18-Day Iran Culture Tour with Persepolis, Isfahan and Shiraz

• Upon arriving in Tehran, transfer to your hotel with your Iranian tour guide, who will be waiting for you.

Overnight in Tehran.

• Visit the National Museum, the Islamic Art Museum, the Sa'dabad Palace Complex, which was once a royal summer home during the Pahlavi period, and Milad and Azadi towers.

• Proceed to Qazvin in the evening.

Overnight in Qazvin.

• Qazvin is a pleasant city with a wonderfully restored caravanserai-turned-arts precinct, some quirky museums, and a handful of decent eating options. Visit Saad-al Saltaneh Caravanserai, the covered bazaar, and Chehel Sotoun Palace.

• Drive to Anzali.

Overnight in Anzali.

• Visit Anzali Lagoon, where you can ride a boat.

• Proceed to Masal, a paradise of Iran and a land of high waterfalls, forests, and rivers.

• Arrive in Ardabil via the beautiful Masal-Khalkhal road.

Overnight in Ardabil.

• Visit the Sheikh Safi al-Din Khānegāh and Shrine Ensemble, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

• Drive to Sarein, where you can enjoy its mineral springs.

Overnight in Sarein.

• Early in the morning, depart for Tabriz.

• Visit UNESCO heritage sites including the Blue Mosque and El Gölü.

• Overnight in Tabriz.

• Kandovan is an extraordinary ancient village with at least 800 years of history and is especially attractive to travellers.

• After lunch, drive to Takab, home to one of the oldest Zoroastrian fire temples from the Sassanian dynasty.

Overnight in Takab.

• Explore Hamadan, which was one of the ancient world's greatest cities. Pitifully little remains from antiquity, but significant parts of the city centre are given over to excavations, and there is always the possibility of exciting exploration in this area.

• Explore Ganj Nameh, Alavian Dome, Ali-Sadr Cave, and Bu Ali Sina Mausoleum.

Overnight in Hamadan.

• Visit the UNESCO heritage sites of Taq-e Bostan, Bisotun, and the Anahita Temple.

Overnight in Kermanshah.

• Depart for Dezful.

• En route, stop and explore Falak-ol-Aflak Castle in Khorramabad.

Overnight in Dezful.

• Visit one of the greatest cities of ancient Persia. Modern-day Shush is modestly small and relaxed and is home to a vast number of UNESCO-listed archaeological sites beside the deeply historic oasis of Shushtar and Chogha Zanbil.

Overnight in Shushtar.

• Head to Shiraz via Bishapur.

• En route, make a stop at Bishapur and Tang-e Chogan.

Overnight in Shiraz.

• Explore the Nasir-al-Molk Mosque (Pink Mosque), Eram Garden, Naranjestan, Hafez Mausoleum, and the astonishing mirror decoration at the Ali-Ibn-Hamzeh Holy Shrine.

Overnight in Shiraz.

• Drive to Isfahan and visit Persepolis, the Persian capital of 500 BCE, Necropolis, and the UNESCO site of Pasargadae for views of the Tomb of Cyrus the Great.

Overnight in Isfahan.

• Isfahan has some of the greatest examples of Islamic architecture and art. Head to Naqsh-e Jahan Square, including the Imam Mosque, Sheikh Lotf Allah Mosque, Ali Qapu, and the bazaar.

• Head to the historic Si-o-se-pol and Khaju bridges in the evening.

Overnight in Isfahan.

• Travel to Matin Abad (Eco Camp) after breakfast.

• Take a walk in the vast and mysterious desert sprawling under the blue sky, as it is relaxing.

• Explore the organic farm or the farm animals, as that can be calming and fun.

Overnight in Matin Abad.

• Drive to Abyaneh, which is characterized by a peculiar reddish hue that comes from the mud bricks quarried from the nearby mountains.

• Drive to Kashan.

Overnight in Kashan.

• Explore the Persian Fin Garden and the historic Boroujerdi House in Kashan.

• Head to Tehran International Airport.