Welcome to Enchanting Journeys

The Middle East is a grand epic, a cradle of civilisations & a beautiful, complicated land that is home to some of the planet's most hospitable people. From the gravitas of the Sahara to the blue tiles of Isfahan, this is a region for discerning travellers, for those looking for the story behind the headline & where the bridges between ancient & modern civilisations are everywhere evident. Here, history is not something you read about in books. It was here that some of the most significant civilisations of antiquity rose & fell. It is a story written on the stones that litter the region, from the flagstones of old Roman roads to the building blocks of ancient Egypt & the delicately carved tombs & temples from Petra to Persepolis. This is where humankind first built cities & learned to write and it was from here that 3 great monotheistic religions Judaism, Christianity & Islam all arose.

Its cities read like a roll-call of historical heavyweights: Jerusalem, Beirut, Cairo, İstanbul, Isfahan, Damascus & Baghdad. Aside from ranking among the oldest continuously inhabited cities on earth, these ancient-modern metropolises are places to take the pulse of a region. It is here too, that you find the stirring, aspirational architecture that so distinguishes the 3 faiths.

Salam & welcome to Islamic Republic of Iran - one of the friendliest countries on earth. the jewel in Islam's crown, combining glorious architecture with a warm-hearted welcome. Land of fire, a journey of flavours, being one of nature – so many metaphors to describe the country.

Little understood & seldom visited by Western tourists, Iran can seem opaque & enigmatic. Many preconceptions are based on its confusion with the Arab world, a fact lost on many in the West & a mistake many in Iran, with its over 2,500 years of Persian history, would probably take issue with.

An essential stop on the Silk Road, the Persian Empire stretched from Greece to India & brought its famously tolerant culture - including early medicine - to a world mired in comparative medieval backwardness. Today's Iran is still a place of bustling bazaars, glorious architecture & mountain villages with a young, friendly & open population. As long as you are not too attached to that glass of wine (curiously, Shiraz was invented here), a visit will take you beyond the rhetoric into one of the world's truly great cultures.

Arrive in the dynamic & vibrant city Tehran, one of the world’s greatest megalopolises with its chaotic charm & juxtapositions found on every street.

After you exit in the Arrival Hall at Terminal? – Tehran Imam Khomeini International Airport, subsequent to Immigration & Customs, you will be welcomed by The Journeys representative who will ensure your comfort & transfer you to the hotel, help you settle in & provide you with some useful tips for exploring the area as well as discuss the program for the next day.

If, for any reason you are unable to make contact with our representative within 30 minutes of waiting, please call the local Emergency telephone # listed on your Contact List. Please follow the advice given by our 24 / 7 Duty Officer. Please do not exit the Airport & make your own way to the start hotel.

Reach the centrally located hotel & Check-in.

*Rooms held from previous day to ensure immediate Check-in.

Hugging the lower slopes of the magnificent, snow-capped Alborz Mountains, Tehran is Iran’s most secular & liberal city city that attract students from across the country. Expect relatively bold fashion statements & a range of ethnic & international restaurants.

Many travellers & no small number of Tehranis will tell you there is no reason to hang around in the capital. But to take their advice is to miss out. This is the nation's dynamic beating heart & the place to get a handle on modern Iran & what its future will likely be.

The first time Tehran is mentioned in historical accounts is in an 11^th century chronicle in which it is described as a small village north of Rayy (Ragha or Ray). Rayy, often considered to be Tehran’s predecessor, became the capital city of the Seljuq Empire in the 11^th century but later declined with factional strife between different neighbourhoods & the Mongol invasion of 1220. Although, in later years Rayy continued to serve as an important centre of strategic advantage during various military campaigns across the Iranian plateau, its significance as a city was lost. Now a suburb of Tehran, Rayy is well known for its religious shrines.

In the 13^th century Tehran was a prosperous market town, known for its pomegranates, its 12 rival neighbourhoods with their underground dwellings surrounded by a band of trees & its defiance of the government.

At the time of the Zand dynasty, it was a little town that was significant from a strategic point of view. The first of the Qajar kings, Agha Mohammed Khan, named Tehran as the country's capital in 1778 & most of its growth started during the reign of a subsequent Qajar monarch, Fath-Ali Shah. The Castle which Agha Mohammed Khan had built was to contain the new majestic buildings. Even though the dynasty was in a period of decline, Tehran soon took the shape of a modern city.

In the late 19^th century, a major program of modernization transformed the capital, enlarging the urban area by several times its size. Gates, Squares & Mosques were built & it was at the time of Nassereddin Shah that the city's master sketch was prepared & modern streets were constructed. The structure of large government buildings, new streets, recreation centres, urban service organizations, academic & methodical centres were started. The city's old architectural fabric replaced by a contemporary one. Later, huge central Squares like Toopkhaneh Square (now Imam Khomeini Square) & quite a few military buildings were built. At the same time, the city's population doubled & now total 14 million.

The new urban structure resulted in a north-south divide, separating the rich from the poor & modern from traditional, establishing a new character for the city. The northern districts are more prosperous, modern, cosmopolitan & expensive while southern parts are less attractive but cheaper.

In addition to Persians, there is a large population of Azeris in Tehran, as well as other ethnicities including Armenian, Assyrian, Kurdish, Jewish & Zoroastrian communities. The majority of Tehran's residents speak Persian.

Tehran has also earned itself the rather unenviable reputation as a smog-filled, traffic-clogged, featureless sprawl of concrete. But you can also find an endless number of nice & cozy places in & around the city - if you know where to look. The city is dotted with Mosques, Churches, Synagogues & Zoroastrian Fire Temples, Art Centers, Palace complexes, Cultural Centers & serene Gardens & well-kept  serene Gardens & Parks, more than 800 of them.

And while Tehran lacks history, it makes up for it with many impressive Museums specializing in a range of themes. If much of Iran is an open-air Museum, Tehran brings it back indoors, with a vast concentration of Artwork, Manuscripts, Jewellery, Rugs, Qurans & more sourced from across the Persian Empire. The Cinema & Contemporary Art Museums reveal the country’s continuing love affair with art in all its forms & holds works from a number of major international artists. The National Museum specializes in ancient Iranian heritage while the Carpet Museum displays masterpieces of this national craft. A great start to your holiday as you learn about Iran’s rich history before visiting the sites. 

Tehran plays a noted role in the arts. The Tehran Symphony Orchestra has performed both at home & for international audiences abroad & the Fajr International Theater Festival is held here annually. Iran’s film industry, based in Tehran, has been internationally recognized for its new realist school of cinema & its award-winning films.

The Iranian Revolution in 1979 had a distinctive cultural impact, limiting particular forms of expression while nurturing others. Within this framework, traditional arts such as Calligraphy & Music have seen a revival, with many educational institutions & Galleries involved.

Exploring this fascinating Metropolis will transport you on a journey through Iranian history - from the glittering Golestan Palace & the adjacent Grand Bazaar to the notorious former US Embassy.

Tehran’s architecture is eclectic; while many buildings reflect the international Modernist style, others display postmodern, Neoclassical & traditional Persian styles. A modern, vibrant city, its skyline is dominated by snow-capped mountains & a proliferation of high-rise buildings, topped by the beautiful 21^st century Borj-e Milad (Milad Tower) rising 435 metres above the city.  The Azadi Tower, completed in 1971, greets visitors at the western entrance to the city, which has come to symbolize the city. The unique pedestrian Tabiat (“nature”) Bridge, the largest of its kind in Iran, that connects 2 public Parks, is a modern internationally renowned architectural marvel.

With so much fascinating history on show in its Museums, Mosques & Palaces, those in charge clearly decided that Tehran needed a more “contemporary” attraction, too. Enter the world’s highest Dolphinarium, at the top of Tehran’s Milad Tower, where dolphins & sea lions perform for visitors 4 times a day to the sound of pounding Persian pop. But, we will stick with a civilisation showcasing 1,000s of year of history within history.

Tehran’s vibrancy is marked by large crowds of young people, numerous Shopping Malls, commercial streets, fast-food outlets, an expanding network of highways & bustling public Squares. The city mixes tradition with modernity & religious imagery with secular lifestyles, as evident in the large roadside hoardings that display revolutionary religious iconography standing alongside those advertising consumer goods.

With its relatively short history, ugly mask of concrete, sometimes choking smog & manic streets flowing hot with machines, many travellers & no small number of Tehranis will tell you there is no reason to hang around in the capital. But to take their advice is to miss out. For while Isfahan or Persepolis has a convincing case for being the soul of Iran, Tehran is indisputably its big, ugly, chaotic & dynamic beating heart & the place to get a handle on modern Iran & what its future will likely be.

Spend time here - as you should - and you will soon realise that the city is so much more than a chaotic jumble of concrete & crazy traffic blanketed by a miasma of air pollution.

But to get inside the real Tehran you need to get beyond the Museums & into the contemporary chic Cafes & traditional Teahouses, plenty of Art Galleries & on the walking trails in the mountains. That is where you will connect with Tehranis & enjoy all that is good about Tehran.

No services are envisaged for this evening.

However, if time permits & you wish to explore independently, let us know (we shall be only too happy to offer suggestions).

Overnight.  D 

Morning, Check-out & meet your Tour-guide in the lobby at 08.00 am to proceed for a 6 hour sightseeing tour of the city.

Visit a selection of carefully-chosen highlights, from the remarkable buildings featuring some of the most stunning architecture to be found anywhere & concentrating on its excellent Museums.

Compared to Iran's other capitals, Tehran is not considered an old city. It remained relatively unimportant until the end of the 18^th century when it was made the capital by Agha Mohammad Khan, the founder of the Ghajar Dynasty who was crowned in Tehran in 1795. It was expanded by his successor Fath-Ali Shah who built the Golestan Palace. Today this city is a modern metropolis.

First stop will be at the National Museum of Iran, an institution incorporating 2 complexes - Muze-ye Iran-e Bastan (Museum of Ancient Iran Archaeology) & Muze-i Honar-i Milli (Museum of Islamic Era), which were opened in 1937 & 1972, respectively.

The impressive 11,000 sq. meter building of the Museum of Ancient Iran blends different styles of Sassanian architecture, using red bricks, with a fascinating arch-shaped entrance, a creation of French architects Andre Godard & Maxime Siroux. The Museum of Islamic Era’s building, on the other hand, has a modern design, using white travertine & dark colonnades, decorating the entrance.

A ‘must-visit’ for locals & foreigners since it is supposed to be the biggest & most comprehensive Archaeological Museum. Ranking as one of the most prestigious Museums of the world in regard to grand volume, diversity & quality of its huge monuments, it showcases the entire history of ancient Iran & its old dynasties. Accordingly, Artifacts come from Shush, Rey, Ismailabad, Turang Tappeh & other places, where evidence of ancient civilizations were found.  Traditionally, considered Iran’s ‘mother’ Museum, aiming at preserving relics of the past to hand down to the next generations, enhancing better understanding among world peoples & nations, discovering & showing Iranians’ role in shaping world culture & civilization from Stone Age to 20^th century, in a bid to enhance public knowledge.

The Museum proudly exhibits the artifacts & objects including pottery, stone statues, ceramics & many more which were excavated from historical sites such as Persepolis. The exposition covers the history of Persia from Paleolithic to Qajar period. The fine Collection includes some delightful pitchers & vessels in animal shapes, a stone capital of a Winged Lion from Shush, a cuneiform inscription proclaiming the might & godly affinity of Xerxes, a 6^th century BC Audience Hall Relief & a famous trilingual Inscription of Darius the Great, from the Treasury at Persepolis.

Be sure to see in the Ancient Iran section, the colourful glazed Brick Panels dating back to Achaemenid Era, decorated with double-winged mythical creatures & a striking frieze of glazed tiles from the Central Hall of the Apadana Palace.  A copy of the diorite stele detailing the Babylonian Code of Hammurabi - the world’s first legislation, found at Shush in 1901, is also displayed – the original being in Paris. Look also for the impressive selection of Luristan Bronzes, dating back to the 8^th century BC.

Probably the most exciting item of the Exhibition is the Salt Man from Zanjan, a salt-cured Mummy, found in a Salt mine of Chehrabad. He is thought to have been a miner who died in the 3^rd or 4^th century AD, but whose white-bearded head, leg in a leather boot & tools were preserved by the salt in which he was buried.

Museum of Islamic Era section presents ancient Islamic & Quranic manuscripts, texts, calligraphy paintings, pottery, textile & artworks from the post-classical period of Iran’s history. The newest exhibits belong to Qajar Era.

Move on to the National Jewels Museum owned by the Central Bank & accessed through its front doors. The cavernous vault displays an impressive collection of some of the most famous & spectacular jewels in the world including many priceless pieces. Many pieces have disappeared over the years but the remaining collection of gemstones, jewelry, royal emblems, ornamental guns & jewel-encrusted furniture is still impressive. The Safavid, Qajar & Pahlavi Monarchs adorned themselves & their belongings with an astounding range of priceless gems & precious metals, making this collection of bling quite literally jaw-dropping. The majority of the items on display were given to Safavid Kings as gifts but many pieces brought by Nader Shah from his conquest of India, are also exhibited. These include the Darya-e Nur diamond, the Peacock Throne & the Jeweled Globe. Other pieces include the crowns of the Qajar & Pahlavi Kings.

If time permits, you may stroll around Sadabad Cultural Complex sprawling across the foothills of Darband, covering 110 hectares & comprising 18 separate buildings, The Complex is located in what used to be the royals’ Winter Palace since the Qajar dynasty, although it was the Pahlavis who expanded it to the site you see today.

It houses several Museums, though not all of them are open at the same time; the ones that are, provide a glimpse into the lifestyle of the Reza Shah Pahlavi, the last Shah of Iran. For a glimpse into the luxurious life of the Shahs, see the extravagant 54 room White Palace, built in the 1930s. The more classical-looking Green Palace dates from the end of the Qajar era. The eclectic well-curated Nations Fine Art Museum is found in the basement of the White Palace. There are also exhibitions covering royal vehicles, military paraphernalia, royal costumes & even royal tableware.

In time, you would be transferred to the Terminal? - Tehran Mehrabad Airport to board your flight to Shiraz.

Arrive in vibrant Shiraz, one of the most beautiful, historical cities in the world, known as the “Cultural Capital” of Iran, inhabited by different ethnic groups.

After you exit in the Arrival Hall at Terminal? - Shiraz Shahid Dastgheib International Airport, you will be welcomed by The Journeys representative who will ensure your comfort & transfer you to the hotel, help you settle in & provide you with some useful tips for exploring the area as well as discuss the program for the next day.

If, for any reason you are unable to make contact with our representative within 30 minutes of waiting, please call the local Emergency telephone # listed on your Contact List. Please follow the advice given by our 24 / 7 Duty Officer. Please do not exit the Airport & make your own way to the start hotel.

Reach the centrally located hotel & Check-in.

Balance of the evening is at leisure to relax or for independent exploration (we shall be happy to offer suggestions, in case you want to walk around). 

One of the oldest cities of ancient Persia, Shiraz is set in a fertile valley once famed for its vineyards, which makes it a pleasant place to visit.  

Celebrated as the heartland of Persian culture for more than 2000 years, Shiraz has become synonymous with education, nightingales, poetry & wine. Known for Love & Literature & the origin of first illustrations of Persian gardens, it is a unique example of hospitality & warmth of the Shirazi people.  A city of poets, Shiraz is the birthplace & home to the graves of Hafez & Saadi, both resplendently renovated, now major pilgrimage sites for Iranians. It is also home to splendid Gardens, exquisite Mosques & whispered echoes of ancient sophistication that reward those who linger longer. The marble Tomb of Hafez, honoring the revered Poet, sits within its own garden. To the east, the Mausoleum of Saadi houses the 13^th century writer’s mosaic-tiled Tomb & an underground pool.

Shiraz was one of the most important cities in the medieval Islamic world. The first capital of Fars, some 2500 years ago, was Pasargadae (located near Shiraz). It was also the capital of Achaemenid King Cyrus, the Great. There is also Persepolis, the ceremonial 6^th century B.C capital of his successor, Darius & his son Xerxes with its immense gateways, columns & friezes.  Today, only the ruins of these 2 Capitals remain. Estakhr was another capital of Fars, established by the Sassanians that lasted until Shiraz finally assumed the role of the regional capital. The earliest reference to the city, as Tirazis, is on Elamite clay tablets dated to 2000 BC.

In 1724 the city was sacked by Afghan invaders. Shiraz became capital of the Zand dynasty (1750 - 94), whose founder, the Vakil (Regent) Karim Khan Zand, adorned the old city with many fine buildings, including his Mausoleum (an octagonal tiled kiosk, now a Museum); the Ark, or citadel (now a prison); the Vakil Bazaar & Mosque. Buildings in the new city include the Persian Church of St. Simon, the Zealot & the University (1945). Shiraz is still the Capital of Fars province & it bears many more historical & ancient attractions and old cities of Persian Empire showing the glory of a nation.

Farsi, the ancient language of Fars (Pars) has evolved to become the official national language of Iran, i.e. Persian. The city, a trading & road centre for the central Zagros Mountains, is linked to Bushire, its port on the Persian Gulf. It has cement, sugar & fertilizer factories & textile mills. Traditional inlay work flourishes, as does weaving in the surrounding region.

During spring, the fragrance of flowers, especially orange tree blossoms fill up the air. Its numerous Gardens are extraordinarily beautiful & eye catching & you will have an amazing experience visiting the colorfully painted fabulous religious sites which mesmerizes the visitors. The amazing architecture of these attractions is what really fascinates.

In his 1893 book A Year Amongst the Persians, Edward Browne described Shirazis as ‘…amongst all the Persians, the most subtle, the most ingenious, the most vivacious’. And even in Iran, where regional one-upmanship is common, everyone seems to like Shirazis.

Overnight.  B D 

Morning at 08:30 am, meet the Tour-guide in the Lobby & proceed for a 6 hour sightseeing tour of Shiraz.

It bears many more historical & ancient attractions and old cities of Persian Empire showing the glory of a nation such as Persepolis, the ruined 6^th century B.C. capital to the northeast with its immense gateways, columns & friezes and Necropolis & Pasargadae.

Proceed to the historical Karim Khan-e Zand Complex, one of the most outstanding attractions of Shiraz, built by the ruler himself, consisting of many attractive ancient monuments. There is a Bazaar full of stores, a Bath-house for getting clean, an amazing Mosque for saying prayers, a Castle as the residential place of the King of Iran, a Garden, a Museum for receiving the foreign dignitaries & a water Reservoir.

The city’s ancient trading Zandiyeh district in is home to several bazaars dating from different periods. The finest & most famous of these is the Bazar-e Vakil, a cruciform structure commissioned by Karim Khan as part of his plan to make Shiraz into a great trading centre. One of the most atmospheric bazaars in Iran, especially in the early evening when it is fantastically photogenic. The wide vaulted brick avenues are masterpieces of Zand architecture, with the design ensuring the interior remains cool in summer & warm in winter. Today, the Bazaar, one of the commercial centers at the heart of Shiraz which has still preserved its traditional style, is home to almost 200 stores selling fascinating carpets, handicrafts, antiques, fabrics & clothes, spices & seasonings.

Inside this Bazaar with its great architecture & traditional merchandise, there is an old Caravansary which has been converted into smaller markets named Saray-e Moshir selling beautiful jewelry & priceless gem stones and & Shamshirgarha Bazaar selling tribal handicraft. Outside the Bazaar, you can try Shirazi ice cream & Faloudeh at the traditional Seray-e Mehr Teahouse - an atmospheric little place offering lunch. The Bazaar is best explored by wandering along the atmospheric maze of lanes that lead off the main thoroughfares. Getting lost in the courtyards, caravanserais, and arched brick pathways & finding yourself in the domed Chahar-su (intersection of the bazaar) feels like a trip to the past. With every step you take, the scent of the spices, the colors of the fabrics, the shine of the copperware or the charm of Persian carpets, antiques & handicrafts penetrates deeper into your soul.

Walk to Masjed-e Vakil next to the tribal arts arcade. The Mosque from Karim Khan’s time, has an impressive tiled portal, a recessed entrance decorated with Shirazi rose-pink tiles, 2 vast iwans, a magnificent inner courtyard surrounded by beautifully tiled alcoves & porches. The distinguishing feature of the Mosque, however, is the forest of 48 diagonally fluted columns that support the pleasingly proportioned 75 metres by 36 metres vaulted Prayer Hall, displaying a hypnotic rhythm of verticals & arabesques. The entrance has a portal with great tile works in colors of green, blue & yellow.

The spectacular colossal Mosque has a central pond inside its yard which reminds the religious people when doing ablution of the temporary world in this transient life when their faces fade away in the reflection of water waves & they attest to the greatest power in the universe that is the Almighty.  Other fine features include an impressive mihrab & 14 step marble minbar, carved from a monolith transported all the way from Azerbaijan. Much of the tiling, with its predominantly floral motifs, was added in the early Qajar era.

The next attraction that Karim Khan-e Zand had built in Shiraz was a Vakil Bathhouse in the western part of Masjed-e Vakil & next to Bazar-e Vakil. It used to be a public bath for almost all the people of Shiraz until 90 years ago, when it was converted into a traditional Gymnasium for a while & then the government designated this as a National Heritage Monument to preserve as a replica of a traditional Bathhouse.

Today, Iran Cultural Heritage Organization has made a lot of attempts to renovate some ruined parts of Bathhouse in order to preserve the ancient Persian culture & the Iranian identity. Archaeologists have carefully examined the decorations & architectural details & have concluded that they are inspired by Safavid architecture.

The 1,350 sq. metre Bathhouse is one of the largest traditional Bathhouses in Iran & offers visitors a glimpse of the past around 400 years ago, into the life style of the people of Shiraz. Famous for its aesthetic beauty, it forces its visitors to walk with their heads held high to look at the impressive frescoes on the ceiling. This ancient artwork is discernable for its great magnificence which is hard to find in any other historic Baths. 

The structure is mainly built of brick, gypsum mortar & stone & the entrance portal on the north of the Bathroom is a low doorway connecting to an Anteroom with a slight slope. This technique along with the angled entrance of the rooms was brilliantly applied to trap the heat inside. The Anteroom, decorated with arabesque patterns, leads to a chamber which used to be a Dressing Hall. This octagonal room holds 8 monolithic stone columns supporting the vault. The walls are decorated with stucco molding in floral & geometric patterns. There is a big pool in the middle & the empty spaces around it were used to hold shoes.

A corridor where the lavatories are situated connects the Dressing Hall to the Heat Room which was meant for people to rest after their bath. Bath time in the days gone by involved more than just cleaning yourself. People interacted with one another chatting, cleaning, grooming, getting massages. So, it is a natural thing in Iran that strangers easily communicate with each other & talk about their lives.

It should be noted that the Bathrooms were not places used merely for cleaning, but also served as a local community centre for different ceremonies like baby shower, marriage proposals, other old marriage traditions. You can get feel of a real ceremony held here by visiting the room dedicated to 'Henna Bandan'. This is a ritual in a traditional Iranian wedding ceremony where the relatives put Henna on bride's hands as a symbol of joy & fortune. 

This makes the Bathhouse a great place to get to know Iranian culture. Vakil Bathhouse is a rich Museum of Anthropology. Visitors can find life-size wax figures clad in ‘Long’ (a piece of traditional cloth worn around the waist) in different sections, modeling the traditional stages of bathing, representing the function & some of the customs that used to be held there.

The central Heat Room architectural design is based on a square plan ground with 4 columns in solid rock topped by a canopy of vaults. Hot water canals passed under the floor covered with stones. The dados are in green marble plates imported from Tabriz. There are 2 deep niches with a large stone pool in front of them which were used by nobilities. Particularly remarkable are the plaster designs created in the Qajarid era (1785 to 1925) over the Zand designs. 

Next, proceed to visit Pars Museum near-by.

Small in size but it is a glorious monument built around 200 years ago inside Nazar Garden dating back to the Safavid time, by the order of Karim Khan as one of his royal Project for the ordinary people of Shiraz. It is an octagonal Mansion & a beautiful Pavilion decorated with exquisite tile & brick work & painted roof, that was initially built as a ceremonial meeting place where Karim Khan greeted guests & diplomats.

Influenced by European arts in Iran, the Pavilion was named Kolah-e Farangi (foreign hat). The octagonal shape of the building with its extraordinarily beautiful decorations especially the tiles with floral motifs & birds & flowers depicted on their surfaces, added to the beauty.

In 1943, the building was converted to a Museum to display exquisite items kept inside the glass boxes. Spend time exploring the interesting items related to Persian art, history & architecture. Relics & artifacts from pre-Islamic & Islamic era are exhibited.  It now houses a collection relating to the life of Karim Khan & other historic artifacts relating to the province. There is also a Collection of valuable metals & coins from 4^th millennium B.C. Papier-mache works of Artists from Zand era can be seen, too. There is a Sword that supposedly belonged to Karim Khan Zand. But the most unique object of the Museum is Haftadman Quran, handwritten in Muhaqqaq calligraphy by Ibrahim Sultan, the Timurid prince, in 9^th century.

Following his will, Karim Khan Zand was buried in the eastern alcove of the Mansion in 1193 AH.

Depending on the available time, you may also visit 18^th century Arg-E Karim Khan (the Citadel). From the outside, you can see the long & majestic walls of the Castle with crenelations inspired from the ancient city of Persepolis.

Upon entering, cross an octagonal shape Saloon which was meant to protect the privacy of King’s family. There are some small platforms provided for the people who came to visit the King, to rest (or wait for the summons). Crossing the Saloon, you enter into a beautiful stylish Persian garden with all the relevant elements of a typical garden i.e. porches, ponds with nice & delicate designs, high roofs with monolithic stone & wooded pillars.

Inside the rooms, you can see decorations of golden floral motifs. Besides, there are colored windows in red, yellow, blue & green to add to the beauty of this residential Palace & also to avoid unwanted insects from entering the rooms. The shape of decorations & the pool and many other things inside the Palace has Toranj-like patterns or citrus fruits. There is also a small wind catcher above the pond in front of the Pavilion on top of the roof. Across from this Castle on the other side of the street, you can observe a Pavilion & a magnificent building which had been originally constructed for the foreign guests of Karim Khan-e Zand which has now been converted into a Garden & a Museum full of many priceless antiques from the Zandieh, Qajar & Pahlavi eras.

Leaving the Karim Khan-e Zand Complex behind, proceed to see some other notable sights which has made Shiraz famous.

Shiraz’s vibrant culture of art, craftsmanship & a rich history, is on spectacular display at the 19^th century Masjed-e Nasir Al Molk, one of the most beautiful Mosques in Iran.

One of the most elegant & most photographed pieces of architecture in southern Iran, the "Pink Mosque" with its spectacular rainbow of stained glass & a plethora of exquisite rose-colour tiles blanketing the ceiling & the impressive sight of sun rays passing through the colourful glass showering the Prayer Hall with hues of light, makes it the one of the most beautiful in Iran & may be, the world. The Mosque includes extensive coloured glass in its façade & displays other traditional elements such as the Panj Kase design.

The splendid building took 12 years to complete (1876-188) &   was built by order of one of the Qajar grandees, Hassan Ali Nasir-ol-Mulk, son of the ruler of Fars Province at the time, when Iran was taking the first steps of modernization under the influence of Europeans who frequented the country & had a considerable impact on the country’s art, architecture & culture.

From the outside, it might look like an ordinary traditional Iranian Mosque, since its location on the alley, its modest entrance gate, the lack of high Minarets & a giant Dome does not reveal anything about the interior.

Once you enter, the precise architectural symmetry catches your eyes. There is a big rectangular pool with golden fish in the centre of the courtyard that reflects the sky & structure on its water. At both northern & southern ends of the yard, there are 2 porches with stunning half-vaults ornamented with colourful tiling & detailed Persian Muqarnas art.

The Mosque is a fine example of the combination of Persian architecture & European tilework. The exquisite pink-coloured tiles with beautiful floral designs are new features - brought by Europeans - added to the geometry-based Persian tilework in which turquoise & other shades of blue were the dominant colours before.

There are 2 Prayer Halls, one on the left side of the pool (winter Prayer Hall) & the other on its right (summer Prayer Hall). There are 8 arches on the eastern room facade & 7 Orsi windows on the western hall façade. The ceiling relies on 12 stone columns that are skillfully carved with tiny domes between each pair of columns. The end of this pillar row leads to a gorgeous altar which completes the splendour of this Praying Room.

The skilful use of colourful stained-glass Orsi windows with wooden frames, is different from the stained glass one might see in a Church or a Synagogue. Orsi windows are standard in traditional Iranian architecture, mostly in houses & mansions but rarely seen with this artistic splendour in a Mosque. 

The best time to visit is early in the morning when the Hall & its Persian carpets are illuminated with a kaleidoscope of patterned flecks of light - a magical experience & an irresistible photograph. The smart placement of the windows where the sunlight glints every morning & makes a spectacular drizzle of colourful lights shows its architectural subtlety.

Drive on after spending an hour exploring in the Museum & the next stop will be Aramgah-e Sa’di, (Mausoleum), resting place of Iran's best-known poet - a literary giant of the 14^th century. Set in a pleasant Garden, the present Tomb was built in 1952 & replaces an earlier much simpler construction. The grave is inside an octagonal edifice on top of which stands an amazing azure blue dome.

Unlike Hafez (another famous poet), Sa’di traveled extensively in Iraq & Syria, where he was even taken prisoner by the Crusaders. Upon his return to Shiraz, Sa’di wrote his most famous works, the Bustan (The Orchard) & the Golestan (The Rose Garden), in which moral tales are written either in verse or in a mixture of prose & verse. Sa’di is said to have died in 1290 at the grand age of 101.

One of Shiraz’s several shrines, housed in an open-sided colonnade built during the Pahlavi era, is dedicated to Sheikh Mohammed Shams-ed-Din, simply known as Sa’di - a poet who lived & died between 1207 & 1291.

A tranquil place that makes for a pleasant respite from the noise of the surrounding city, the Mausoleum whose walls are inscribed with verses of Sa’adi’s poems, is set amidst generous gardens of evergreens, bitter orange & roses, appropriate to a man who wrote so extensively about flowers. Inside the serene Garden, one can listen to traditional Persian music played on the speakers & enjoy the relaxing environment. There is a beautiful pond in the yard in front of the Entrance where visitors throw coins in the hope that their wishes would come true. Just like the famous Trevi Fountain in Rome.

Saadi has been internationally revered, then & even now by scholars. In fact, he has been immortalised in the United Nations in New York. One of his Poem is written on top of the main Entrance of the United Nations: “Human beings are members of a whole, In creation of one essence & soul. If one member is afflicted with pain, other members uneasy will remain. If you have no sympathy for human pain, the name of human you cannot retain”.

There are the usual Iranian traffic issues, but the city’s agreeable climate, set as it is in a fertile valley once famed for its Vineyards, makes it a pleasant place to visit. See from outside the famous Tomb of Shah Cheragh, brother of Imam Reza. The Tomb, beautifully lit at night, draws thousands of pilgrims annually & is the principal pilgrimage center in the province of Fars.

The sightseeing concludes & you return to the hotel.

Balance of the day is at leisure to relax or for independent exploration or for optional activities (we shall be happy to offer suggestions & arrange). 

Overnight.  B D

Very early morning, depart for Isfahan, driving through the rural landscape, with a couple of breaks enroute.

Stop at Persepolis enroute.

One of the great wonders of the ancient world, Persepolis embodies not just a grand architectural scheme but also a grand idea. Persepolis was the first capital of Fars, some 2500 years ago.

It was also the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenian Empire of King Cyrus the Great & perhaps one of the country's most beautiful & spectacular archaeological sites surviving today. The administrative center of the Achaemenians was actually at Susa, shifting during the summer to Hamadan while Persepolis was reserved only for ritual celebrations. Persepolis stands on a limestone terrace overlooking the Marvdasht plain at the foot of the Kuh-e Rahmat, the Mountain of Mercy.

It was conceived by Darius the Great who, inherited the responsibility for ruling the world's first known Empire founded by his predecessor, Cyrus the Great.

Darius I started constructing the great metropolis to serve as a summer capital in around 512 BC. Subsequent Achaemenian kings, including Xerxes I, added their own Palaces over the next 150 years.

Embracing tenets such as cultural tolerance & fair treatment of all subjects, Darius sought to reflect these concepts in the design of the magnificent complex at Persepolis, inviting architects from the furthest corner of the Persian Empire to contribute to its construction. The result is an eclectic set of structures, including monumental staircases, exquisite reliefs & imposing gateways that testified to the expanse of Darius' domain.

The striking point about its architecture is not only about how grand or detailed it is but how delicately it was influenced by the construction art of nations from around the globe. Tiles were brought from Babylon, precious stones from India, Cedrus wood from Lebanon and Lydians & Greeks worked together with Persians to raise hundreds of Columns to the sky. Although, it was the seat of the government of the Achaemenid Empire, the opulent construction was more reflective of it being a venue for Receptions, Festivals & Ceremonies.

In its heyday Persepolis was one of 4 key cities at the heart of an Empire that spread from the Indus River to Ethiopia. Its original name was Parsa & it only acquired its Greek name of Persepolis – meaning both City of Parsa (City of Persia) & Destroyer of Cities – after Alexander the Great’s army sacked the city in 330 BC.

Categorized among the world’s greatest archaeological sites, there are about 15 major buildings, including the Apadana, the Hall of Hundred Columns, the Gate House of Xerxes, the Treasury, the Harem & the private Palaces of the different rulers. The most important buildings were crowded onto a terrace of natural rock that rises over 9 metre above the plain on 3 sides & is adjacent to a low mountain on the 4^th side.

The Great Porch of Xerxes, flanked by winged bulls of stone, leads you into a massive ruined complex of royal Palaces, Reception Halls, Throne Rooms, Courts & Apartments covered with inscriptions & carvings.

There are remains of a number of Palaces. Some of the outstanding ones are Mirror, Apadana, Tachara which is the most striking with photogenic skilled relief work. Hadish Palace was completed by Xerexes & an unfinished one simple called Palace H.

Another Palace worth visiting (no name) is one with a 100 Columns which was burned down by Alexander. 3 feet of ash covered the floor in some places when it was excavated & many Columns are still visibly scarred by those flames which burned over 2,000 years ago.

The ensemble of the city’s majestic approaches, monumental stairways, & annex buildings bear witness of unique quality and to a most ancient civilization.

The most majestic part of Persepolis is the eastern staircase of Apadana with stunning wall carvings showing rows of Persian nobles in formal clothing with headdresses that distinguish them from the Medes in round caps. Exquisitely carved bas-reliefs depict the representatives from all 28 subordinate nations under the rule of Achaemenid Dynasty, bearing gifts to their almighty ruler - envoys from as far away as Ethiopia & Armenia, India & Cappadocia.

There are also Ossuaries in the nearby mountains where several Tombs pertaining to the Kings, had been dug intricately. The ancient city was buried years under dust & sand for 100s of years till being accidently discovered. The ruins are reflective of it’s once glorious & majestic past.

Today, the enticing spectacular glory of the ruins of Persepolis reveal both the glory of the Achaemenid Empire & the abruptness of its passing. In order to understand its magnificence & glory, visitors can just walk through the Gate of All Nations & observe the perfectly detailed drawings of the surviving pillars.

Somewhat surprisingly for a city of its size & grandeur, Persepolis is rarely mentioned by any name in foreign records, which focus instead on other Achaemenid capitals including Babylon, Ecbatana (modern Hamadan) & Shush. This has led some archaeologists to speculate that the existence of the city was kept a secret from the outside world.

After spending an hour here, hop on the vehicle & continue driving on the pre-modern highway, passing past the Pulvar River’s rather direct flow & onto the stunning Tang-i Bulaghi (Bulaghi Canyon), towards Yazd. 

Next stop will be at Naqsh-e Rustam, the ancient Necropolis houses the immense rock-cut Tombs of 4 Persian Kings.

The impressive Necropolis that stands as a reminder of the once famous & powerful Achaemenid Persian Empire, which thrived between 500 BC & 330 BC when it was defeated by Alexander the Great. The Complex has been somewhat overshadowed by the nearby ancient capital of Persepolis, but this royal Necropolis does stand out as a magnificent example of the ancient Persian architecture & art.

The 4 Tombs holding the remains of Achaemenid rulers, are hewn into the rock at a significant height from the base of the hills & bear the resemblance of crosses, hence the site is locally known as the “Persian Crosses”. Only 1 Tomb has been identified with certainty - the great Persian King, Darius I. Archaeologists believe the other 3 Kings buried here are Xerxes I, Artaxerxes I & Darius II.

At the centre of the Cross, are openings leading to the chamber where the Sarcophagi may have been placed. In fact, it is not known whether the bodies were directly placed in a Sarcophagus inside or if the bones were collected from a Tower of Silence & subsequently placed in the Tombs, in the traditional Zoroastrian ritual.

Above the openings of each Tomb are carvings of royal figures being anointed by god-like creatures. Other rock carvings below the cross-hewn Tombs commemorate various battles that brought the Achaemenid dynasty to prominence. One carving actually seems to predate the Tombs, suggesting that this ancient site had been used by people even before the Achaemenid Persian Empire.

Aside from the Tombs, there is a building in the complex called Ka’ba-ye Zartosht, (Cube of Zoroaster) - a replica of the Zendan-e Solayman (Prison of Solomon) in Pasargadae. It was once thought that this structure was the site of a perennially burning fire common in Zoroastrian Temples, but the lack of ventilation suggests otherwise. Although there is currently no consensus as to the specific use of this structure, it is widely accepted that it served a religious function. On the walls of this building are relatively well-preserved inscriptions in 3 languages.

Finally, drive on to the final destination where you will stay for the night.

Continue on to Isfahan, perhaps the most beautiful of all Iranian cities.

Arrive by evening & Check-in at the hotel.

Balance of the evening is at leisure to relax or independent exploration, if time permits (we will be happy to offer suggestions & arrange for Optional activities).

Isfahan is Iran’s top tourist destination for good reason. 400 years ago, Isfahan was larger than London, more cosmopolitan than Paris & grander, by some accounts, than even storied Istanbul. Elegant bridges crossed its modest river, lavishly outfitted polo players dashed across the world's largest square & hundreds of domes & minarets punctuated the skyline. Europeans, Turks, Indians & Chinese flocked to the glittering Persian court, the center of a vast empire stretching from the Euphrates River in what is today Iraq to the Oxus River in Afghanistan.

As the country’s 3^rd largest city is home to some heavy industry, including steel factories & a much-discussed nuclear facility in the outskirts of town. Inevitably, then, traffic jams are a regular occurrence. Despite these modern realities, the inner core of the city remains a priceless gem.

Isfahan's history is an epic cycle of fabulous boom & calamitous bust. Here a road traveling across the Iranian plateau east to the Mesopotamian plain meets a path connecting the Caspian Sea to the north with the Persian Gulf to the south. That geography linked the city's fate to the merchants, pilgrims & armies who passed through. Blessed with a pleasant climate - the city lies at nearly the same altitude as Denver and has relatively mild summers - Isfahan evolved into a bustling township at ancient Persia's crossroads.

"One could explore for months without coming to an end of them," marveled British traveler Robert Byron on his 1933-34 journey across Asia. In his 1937 travelogue The Road to Oxiana, he was slightly more geographically specific when he ranked ‘Isfahan among those rarer places, like Athens or Rome, which are the common refreshment of humanity’.

It would be another 2 centuries before Isfahan would rise again, under the reign of Shah Abbas I, the greatest ruler of the Safavid Empire (1501-1722 A.D.). Cruel as Russia's Ivan the Terrible, canny as England's Elizabeth I & extravagant as Philip II of Spain (all contemporaries), Abbas made Isfahan his showplace, after consolidating his control, he transformed the provincial city into a global metropolis, importing Armenian merchants & artisans and welcoming Catholic Monks & Protestant traders. He was generally tolerant of the Jewish & Zoroastrian communities that had lived there for centuries.

Most remarkably, Abbas sought to establish Isfahan as the political capital of the first Shiite empire, bringing learned Theologians from Lebanon to bolster the city's religious institutions - a move begun by his predecessors that would have profound consequences for world history.

The arts thrived in the new capital; Miniaturists, Carpet Weavers, Jewelers & Potters turned out ornate wares that enhanced the Mansions & Palaces that sprang up along spacious avenues. He initiated one of the world's grandest experiments in city planning, moving the capital from Qazvin to Isfahan in 1598 where it remained until 1722. Mosques, Palaces, Bazaars & public Parks were built under the Monarch's personal supervision over the next 30 years. Its profusion of tree-lined boulevards, Persian gardens & important Islamic buildings gives it a visual appeal unmatched by any other Iranian city & the many artisans working here, underpin its reputation as a living Museum of traditional culture.

Abbas was a man of extremes. A European visitor described him as a ruler whose mood could quickly turn from jolly to "that of a raging lion." Abbas's appetites were legendary: he boasted an enormous wine cellar & a harem that included hundreds of women & more than 200 boys. He loved to roam Isfahan's markets, eating freely from stalls, taking whatever shoes on display suited him & chatting with whomever he pleased. "To go about in this way is to be a King," he told scandalized Augustinian Monks accompanying him on one of his jaunts. "Not like yours, who is always sitting indoors!"

After a brutal siege shattered that golden age in the early 18^th century, new rulers eventually moved the capital to Tehran, leaving Isfahan to languish as a provincial backwater, which not incidentally left many of the old city's monuments intact. But, such is the city’s wealth & grandeur that it is easy to agree with the famous 16^th century half-rhyme ‘Isfahan nesf-e jahan, or (Isfahan is half the world).

During the last half of his extraordinary 42 year reign, which ended with his death in 1629, Abbas left behind an urban landscape that rivaled or exceeded anything created in a single reign in Europe or Asia.

The French archaeologist & architect Andre Godard, who lived in Iran early in the 20^th century, wrote that Abbas' Isfahan "is above all a plan, with lines & masses & sweeping perspectives - a magnificent concept born half a century before Versailles". By the mid-1600s, that plan had filled out into a city that boasted a population of 600,000, with 163 Mosques, 48 Religious Schools, 1,801 shops & 263 public Baths. The elegant main street was 50 yards wide, with a canal running down the middle, filling onyx basins strewn with the heads of roses & shaded by 2 rows of chinar trees. Gardens graced the Pavilions, which lined either side of the promenade called the Chahar Bagh. "The Grandees were airing themselves, prancing about with their numerous trains, striving to outvie each other in pomp & generosity," remarked one visiting European.

Visit one of the famous Tea-house (traditional restaurants) for a sumptuous dinner.

Overnight.  B D 

Morning, meet the Tour-guide in the Lobby at 08.30 am & proceed for a full day sightseeing tour of the beautiful city of Isfahan, known for its Persian architecture.

Walking through the historic bazaar, over the picturesque bridges and across the UNESCO Heritage listed are sure to be highlights of your holiday.

Stroll through the huge UNESCO World Heritage listed Naqsh-e Jahan Square (Central Square).

4 centuries ago, this Square, which is also called the Maidan, was the economic & political heart of a prosperous & largely peaceful empire that drew foreigners from around the world. "Let me lead you into the Maidan," wrote Thomas Herbert, secretary of the English Ambassador to the Persian Court from 1627 to 1629, which is "without doubt as spacious, as pleasant & aromatic a market as any in the universe."

Measuring 656 by 328 feet, it was also one of the world's largest urban Plazas of that time. But unlike vast concrete spaces such as Tiananmen Square in Beijing or Red Square in Moscow, Naqsh-e Jahan served alternatively & sometimes simultaneously as a marketplace, polo field, social meeting point, execution ground & festival park. Fine river sand covered the Plaza & vendors peddled Venetian glass in one corner & Indian cloth or Chinese silks in another, while locals sold firewood, iron tools or melons grown with pigeon droppings collected from special towers surrounding the city. Acrobats passed their hats, hawkers called out their wares in several tongues & hucksters worked the throngs.

A mast in the middle was used for archery practice - a horseman would ride past it at full gallop, then turn to shoot down an apple, silver plate or gold cup on top. Marble goal posts that still stand at either end of the square are reminders of the fierce polo matches at which the Shah on a heavily bejeweled mount often joined others dressed in fantastic colors & bold plumage.

The city's first recorded golden age is traced to the arrival of the Seljuk Turks from Central Asia in the 11^th century. They turned the town into their capital & built the magnificent Square leading to an enlarged 17^th century Imam Mosque, with its mosaic tiles & calligraphy covered dome & minarets.

On the north side is the great arch entrance opening into the high vaulted ceilings of a snaking, covered Royal Qaysariyyeh Bazaar with 100s of shops stretching nearly a mile.  displaying the art & handicrafts for which Isfahan is world-famous. Today, the sand, merchants, hucksters & Polo players are all gone, tamed by early 20^th century Gardens. Yet the view around the Square remains remarkably unchanged.

Facing each other on the east & west sides of the Square are the Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque, with its pale brown & blue dome and the Ali Qapu Palace. That structure - dismissed by Byron as a "brick boot box" - is topped by slender columns that turn it into a regal grandstand; bright silk curtains once hung from above to block the sun. The 2 Mosques bend at odd angles to orient toward Mecca, saving the Square from a rigid orderliness, while 2 story arcades for shops define & unify the whole. Constructed between 1603 & 1617, with its exquisite 17^th century Persian tile work on the domed ceiling, it served as a private Chapel for the Imperial family. The domed ceiling has the finest faience tilework of 17^th century Persia. The inscriptions were executed by Ali Reda Abbasi, the greatest Calligrapher of the Safavid period.

On the west side of the Square is the 16^th century Ali Qapu Palace, a charming Pavilion used to receive dignitaries & Ambassadors. Here the walls are covered with frescos & paintings and the superb wooden roof of the porch is painted with a series of geometrical decorations interspersed with flowers. It has enchanting music rooms & a balcony overlooking the Maidan, from where the Safavid Kings watched Polo games.  The roof was waterproofed by covering the roof with a fresh layer of beaten eggs every year, the weight of which has caused many to collapse.

On the southern side, the towering portal of the Shah Mosque, a monument to the grand vision of Shah Abbas the Great who died shortly before its completion.

First stop will be at the beautiful Chehel Sotuni Palace, with its exquisite collection of frescos & paintings on tile.

Chehel Sotun means ‘40 pillars’ - the number reflected in the long pool in front of the Palace. The reflecting pool magnified the majesty of the ruler. Here Shah Abbas II welcomed dignitaries & Ambassadors. Today you are the guests of honor!

Built as a pleasure Pavilion & Reception Hall, using the Achaemenid inspired talar (columnar porch) style, this beautifully proportioned Palace is entered via an elegant terrace that perfectly bridges the transition between the Persian love of gardens & interior splendour. The 20 slender, ribbed wooden pillars of the Palace rise to a superb wooden ceiling with crossbeams & exquisite inlay work.

The only surviving Palace on the royal precinct that stretched between Naqsh-e Jahan (Imam) Square & Chahar Bagh Abbasi St, this Safavid-era complex is reputed to date from 1614; an inscription uncovered in 1949, however, says it was completed in 1647 under the watch of Shah Abbas II. Either way, the Palace on this site today was rebuilt after a fire in 1706.

The Great Hall (Throne Hall) is a gem, richly decorated with frescoes, miniatures & ceramics. The upper walls are dominated by historical frescoes on a grand scale, sumptuously portraying court life & some of the great battles of the Safavid era - the 2 middle frescoes (Nos 114 & 115) date from the Qajar period but the other 4 are original. From right to left, above the entrance door, the armies of Shah Ismail do battle with the Uzbeks; Nader Shah battles Sultan Mohammed (astride a white elephant) on an Indian battleground; & Shah Abbas II welcomes King Nader Khan of Turkestan with musicians & dancing girls.

On the wall opposite the door, also from right to left, Shah Abbas I presides over an ostentatious banquet; Shah Ismail battles the janissaries (infantrymen) of Sultan Selim & Shah Tahmasp receives Humayun, the Indian prince who fled to Persia in 1543. These extraordinary works survived the 18^th century invasion by the Afghans, who whitewashed the paintings to show their disapproval of such extravagance. Other items, including Safavid forebear Safi od-Din’s hat, are kept in a small Museum.

The UNESCO World Heritage listed Palace’s Garden, Bagh-e Chehel Sotun, is an excellent example of the classic Persian garden. An ancient fallen pine resting on a plinth gives a sense of the great age of the garden. The polished noses of the lions on the standing water spouts at the head of the decorative pool hint at this being a favourite spot for a photograph of the Garden's perfect symmetry. Art students have set up a Calico Shop at the Garden's entrance selling Iran's popular printed fabric. On the far side of the Garden is the Tomb of Arthur Upham Pope & his wife Phyllis Ackerman, 2 Americans who were dedicated to the study of Persian art, history & culture.

Walk across the Square through the historic bazaar to the picturesque historical Khaju Bridge, constructed by Shah Abbas II in 1650. It is essentially a bridge superimposed upon a 436 feet long Dam & supported by 24 stone arches. There is a Pavilion located in the center of the structure, inside which Abbas II would have once sat, admiring the view. Today, remnants of a stone seat is all that is left of the King's chair. It also served a primary function as a place for public meetings & has been described as the city's finest bridge.

The sightseeing ends. You may return to the hotel or continue exploring on your own.

Balance of the evening is at leisure to relax or for independent exploration (we shall be happy to offer suggestions, in case you want to walk around). 

Overnight.  B D 

Morning, meet the Tour-guide at 08.30 am & continue where you left off in discovering this wonderful city.

Proceed to the Armenian Quarter to visit the richly decorated Vank Cathedral - the historic focal point of the Armenian Christian Church in Iran with its dome & walls covered with colorful paintings representing the story of Creation. The exterior of the Church may appear drab, but the interior is richly decorated & shows a mixture of styles - Islamic, Persian & Christian European.

The Armenian quarter of Isfahan dates from the time of Shah Abbas I, who transported a colony of Armenian Christians from the town of Jolfa (now on Iran’s northern border) en-masse, under the supervision of Arch-bishop David & named the village ‘New Jolfa’.  Abbas sought their skills as merchants, entrepreneurs & artists and he ensured that their religious freedom was respected - albeit at a distance from the city’s Islamic Centre. At one time over 42,000 Armenian Christians lived here.

Today Kelisa-ye Vank (Vank Cathedral) forms the centre of this fashionable area. There are also a number of Armenian Churches here & an old cemetery, serving the local Christian community.

Pause for lunch in the Armenian Quarter.

Those who are interested may visit a carpet shop to sip tea & admire Iran’s most valuable craft & art form. The Persian knot allowed the tight composition to create intricate Arabesques, geometric &d other floral designs. See both City & Tribal carpets. Unlike Arabic Islamic design, Shia Muslims took literally God’s commandment to know Him through His creation. Thus, you find figurative art in all forms including Tile, Metalwork & Carpets. Persians also developed natural & lasting- dyes. Cobalt found in Isfahan was exported to China where it was used in the blue on ‘ceramics’ later called by the British as ‘China’.

End the afternoon with a visit to the Hasht Bahesht (eight paradises) Pavilion & Park. It was built as an official court & a reception hall by Shah Abbas II (1647 AD). The ceilings are outstanding.

You may also be invited to a private gallery to visit with a famous miniature artist.

The sightseeing concludes but the day is not over yet.

We have planned an exciting Wellness experience – a visit to an exotic Hammam.

If the Persian Garden as a world heritage is a unique style of Garden design, then the Persian Bath along with its age-old rituals is an important brand of public hygiene in the history of the world.

Cleanliness & hygiene were already important in pre-Islamic Iran & the importance of Bathing in Iranian culture dates back to the era when the state religion was Zoroastrianism. The emergence of Islam played an important part in the development of Bathhouses to the extent that it was considered to be part of a Muslim’s faith.

According to excavations, the first Bathhouses were constructed in the time of Jamshid Shah & according to archaeological documents the earliest ruins were found in ancient Chogha Zanbil in Khouzestan province.

In Islamic in Iran, especially in Safavid era, as reported by Jean Chardin in his travelogue “The Travels of Sir John Chardin”, there were more than 270 public Bathhouses only in Isfahan which not only shows the significance of sanitation but also the high level of urban development of Persia.

Traditional Hammams in Iran (or everywhere) have never been a place for personal bathing only; rather they have functioned as a Social forum, a place for communication, relaxation & recreation. In the time when no TV news or social media existed. It was one of the major places for staying up to date with the latest news, passing information & of course, spreading rumours or gossiping. Moreover, a Hammam was a location where many important social & political events took place. Traditional rituals like Hana Bandan (bridal henna party), Hammam-e Zayeman (childbirth bath), Mourning Bath upon the loss of dear ones etc. were / are performed here.

Hammams were also used as Wellness Centres for doing traditional medical treatments like massage, bloodletting, cupping & circumcision. Women specifically, often frequented it for relaxation activities like getting a massage or beautifying deeds such as having a haircut, clipping their nails & face makeup in addition to shaving.

Join this once in a lifetime experience to hear the history of Iranian cleanliness & traditions and touch the aesthetic beauty of Persian architecture in an underground vaulted Hammam lined with harmonious blue tile work & centred with fountains.

Prepare to be soaped by a professional attendant, scrubbed with an indigenous peeling glove (kiseh) & chalk-like material (Sefid-ab) & massaged by a skilled Dallak (masseur) like never before, as they used to do in the centuries before. Soak up the rich Persian culture with a cleaning adventure. Feel extremely clean & reinvigorated after getting rid of the long-lived fatigue & dirt on your body.

On arrival, you will welcomed with traditional beverages & Tea, offered an explanation about the Hammam’s history & background & etiquettes to be followed. You will then be guided to your personal Dressing Cubicle (Sarbineh) to undress. You will don a red-coloured Bath Wrap (called Long in Persian) to cover up & slip into sandals. You will be handed a package of your personal bathing supplies (soap, scrubbing mitt, bath-wrap, towels).

After washing up & a traditional massage, you will have a scrubbing to slough off your dirt & dead skin by the skilled Dallak. Then, gently soap & relax in the hot water pool & Jacuzzi equipped with water purification system before moving to the cold room, taking shower & being handed your towels to dry out. Getting dressed, feeling great & extremely clean, you will be offered a light snack & drink in Reception Room before being transferred back to the hotel.

Return to the hotel.

Balance of the day is at leisure to relax or for independent exploration (we shall be happy to offer suggestions, in case you want to walk around). 

During your stay in Isfahan, you will also pay a sunset visit to the Safavid Bridges on the Zayandeh Rud River followed by tea in a traditional tearoom.

Overnight.  B D 

Very early in the morning, depart for Tehran, enroute stopping in Kashan.

Today, you will get up early & depart at dawn for Tehran. Enroute, you would be stopping at some interesting places.

After driving for 2 hours along the rural landscape, reach Kashan & proceed for a 4 hour walking tour

Kashan, a delightful oasis city on the edge of the Dasht-e Kavir, is one of the most alluring destinations in Iran, boasting a highly atmospheric covered bazaar, a cluster of architecturally significant 19^th century houses. Its charm is also due to the contrast between the parched immensities of the deserts & the greenery of the well-tended oasis.

Archeological discoveries in the Sialk Hillocks which lie 2.5 miles west of Kashan reveal that this region was one of the primary centers of civilization in pre-historic ages & boasts numerous historical places.

King Shah Abbas I was so enamoured with Kashan that he insisted on being buried here rather than in Isfahan. Other historical figures of note who are associated with the town include Abu Musa al-Ashari, a soldier & companion of the Prophet Mohammed whose army took the town in the 7^th century AD. Legend has it that his troops tossed thousands of scorpions from the surrounding desert over the city walls, causing the terrified Kashanis to capitulate.

During the Seljuk period (AD 1051-1220), the town became famous for its Textiles, Pottery, Rugs & Tiles, reaching high levels of accomplishment in each of these cottage industries. Currently local Textile artisans are enjoying something of a renaissance of interest in their work, but mechanisation has largely led to the demise of this ancient craft. though still a major production centre for Textiles & Rose Water which is sold at outlets around the main tourist attractions & at dedicated stores in the bazaar.

It is also a major centre for the production of textiles & rugs and a great place to stock up on quality souvenirs. The wool for the carpets is usually shorn by local men in spring or autumn & women are mostly in charge of the weaving. In April, one can see the fields of rose bushes outside town in full & fragrant bloom. A great place to stock up on quality souvenirs for friends & family. The most popular time of the year to visit is April, when the fields of rose bushes outside town are in full & fragrant bloom.

Visit a couple of the more notable landmarks of Kashan. In the available time (not necessarily all the places listed here).

Traditional houses in Iran offer interesting details like the interior & exterior of homes, indicating the different aspect of Persian moral characters in & out of home. Marvel at the 19^th century traditional mansions.

First stop is at the historic Borujerdi House, built in 1857 by architect Ustad Ali Maryam, for the wife of Seyyed Hassan Natanzi Mehdi Borujerdi, a wealthy merchant (who was nicknamed Boroujerdi because of the trade he did with the city of Boroujerd).

Legend has it that the Boroujerdi family were seeking the hand in marriage of a girl who came from the affluent Tabatabaei family, for whom Ustad Ali had built the Tabatabaei House some years earlier. The condition set for the marriage was the construction of a house as beautiful as the Tabatabaei house.

Boroujerdi House is famous for its unusual shaped 6 sided wind towers which are made of stone, brick, sun baked bricks & a composition of clay, straw & mortar and a large hall decorated with mirrors. The unique features of the House have resulted in a minimal amount of renovation & alteration of the original structure.

Walk from the Groom’s house to the Bride’s place. Tabatabaei House, one of the most beautiful traditional houses of Kashan that was built by Seyyed Jafar Tabatabei, a famous carpet businessman of this city about 200 years ago.

It is renowned for its intricate stone reliefs, including finely carved cypress trees, delicate stucco & striking mirror & glass work. The house is arranged around 4 courtyards, the largest of which boasts a large pond with fountains, helping to keep the courtyard cool & the 7 elaborate windows of the main courtyard (most houses sport only three or five) are a particular wonder, designed to illustrate the high social status of the owner. Inside, you can see delightful paintings of flowers & birds by the royal painter Kamal-ol-Mulk. From mid-afternoon on most days (depending on the month), sunlight & stained glass combine to bathe some rooms in brilliant colour.  

You may also visit Ameriha House which is the biggest Iranian house with 85 rooms, structured in the form of 3 traditional houses & 5 courtyards.

Next stop will be Masjed-e Agha Borzog. Comprising 4 storeys, including a large sunken courtyard with ablutions pool, an austere dome, tiled minarets & unusually lofty badgirs (windtowers), this decommissioned 19^th century Mosque complex is famous for the symmetry of its design. The wooden front door is said to have as many studs as there are verses in the Quran & the mud-brick walls are covered with Quranic inscriptions & mosaics. A fine portal & mihrab (niche indicating the direction of Mecca) at the rear is particularly noteworthy. While the Mosque is no more in use, the ‘males’ only Madraseh (school) in the sunken courtyard is still operational. Near the Mosque’s entrance is the Khajeh Taj ad-Din, the Tomb of Ghotbs Kashani, a famous mystic of the Qajar period.

Drive on to UNESCO World Heritage site Bagh-e Fin in one of the suburbs, passing by elaborate modern Italian style houses that line the road near the garden, evidence that the location continues to attract fashionable Kashanis.

Designed for Shah Abbas I in the 16^th century, this delightful Garden, which has influenced the planning of Gardens as far afield as India & Spain and is renowned as being the very epitome of the Persian garden & its evocation of heaven. The Garden covers 2.3 hectares with a main yard surrounded by ramparts with 4 circular Towers, spring-fed pools & fountains. The evergreen cypress & old cedar trees in the Garden are up to 500 years old & the profusion of complementary deciduous trees contributes to an ambience that works to please year-round.

In contrast to the arid location, the Garden flows with crystal-clear warm water channelled from a natural spring through a series of turquoise-tiled pools & fountains and continuing along the main road in jubs (canals, pronounced ‘joobs’). These were fed from a spring on a hillside behind the Garden & the water pressure was such that a large number of circulating pools & fountains could be constructed without the need for mechanical pumps. The evergreen trees inside the garden are up to 500 years old & the profusion of complementary deciduous trees contributes to a garden that works to please year-round.

The highlights of the Garden are 2 Pavilions built in the later Qajar period: the shotor gelou, a 2 storey pool house sporting an elaborate painted dome of outdoor vignettes (including a semi-naked beauty being surprised in the act of bathing), with water running through the middle of the ground floor & a recreational Pavilion at the rear of the Garden. In the adjoining rooms, stalactite ceilings & coloured glass windows play a role in keeping visitors content with blue, white & green glass chosen to be cool & soothing and to make the room look bigger; in contrast, red, orange & yellow glass has the opposite effect, making the room seem warmer in winter. Interestingly, red & blue combined apparently confuses insects & wards off mosquitoes.

Many Iranians head to the Hammam complex along one side of the Garden, famous as the place where the nationalist Mirza Taqi Khan, more commonly known as Amir Kabir, was murdered. Amir Kabir served as Prime Minister under Nasir od-Din Shah from 1848 to 1851. He was a moderniser who instituted significant change, especially in the fields of Education & Administration, but his popularity was not appreciated in the royal court & the Shah’s mother eventually persuaded her son that he had to go. Amir Kabir was imprisoned in Fin Garden & eventually murdered in the Bathhouse. Inside, Mannequins posed in scenes from the drama form the backdrop of many a selfie taken by those coming to pay homage to a hero.

If we have the time, the modest Kashani National Museum, which occupies a small pavilion in the grounds, is worth a quick visit. It showcases some fine examples of Kashani velvet & brocade, and has some Ceramics & Calligraphy on display. A scale model of the Garden helps to show its perfect proportions from an aerial perspective.

No visitor leaves the Garden without pausing at the Fin Garden Teahouse, which is set within its own enchanted little Garden. Located near the source of the spring, the current is thick with warm-water-loving fish & shaded with aged trees. The Teahouse speciality is Kashan Barley Soup in winter & Rose Water Ice Cream in summer. Fashionable & of course, wealthier Kashanis are attracted to the elaborate modern Italian style villas that line the side streets around the Garden.

If there is still time (& strictly at the discretion of the Tour-guide), we may stop enroute at the Handicraft Workshop.

Even those with minimal interest in Textiles will find this working Museum a fascinating place to visit. Opened to ensure that the traditional craft of producing Kashani Textiles is kept alive, masters work at elaborate hand looms to create intricate wonders of weaving, such as embossed velvet & zarbaft (silk brocade). Given the quality of the silks & the intense labour involved (it takes weeks just to set up the threads on a loom), the Textiles are very costly and are reserved as Museum-quality pieces for display in the Workshop or for gifts to visiting dignitaries.

Enjoy lunch in one of the famous traditional Kashani Tea-house featuring traditional dishes, including dizi (lamb and vegetable stew pounded to a paste at the table), turshi (pickles) & delicious kashke bademjan (roasted eggplant topped with fermented cheese), etc. etc. amidst the company of friendly locals.

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Depart for Qom, long been the main centre for religious studies in Iran.

Arrive after a 2.5 hour drive & spend an hour walking around.

Qom (Ghom), entrenched in centuries of history, is the 2^nd holiest city after Mashhad in Iran & the entire Middle East. 

Qom is one of Iran’s fastest-growing cities & the population growth has at least brought new life to the old centre. Some of the notable places you may visit (depending on the time & discretion of the Journeys Rep) include the magnificent Qom Handicraft Museum in a historical century old house belonging to Qajar noblemen.

An interesting place nearby is the Qom-Technqiue Factory, a Crafts Center where you can learn about ancient Iranian jewelry. Then, there is the Feyze Seminary where the devout Muslims gather to meet & hear speeches from the religious leaders. There is the Mar'ashi Najafi Library which has over 500,000 handwritten texts from previous centuries.

Hozeye-Elmiye-Qom is the largest Theology school in Iran. Shiite scholars & students come from across the world to study in its Madrasehs (schools) & browse in its famous religious bookshops.

It is home to the magnificent Hazrat Fatima-e Massummeh shrine where Shia pilgrims from all over the world come here to pay homage. Many senior ranking clerics of Shia Islam & those who have ruled the country since 1979, live in Qom.  

Locals are conspicuously pious & travellers are reminded of the need to be mindful of the city's religious nature when visiting. Discreet behaviour & dressing conservatively is particularly appreciated. Non-Muslims are allowed entry to the city, but they are not allowed entry in the holy shrine unless accompanied by a Muslim companion or guide.

Continue driving to Tehran.

Arrive by evening & Check-in at the hotel.

Balance of the evening is at leisure to relax or for independent exploration (we shall be happy to offer suggestions, in case you want to walk around). 

Overnight.  B D

Alas, like all good things, the wonderful experience comes to an end & it is time to say au revoir.

5,000 years of cultural influences flowed into ancient Persia from the Far East, Arabia, Russia & Europe. Whilst from afar, modern Iran is dominated by the singular might of Islam, the culture here is every bit as rich & varied as its history suggests.

Even considering Iran’s abundance of worthy sights, travellers, particularly North Americans, are most impressed with the warmth of open-minded Persians & really discover what life is like - away from politics & newspaper headlines. Interacting with well educated, friendly locals, often curious about the West & keen to show the best of their country, foreign guests in Iran are guaranteed endless cups of tea, spontaneous gifts & home invitations.

A journey to Iran is a chance to peel away the layers of a country with a serious image problem. Beyond the stereotypes, you will experience a country desperate to be seen for what it is, rather than what it is perceived to be.

So, you see, you have much more to discover if you come to mystical Persia ‘again’ & we will of course, look forward to be able to facilitate that.

“Traveling – it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller” - Ibn Battuta

In time, you will be met by a Journeys Rep, who will ensure your comfort & transfer you to Terminal? - Tehran Imam Khomeini International Airport for onward flight. B

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