Join us on one of our popular tours of Iran! This itinerary takes us through the western region of Iran to visit Hamadan, (final resting place of Avicenna, the father of modern medical philosophy – he wrote The Book of Healing – a philosophical and scientific encyclopedia, and The Canon of Medicine – a medical encyclopedia), Kermanshah, a mountain city with gorgeous detailed Sassanian rock reliefs, Choga Zanbil, and Susa, an ancient city of the Elamite, Persian and Parthian empires of Iran. We will also visit Persepolis, and the sites of Shiraz, Isfahan, and Yazd before returning to Tehran.
Our groups are small – maximum of 12 people only, and we use only the most knowledgeable guides in the country. We know Iran and have been taking groups there for over 17 years, and we can show you the best it has to offer!
Price: $5445 per person, double occupancy, minimum 6 people, maximum 12 (Save $155 from 2018 prices!)
Welcome to Iran! On arrival you will be transferred to the hotel in Tehran for overnight. (Rooms are booked for evening arrival, if you arrive earlier you may be charged for an extra day at the hotel)
Drive to Hamadan and start sightseeing with visits to the Tomb of Esther and Mordecai, a major Jewish pilgrimage center, the 12th century Alavyan Tomb Tower, the Tomb of Avicenna (died in 1034), Iran’s celebrated philosopher/scientist/physician; finishing with a visit to Ganjnameh, the cuneiform inscriptions by Darius I, and his son Xerxes, carved on the mountain face near a wintertime ski resort. Overnight stay in Hamadan.
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.
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.
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.
Drive to Shiraz, en-route visit Bishapur, remains of the Sassanian city built by Shapur 1st (241-273 A.D.), the second Sassanian king. The building complex includes a central chamber, a large courtyard which had been covered with impressive mosaics, plus the remains of a temple dedicated to Anahita, the Goddess of Water and Fertility; on either side of a narrow gorge, there are also six Sassanian rock-reliefs at Tang-e-Chogan, commemorating Shapur’s victories over the Romans and other adversaries. Overnight in Shiraz.
Full day city tour of Shiraz to visit some of the famous gardens of this city of “roses and nightingales”, including the Eram Garden, the tomb of Iran’s greatest lyric poets, Hafez and Sa’adi; the pink tiled 19th-century Nasir-ol-Molk Mosque, the Arg-e-Karim Khan (18th-century citadel), the Madrassa Khan (Theological School), to have interaction with teachers and students, the Qajar-period Narenjestan Garden/House, the Vakil Bazaar of Shiraz (Bazaar is closed on Fridays), and the Holy Shrine of Shah-e-Cheragh (not open to non-Moslems and can only be seen from outside). Overnight in Shiraz.
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. After visiting the site return to Shiraz for dinner and overnight.
After breakfast we depart for Yazd. Our first stop along the way is the site of Pasargadae. 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. We will have some more stops along the way, and then when we arrive in Yazd we will have some sightseeing before dinner. Overnight in Yazd.
Half day visits in Yazd, the center for Iran’s small Zoroastrian community, to include the active Fire Temple, the fire of which has been burning for more than a thousand year; the Friday Mosque (1324 A.D.) with the highest portal and minarets in Iran, and walk through the old Fahadan area; and also visit the Dowlat-Abad Garden, with an 18th century hexagonal house; afternoon drive to Isfahan, en-route visit the charming desert town of Na’in, half way between Yazd and Isfahan, to visit the 10th century Friday Mosque, and the 17th century Pirnia House/Ethnographic Museum (closed on Mondays); with a walk through the old part of the town. Continue the drive to Isfahan for overnight.
Full day tour of the beautiful city of Isfahan, the 17th century capital of the Safavids, referred to as Nesf-e-Jahan (Half of the World) in Safavid sources, to visit the famous bridges of Shahrestan, Khajou, and Sio-se-pol, the Armenian Quarter with several churches, including the important Cathedral of Vank; in the afternoon visit one of the world’s grandest squares, the Maidan-e-Naghsh-e-Jahan, with several sites (the Ali-Qapu Palace with its enchanting music rooms and balcony overlooking the Maidan, from where the Safavid Kings watched polo games, and two of Islamic world’s greatest mosques – the Sheikh Lotfollah and the Imam – with magnificent architecture and tilework), finishing with a visit to the Qeisarieh Bazaar with hundreds of shops displaying the arts and handicrafts for which Isfahan is world-famous (Bazaar is closed on Fridays). Overnight in Isfahan.
Another full day sightseeing in Isfahan to include the magnificent Friday Mosque, with the famous Uljaitu Mihrab (Prayer Niche) of the Il-Khanid period. The Friday Mosque is considered a museum of a thousand years of Persian religious architecture and is truly one of the world’s greatest mosques. From here drive to the Chehel Sotun Palace, built by Shah Abbas II in the 17th century; its twenty wooden columns reflected in the surface of the pool give rise to its name ‘The Palace of Forty Columns’. Final stop of the day is at the Hasht Behesht pavilion built in 1670 by Shah Solayman and known as the Pavilion of Eight Paradises or the Palace of Nightingales. The small but intricate building is set among tree-lined alleys, a reflecting pool and water rills. Return to the Maidan for further visit to handicraft shops and bazaar. Overnight in Isfahan.
Morning drive to Tehran, en-route stop over at the charming town of Abyaneh, a historical village at the foot of Karkass mountain. You can see people in the traditional dress dating back centuries here. The village is also known for its use of red clay for construction and its adaptation to the slope of the mountain. After visiting the village continue on to Kashan to visit 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. You will also visit a fine example of a 19th century merchant residence known as Taba-Tabai House with its beautiful stucco dome and inlaid mirror work, with some of the best examples of existing “badgirs” (wind-catchers). Continue to Tehran and drive by the Mausoleum of Imam Khomeini. Transfer to the Hotel for dinner and overnight.
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), the Imam Khomeini Residence, and the Sa’ad Abad Palace Complex. Dinner at the hotel. Prepare for your late transfer to the airport around midnight or after.
Transfer to IKA airport for departure flight.
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Price: $5445 per person, double occupancy, minimum 6 people, maximum 12
Single Supplement: $965
Hotels to be used:
Please Note: When traveling to Iran, Caravan-Serai Tours and our partner in Iran are responsible for your actions while you are in Iran. In order to obtain the visas for our travelers, it is under condition that you will adhere to all the rules and laws pertaining to foreigners, particularly Americans, traveling in Iran. You are required to stay with the group/guide at all times. Transfers by our coordinator in Iran to and from the airport are required – no taxis are allowed. If you have any questions about this please call us. Thank you for your understanding.