7-Day Western Iran Highlights Tour with UNESCO Sites and Ali-Sadr

• Start your Khuzestan tour by arriving in Dezful or Ahvaz.

• See the ancient hill of Susa, its museum, and the old bridge of Dezful.

• Experience Iran by walking around the Choqa-Zanbil ziggurat, dating back to 2000 BC, along with other ancient sites in Susa.

• Be amazed by the hydraulic system of Shushtar, which has been working for 2000 years.

• Learn how the ancient watermills worked at the Shushtar hydraulic system and discover more about the first civilized area in Iran.

Distance: The duration of the flight from Tehran is 1 hour. Ahvaz to Dezful is 140 km (about 2 hours).

Accommodation: A 3-star hotel in Dezful

• After leaving Dezful, drive through the Zagros Mountains with spectacular scenery.

• On the way to Kermanshah, visit Falak-al-Aflak Castle and the Anthropology Museum in Khorram-Abad, in Lorestan province.

• Then continue to Kermanshah and, just before reaching the city, visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Bisotoun Inscription, which includes an inscription from the era of Darius.

• Experience the wonder of standing in awe before the spectacular landscape of the Zagros Mountains and meeting the Lurs, the ethnic people of western Iran.

Distance: Dezful to Kermanshah is 370 km (about 5 hours).

Accommodation: A 4-star hotel in Kermanshah

• Before leaving Kermanshah, see the giant bas-reliefs of Taq-Bostan from the Sassanid era (300-700 AD).

• After a couple of hours on the road, arrive in Hamedan. In the afternoon, take an excursion to Varkaneh stony village, where all the houses and alleys are made of original stone.

• Experience history by walking through the narrow stone-made alleys of the village, and learn how proficient the Sassanians were in carving bas-reliefs.

Distance: Kermanshah to Hamedan is 200 km (about 2.5 hours); Hamedan to Varkaneh is 25 km.

Accommodation: A 4-star hotel in Hamadan

• Start in the morning by visiting an ancient hill and roaming around the recently discovered parts of the ancient city of Hegmataneh. Also see a museum with precious heritage from different periods of Iran's history.

• Visit the Tomb of Ester, who saved the Jewish people of Iran in 500 BC.

• Another unique place to see is the tomb of Avicenna, the famous scientist and philosopher from the 11th century.

• See Hegmataneh Hill, Alavian Tomb, Avicenna Mausoleum, Imam Square, Ester Tomb, and the Ganjnameh inscriptions and waterfall.

• Experience the culture of the inhabitants of Hamedan and walk along the beautiful street of Avicenna.

• Learn the story of Ester, the Jewish saviour and wife of Xerxes.

Accommodation: A 4-star hotel in Hamadan

• After leaving Hamedan and spending one hour on the road, arrive at Ali-Sadr Cave, one of the most beautiful and largest water caves on earth.

• Spend around two hours in the cave, walking and riding boats. Be amazed by the size of the stalactites and their crystal-clear reflections, and marvel at the features of Ali-Sadr Cave and the peaceful atmosphere of its mysterious paths.

• Also on the way to Zanjan, stop to visit the largest brick-made dome in the world - Soltanieh Dome, a UNESCO World Heritage site with its turquoise colour and magnificent stucco from the Mongol era.

• Learn more about how the Mongols continued their rule in Iran and about their artistic contributions.

Distance: Hamedan to Zanjan is 270 km (about 4 hours).

Accommodation: A 4-star hotel in Zanjan

• After checking out of your hotel in Zanjan, take a long drive to Tabriz.

• After a couple of hours on the road, stop to visit another UNESCO World Heritage site, an old and important place in Iran's history. It was a holy place for Zoroastrians and kings, a complex of temples, and the site where one of the most important holy fires was kept.

• Next to the ancient complex is a mountain called Zendan-Soleyman, which means Solomon's Prison. Experience a stunning view from the top of Mount Zendan-Soleyman.

• See Takht-Soleyman.

Distance: Zanjan to Takht-Soleyman is 150 km (about 2.5 hours); Takht-Soleyman to Tabriz is 320 km (about 4.5 hours).

Accommodation: A 4-star hotel in Tabriz

• On your last day in the west, enjoy a full-day experience in Tabriz.

• After visiting the Blue Mosque with its turquoise tiles and a museum full of ancient heritage, start walking through the largest bazaar in Iran, a UNESCO World Heritage site filled with exciting shops and goods. Tabriz is famous for its leather and carpet industry, so you can find some souvenirs in this bazaar.

• See the Azerbaijan Museum.

• In the afternoon, catch your flight to Tehran or any other place, or continue your journey to the other side of Iran.

Distance: The duration of the flight from Tabriz to Tehran is 1 hour.