18 Days in Iran

Notice; Most of international flights arrive midnight to Iran, so this night is in fact the first night for your hotel reservation, but you will have your room booked for your mid-night arrival. If your flight arrival is during the day we will set the hotel reservation and the itinerary base on the arrival time.

Arrival mid-night in Imam Khomeini Int. Airport. Greeting in the airport by your guide and transfer to Hotel. Check in and rest.

City tour in Tehran. Visiting Golestan palace (registered by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 2013) include Wind Catcher Edifice, Mirror Hall.

Short walk around the great bazaar of Tehran.

Visiting the National Jewels Museum ( The museum of National Jewels is one of the biggest jewels collections of the world. The Jewels of many Persian kings are there)

Driving to Zanjan, En route Visiting the Soltaniye Dome (registered by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 2005) built in the 14th century as the Mausoleum of Oljayto, the Mongol king, also known as Sultan Muhammad Khodabandeh.

The Soltaniye Dome with 25m in diameter and 48m high is the world’s tallest brick dome. Constructed from 1302 to 1312 AD, has the oldest double-shell dome in Iran.

Soltaniye was built by Ilkhanid Mongols as their capital from 1302. Unfortunately less than a century later the city was destroyed by Tamerlane but fortunately the world’s tallest brick dome that was built as the mausoleum of the Mongol king, Sultan Oljeito survived from the destructions.

Driving to Tabriz.

Tabriz is Iran’s 5th largest city and the capital of East Azerbaijan Province .It is one of the most important historical and industrial cities of Iran. It is the largest Turkish speaking city of Iran and the capital of East Azerbaijan Province. It was the second largest city in Iran until the late 1960s, one of its former capitals, and residence of the crown prince under the Qajar dynasty. City tour in Tabriz, visiting beautiful Qajar era Elgoli park and mansion.

City tour in Tabriz, Visiting Azerbaijan Museum and the Blue Mosque built in the 15th century, walking in the longest roofed bazaar of the world (registered by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 2010).

Driving to Sanandaj. Visiting Sanandaj Bazaar

If you want to see the Iranian Kurds’ culture and life, Kurdistan province is a good example of it and Sanandaj is the capital of it. There are about 6 million Kurds leaving in Iran and Kurdistan province has a lot to offer about the Kurds culture and history.

Driving to Kermanshah.

visiting Taghe Bostan bas reliefs.

Taghe Bostan (means the Arch of Bostan) is an arched cliff inscribed with neatly carved Sassanian kings’ bas-reliefs and a 19th century Qajari bas-relief showing a complete ceremony of hunting in 1822. The coronation of Khosrow II (590-628 AD) and his figure carved on the horse in full armor, king Shapur II (ruled 309-379 AD) and Shapur III(ruled 383-388AD) standing in front of each other with their swords and king Ardashir II(ruled 379-383AD) trampling on the defeated Roman Emperor Julian the Apostate, are the Sassanian bas reliefs in Taghe Bostan.

Driving to Khorram Abad, en route visiting Bisotun Inscription (registered by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 2006).

Bisotun cuneiform inscription is the first and the largest and historically the most informative and important inscription of the ancient world in Iran, in which Darius the great(ruled 522-486BC) explains all the details of the events after Cyrus and his son, cambyses , and how he became the King of Persia. More attractions in Bisotun area are the statue of the Greek mythical Hercules, Bisotun Lake and a Safavid Caravanserai.

Driving to Ahwaz, en route visiting Susa and the World Heritage Site, Ziggurat of Choghazanbil (registered by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1979)

From Ahwaz to Khorram Abad is about 400km, and Susa (Shush) is located between them.

(A new beautiful scenery highway is built between Khorram Abad and Ahwaz)

Driving to Shiraz, en route visiting Bishapur and the Sassanian bas reliefs in Tange Chowgan (Polo Gorge)

From Ahwaz to Shiraz is about 570km. Bishapur is located about 130km west of Shiraz.

Bishapur was built by the Romans taken captive after their Emperor Valerian was defeated in 260 AD by Shapur (ruled 241-271AD).

Shiraz is known as the city of flower and nightingale, the city of poets and roses and it is titled as the cultural capital of Iran.

Visiting Nasir Almolk’s Mosque Naranjestan Garden, Saadi’s Tomb, Hafez’ Tomb and Eram Garden (registered by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in the list of Persian Gardens in 2011) visiting the Shrine of Ali-Ebne Hamze and Shahcheragh Shrine.

Visiting Zand Complex, include Karim Khan’s Citadel, Vakil Mosque, Vakil Bazaar (The traditional Bazaar of Shiraz

Zand Complex was built by King Karim Khan (Vakil), in the middle of the 18th century when Shiraz was the capital of Iran.

Visiting Persepolis (registered by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1979), visiting Necropolis (Nagshe Rostam)

It is about 1hour driving (60 km) from Shiraz to Persepolis. Necropolis is 5 km far from Persepolis.

The tombs of Persian kings and the bas reliefs of Sassanian kings are in Necropolis.

Driving to Yazd, en route visiting Pasargadae the tomb of Cyrus the great. What amazes you in Yazd is the general mud-brick view of the city and thousands of wind-catchers on top of the city. Yazd located on silk road, is one of the best examples of Persian culture and oriental atmosphere.

Evening tour in Yazd, Visiting Amir Chakhmaq’s Square

Full day city tour in Yazd. Visiting Old City, Jame Mosque, Water Museum, Dowlat Abad Garden (registered by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in the list of Persian Gardens in 2011) , Zoroastrian’s fire temple

Driving to Esfahan. En route visiting Meybod to see the beautiful Savafid Caravanserai and the Post Museum and to see how Iranians were able to survive in the heat of the desert by Ice Storage buildings and Water Reservoirs.

At night Walking along Zayande Rood river and watching the impressive Siosepol and Khaju Bridge, built in the 17th century by the Safavid kings in Esfahan. Walking and Talking with locals and enjoying the amazing social atmosphere of Esfahan with local people around the historical bridges of Esfahan.

Full day city tour in Esfahan. Visiting Imam Square (registered by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1979), include Shah Abbas’ Mosque, Sheikh Lotfollah’s Mosque, Ali Qapu Palace and traditional bazaar of Esfahan. Visiting Chehel-Sotun (40Columns) Palace (registered by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in the list of Persian Gardens in 2011)

Full day city tour in Esfahan. Visiting the impressive Jame Mosque (At more than 20000 sq. meters it is the biggest historical mosque in Iran) registered by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 2012.

Visiting the Vank Cathedral in the Armenian quarter of Esfahan in Jolfa (Built between 1606 and 1655 with the help of the Safavid kings)

Driving to Kashan, visiting Fin Garden in Kashan (registered by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in the list of Persian Gardens in 2011), visiting Kashan bazaar.

Fin Garden in Kashan (registered by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in the list of Persian Gardens in 2011)

Visiting Iran’s largest houses built in the 18th century in Kashan, which have more than 40 rooms and 200 doors! Visiting Tabatabaeha’s house.

Midnight transfer to Airport for flying back home.