Day 1 Arrive in Tehran, be met and transfer to the hotel for welcome breakfast. The rest of the morning is at your leisure. After lunch, enjoy a city tour including the Arg (citadel). Dinner will be at a traditional local restaurant. Overnight in Tehran.

Day 2 After breakfast, continue your explorations of Tehran, which was made the capital in the late 18th century by Agha Mohammad Khan, founder of the Qajar Dynasty. Visit the Carpet Museum to see the history of the famous Persian carpets, and the superb Archaeology Museum. After lunch, tour the National Jewels Museum where you can see breath-taking jeweled pieces used by the Afsharieh, Qajar, and Pahlavi Kings. Dinner and overnight in Tehran.

Day 3 This morning go to the Golestan Palace, built by Fath-Ali Shah, successor to the Agha Khan. Continue to the Grand Bazaar, center of Iranian culture and a truly Persian experience! The afternoon is at your leisure. In the late afternoon, fly to the second largest city, Mashad in the northwest, Islam's holiest city in Iran. The Shi'ite Muslims revere the Imam Reza, 8th Imam. It is believed that he was murdered in Mashad, "Place of Martyrdom", in 818AD. In the evening see the Holy Shrine of Imam Reza. Dinner and overnight at the Homa Hotel, Mashad.

Day 4 Spend the day exploring this Persian segment of the Silk Road. Farsi, the Persian language, was developed here and this area is noted for its poets, writers and scholars. Visit Neishabour where two famous poets, Omar Khayam and Attar, are entombed.

Day 5 This morning, our bus takes us to Tus to visit the tomb of Fedowsi, author of the Shahnameh, "The Book of Kings." This afternoon, fly to the glorious, turquoise-tiled city of Isfahan. Check into the hotel for a short rest, and in the evening begin our city tour. Dinner and overnight at the Hotel Abbasi in Isfahan.

Day 6 A full day of exploring fabled Isfahan reconstructed in the 17th century by Shah Abbas the Great, founder of the Safavid Dynasty, who moved his capital here from Qazvin. Start at the Naghsh-e-Jahan Square, the city center, framed by arches and notable Islamic architecture, including the Shah and Ladies' mosques and the Ali Quapu Palace. The oldest and most exotic bazaar is here where you can buy such famous Persian souvenirs as carpets, tiles and miniature paintings. See the Shaking Minarets and Jolfa's Vank Cathedral of the Armenians reflecting the period's imperial style. Dinner and overnight at the Hotel Abbasi in Isfahan.

Day 7 This morning at leisure to relax or visit the bazaars. This afternoon, fly to Shiraz, in Fars Province, once King Ardashir of the Sassanids' capital. Dinner and overnight at the Hotel Homa.

Day 8 Today we will visit Persepolis. Construction of this vast city was begun in 522BC by Darius I, the great Achaemenian king, and continued by Xerxes and Artaxerxes. The splendor of this great city is still evident today. Burned to the ground by Alexander of Macedon in 330BC, this impressive archaeological site reflects the whole of the ancient world. Dinner and overnight in Shiraz.

Day 9 After breakfast, enjoy a half day tour to the Tombs of the great poets, Hafez and Saadi, the old Vakil Mosque and the Shiraz bazaar. The afternoon is at your leisure. Dinner and overnight in Shiraz.

Day 10 Passing by ancient caravan-serais and crumbling fortifications which housed and protected caravans on the Silk Road, we head to Kerman, which for centuries was an important trading crossroads. Famous for its magnificent carpets, textiles, and dates, Kerman was rebuilt in the early 1800's by Ebrahim Khan, Governor. Stroll through the bazaar that includes a beautiful Islamic school or "Madrasseh" built around a lovely garden courtyard. Dinner and overnight in Kerman at the Pars hotel.

Day 11 Our expedition goes touring through the environs of Kerman. We will stop in Mahan to visit the tomb of Shah Nematollah Vali who died in 1431AD, founder of a dervish order. This tomb was enhanced by his followers and is crowned by a brilliant turquoise dome as well as a tiled courtyard. Meander through the magnificent Bagh-e-Shazdeh (Prince's) Garden with its highly decorated pavilion. Dinner and overnight in Kerman at the Pars Hotel.

Day 12 In the morning, continue our exploration of Kerman, visiting the Grand Bazaar, the Ganjalikhan Complex and the Jamee Mosque, built by the Seljuks. After lunch, we go to Yazd where Marco Polo visited in 1272AD describing it as "a noble city, where honesty and hard work remain undiminished." The badgirs or wind-catchers are highly developed here. This is the center for the remaining Zoroastrian community, and you can see their fire temples. Dinner and overnight in Yazd at the Azadi Hotel.

Day 13 Today enjoy a half-day tour including the nearby Ire Temple and the Mirror Palace. This afternoon, fly to Tehran.

Day 14 After breakfast today, take a day trip to the Mount Damavand Region, or local cottage country. Enjoy the outdoors then return to Tehran for dinner and overnight.

Day 15 Your last day in Tehran is at leisure to enjoy the museums or last minute shopping in the bazaars. Dinner and overnight at The Laleh Hotel.