17-Day North-West Iran Heritage Tour from Tehran with 9 UNESCO Sites

Arrive in Tehran and transfer to the hotel.

Visit Golestan Palace (UNESCO World Heritage Site), the oldest of the historic monuments in Tehran. It consists of 17 palaces, museums, and halls, and was originally built during the Safavid dynasty.

Head to the Archaeological Museum, or National Museum, which is a combination of two museums: the old Archaeological Museum of Iran and the modernistic white travertine National Arts Museum with eight departments. Finally, visit the Glass and Carpet Museums.

Drive to Gorgan in the morning.

Transfer to the hotel.

Head to Agh-Ghala city with your Iranian tour guide.

Visit the Agh-Ghala Bridge. This bridge is 74 meters in length and has refuges on both sides with a height of 1.5 meters, and it consists of four arches. The bridge was constructed in the 9th century and repaired during the Safavid period.

Proceed to Gonbad Kavus and explore Qaboos Tower (UNESCO World Heritage Site), Jordan Ancient City, and the Great Wall of Gorgan, which is the third-largest wall in the world.

Drive to Sari with your Iranian tour guide.

En route, take a short rest in the beautiful Nahar Khoran Park.

Visit the Farah Abad Historical Complex, Kalbadi House, and Vaziri Bath.

Drive to Kiayasar and visit the Badab Soort (Badab-e Surt) natural site. It is a range of stepped travertine terrace formations created over thousands of years when flowing water from two mineral hot springs cooled and deposited carbonate minerals on the mountainside. These are two distinct mineral springs with different natural characteristics.

The first spring contains very salty water that gathers in a small natural pool. Its water is considered to have medicinal properties, especially as a cure for rheumatism and some types of skin diseases and skin conditions.

The second spring has a sour taste and is predominantly orange, mainly due to the large iron oxide sediments at its outlet.

For thousands of years, the water from these two springs emanating from the mountain range has combined and resulted in a number of orange, red, and yellow coloured pools shaped as naturally formed staircases.

Early in the morning, drive to Sari.

Head toward Chalus and enjoy the Tele Cabin and eye-catching scenery at Ejabat and Chaikhoran Palace.

Drive to Masouleh and, en route, visit:

• Markuh Castle

• Javaher Deh Distinct

• Ramsar Museum

• Rudkhan Castle in Fuman

Drive to Ardabil and, en route, make a short stop at Anzali to visit its beautiful lagoon. There are two options for this route: Asalem road and Astara road, and each one has its own attractions.

Visit the Complex of Sheikh Safi-din Ardabili (UNESCO World Heritage Site), comprising:

• The mausoleum of Sheikh Safi, with its dome called Allah-Allah

• Shah Ismail I

• The House of Chinaware (Chini Khaneh), a mosque

• Jannat Sara (the House of Paradise)

• The House of Dervishes (Khanaqah)

• The House of Lamps (Cheragh Khaneh)

• Shahid Khaneh (the House of Martyrs)

• Chelleh Khaneh

Also explore Sheikh Safi's mausoleum, then the bazaar and other attractions, based on time.

Drive to Tabriz via the city of hot springs and taste delicious foods like honey and Ash Doogh (yogurt soup). It has a charming climate that attracts many visitors every year. Its name is Sareyn and means "Spring's Outlet".

Visit the Blue Mosque, Azerbaijan Museum, Golestan Park, Saat Tower, Arg, and the spectacular bazaar. The Bazaar of Tabriz is one of the oldest bazaars in the Middle East and the largest covered bazaar in the world (UNESCO World Heritage Site). It comprises several sub-bazaars, such as Amir Bazaar for gold and jewellery.

In Mozzafarieh, you can find some of the most beautiful and luxurious carpets in Iran and even in the world, as well as a shoe bazaar and many others for various goods.

Head to El Goli Park, which will be the last attraction.

Early in the morning, travel north to visit St. Stephanus Church (UNESCO World Heritage Site) in Jolfa county, a beautiful Armenian church nested in a deep valley near the Aras River.

See the Iranian Church Zoorzoor (ZdorZdor). This monument was made by Saint Thaddeus in the 14th century (UNESCO World Heritage Site).

Finally, see St. Thaddaeus Church, also known as the Black Church (UNESCO World Heritage Site).

Make a trip to Urmia.

Embark on a half-day city tour to visit bazaar areas, churches, and more.

Drive in the morning to Takab.

Visit Takht-e Soleyman, an archaeological site with important symbolic significance. It includes the remains of a Zoroastrian Fire Temple built during the Sassanid period and partially rebuilt during the Ilkhanid period, as well as a temple of the Sassanian period (6th and 7th centuries) dedicated to Anahita (UNESCO World Heritage Site).

Head to Zanjan.

Explore the mausoleum of Oljaytu, which was constructed in 1302-12 in the city of Soltaniyeh, the capital of the Ilkhanid dynasty. Soltaniyeh Dome is an octagonal building crowned with a 50 m tall dome covered in turquoise-blue faience and surrounded by eight slender minarets. It is the earliest existing example of the double-shelled dome in Iran (UNESCO World Heritage Site).

Drive to Tehran.

Enjoy a free day.

Take a city tour of Tehran and the bazaar.

Transfer to the airport for departure.