Get news and travel information right in your inbox from Caravan-Serai Tours, Inc. and hear about all the new tours as they are posted!

Oct 7: Upon your arrival IKA, you will be met and assisted, then transferred to the Laleh Hotel to get some sleep. Overnight in Tehran.

Oct 8: After breakfast we will have a half day tour of Tehran. We will visit the Golestan Palace, and the former residence of the last Shah of Iran at Sa'ad-Abad Palace and Museum Complex and Overnight at the Laleh Hotel in Tehran.

Oct 9: Today after breakfast we will drive to Hamadan, then spend the rest of the day exploring Hamadan city to see the Ganj Nameh, Esther and Mordekhai tomb and Jewish Pilgrim center, Alavid 14th century dome, Avecina tomb and the Hegmataneh archaeological site of the Median Empire of the 6th century BC. Dinner and overnight in Hamadan at the Bu Ali Hotel.

Oct 10: This morning we will drive to Kermanshah, en-route visit Anahita Temple, which has been attributed to the ancient deity Anahita. Aredvi Sura Anahita is the Avestan language name of an Indo-Iranian cosmological figure, venerated as the divinity of 'the Waters' (Aban) and associated with fertility, healing and wisdom. Aredvi Sura Anahita is Ardwisur Anahid or Nahid in Middle- and Modern Persian, Anahit in Armenian. The Greek and Roman historians of classical antiquity refer to her either as Anaïtis or identified her with one of the divinities from their own pantheons. Continue on to Bisotun. Bisotun is located along the ancient trade route linking the Iranian high plateau with Mesopotamia and features remains from the prehistoric times to the Median, Achaemenid, Sassanian, and Ilkhanid periods. The principal monument of this archaeological site is the bas-relief and cuneiform inscription ordered by Darius I, The Great, when he rose to the throne of the Persian Empire, 521 BC. Our next stop will be at Tagh-e-Bostan to see the Sassanid rock carvings showing Khasrow II, dating from the 4th century AD. Continue to Kermanshah for dinner and overnight at the Parsian.

Oct 11: After breakfast we will drive to Ahwaz, en-route stopping at Pol-e-Dokhtar, to see the remains of the Sassanian Bridge. Continue on to the western city of Ahwaz for dinner and overnight at the Fajr Hotel.

Oct 12: This morning we depart for a full day excursion to Chogha Zanbil temple complex and ziggurat and then on to the Haft-Tappeh Museum. We will also visit the ancient site of Susa. Susa is one of the oldest-known settlements of the region and indeed the world, and the first traces of an inhabited village have been dated to approximately 7000 BCE. Evidence of a painted-pottery civilization has been dated to about 5000 BCE. In historic times, Susa was the primary capital of the Elamite Empire. We will visit the sites here including the Palace of Darius, known for the winged sphinx carvings. Continue to Shushtar where we will see the bazaar, mosque, caravanserais, and the historic falls. Return to Ahwaz for overnight at the Fajr Hotel.

Oct 13: In the morning we will depart for Shiraz with a stop at Bishopor on the way. Bishapor is another site dedicated to the deity Anahita. After visiting, continue on to Shiraz for dinner and overnight at the Homa Hotel.

Oct 14: Today we will have a full day city tour of Shiraz, the city of "roses and nightingales". Out tour will include the Tomb of Iran's greatest lyric poet, Hafez, followed by Narenjestan (a reception/residential house/garden), the pink-tiled Nasir-ol-Molk Mosque, the Eram Garden, and the very interesting nomads' bazaar of Shiraz. Dinner and overnight in Shiraz at the Homa Hotel.

Oct 15: After breakfast we depart for a full day excursion to Persepolis, the extensive remains of the palaces of the Achaemenid kings Darius I, Xerxes and Artaxerxes, and with magnificent bas-reliefs. After that we visit Naghsh-e-Rostam, site of an Achaemenid-period fire-temple and sanctuary, four Royal Tombs and eight Sassanian rock-reliefs including the impressive victory scene of Shapur I over Roman Emperor Valerian. Afterwards continue to Pasargadae for a visit. Pasargadae is the site of the simple, but impressive, tomb of Cyrus the Great (founder of the Persian Empire), and the remains of his palaces. After visiting the site return to Shiraz for dinner and overnight stay at the Homa Hotel.

Oct 16: After breakfast we depart for Yazd. We will have some stops along the way, and then when we arrive in Yazd we will have some sightseeing before dinner. Overnight in Yazd at the Moshir Garden Hotel.

Oct 17: Spend the morning visiting the Zoroastrian Fire Temple, the tombs perched atop the hill, the Friday Mosque and the Dowlat-abad in Yazd. Depart for Isfahan, stopping at the early Islamic period Dome Mosque in the city of Na'in and the Ethnological Desert Museum. Dinner and overnight at the Abassi Hotel in Isfahan.

Oct 18: After breakfast we depart for a tour of the beautiful city of Isfahan, the 17th century capital of the Safavids, referred to as Nesf-e-Jahan (Half of the World). Our tour will include a visit to the famous bridges of Shahrestan, Khajou, and Sio-se-pol, and the Armenian Quarter with several churches including the important Cathedral of Vank. In the afternoon we visit one of the world's grandest squares - the Maidan-e-Naghsh-e-Jahan. The Maidan is the location of the Ali-Qapu Palace with its magnificent architecture and tile-work. The palace has enchanting music rooms and a balcony overlooking the Maidan, from where the Safavid Kings watched polo games. Also on the square are two of the Islamic world's greatest mosques: the Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque and the Shah Mosque. Finish with a visit to the Qeisarieh Bazaar with hundreds of shops displaying the art and handicrafts for which Isfahan is world-famous. Dinner and overnight in Isfahan at the Abassi Hotel.

Oct 19: We will have another full day of sightseeing in Isfahan, including a visit to the magnificent Friday Mosque, with the famous Uljaitu Mihrab (Prayer Niche) of the Il-Khanid period, the Harun-e-Velayat Shrine and the Ali Minaret. We will also visit Chehel-Sotun (Forty Columns) Palace and Hasht-Behesht (Eight Paradise) Palace (from outside), both set in beautiful gardens/parks. Afterwards we will return to the Maidan and shops for another visit and shopping before returning to the hotel for dinner and overnight at the Abassi Hotel.

Oct 20: This morning we will depart very early to drive to Tehran. En-route you will have a brief stop over at the charming town of Natanz to visit a beautiful Islamic Complex which includes a Friday Mosque, Monastery, and the Tomb of Sheikh Abdol Samad Isfahani. Continue to Kashan for short visit to the historical garden of Fin which was first planted during the Safavid period and kept alive with water from the nearby Sulaimanieh Spring. This beautiful garden was expanded by the Zand and Qajar monarchs, with many open pavilions added. Continue on to Tehran. Check in to the Laleh Hotel for overnight.

Oct 21: We will have a full day of sightseeing in Tehran to visit several museums and monuments in the city. We will visit the National Museum (Archaeological), Abguineh Glass and Ceramics Museum, State Jewels Museum. On display at the State Jewels Museum is an impressive collection of some of the most famous and spectacular jewels in the world including many priceless pieces. Many pieces have disappeared over the years but the remaining collection of gemstones, jewelry, royal emblems, ornamental guns and jewel-encrusted furniture is still impressive. The majority of the items on display were given to Safavid kings as gifts but many pieces taken by Nader Shah on his conquest of India are also exhibited. These include the Darya-e Nur diamond, The Peacock Throne and the Jeweled Globe. Other pieces include the crowns of the Qajar and Pahlavi Kings. Dinner at the Laleh Hotel. Prepare for your late transfer to the airport around midnight or after.

Oct 22: Transfer to the airport after midnight for your departure flight.

End of services.

Single Supplement: $485

Included:

Hotels:
Tehran: Laleh Hotel
Hamadan: Bu Ali Hotel
Kermanshah: Parsian Hotel
Ahwaz: Fajr Hotel
Yazd: Moshir Garden
Shiraz: Homa Hotel
Isfahan: Abbasi Hotel