Long Main City Tour

Day 1

Welcome to Iran! Upon arrival in Tehran, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure for you to explore on your own or simply relax.

Tehran has a relatively short history, is quite often smoggy and manic. Many travellers do not spend much time here at all.  Although it is a concrete jungle, there is a fascinating side to this hectic city. Expect bold fashion statements, a range of ethnic and international restaurants, chic cafes and plenty of art galleries.

What Tehran lacks in history, it makes up for it with impressive museums.

Overnight Espinas or Parsian Azadi Hotel.

Espinas is one of the best hotels in Tehran.It is not atraditional Hotel.Although there is not good traditional hotels in Tehran.If you are interested in staying 5* hotel Espinas or Parsian Azadi could be good choices.

Day 2

Following breakfast at your hotel this morning, you will be met by your local guide and begin a sightseeing tour of Tehran. Spend time exploring the bazaar, the lavish Golestan Palace which was once the heart of

Tehran and excesses of the Qajar rulers. A short walk south from Imam Khomeini Sq, the Golestan Palace complex is made up of several grand buildings set around a carefully manicured garden. From here, visit the jewelers museum and the crown jewels including the glorious Peacock Throne. Most of the collection dates back to Safavid times, when the shahs scoured Europe, India and the lands of the Ottoman Empire for booty with which to decorate their capital, Esfahan. But as the Safavid empire crumbled, the jewels became a high profile spoil of war. When Mahmud Afghan invaded Iran in 1722, he plundered the treasury and sent its contents to India.

On ascending the throne in 1736, Nader Shah Afshar dispatched courtiers to ask for the return of the jewels. When their powers of persuasion proved unequal to the task, he sent an army to prove that he was serious. To get the soldiers off his back, Mohammed Shah of India was forced to hand over the Darya-ye Nur and Kuh-e Nur diamonds, a Peacock Throne (though not the one you’ll see here) and assorted other treasures. After Nader Shah’s murder in 1747, Ahmed Beg plundered the treasury and dispersed the jewels. The Kuh-e Nur, the world’s largest cut diamond, found its way into the sticky fingers of the colonial British and has been locked up in the Tower of London since.

The Qajar and Pahlavi rulers enthusiastically added to the jewels collection, which grew to be so valuable that in the 1930s it was transferred to the National Bank of Iran (now the Central Bank of Iran) as a reserve for the national currency.

Overnight Espinas or Parsian Azadi Hotel.

Day 3

Your adventure really begins today as you head north to the Alborz Mountains visiting Lambesar and Alamut ‘assassins’ castles. Approx three to four hours walking. This evening, you will spend the night in a local guesthouse.

We usually suggest staying in a hotel in Qazvin in such cases.

Day 4

After breakfast, farewell your local hosts as you drive to Roodkhan castle, one of the best preserved in the country. Following your visit, head for your overnight stop in the lovely old village of Masuleh. Built right into the slope of an Iranian mountain, the small town of Masuleh has a unique, purpose-built architectural style where the front yard of each of the houses on the incline is actually the roof of the house below it, with roof-lawns trickling down to the base of the mountain.

The tiny village has existed in the area for around 1,000 years and the strange stacked building tradition seems to have existed nearly the entire time. Looking almost like a clay-covered rendition of Sao Paulo, Brazil’s cramped favelas, the communities of Masuleh make much better use of the space. Atop the roofs of many of the cascading houses, lawns have been planted and other traditional yard fixtures have been laid out by the tenant above who in turn is covered by the front yard of their upstairs neighbor, and so on.

So tightly packed are the buildings that there is only room for a maze-like network of stairs and narrow roads connecting each of the structures? In fact automobiles are not allowed in Masuleh simply because there is no room for them.

The landscape surrounding Masuleh is lush and mountainous with a frequent covering of dense fog, so much so that many of the homes in the town are covered in bright yellow clay so they can be seen better through the haze.

Approx two to three hours walking.

Overnight in Boutique Hotel in Masouleh or local homestay in Ebrahimserai Village.

Day 5

Following breakfast this morning, drive to Talesh before continuing on to hike to Neor Lake, a beautiful stretch of water at an altitude of 2700m. At this time of year, it is expected to be frozen. After you have spent time exploring this region, Overnight home stay .

Day 6

Today you will make your way to Tabriz, the former capital of Iran, Arrival to Tabriz in the evening. which is home to many famed sights including the Blue Mosque, which was constructed in 1465. Enjoy shopping in the UNESCO World Heritage bazaar.

Kowsar Hotel is not a traditional and good hotel.We usually suggest Pars-El-Guli or Shahriar Hotel for the guests who would like to stay in 5* Hotels and Gostaresh or Tabriz International Hotel for 4* Hotels.

Day 7

 City tour of Tabriz which is home to many famed sights including the Blue Mosque, which was constructed in 1465. Enjoy shopping in the UNESCO World Heritage bazaar. Fly to Shiraz in the evening.Overnight in Shiraz.

For real Traditional hotel we suggest Niayesh Hotel in Shiraz(2*) and for 4* hotel our suggestion is Royal or Karimkhan Hotel and for 5* hotel Shiraz Grand Hotel.

Day 8

Today you make your way to Farashband which is where the nomads move to for the colder months. Here will be see their real life nomadic lifestyle and tented camps. Whilst in this region, you have the opportunity to visit the sites of Sassanid Ardeshir Palace and the Fire Temple, Farashband Palm Trees and Parishan Lake.

Stay overnight with Nomads.

Overnight in Shiraz.

Day 9

Drive to Shiraz in the morning. Enjoy walking tour to Arg-e-Karim Khani Fortress and time to visit the bazaar and teahouses. Then finishing the day at the Tomb of Hafez, a famous Persian poet. Overnight in Shiraz.

Day 10

Shiraz Excursion.Visiting important tombs and ruins, then the highlight of Darius the Great's Persepolis. Overnight in Shiraz.

Day 11

Trekking day in the Golkuh Lake region set in a wonderful acorn-forested area. Beginning at 2200m trek up to the Lake at 2600m, in the shadow of the Zagros Mountains.

Overnight at Parsian Yasuj Azadi Hotel or similar

Day 12

Drive towards Bavanat. Explore this beautifully peaceful valley. Overnight with a local family in the Bavanat Valley. Overnight with local family.

Day 13

An early departure this morning at 6am as you make your way to Meymand. Meymand or Maymand is a cave dwellers village and is one of Iran’s forth oldest surviving villages. It is said that this village has been inhabited since the middle stone ages. The village is a UNESCO world heritage site and is very bland to explore. The villagers have done little to add colour to natural earth tones , there are no potted flowers or ornamental plants. The village has a nomadic population of around 150 people who live in caves during the winter months. Exploring the village is indeed interesting with a local museum in one the caves also worth visiting. (B,D)

Overnight Meymand

Day 14

Today continue on to Kerman. Kerman is a fascinating mud brick city at its core with a lively bazaar. Today with be at leisure for you to explore at your own pace. (B,D)

Our suggestion is Kerman Jahangardi Hotel.

Day 15

Today is a full day of sightseeing in Kerman. Spend time exploring the Ganj Ali Khan Complex which is composed of a school, a square, a caravanserai and a public bath, water reservoir, mint house mosque tea house and bazaar! Visit the Gonad –e-Jabaliyeh, a mysterious tomb, the Mouyedi Ice House, Friday mosque and Ghal’e Dokhtar to mention a few.

Overnight Kerman.

Day 16

Drive to Mehriz.Overnight stay in the old caravanserai called Zeineddin in the heart of desert.Overnight stay in Zeineddin Carvanserai.

Day 17

After exploring the village, you continue your desert drive into Yazd. Visit a Zoroastrian hilltop burial site, the Towers of Silence (for sunset).

Explore Yazd seeing Bagh-e-Doulat Abad Garden, Jameh Mosque and later experience the Zurkhaneh (in the evening).  Overnight in Moshir Garden,Fahadan or Dad Hotel.

Day 18

Drive to Isfahan.On the way visit Jameh Mosque in Naiin. In the evening  walk by the historical bridges over ZayandehRud in Isfahan.

Overnight in Isfahan Traditional Hotel, Sunrise traditional Hotel or Abbassi Hotel.

Day 19

Isfahan the fascinating city needs two full days; today visit the Armenian Quarter and shop in the bazaar.  Overnight in Isfahan.

Day 20

Enjoy a full day of sightseeing in Isfahan today, exploring the palaces, mosques, museums and the square, all steeped in history and splendour. Overnight in Isfahan.

Day 21

Drive to Kashan.On the way visit historical sight of Abyaneh. Visit  Fin Garden, the historical houses of Kashan (Borujerdi House and Agha- Bozorg House).

Stay in Ameri House(5*) , Raheb or Manoochehri House(3*).All are good traditional hotels.

Day 22

Following  breakfast (depends on the departure flight details), Drive to IKA Airport for your departure flight. End of services