Iran Exploration Tour: Tehran, Masuleh, Alamut, Kashan, Mesr, Yazd, Persepolis, Shiraz, Koohrang, Isfahan

Day 2 Tehran

The first day of your trip is a visit to the capital city, Tehran, the largest metropolitan city in the Middle East. Tehran never sleeps. This large city during the recent history of Iran was the home of very important events. To discover Tehran and its different lives and lifestyle one day is not enough. You will be amazed how tradition and modernity come together and make the structure of this city. There is plenty to do and see in Tehran. Depends on what you like to do, Tehran can offer you many of interesting museums, traditional and local bazaars, modern shopping centers, galleries of modern art, parks, mountains, ski resort in the season, historic buildings, modern architecture, street foods, hipster café , high-end classy restaurants … for a classic city tour in Tehran we may suggest you to have a visit of National Museum. This museum has two exhibitions, The Museum of Ancient Iran and the Museum of Islamic Art and Architecture. We may suggest that you to pay a visit to this museum in order to have a general idea of what you will visit on your next days of your travelling. 

The other place which can be suggested is the Golestan Palace , which is one of the oldest historic places in the city and formerly was the royal Qajar complex. The complex of Golestan Palace consists of 17 structures, including palaces, museums, and halls. Golestan palace has a collection of Iranian crafts and European presents from the 18th and 19th centuries. If it fits your program do not miss Treasury of National Jewels and be fascinated by all the gemstones and the history behind each piece. The Grand Bazaar of Tehran is one of the places you should visit. Tehran Grand Bazaar splits into several corridors and each specializes in different types of goods. So far you are in the old part of Tehran, to get some idea about the modern part of the city you should drive to north of the city and spend some times in Nature Bridge (Pol-e Tabiat) and sit and relax in one of the many cafes and get refresh while you have a view of Tehran.  

This list is a few places in Tehran that you can visit. You can always ask us for more detailed information. 

Day 3 Tehran - Lahijan

After breakfast you leave the busy city and drive through the green valleys of the Alborz mountain range on your way to the Caspian Sea. This mountain road, Chalus Road, is one of the most beautiful in the country in terms of view. The coast along the Caspian Sea is one the greenest strips of the country, and therefore beloved by the Iranian population that mostly live in dry, desert regions. Visit the picturesque Lahijan, famous for its tea plantations. Here you can walk through the tea plantations in the hill of  “Sheitan Kuh” and enjoy the view.

Day 4 Lahijan - Masuleh
The route along the Caspian Sea takes you to the port city of Bandar-e-Anzali and on to Masuleh, a charming mountain village. This village is always misty and you can walk over the roofs of the houses. It is like an elevated street! This village is at least a thousand years old and is one of the most beautiful villages in Iran. In the afternoon you can choose to take a walk around Masuleh. One interesting place (but it takes some time), is the fortress of Rudkan, hidden in lush forest.

Day 5 Masuleh - Qazvin via Soltaniyeh

You will cross the Alborz Mountains again on your way to Qazvin, visiting the Mausoleum of Oljaitu at Soltaniyeh en route. The magnificent Dome of Soltaniyeh is one of the largest brick domes in the world. The building dates back to the Mongol period when it was the capital of Iran. Then you will continue on to the city of Qazvin to visit the ancient city gate, Jame Mosque and the Shrine of Shazdeh Hossein.

Day 6 Qazvin / visit Alamut valley

One of the most legendary stories from the rich history of the Persian Empire is that of the Assassins, also known as the Hashins, those who went into battle intoxicated by hashish. True or not, they left behind a series of impregnable castles in an isolated, rugged environment that now invites long walks. The castles can be found in the valley of El Alamut.

These castles, in the valleys of Shahrud and Alamut, can still be admired today. The road to it is beautiful, through a rugged mountain landscape, with ochre-colored rock formations, interspersed with green valleys and small mountain villages.

Day 7 Qazvin – Kashan via Qom

Today you will leave for Kashan. On the way you have Qom and in case of your interest you can stop and see this city. Qom is the center of the Islamic revolution and the city of mullahs, the muslim clergy. Here you can visit the Shrine of Hazrat-e Masumeh, sister of Imam Reza. This Shrine is one of the most important pilgrimage sites for shiites. Once you are in front of the mausoleum you will find yourself in another world. You can only see women in black chador and mullahs and a huge number of pilgrimages from all over Central Asia and the Middle East. It’s a beautiful sight, right in the heart of shiite Islam. In the center of this huge complex is the mausoleum of Hazrat-e Masumeh , which  everyone touches.

In the evening you arrive in Kashan and you will stay in one of the old houses of wealthy Kashani people that now turned into a very charming boutique hotel.

Day 8 Kashan

Kashan, a small oasis town with its very  wealthy merchants who built marvelous houses that you like to spend hours and hours to see all the detailed work of art in every corner. The most famous houses of these merchants are close together, not far from your hotel. You can see amazing stained glass windows in beautifully decorated rooms at Tabatabai house or in the house of Samovar Merchant, Mr. Broujerdi, you can find masterpieces of frescos made by famous Iranian artist, Kamal- al molk. Nearby you can visit one of the finest hammams, (traditional bath) which today does not have its function as hammam but still a splendid site to visit; Hammam-e Sultan Ahmed that features multiple rooms of beautifully- colored tiles. Another important site to visit is Fin Gardens. The origin of the garden is prior to the Safavid period and developed by Shah Abbas II and highly recognized during Qajar. Fin Gardens is not only one of the best samples of Persian garden in its structure, it also was witness to one of the saddest events of Qajar period. Amir Kabir, the Qajarid chancellor, who was well-known for his justice and knowledge was murdered by an assassin sent by King Nasereddin Shah in 1852. So far all the places you visit are not dating back to far history. You will be amazed to know in a suburb of the city of Kashan there is a historical site, called Sialk Hill with the history dated back to 6000- 5500 BC.

Back to the city you will love to rest in the yard of your charming hotel with a fountain in the middle and trees around. Drink tea or cold herbal syrup.

Day 9 Kashan / excursion Abyaneh

From Kashan you will make a day excursion to Abyaneh village. Abyaneh is one of the oldest villages in the country and each year hosts a lot of visitors, foreigners or domestic, especially during traditional ceremonies.

People of Abyaneh preserved their tradition persistently, you can see it in the customs of women. Women wear long floral scarves and colorful skirts. Abyaneh is also known as the Red Village because of its red clay architecture. You can enjoy an hour of walking in the village and also do not miss the mosque with its wooden mihrab. 

Day 10 Kashan - Mesr via Na'in and Anarak

Today you drive to the heart of Dasht-e kavir. Dasht-e Kavir or Kavir-e Namak (Great Salt Desert) is a large desert in Iran and partitioned among Khorasan, Tehran, Semnan, Isfahan and Yazd provinces.  There is a hypothesis that states Dasht-e Kavir is formed due to the evaporation of water and drying up a vast sea, and the existence of the salt lake, which is one of the thermal poles on the earth, can be considered as the evidence to this. There are protected areas in this vast desert that host rare and precious animal species, such as Persian gazelles and leopards. In the past, one of the strategic trade routes passed through the Dasht-e Kavir and it was one of the important roads of the Silk Road. 

On the way you can have a stop in the small cities of Na'in and Anarak, a lovely desert village. Like much of the Iranian Plateau Na'in has a desert climate. Due to this kind of climate Iranian many years ago learnt how to construct aqueducts underground (Qanats) to bring water from the mountains to the plains. Na'in is one the best places to see these qanats. Nain also has some outstanding monuments, Jame mosque of Na'in is among the oldest ones in Iran. Na'in is also very famous with its textile and carpet workshops.

Mesr is a desert of sand dunes. You can walk endlessly on the top of big dunes and enjoy the silence of the desert. Watching sunset from the top of sand dunes is a picture that remains a lifetime in your mind.

You spend the night in one of the ecolodges in Mesr, run by local families. It is very atmospheric and cozy and you will have your homemade dinner included, it is very tasty!

Day 11 Mesr - Yazd

A beautiful journey through the Dasht-e Kavir desert finally brings you to the desert city Yazd. Along the way ,you will visit the village Bayaziyeh.It has the look of a Moroccan Kasbah, but the area is completely desolate. It is an undiscovered treasure for desert lovers. 
You visit typical desert towns like Garmeh and Kharanaq. The old mud town is completely dilapidated here, but very atmospheric with the surrounding desert and rugged mountains around it. There is also a caravanserai. Meybod is a smaller version of Yazd with a mud town, an old castle, a caravanserai and a 'Yakhchal', an ice house typical of this region. It was once useful, these storehouses of ice used to come in handy in these huge hot temperatures.
At the end of the afternoon you arrive in Yazd, one of the most beautiful cities of Iran and one of the best to stay, with its beautifully preserved old town. There are several restaurants, tea shops, hotels and shops.

Day 12 Yazd

Yazd has a unique architecture adapted to its desert climate. In the city of windcatchers you see how these people could manage to have a natural ventilation system to chill the hot days of summer inside their houses.

Yazd houses a remarkable number of Zoroastrians, and you will start your city tour with a visit to the Zoroastrian Fire Temple, the sacred fire of the temple is stated to have been burning since about 470 AD.

After the Fire Temple you will visit Dowlat Abad Garden, as the sample of Persian garden Dowlat Abad was also built with residential purpose and the tallest windcatcher has been built in the center of the garden.

Walking in the old town, Yazd Jame Mosque & Amir Chakhmaq façade can be visited in the afternoon.

Yazd also has a nice Bazaar and its silk textile (Termeh) is very much famous worldwide, even Marco Polo in his visit in 1272 has remarked on the city's fine silk-weaving industry. Take a walk in the Bazaar and enjoy seeing colorful Termeh hanging on the walls in front of each shop.

One special activity to see in Yazd in the evening is going to Zurkhaneh, Traditional gymnasium in which Varzesh- Bastani (ancient sport) is practiced. Ancient Sport is a traditional system of athletics originally used to train warriors in Persia.  

Day 13 Yazd - Zein o Din via Saryazd and Fahraj
In the morning more time to get lost in the small winding streets of Iran.
In the afternoon you will visit Saryazd, a charming village full of mud houses and an impressive 1800-year-old castle. The next stop is Fahraj where you can visit one of the oldest mosques in Iran. 
A special experience in the evening, you will sleep in the ancient caravanserai of Zein-o Din. This is one of the best-preserved caravanserai in Iran and one of the few with a round shape; it is now used as a hotel. 

Day 14 Yazd – Persepolis (Pasargadae)

Leaving desert, windcatchers and mud bricks walls toward the splendid history and glory of Persia. Yes, you are on your way to Persepolis. To get refreshed after sometimes sitting in the car you may like to stop in Abarkuh and not miss the chance to see the ancient living cypress tree which is estimated to be over four millennia old. Abarkuh also has 4 adobe ice reservoirs, like the one you visited already in Meybod. 

You continue to Pasargadae, the first capital of the Achaemenid Empire built by the order of Cyrus the Great. The most important monument in Pasargadae is the tomb of Cyrus the Great . In about one hour you will be in Persepolis, the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire, located on the foothill of Rahmat Mountain. Persepolis was built mainly during the Darius I. Persepolis was a spring/summer royal residence and seems to have been intended as a ceremonial center where representatives of subject states came to pay respects to the king. The complex has nine structures that you can visit. Some parts of them are still remained preserved after invasion and natural destruction such as the Gate of all Nations, The Apadana staircase  and Apadana palace, Palace of Darius I, Palace of Xerxes and Achaemenid Kings. Not far from Persepolis you will visit Necropolis (Naghsh-e Rostam). Naghsh-e Rostam is the necropolis of the Achaemenid dynasty. There are four large tombs cut high into the cliff's face. There are also some reliefs below the tombs from the Sassanid dynasty. You will sleep in a hotel near Persepolis and are lucky enough to have a room facing Persepolis and enjoy the sunset view over the  remains of the Achaemenid Empire. 

Day 15 Persepolis – Shiraz

After breakfast you will have time to visit Persepolis for the second time in the morning if you like.

Soon you will be in Shiraz. Very nice welcoming city with friendly people and you will be amazed how these people can enjoy their lives. You see many people on the street eating and drinking and in the evening they make picnic dinner in any green spot they find in the city.

Shiraz was the capital of the Zand dynasty, therefore many sites in the city belong to that era. You can visit Arg-e Karimkhan, in the downtown of Shiraz at the beginning of Karimkhan Zand street. Not far from Arg you can find Vakil Bazaar and also Vakil Hammam and Vakil mosque is near to you. The whole part is called the karimkhan complex. You may spend the whole afternoon in this part of the city and you have time to stroll in the Bazaar and sit in a café in Saray-e Moshir and order a herbal drink or Faloodeh ( a traditional shirazi cold dessert).

Day 16 Shiraz

It is really good to have a break in Shiraz. The rhythm of life in this beautiful city is delicately slow & easy, people are very warm and friendly, and nothing won’t stop them from starting a friendly conversation with you and a warm welcome. As this city has a rich background in poetry and literature, many famous Persian poets were from Shiraz, that’s why you may see that shiraz is introduced as the city of rose and nightingale. 

We suggest you start your tour in the morning and first a visit to Nasir-al molk mosque known as Pink Mosque, because of the usage of a considerable number of pink-colored tiles for its interior design. Also, its stained-glass façade with the reflection in the morning, makes you just say Wow and take 1000 pictures. You can visit the tombs of two Poets that have worldwide fame, the Tomb of Poet Hafez and Sa’adi. A visit to Eram Garden specially in May with the smell of orange blossom should not be missed. As you may have already noticed, people of shiraz enjoy eating out and having fun outside. In the evening you see many people having picnic dinner in any green space they can find in the city. Families are together and kids playing. Also, there are many good restaurants with live music where you can go for a nice dinner in Persia.

Day 17 Shiraz - Yasuj

From Shiraz you begin your journey through the Zagros Mountains.
Depending on the time of year, you head towards Firuzabad or Sepidan to seek the Qhasga'i nomads who have pitched their tents here. The Qhasga'i families all live quite spread apart, and you will never see more than 2-4 tents together. Some families still live in the traditional black tents of goat hair, but more and more families opt for more modern canvas tents. Once invited into a tent, you will quickly be a part of the daily life of the nomads; sheep and goat herding, milking, and sometimes shaving or slaughter. They will make dough (a yogurt drink) the traditional way (by shaking vigorously by a bag of sheep skin, or a milk can). There will be cooked in a simple way, perhaps a carpet or klim will be made, and of course, endlessly drink tea. Most nomads are extremely hospitable and warmly welcome you in their tent.
Through a wonderful trip you drive through the mountains. You can specify where and if you want to stop occasionally to visit more nomads, or just to stretch your legs. At the end of the day you arrive in the city of Yasuj, not a special city, but the only city in the surrounding area with few hotels.

Day 18 Yasuj - Koohrang
You leave Yasuj and through a scenic route (especially when it’s spring) ,you drive towards Semirom. Here you will find many Qhasga'i nomads. Then you will arrive at the lake of Chogsakor. Here you will find the first Bakhtiari. Especially in the spring, it is a beautiful sight; an ideal place for a picnic. The Bakhtiari often live together with more families. The men are recognizable by their clothes with black and white stripes. Many Bakhtiari still walk over land the traditional way, on foot with their herds, between winter and summer stays.   
After Chogsakor the landscape is even more beautiful and you will drive slowly in the Khoorang region. Here you will not only find an Iranian ski resort at the town Chelgerd, but most importantly the area where most Bakhtiari pitch their tents in summer. A beautiful alpine area to take walks.  
You will sleep in a tent camp (simple, but beautiful views), but can also choose to sleep in a hotel in Chelgerd. 

Day 19 Koohrang

You will have a whole day in this area. You can make a nice trip to a glacier. Along the way you will encounter many Bakhtiari nomads. You can climb to the glacier (but hard climb and a very steep descent),  you can also go hiking in the valleys. Rather horse riding? That is also one of the possibilities!

Day 20 Koohrang - Isfahan via Shahr-e Kord

Through Shahr-e Kord, the capital of Chahar Mahal-e Bakhtiari (the most scenic province of Iran),you will travel to Isfahan. It is definitely worth making a stop in Shahr-e Kord  to drive to the Ferdowsi tea house, one of the oldest tea houses in Iran. From Shahr-e Kord it is still an hour drive to Isfahan, the most beautiful city in the county and the wonderful ending to this amazing journey. This beautiful city is the culmination of Persian culture, with its many mosques, palaces, gardens, madrasa and bazaars. You will have at least enough time to see everything, to strike up a conversation with a curious 'local' and look for some souvenirs at the bazaar. Maybe you will take a Persian carpet home. 

Day 21 Isfahan

First day of your tour in the amazing city of Isfahan where you find yourself walking in boulevards surrounded by beautiful gardens and splendid art and architecture masterpieces.

This city is famous for its Persian – Islamic architecture and one of the largest city squares, Naghsh-e Jahan square. Your city tour will start with visiting this famous and truly beautiful square, where you will find Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque on its eastern side, this mosque was built during Safavid dynasty, Shah Abbas I and was a private mosque for the royal court.

The next monument is Imam Mosque (formerly Shah Mosque) on the south side of the square also built under the order of Shah Abbas I considered as one of the masterpieces of Persian architecture. Next site, opposite Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque, is the imperial Palace of Ali Qapu, the best example of Safavid art and architecture. Now time for one of the oldest Bazaars in Isfahan, Qeysarie Bazaar in the north side of the square. The entrance of Bazaar is full of paintings and you will be amazed by the high ceiling and all the art details you find on the roof.

Among other places you can visit in the afternoon Chehel Sotoun is highly recommended, this Pavilion that was built under the order of Shah Abbas II is in the middle of a park and used for his entertainment. 

In the evening you will enjoy the city on your own, having dinner in one of the many local restaurants that all of them serve high quality food and no matter where your hotel is located, you can always find some of these good places easily. 

Day 22 Isfahan

You wake up again in Isfahan while your head is still full of those dreams you had last night of all the eslimi patterns, miniature, frescos… and still another day.

Isfahan is also famous for its Zayandehrood, the largest river of the Iranian Plateau. Anywhere is a river, there are some bridges and bridges in Isfahan are among the most beautiful ones. There are eleven historical bridges over Zayanzehrood. You will visit 2 of them. Allahverdikhan Bridge, popular as Si-o Se Pol is the largest one. The next bridge is Khaju Bridge, in the words of Arthur Pope and Jean Chardin, Khaju is "the culminating monument of Persian bridge architecture and one of the most interesting bridges extant ... where the whole has rhythm and dignity and combines in the happiest consistency, utility, beauty, and recreation.

Isfahan also has a great number of Armenian population. You will have a visit to Armenian Quarter in Jolfa district and will visit Vank Cathedral and its museum. While you are walking in the streets and alleys of Jolfa you can smell coffee, no wonder, you can find many coffee bars here and all serve nice coffee. Jolfa is also a very nice part of the city to spend your evening. Many young people will come for dinner here and you see a lot of street food and also good restaurants.