Day 01
Arrival in Tehran
- After arriving at Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKA) in Tehran, meet your Iran tour guide at the airport. The local representative will transfer you to your hotel so you can rest.
Iran · UNESCO Heritage Sites
15-Day Ancient Persia Tour through Tehran, Isfahan, Yazd and Shiraz
The journey
Trip highlights
- 01 Explore Golestan Palace, a UNESCO-listed Qajar complex in the heart of Tehran
- 02 Discover Isfahan's architectural masterpieces at Imam Square, Shah Mosque, and Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque
- 03 Visit Yazd's Zoroastrian landmarks, including the Tower of Silence and Fire Temple
- 04 Marvel at Pasargadae and Persepolis, two of ancient Persia's most remarkable heritage sites
- 05 Stroll through celebrated Persian gardens such as Fin Garden and Eram Garden
- 06 Experience Iran's historic bazaars, from Tehran and Kashan to Vakil Bazaar in Shiraz
Experience the best of Persian history and culture as you journey through Tehran, Kashan, Abyaneh, Isfahan, Na'in, Meybod, Yazd, and Shiraz. Explore local bazaars, admire inspiring ancient sites from the Achaemenid Empire, and discover some of the world's oldest archaeological treasures alongside arid mountains, desert landscapes, and rural villages. Along the way, enjoy local cuisine and visit iconic landmarks including palaces, mosques, gardens, and Zoroastrian heritage sites that reveal the depth and diversity of Iran's past.
The mosque comes to life with the sunrise, and the colors dance throughout the day like whirling Dervishes.
From the itinerary
At a glance
What this trip includes
Duration
15 Days
Tour type
Shared
Activity level
Easy
Accommodation
Included · Standard
Transport
Included
Wheelchair access
Not applicable
Cities
Isfahan, Kashan, Shiraz, Tehran, Yazd, Persepolis, Pasargadae, Meybod, Nain, Abyaneh, Abarkuh
Languages
English
Day by day
The itinerary
Day 02
Golestan Palace, Tehran Bazaar, and Museums
- In the morning, go to the World Heritage Site of the lavish Golestan Palace. Built during the Qajar Dynasty, which rose to power in the late 1700s, this fabulous walled complex is centred on a landscaped garden with tranquil pools. Many of the elements you'll admire today date to the 19th century, when local Qajari architects and artisans were looking to integrate traditional Persian style with elements of Western and Russian origin. The palace buildings are among the oldest in modern Tehran and are still regarded as a crowning achievement of the Qajar era.
- Walk around Tehran Bazaar.
- In the afternoon, visit the National Museum of Iran, where you can see fabulous historical items from 5000 BC to the advent of Islam in Iran, offering a brief history of this land.
- Visit the Carpet Museum of Iran, home to a dazzling collection of Persian carpets gathered from around the country and representing centuries of extraordinary art and skill.
Day 03
Sa'd Abad Palace, Darband, and Nature Bridge
- Proceed to a lovely park-like setting to visit the Sa'd Abad Palace. This was the coronation and marriage palace of the Pahlavi Dynasty and the residence from which the last Shah of Iran ruled. Now a museum, its extensive collection includes period furnishings and decor, and even the personal effects of the last Shah. You can also enjoy an exclusive tour through an intimate gallery dedicated to the 20th-century art collection of Iran's last Empress.
- Visit the Tajrish Bazaar and Emamzadeh Saleh Mausoleum. They are located in the northern part of Tehran.
- Afterwards, go to Darband. Darband is an old village in Shemiran. At 1700 meters above sea level, it is one of the main starting routes taken by mountaineers for reaching the central Alborz Range. This place has many modern and traditional cafes and restaurants, located both indoors and outdoors, and you will have a delicious lunch in one of them.
- Later, visit Nature Bridge. Cross Tabiat Bridge, an award-winning footbridge designed by local architect Leila Araghian. Completed in 2014, the structure spans 270 m (890 ft) and takes pedestrians from one public park to another across Shahid Modarres Avenue.
- Take a stroll on the imposing steel-and-concrete structure, equipped with benches for resting, and enjoy the view of the busy highway and the lush green parks it connects.
Day 04
Travel to Kashan and Explore Fin Garden
- Leaving Tehran behind, travel south to Kashan, a town originally famous for its textiles and ceramic production but now better known for Fin Garden and its extensive bazaar and hammams.
- Stop by Fin Garden, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a relaxing, visually impressive Persian garden with water channels all passing through a central pavilion. There is also the chance to buy some rose water, a local speciality, outside the site.
- Visit Boroujerdi Traditional House. It was built about 130 years ago during the reign of the Qajar dynasty in 1857 by the famous Iranian architect Ustad Ali Maryam. The owner was Haj Seyed Hasan Natanzi, a well-known merchant who mostly dealt with people of Boroujerd city. That is why the house is known as Boroujerd's House.
- Explore the bazaar area, a widespread complex filled with hammams and mosques. One hammam has been converted into a traditional teahouse where you can stop if you need a break from shopping.
Day 05
Abyaneh Village and Arrival in Isfahan
- Leave Kashan behind and make your first stop this morning in Abyaneh village. Abyaneh Village is known as the Red Village because of its red soil and houses. The houses of Abyaneh bear an ancient architectural style, featuring the use of clay as the construction material, along with latticed windows and wooden doors.
- Continue your overland journey to Isfahan. As the 17th-century capital of the Safavid Empire, Isfahan was one of the world's greatest cities - architecturally striking, wealthy beyond imagination, and politically powerful, with Europeans, Ottomans, Indians, and Chinese coming to its court - the heart of a vast Persian Empire that stretched from the Euphrates River in present-day Iraq to the Oxus River in Afghanistan. Indeed, its grandeur inspired the rhyming proverb, Isfahan nesf e Jahan (Isfahan is half of the World).
- Together with your expert guide, begin your exploration of the city by visiting some of the centuries-old, still elegant bridges that span the Zayandeh River. The famous bridges on the Zayandeh River are Sio-se-pol and Khaju. There are sluice gates below the bridge to let the water run off the Zayandeh River in the spring, and beautiful stone archways above each gate. These archways provide a great acoustic place for anyone who wants to sing. You can often find a man or a group of men singing under the bridge. The songs are usually about betrayal or unrequited love, and you may have the chance to chat with these men and listen to their songs.
Day 06
Imam Square, Palaces, and Mount Sofe
- Continue your exploration at Imam Square. This 17th-century site is one of the largest public spaces in the world.
- Here in the square, you'll visit the 17th-century Shah Mosque, revered as a masterpiece of Islamic architecture and easily recognized by its magnificent tile-work and soaring cupola and minarets.
- Visit Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque, also known as the Ladies Mosque, as it was built for the Shah's harem. It is renowned for the brightly coloured domed ceiling, where the light creates the image of a peacock.
- In Ali Qapu Palace, you'll marvel at its beautiful music rooms and the balconies where Safavid kings would sit to enjoy the polo matches unfolding in the square below.
- End your exploration of the square by visiting the Qeisarieh Bazaar. With hundreds of local vendors specializing in traditional arts and crafts, it's a wonderful place to shop for pottery, enamel, jewellery, and delicately inlaid board games.
- Next up is Chehel Sotun Palace. Set in a landscaped and forested park in front of a tranquil reflecting pool, this graceful pavilion was built by Shah Abbas II for entertainment and court receptions. Entering through a portico with twenty slender wooden columns, you'll discover soaring halls embellished with frescoes, paintings, and mosaics; the Hall of Mirrors is especially breathtaking.
- The last place to visit today is Mount Sofe in the south of the city. Here, you have the chance to see the whole city at once. You can have tea or coffee at one of the cafes or even dine in one of the restaurants.
Day 07
Historic Isfahan and the Armenian Quarter
- Continue your exploration in Isfahan at a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Simple at first glance but wondrous in its rich detail and bold design, the Masjed-e Jaméis is another masterpiece of Iranian architecture, covering nearly 5 acres in the heart of this historical city. It is one of the oldest congregational mosques in the country, and its construction and embellishment over the past twelve centuries illustrate a number of important periods in Islamic architecture.
- In the city's Armenian quarter, you'll delve more deeply into the region's complex history as you visit several churches, including the 17th-century Vank Cathedral with its lavishly decorated interior and unique blend of Islamic and European architectural elements.
- In the same quarter, visit the Music Museum, where you will find a collection of local and national Iranian instruments.
- In the afternoon, walk around Hasht Behesht Palace and Garden. At this octagonal palace, you can see groups of retired men who spend their free time chatting with visitors.
Day 08
Na'in and the Central Desert
- Leaving Isfahan behind, your first stop this morning will be in Na'in, an ancient community with origins dating back to the 8th century. There, you will visit the Jame Mosque of Naien.
- After that, continue your journey to the magnificent Central Desert of Iran, or as it is locally called, "Kavir-e-Markazi," where you will explore the edge of the sandy desert. This makes your stay especially memorable, since most other places in that region are some distance from the real desert. Here, you'll have the chance to visit the Mesr Desert, the historic villages and their local people, enjoy homemade food, and become familiar with their customs and way of living.
Day 09
Meybod Caravanserai and Onward to Yazd
- Your overland journey continues to the small town of Meybod, where your first impression might be its striking monochromatic architecture of desert brick. But set along an ancient trade route, Meybod also offers a number of fascinating sites to visit, including its Caravanserai. Built in typical Safavid style, this ancient desert inn features verandahs, shaded passageways, and nearly 100 rooms - some of which are now used as artisan workshops.
- At the local Icehouse, you'll learn about the thick-clay construction and subterranean chamber that allowed local residents to have ice and food storage before refrigeration - even during the intense desert heat of summer.
- Tonight's dinner in a local restaurant offers a chance to experience daily Iranian life in a city that's smaller than Tehran or Isfahan. The ambience is a bit more laid-back, and the residents may seem a bit more reserved. But you'll find them warm, friendly, and eager to meet tourists.
Day 10
Zoroastrian Heritage and Old Yazd
- Yazd is one of the oldest continuously inhabited towns in Iran. Its silhouette is punctuated by minarets and ingeniously designed wind towers that capture desert breezes to cool homes during the hot summer months. Yazd is also the center of Iran's Zoroastrian community, which is where you'll begin the day's sightseeing.
- At the Tower of Silence, you'll learn about one of the traditions of this ancient pre-Islamic religion. Until the mid-1900s, the dead were transported to this tower, where they were left to decompose and be devoured by birds. Zoroastrian tradition considers a deceased body to be "unclean," and this process of excarnation prevents contact with either fire or earth - both of which are considered sacred.
- At the still-active Zoroastrian Fire Temple, you will see a flame that is said to have been burning for the past 1,500 years. It's an important pilgrimage site for the faithful, and here your expert guide will offer additional insight into one of the world's oldest monotheistic religions.
- In Amir Chakhmaq Square, you'll see a very impressive Hussainiya - a congregation hall for Shia commemoration ceremonies. With three tiers of recessed alcoves, all perfectly proportioned, its facade is one of the city's most photographed landmarks.
- The next place to visit is the Friday Mosque, built in 1324, where you can gaze upon the tallest minarets in the country.
- Among the many other historic sites to be seen in Yazd are beautiful old homes and the Dowlat Abad Garden. Standing by the garden's long reflecting pool, you'll be shaded by ancient cypress trees. Ahead of you is an 18th-century hexagonal pavilion with a beautiful stained glass window and a graceful wind tower - the tallest in Iran. All around are flowering fruit trees and other ornamental plants and trees.
Day 11
Drive to Shiraz via Abarkooh and Pasargadae
- Today, you have a full day of driving to reach your destination of Shiraz, so it is a good idea to stock up on locally bought and easily found dates and pistachio nuts for the journey.
- During the drive, pass through Abarkooh, where you will visit the traditional Ice House, an adobe building used to store ice and food prior to the invention of the refrigerator. The town is also home to the world's second-oldest tree, called Abarkooh Cypress. Its age is estimated to be over 4000 years, and you can see the tree on the way.
- Next, visit Pasargadae, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Tomb of Cyrus the Great, and the former capital of the Achaemenid Empire. Spend some time exploring the site, and though it is not as striking as Persepolis, there is a great viewpoint where you can look over the site and the surrounding area.
- Continue to Shiraz and check into the hotel.
Day 12
Persepolis, Naqsh-e-Rustam, and Hafez
- After breakfast, drive to the legendary city of Persepolis, the former capital of Darius the Great, which was founded in 512 BC. There was no more impressive construction in the ancient world than Persepolis, except perhaps Karnak in Egypt.
- From here, drive a couple of miles to Naqsh-e-Rustam, the necropolis where Darius and his successors are buried. Carved into the side of a cliff, the site is extraordinary in its magnitude and sheer ambition and does not disappoint even after the impressive Persepolis.
- End your day on a tranquil note in the lovely garden-tomb of Hafez, one of Iran's most outstanding poets, to feel the taste of Persian literature. Hafez is one of the great poets who has impressed everyone with his mastery. His poems give a special feeling, and the peace in his tomb is truly outstanding.
Day 13
Pink Mosque, Gardens, and Vakil Bazaar
- After breakfast, visit Nasir-al-Mulk Mosque (Pink Mosque), which is a few steps from Vakil Bazaar. It was built at the command of Mirza Hassan Ali Nasir-al Mulk, one of the lords of the Qajar Dynasty, and took 12 years to complete in 1888. Its interior reveals a magnificent masterpiece of design with stunning colors. This is a space where light and worship intertwine. The mosque comes to life with the sunrise, and the colors dance throughout the day like whirling Dervishes. They reflect on the ground, walls, arches, and towering spires. They even reflect on the visitors, as if a colorful ball were struck by the first ray of sun and had exploded into thousands of butterflies all around.
- Continue your exploration in Shiraz at the beautiful orange-scented Narenjestan Garden, laid out in the 19th century during the Qajar Dynasty.
- Then, have a look at Karim Khan Citadel from outside, which was built during the Zand Dynasty.
- You'll have time to explore and shop in the bustling Vakil Bazaar, home to hundreds of stores, beautiful courtyards, and even an ancient caravanserai. Beside the bazaar, you will also visit the famous Traditional Vakil Bath. A distinguishing feature of Vakil Bath is that its light is provided by the goblets designed in the ceiling. There are also some special platforms for changing rooms.
Day 14
Gardens and Shrines of Shiraz, Then Fly to Tehran
- After breakfast, continue your exploration of the city. Shiraz is famous for its gardens, and you'll visit Eram Garden with its aromatic myrtles, beautiful flowers, fruit trees, and towering cypresses, one of which is said to be 3,000 years old.
- Next, visit the Tomb of Saadi, one of the major Persian poets and literary figures, born in Shiraz in the 12th century. He is widely recognized as one of the greatest poets of the classical Iranian literary tradition around the world. His wisdom is ever-present in Iranian culture and language, as people frequent his tomb, recite his poems, and use his aphorisms in their daily conversations.
- After that, go to have a look at the Pars Museum, known as "Shiraz Pavilion" and the oldest museum in Fars province. Pars Museum, or Nazar Garden, is home to numerous valuable items and objects from different historical eras, from pre-Islamic to post-Islamic times. Take a closer look at this exciting museum.
- Before heading back to Tehran, visit the Shrine of Ali Ebne Hamzeh. Built in the 19th century over the tomb of Emir Ali, a nephew of Shah Cheragh who also died in Shiraz while en route to Khorasan to help Imam Reza, this shrine is the latest of several earlier incarnations destroyed by earthquakes.
- Later in the afternoon, fly back to Tehran.
Day 15
Departure from Tehran
- Get transferred by your Iran tour guide to Imam Khomeini International Airport according to your flight time.
Where this trip takes you
Persepolis, Naqsh-e-Rustam, Imam Square, Golestan Palace
The route
Where you'll travel
The fine print
Trip details
What's Included
- Arrival and departure airport transfers from/to Imam Khomeini (IKA) Airport
- Domestic flight from Shiraz to Tehran
- All-night accommodation in standard-grade hotels
- Land travel in Iran by air-conditioned coach
- Services of an Iranian tour lecturer throughout the tour
- Free SIM card and internet access (complimentary 4G SIM card and Wi-Fi access during your travels)
- Meals: 15 breakfasts, 0 lunches, and 1 dinner
- Iranian tour guide
What's Not Included
- Lunch
Know before you go
Important Notes
- This trip starts at 9:00 in the morning on day 2.
- On day 14, there is an included internal flight from Shiraz to Tehran.
- The maximum check-in baggage allowance is 17 kg per person, plus hand luggage.
- Please note that deposits for this trip are refundable and transferable, with only the bank transfer fee deducted, as per the terms and conditions.
- A single supplement is available on this trip.
Accommodation
- Good-quality hotels rated at the Iranian Local House and 3-star level are used on this tour. Local star ratings may vary slightly from international standards. Accommodation is based on double or twin en-suite rooms with air conditioning. All couples will have a private double room. Single travellers may choose to pay a single room supplement to guarantee themselves a single room throughout the tour. Alternatively, they may choose to share a twin room with another traveller of the same sex. If there are no other single travellers available to pair up with at the time of booking, then a single supplement will be added to the tour price, but it will be refunded or deducted from the balance payment if they are paired up later on.
- On your trip, a private AC van or bus is used throughout the tour, subject to the final size of the group.
- The tour includes a 24-hour airport meet-and-assist service at Tehran Imam Khomeini International Airport, your arrival and departure airport-hotel transfers, and all other transfers.
Dates & Prices
- These are regular small-group departures for this tour. All departures are guaranteed to run if a minimum of 6 travellers is reached. If this minimum number is not reached, which happens very rarely, you are offered the option to either pay a small supplement to do the tour exactly as planned, change your date, transfer to another tour, or receive a full refund. Departure dates and prices are listed on the website and brochure.
Booking & Payment
- Payments may be made by bank transfer. Full details will be provided in your booking confirmation email.
Logistics
Meeting & route
Meeting point
Khomeini International Airport
Tour start
استان تهران Tehran تهران - بزرگراه خلیج فارس کیلومتر ۳۰، Iran
Tour ends at the same location as the start point.
End of the journey
Your 15 days finish where they began, in استان تهران Tehran تهران - بزرگراه خلیج فارس کیلومتر ۳۰، Iran.
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Starting from
EUR
1,690
/person
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Starting from
Estimated room rates
Single Room
€1,690.00 — €13,520.00
Double Sharing
€1,690.00 — €6,760.00
When
Travellers
Rooms
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Total
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