Persia Past & Present

Your arrival in Tehran will be either very late this evening or very early the following morning.  On arrival, expect to spend at least an hour or more getting through immigration and customs. Iran requires customs agents to fill out additional forms for Americans, so it generally takes longer than European travelers. After passing through customs, a representative will be waiting for you just as you exit the airport. He or she will assist with the transfer to your hotel, which is about an hour away.

You’ll have a chance to rest up before heading out on a leisurely tour. Visit some of Tehran’s major museums, including Iran’s National Museum that displays a precious and spectacular collection of pre-historic and ancient artifacts with pottery dating back to 6-7 millennium B.C. and dioramas depicting more than 300,000 years of human occupation of Persia. Also visit the Abguineh (Glass & Ceramics) Museum, with a valuable collection of pre-Islamic and Islamic glass and ceramics beautifully displayed and located in an elegant and architecturally unique early 20th-century mansion.

Return to your hotel, or spend more time at the bazaar. If you like, your guide will take you on a visit to the Carpet Museum, with an extensive collection of old and new Persian carpets and rugs from the major carpet-weaving centers of Iran. (Carpets are a major theme in Persian history and this is the place to understand and appreciate their cultural, historic and material significance. If you’re thinking of purchasing a Persian carpet, this is the place to learn about metrics and aesthetics of fine craftsmanship. You cannot purchase a carpet at the museum.)

Today, visit a few of Tehran’s famous and opulent palaces. The oldest of the historic monuments, Golestan Palace, is a world heritage site. The next oldest is the Saadabad Palace Complex, founded in the 19th century under the Qajar Kings and the Palace of Niavaran, and is one of the most impressive Pahlavi palaces. After, enjoy some time at bazaar Tajrish to pick up some scarfs or tunics to wear during your trip.

What’s unique about this mosque is that it has no minarets and you can enter the mosque either from the Kerman Bazaar or from Shohada Square. Next, visit the Ganj-Ali Khan Complex, a Safavid-era structure also containing a school, a mosque dating back to the 11th century, a square, a caravanserai, a bath house, a water reservoir, a mint, and a bazaar. The bath house was built in 1631 and is decorated with beautiful Safavid era paintings. The bath house contains alabaster panels that glow when the sun hits it at a certain time, giving bathers an idea of the time. It has now been turned into an anthropological museum. You’ll have some time to explore the bazaar before being transferred to your hotel where you settle in for the night

Today is a full day as you spend time exploring the village of Rayen where you will visit the Arg-e-Rayen Citadel, a miniature version of the Arg-e-Bam, once the largest adobe building in the world. Despite many natural disasters that have destroyed similar structures, the Rayen Citadel is well preserved and contains all the architectural elements of a deserted citadel. It is believed to be about 1,000 years old and was one of the trading centers on the trade routes. This is probably one of the most interesting sites in Iran.

On the return back to Kerman, stop in Mahan, famous for the tomb of the great Sufi leader, Shah Nematollah Vali and the Shazdeh Garden. The Shah Nematollah Vali Shrine is a historical complex containing the remains of the famous Iranian poet, who died in 1431. The Shazdeh Garden (Prince’s Garden), is a fine example of a Persian garden originally built for Mohammad Hasan Khan Qajar Sardari Iravani around 1850. Today it is listed as a magnificent UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Drive to Yazd (approx. 5 hrs), stopping en route at the 16th century Zein-o-Din Caravanserai, located in the middle of the desert. A caravanserai was a roadside inn where travelers (caravaners) could stop and rest while traveling the trade routes.

On arrival in Yazd, you will have some free time this afternoon to relax. Yazd is the capital of Yazd Province and recognized as a World Heritage Site due to its unique Persian architecture. This town has a history that dates back over 5,000 years, and because of its remote desert location and difficult access, Yazd was often overlooked by conquerers. To tolerate the extreme hot summers, many old structures in Yazd have impressive wind towers and large underground areas and even contain many yakhchals, otherwise known as “ice houses,” that were used to store ice retrieved from the glaciers of the mountains.

You’ll overnight in a beautiful traditional style hotel with modern amenities.

Enjoy a full day sightseeing in Yazd, the center for Iran’s fast-disappearing Zoroastrian community. Visit one of the two Zoroastrian abandoned Towers of Silence (Dakhma), dating back to the 18th century, and the active Zoroastrian Fire Temple, the fire of which has been burning for about 1500 years. View the immense Friday Mosque (1324 A.D.), with the highest portal and minarets in Iran. Other notable Islamic period monuments in Yazd include the Seljuk shrine dedicated to the Twelve Shi’ite Imams, and Ziaieyeh Theological School, known as Zendan-e-Eskander or Alexander’s Prison. You can stroll past the many beautiful old homes in Yazd, among them the Dowlat-Abad Garden, with an 18th-century feudal hexagonal house.

Today you make the approximate 6-hour drive through desert mountain terrain to Shiraz. En route, visit Pasargadae, a site pre-dating Persepolis. Pasargadae was the capital of the Achaemenid Empire under Cyrus the Great who had it built between 559 and 530 BC. Cyrus is the Founder of the Persian Empire, and at Pasargadae, you’ll see his simple but impressive tomb. You’ll also see the remains of his palaces, all located in the vast plain of Dasht-e-Morghab.

Continue on to Abarkuh, a charming desert town, for a tea break under the shade of a supposedly 4,000-year-old Cyprus tree, then continue to Shiraz for your overnight.

On a full-day city tour of Shiraz, visit some of the famous gardens of this city of “roses and nightingales,” including the Eram Garden and the tombs of Iran’s greatest lyric poets, Hafez and Sa’adi. See the pink-tiled 19th-century Nasir-ol-Molk Mosque and the Arg-e-Karim Khan 18th-century citadel, sites which invite creative photography.  The dazzling Nasir-ol-Molk Mosque, also known as the “Pink Mosque” due to its pink colored tiles, contains an extensive colored glass that acts as a keleidescope when the sun shines in. The Arg-e-Karim Khan was built during the Zand dynasty in 1180 AD and served as Karim Khan’s living quarters. It was even once used as a prison, but today is a museum, operated by Iran’s Cultural Heritage Organization.

Today’s adventure takes you out to the ancient city of Persepolis, the magnificent springtime capital city of the ancient Achaemenid Empire (550-330 BC). The city is known for its spectacular reliefs and towering columns built by Darius I. It is thought that Alexander the Great burned the great palace after invading Persepolis in 330 B.C. Some of its objects from Persepolis can be seen at the National Museum of Tehran.

This afternoon, visit the rock-cut tombs of the Achaemenid kings including Darius I at Naghsh-e Rostam. Nearby is the Cube of Zoroaster (Kaba-ye Zartosht), a 5th century B.C. Achaemenid square tower. Also visit the Sassanian reliefs at Naghsh-e Rajab where you will see the inscription of Ardeshir I (226-241 AD), founder of the Sassanian dynasty, and Shapur I depicting his celebration of his military victory in 244 over the Roman Emperor, Valerian. Return to your hotel in Shiraz for dinner and overnight.

This is a day of mostly driving through scenic countryside to Isfahan (approximately a 4-hour drive). Isfahan, known as “Nesf-e-Jahan” to the Persians, means “Half The World” due to its beautiful hand-painted tiling and magnificent public square. It is considered to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world and its architecture, tree-lined boulevards and relaxed pace make it one of the highlights of Iran.

Today is dedicated to exploring the many beautiful sites of Isfahan. Begin with the magnificent Friday Mosque, with the famous Uljaitu Mihrab (Prayer Niche) from the Il-Khanid period. This Friday Mosque is considered a museum of a thousand years of Persian religious architecture and is truly one of the world’s greatest mosques. Also visit the Harun-e-Velayat Shrine and the Ali Minaret. From here drive to the Chehel Sotun Palace, built by Shah Abbas II in the 17th century. Twenty wooden columns reflected in the surface of the pool give rise to its name, “The Palace of Forty Columns.” Finally, visit the Hasht Behesht pavilion built in 1670 by Shah Solayman and known as the Pavilion of Eight Paradises or the Palace of Nightingales. This small but intricate building is elegantly sited among tree-lined alleys with a reflecting pool and water falls. Afterwards, return to your hotel where you can spend some time relaxing in the hotel’s garden.

Enjoy another full day of sightseeing in Isfahan beginning with visits to the city’s famous bridges including the 14th century Pol-e Shahrestan (The Shahrestan Bridge), one of the oldest surviving bridges in Iran; Pol-e Khaju (Khaju Bridge), perhaps one of the finest bridges in Isfahan. It was built by the Safavid king Shah Abbas II around 1650 and originally ornated with artistic tile works and paintings (at one point it even served as a teahouse); and Si-o-Seh Pol (The Bridge of 33 Arches), one of the most famous examples of Safavid bridge design. There may or may not be water in the river, but look for wading birds.

Tour the Armenian Quarter including the important Cathedral of Vank, which includes a good museum with a section on the Armenian genocide. In the afternoon, visit one of the world’s grandest squares, the Maidan-e-Naghsh-e-Jahan. Admire the Ali-Qapu Palace with its enchanting music rooms and balcony overlooking the Maidan, from where the Safavid Kings watched polo games. You will see two of the Islamic world’s greatest mosques—the Sheikh Lotfollah and the Imam—with magnificent architecture and tilework. End the afternoon with a visit to the Qeisarieh Bazaar with hundreds of shops displaying the arts and handicrafts for which Isfahan is world-famous (closed on Fridays).

Depart early for the drive to Kashan (approximately 3-4 hours of driving), with a stop at the charming town of Natanz. There, visit a beautiful Islamic complex including the Friday Mosque, Monastery, and Tomb of Sheikh Abdol Samad Isfahani. This is also the location of a contentious (former) underground nuclear site. You will drive by the entrance, but are not allowed to take photos. Continue on to Kashan to visit the historical garden of Fin, 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, plus some of the best examples of “badgirs,” or wind-catchers.

After breakfast, your tour of Kashan continues with a visit to the Kashan Bazaar, Agha Bozorg Mosque, and the important archaeological site of Tepe Sialk. The Kashan Bazaar, known for it’s impressive mud-brick architecture, is thought to have been built during the Seljuk period. Be sure to notice the intricate designs in the dome of Timche-ye Amin Od-Dowleh. Agha Bozorg Mosque was built in the late 18th century by master architect Ustad Haj Sa’ban-ali. This was where Ustad Ali Maryam began as a pupil and started his career as a brilliant architect, responsible for the architectural style of Taba-Tabai House and Boroujerdi ha House. At Sialk Hill you’ll find the remains of an ancient city containing the world’s oldest zigurat, which dates back to 3000 BC. The oldest settlement in Sialk dates back to 5500-6000 BC! It is thought that Sialk was settled due to the fresh water sources that run down from the nearby mountains. These pristine water sources still continue to run today.

After lunch at a local restaurant, continue with the drive back to Tehran (approximately 3-4 hours of driving) via Qom, Iran’s second holiest city. The city is the largest center in the world for Shiʿa scholarships and is an important destination of pilgrimage. On arrival back in Tehran, check in to your airport hotel and enjoy a final dinner with your group.

Your representative will meet you at the hotel and assist with your early morning transfer to the airport for your departure flight. Expec to depart your Tehran hotel at least three hours before your flight departure time.