19-Day Iran Cultural Tour from Tehran with Persepolis and Yazd

• Our tour guide will meet you at Imam Khomeini Airport and transfer you to the hotel.
• You will have time to rest and relax before the Tehran tour starts.
• First, we visit Golestan Palace of the Qajar dynasty, which was in use from the 18th to the 19th centuries.
• Then we go for a walk through the bazaar, where you can smell different spices, taste natural nuts, and get acquainted with traditional handicrafts.
• Today's program will end with a visit to the Iran National Museum.

• Today we will visit the Carpet Museum, home to some of the most valuable Iranian carpets from the 9th century AH. The designs and accuracy of each weave will leave visitors full of admiration.
• Then we will go to the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art and Sa'd Abad Complex, which was used by Reza Shah Pahlavi and his son, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, until the 1979 Revolution.
• Fly to Rasht.

• Today we have a full-day tour in Bojaq National Park, situated 45 kilometres north of Rasht. This park is home to 234 types of birds, 248 types of plants, and 50 types of fish.

• After breakfast, we go to Emarat Kolah Farangi in Mohtasham Park, built during the Nasir al-Din Shah era.
• Afterwards, pay a visit to the Church of the Holy Mersop. This church was built in the 19th century and features beautiful Roman-style architecture.
• Proceed to the Anthropology Museum, which includes both anthropology and archaeology sections. As you walk through the anthropology section, you will get acquainted with the everyday life and occupations of local people.
• Lastly, see Khane Abrishami, built a century ago. Due to the weather of Rasht, this building was constructed and decorated with wood.

• In the morning, head to Saravan Forest Park, famous for its wide variety of plant species.
• After the visit, we continue the drive to Qazvin and enjoy lovely landscapes along the road.

• After breakfast, we are ready to explore Qazvin. The first site is the Russian Church (Kantur), the smallest church in Iran.
• Next in line is Chehel Sotoun. This palace was built by Tahmasp I, the second king of the Safavid dynasty. Nowadays, the palace has been turned into the Calligraphy Museum.
• Go to one of the oldest and largest baths in Qazvin, Qaghr Bath, built in 1057 AH by Amir Khan Qajar Qazvin, one of the commanders of Shah Abbas Safavi.
• For some rest, we will have a cup of coffee and visit the Caravanserai of Sa'd al-Saltaneh.
• The last attraction to be visited in Qazvin is Atiq Mosque, the oldest Jameh Mosque in Iran.

Leave Qazvin for Kashan.

• After breakfast, we are ready to tour around Kashan.
• Visit the major tourist attractions, including Fin Garden, the Bazaar of Kashan, and Agha Bozorg Mosque.

• In the morning, the driver will take us to Abyaneh, the red village. This village is one of the highest residential spots in Iran, and its altitude is 2,222 m.
• Continue the drive to Natanz. In this pleasant village, we visit a 2,000-year-old fire temple and Jameh Mosque.

• Today our tour starts at Naqsh-e Jahan Square, the second biggest square in the world.
• Tour around Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque, Imam Mosque, and Ali Qapu Palace, built on the order of Shah Abbas the Great.
• In the afternoon, walk near the Zayanderud River and see three old bridges.

• Visit Vank Cathedral, established in 1606 and dedicated to the hundreds of thousands of Armenian deportees who were resettled by Shah Abbas I.

• Today, after breakfast, we leave Isfahan for Yazd.
• Midway, we stop in Nain to visit Jameh Mosque.
• In the afternoon, we go to Dolat-Abad Garden, which belongs to the Afshar dynasty. By digging a 65-kilometre-long aqueduct, water was conducted to the garden. This garden has the biggest windcatcher in the world.

• On this day, we will visit the Water Museum, Jameh Mosque, Fahadan neighbourhood, Alexander's Prison, the bazaar, the Zoroastrian Towers of Silence, the Fire Temple, and Amir Chakhmaq Complex.

• After breakfast, in the morning, go to Abarkuh to visit the 4,500-year-old cypress, Aghazadeh Mansion, and Abarkuh Brick Glacier.
• The next place we will visit is Pasargadae, the capital of the Achaemenid Empire.

• At 8 am, we are ready to see Nasir al-Mulk Mosque (Pink Mosque). In this mosque, coloured glass is used, which doubles the mosque's beauty in the morning sunshine.
• Then, drive to Narenjestan-e Ghavam to see unique paintings on wood (Mrjvk).
• Next, visit the holy shrine of Shah Cheragh. Shiraz is considered by Shia Muslims to be the third most sacred city in Iran after Mashhad and Qom.
• Have lunch near the Zandieh Complex, which contains a mosque, bathhouse, and bazaar.

• Early in the morning at 7:30, get ready to visit Persepolis and Necropolis, which belong to the Achaemenid dynasty.
• In the afternoon, we will see the tombs of Hafez and Ali-Ebn-e-Hamzeh.

• Early in the morning, drive to Bandar Siraf.
• Midway, stop in Firouzabad to visit the Sassanid archaeological landscape of the Firouzabad region, which includes Ghale Dokhtar, a rock relief belonging to the Sassanian king Ardashir I, the Palace of Ardashir Papakan, and the city of Ardashir Khwarrah.
• We will explore traditional handicrafts of the Qashqai, such as Glim (carpet) Ghashghaei.
• In the afternoon, we will tour the ancient catacombs of Siraf and its rainwater wells, and enjoy a nice night near the Persian Gulf with traditional music.

• Today we have a full-day tour to visit the unique and calm salt dome.
• Then, proceed to Bushehr and enjoy the beautiful landscapes of the Persian Gulf.

• Explore Qavam Water Reservoir, Holy Georg Church, British Cemetery, and Khane Ghazi.
• In the afternoon, transfer to the airport to fly to Tehran.

• Head to the airport to board the return flight.

End of the tour.