanderud, relax in one of the traditional tea houses, drink tea and smoke
Persian water pipe. O/N Isfahan.
19 Isfahan
We will visit Armenian quarter of Jolfa, Vank cathedral, Friday mosque, Shaking
Minarets and Chehel Sotoun known as forty column palace with its exquisite wall
painting.O/N Isfahan.
20
Isfahan- Abyane Drive to Abyane, an
ancient fascinating village with its colorfully dressed inhabitants and
mud brick houses, where little has changed for several centuries. En route we
will visit Natanz Friday Mosque. O/N Abyane.
21
Abyane- Kashan- Tehran Drive to Tehran, en
route we will visit Fin complex in Kashan, a city well known for carpet. O/N
Tehran.
22
Tehran
We will visit Archaeological & Islamic Art Museum, the finest
museum in Iran where we will view a collection of ancient Persian
civilization, Niavaran palace set in fifty hectares of gardens with
four separate museums, jewelry museum and Jamshidiyeh park. O/N Tehran.
23 Tehran
Transfer to Tehran Intl. airport for your return flight.
