Iran Off the Beaten Track Tour : Tehran, Alamut, Soltaniyeh, Takht e Suleyman, Sanandaj, Howraman, Kermanshah, Khoramabad, Shustar, Ahvaz

Day 1 Arrival Tehran

You arrive in the capital of Iran and will be met on the airport by our representative, who will escort you to the hotel

Day 2 Tehran

The first day of your trip is a visit of the capital city, Tehran, the largest metropolitan city in the Middle East. Tehran never sleeps. This large city during 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 bazars, 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 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 to 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 few places in Tehran that you can visit. You can always ask us for more detailed information.

Day 3 Tehran - Alamut via Qazvin 

Adventure will start and you drive to the Valley of Alamut. On the way you will visit the town ofYou will cross the Alborz Mountains again on your way to Qazvin to visit the ancient city gate, Jame Mosque and the Shrine of Shazdeh Hossein.

From Qazvin, you will drive along a winding mountain road to the valley of Alamut.

Day 4 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.

Today you have plenty of time to see the different castles. You can explore by car, but if you prefer to do some hiking that's possible too.

Day 5 Alamut - Takab via Soltaniyeh

You will go back to the main road near Qazvin and continue to visit the Mausoleum of Oljaitu at Soltaniyeh. 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. The you will continue on to the city of Qazvin to visit the ancient city gate, Jame Mosque and the Shrine of Shazdeh Hossein.

Next stop will be Takab, not a special place, but you one of the few with accommodation.

Day 6 Takab - Sanandaj via Takht-e Suleyman

Today you will visit one of Iran's most important historic sites; Takht-e Soleyman, also known as the Throne of Solomon. Here you will find the remains of an old fortress, once an important stronghold in times of Parths, Aechemenids and Sassanids. It is an important place for Zoroasters as well, with different ancient temples in the complex. The place is one of Iran's 24 Unesco Heritage Sites.
After an extended visit you continue to Iranian Kurdistan and it's buzzling city of Sanandaj, full of lively bazars. 

Day 7 Sanandaj

One of the most beautiful regions of Iran is the mountainous region of Kurdistan. The Kurds are easily recognizable with their baggy trousers and the colorful dresses of the women. The people are very hospitable towards foreign visitors. You find many beautiful mountain villages here. Today you will visit Sanandaj; a bustling city where the main thing to visit is the lively bazar, full of Kurds and Iranians selling and buying all kinds of stuff. You can also visit the Asef mansion, dedicated to the Kurdish culture and the regional museum.

Day 8 Sanandaj - Howraman-e Takht via Negel and Marivan

Kurdistan has some of the most rugged terrain in Iran and in remote valleys you will find beautiful mountain villages. Today you drive to one of them. But firs some stops on the way. A small stop can be made in the town of Negel. One of the oldest Korans in the world is in the mosque here. Then you will drive to Marivan, a large lake located near the border. This lake is a popular place for picnics. Here you will find a lot of seafood restaurants. 
Then it's into the mountains!

Ouraman is a region in Iranian Kurdistan on the border with Iraq. The highest village is Ouraman e Takht, where you will spend the night. After a few hours you drive into the valley of Howraman e Takht, a beautiful valley with a beautiful Kurdish village. On the outskirts of the village there is an ancient spiritual site where celebrations which have nothing to do with Islam still occur regularly. There are many ribbons in the trees, something you also encounter in other religions.

The rest of the day you have time to stroll around the village, where you will be greeted everywhere by friendly Kurds. Visit the mosque and the small bazaar. You’ll spend the night in a simple hotel on the outskirts of the village.

Day 9 Howraman - Kermanshah

A wonderful journey through the mountains of Kurdistan is in the program for today. You travel along the border with Iraq and you can see Iraqi Kurdistan. The landscape on the way to Paveh is quite hilly. Paveh is the largest city that you will pass. 

End of the day you arrive in the largest town of Kurdistan; Kermanshah.

Day 10 Kermanshah / visit Takht-e Bustan and Bisotun

Near Kermanshah you find 2 of Iran's most outstanding examples of ancient art. The rockreliefs of Takht-e Bustan, dating from the Sassanid period around the 4th century. You will find reliefs of the kings Ardashir II and Shapur II.

More rock reliefs are to be seen at the site of Bisotun, located on the old trading route between Ecbatana and Babylon. Here you find the relief of king Darius from the Achaemenid empire.

Day 11 Kermanshah - Khoramabad
You continue to the province of Lorestan, home to the Lurs, one of Iran's many nomadic tribes. You sleep in the capital city of Khoramabad where an ancient fortress dominates the town.

Day 12 Khoramabad - Shustar

Coming days you will spend in Khuzestan. Khuzestan is one of the least visited areas of Iran, it is situated in the remote corner, it is hot and there are a few tourist attractions. It is best known for the oil and gas industry, set up by the British. This region was the battlefield during the war with Iraq. Most bombs of Saddam Hussein fell in the south of Khuzestan. That all doesn't sound attractive, but Khuzestan has a surprising lot to offer. It is a region with a strong Arab culture. Besides,it is also the winter residence of the Bakhtiari nomads and here you can find the World Heritage sites Choqa Zanbil, Shustar and Shush. So high time to visit beautiful Khuzestan!
Your first stop will be Shustar. In the town of Shushtar are many beautiful monuments to see. Most of them are related to the famous irrigation system that was built here in the 5th century before Christ and over the centuries still further extends and refines. The hydraulic system is the most impressive, in which watermills are powered to grind corn and rice.

Day 13 Shustar - Ahvaz via Susa and Choq-e Zanbil

In the morning you will experience the rich history of Khuzestan. You are going to explore the monuments Choq a Zanbil and Shush. All on the Unesco World Heritage list. In Shush (Susa) you can visit the excavations and the mausoleum of Daniel, built in the typical style of Khuzestan. Through the excavations of Haft Teppe you will reach the impressive ziggurat by Choq a Zanbil. It is one of the few remaining ziggurats, built in the 13th century before Christ.

In the afternoon you drive to the capital of Khuzestan, Ahvaz. In the afternoon you can explore the city, which is particularly interesting around the bazaar. In the opposite streets fish and vegetables are sold. You can also stroll along the Karun River where many people come for a picnic or tea.

Day 14 Ahvaz / explore Khuzestan

From Ahvaz you will make an excursion to the southern parts of Khuzestan and try to get a glimpse of the disappearing culture of the Marsh Arabs. In the morning you will visit the Shadegan lagoon. This is a protected nature reserve, an extensive system of waterways, small islands and villages. Many Arabs live here, similar to the culture of the Marsh Arabs of Iraq as described in the famous book by Wilfred Thesiger. Also in Iran this culture is slowly disappearing. There are still many Arabs in Khuzestan, which had a remarkable position during the Iran – Iraq war, sandwiched between two cultures. However, the traditional way of life is also here disappearing. The Shadegan lagoon is threatened by modern develop and is drying up. Many residents have left the area. From a small village nearby Darkhovin you can explore Khuzestan by boat, there are mainly living fishermen. When you cruise through the lagoon you will see many water birds, small creeks and fishing nets. A small Mozif (the traditional houses of the Marsh Arabs) is located in the village.
You continue to Abadan, where you will visit the island Minoo. Once it was beautiful here, an island full of date palms located on the banks of the Shat-al Arab River. Unfortunately the island was totally bombed in the war. But still you can find some mozifs here.
The mozif takes an important position in the culture of the Arabs. It is a guest house, made of cane with a round shaped characteristic . Guests can stay three days at the expense of the host. The mozifs were used as a kind of caravanserai for travellers. The mozifs are also a kind of community houses, where the elders of the village gathered to discuss important matters. The buildings have no door, everyone is welcome. Through a low entrance you can go in, whereby you should always bend over and so you will show respect. Central here are the rituals of drinking coffee and tea.
Unfortunately most of the mozifs are gone. Now several mozifs are built for new guests, tourists so the culture is not entirely lost and travelers can experience what it is like to sleep in a mozif. One of those places is Minoo. You will be warmly welcomed, experience a coffee- and tea ceremony and eat delicious Arab sweets. 
Eind of the day back to Ahvaz.