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.    

Morning, Check-out & meet your Tour-guide in the Lobby at 08.30 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.

First stop will be at the Golestan Palace complex.

Located between Imam Khomeini Square & the bazaar, the Palace complex is made up of several grand buildings set around a carefully manicured garden. In what was once the heart of Tehran is this monument to the glories & excesses of the Qajar rulers. Although there was a Safavid-era Citadel on this site, it was Nasser al-Din Shah (ruled 1848 - 96), impressed by what he had seen of European Palaces, who built it into the ‘Palace of Flowers’. Originally it was much bigger, with inner & outer sections to encompass Offices, Ministries & private living quarters, but several surrounding buildings were pulled down under the Pahlavis.

Walk around the courtyard & along the long pool to Ivan-e Takht-e Marmar - a mirrored, open-fronted Audience Hall dominated by a magnificent Throne, supported by human figures & constructed from 65 pieces of yellow alabaster mined in Yazd. It was made in the early 1800s for Fath Ali Shah (ruled 1797 - 1834), a Monarch who supposedly managed a staggering (& quite likely very tiring) 200 odd wives & 170 offspring. This Hall was used on ceremonial occasions, including the Napoleon-style self-coronation of Reza Shah in 1925.

Then, walk outside to the open-sided corner known as Khalvat-e Karim Khani (Karim Khan Nook), all that remains of a 1759 building that served as Karim Khan Zand’s 17^th century Tehran residence

The Complex boasts several Museums that you might be able to see depending on the available time.

Negar Khane (Art Gallery) displays a fine collection of Qajar-era art and it was the brainchild of Nasser al-Din Shah, who had been particularly captivated by European Museums. Especially interesting are the portraits of the Shahs wearing the jewels & crowns that you can see in the National Jewels Museum (which you will visit), and pictures of everyday life in 19^th century Iran.

The dazzling Talar-e Ayaheh (Hall of Mirrors) Museum, closed for almost 30 years, is now open to the public. Built between 1874 & 1877, the Hall was dedicated to the Peacock Throne before it was moved to the National Jewels Museum. More recently it was used for the coronation of Mohammad Reza Shah in 1967 (25 years after he came to power) & royal weddings. Today, it houses gifts received by the Shahs, including a large green malachite Vase from Russia & 13 huge Chandeliers.

Further down, is the Howze Khaneh (Pool Room), named for the small pool & fountain in its centre. It houses a collection of paintings & sculptures of 19^th century European royalty - generously given to their Qajar counterparts by the same European Monarchs.

At the east end of the garden, the imposing Shams-Al Emarat (Edifice of the Sun) blends European & Persian architectural traditions. Inside, a sequence of mirrored & tiled rooms house a collection of photographs, together with yet more furniture & Vases gifted by European monarchs.

Next door you will see four soaring Badgirs (wind towers, used for air-conditioning), rising above the recently restored Emarat-e Badgir, first erected in the reign of Fath Ali Shah. The interior has typically ostentatious mirror work & is worth a quick look. In the basement, the Aks Khaneh (Historic Photograph Gallery) exhibits a fascinating collection of photographs depicting Qajar court life; look particularly for the picture showing the inside of a Zoroastrian Tower of Silence, with bodies in varying states of decay & the shot of ‘freaks & dwarfs’.

Next up, the tiny Talar-e Almas (Diamond Hall) displays a range of decorative arts - especially 18^th & 19^th century French ceramics - in a room with red walls & a tiled floor. The attractive Teahouse underneath might well be more appealing.

After wandering back through the gardens you’ll come to the Ethnographical Museum near the main entrance, featuring a range of mannequins in traditional ethnic costumes.

The Palace tour finishes & you will walk out into the bustling ‘real world’ vibrant Bazaar & continue on to the National Jewels Museum which houses royal jewelry & historical objects from ancient periods to modern times,

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.

All over the world, from ancient times to the present, jewelry has been collected to be both a display of power & to enrich the Treasury of Kings & governments. 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. During the Safavid period, Kings sent Ambassadors to neighboring countries to buy, collect & preserve existing & newly purchased jewelry.

During the 19^th century Qajar period, jewelry design was supported & developed for the first time. Iranian & Armenian designers & jewel makers were invited to the Court & tasked with designing & creating a Collection of exquisite gifts & the precise classification of government Treasury jewelry started. The unique & valuable objects that exist today are a mixed collection of the history & art of Persia.

On display is an impressive collection of some of the most famous & spectacular jewels in the world including many priceless pieces. The majority of the items were given to Safavid Kings as gifts but many pieces were brought by Nader Shah from his conquest of India. These include the Darya-e Nur Diamond & the Jeweled Globe. Other pieces include the Crowns of the Qajar & Pahlavi Kings. Many pieces have disappeared over the years but the remaining collection of gemstones, jewelry, royal emblems, ornamental guns & jewel-encrusted furniture is still impressive. Neyshabour turquoise & the Persian Gulf pearls were gradually added to the precious collections.

The huge Peacock Throne built in 1798 by the order of Fath Ali Shah. is adorned with 26,733 gems, including an extravagant carved sun on the top of the throne studded with precious diamonds. Hence, it was originally called the Throne of the Sun. Later Fath Ali Shah married a lady named Tavoos Taj al-Dawlah & to mark the occasion in her honor, the Throne became known as the Peacock Throne (Takht-e Tavoos). Some evidence also suggests this was the Throne of the Mughal King Shah-i Jahan of India, which was brought to Persia by Nadir Shah Afshar, the King of Persia (1736 - 47) who invaded the Mughal Empire of India with a huge army, eventually attacking & looting Delhi in March 1739.

Another special object on display, is Nader Shah’s Shield, 46 cm in diameter, which he used in various wars. Initially, it was just a simple cover but later, like the Sword on display, it was ornamented by the order of Fath Ali Shah Qajar. In the center of this Shield covered with rhino skin, you will see one of the largest Rubies in the world, weighing 225 carats, surrounded by Emeralds, Rubies & Diamonds.

After spending 2 hours in the Jewellery Museum, drive on to the next spot.

In between, enjoy lunch in one of the city Restaurants.

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.

Bridges have always been close to the heart of Iranian identity. Isfahan, a top tourist destination & a former capital of Persia, boasts 2 spectacular Bridges from the 16^th century Safavid dynasty when the city was at the centre of Islamic art & culture.

But Tehran boasts the modern architectural marvel - the Tabiat (“nature”) Bridge, the largest of its kind in Iran & reminiscent of Isfahan’s Siosepol, whose name means ‘Bridge of 33 Arches’, & Khaju Bridge, which are a place for public meetings, poetry reading & traditional tea houses.

Architect Leila Araghian was 26 when she came up with Tabiat Bridge which she designed while she was a student, winning a local competition for a plan to connect 2 Parks separated by a highway in north Tehran. Her first Project, 5 years on, the 270 metres structure was a reality, despite sanctions, garnering awards & paving the way for a new, more avant-garde generation of Iranian designers. So, it is no surprise that a new hi-tech award-winning structure has appeared in the Iranian capital. It was recently named among the winners of the Architizer A+ awards, an internationally acclaimed global Architectural competition based in New York.

It was built over 2 years & was unveiled in late 2014. It is easy to see why this multi-level, sculptural pedestrian Bridge has been a huge hit with locals & is a popular place for hangouts & morning sports as thousands flock to the Bridge. It is a fun space to relax & in good weather, provides superb views of the north Tehran skyline against the Alborz Mountains.

Supported by 3 large pillars, the 270 metres curved structure has broad Entrances, multiple Pathways & 3 floors of restaurants, cafes & sitting areas. The walkway connects Park-e Taleghani & Park-e Abo-Atash, spanning over the busy Modarres Expwy, one of the main highways in northern Tehran. Not being a commercial Bridge connecting 2 points to which people are used to, there are multiple points from one side which connect various points on the other.

Spend an hour strolling around or enjoying Tea in one of the Cafes on the 3^rd floor.

In time, return to 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 

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.

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 & Sa’adi, 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 Sa’adi 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.

It is also home to splendid Gardens, exquisite Mosques & whispered echoes of ancient sophistication that reward those who linger longer than it takes to visit nearby Persepolis, the area’s major tourism drawcard. During spring, the fragrance of flowers, especially orange tree blossoms fill up the air. The 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.

Shortly after, meet the Tour-guide in the Lobby & proceed for a full day sightseeing tour of Shiraz - the city of “Roses & Nightingales”. 

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’adi traveled extensively in Iraq & Syria, where he was even taken prisoner by the Crusaders. Upon his return to Shiraz, Sa’adi 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’adi 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’adi - 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.

Sa’adi 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 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 in the Lobby at 08:00 am & proceed for a full day excursion to ancient ruins in the vicinity.

First stop will be at UNESCO World Heritage listed Persepolis (also called Takht-e Jamshid), one of the greatest successes of the ancient Achaemenes Empire as well as its final demise.

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 to the next point.

First stop will be at UNESCO World Heritage listed Persepolis (also called Takht-e Jamshid), the original capital of the first great multi-cultural Empire in Western Asia & one of the greatest successes of the ancient Achaemenes Empire as well as its final demise. One of the great wonders of the ancient world, Persepolis embodies not just a grand architectural scheme but also a grand idea.

The Achaemenid Persian Empire spanning the Eastern Mediterranean & Egypt to the Indus River, is considered to be the first Empire that respected the cultural diversity of its different subjects. This was reflected in Achaemenes architecture, which blended multiple cultures.

Pasargadae was the first dynastic capital of the Achaemenid Empire, founded by Cyrus II, in Pars, homeland of the Persians, in the 6^th century BC & evolved into a city of some significance until it was superseded by Darius I’s magnificent Palace at Persepolis.

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. Darius I who, inherited the responsibility for ruling the world's first known Empire founded by his predecessor, Cyrus the Great, 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.  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, (Mountain of Mercy).

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 & 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.

Some people are destined to create, while others are destined to follow. Here lies a man who was both a creator & a visionary, laying the groundwork for human rights. Koroush (or Cyrus the Great), was a person whose futuristic & innovative viewpoints were amazingly ahead of their time. So much so that his ideas have been emulated & reproduced many times throughout history, even centuries & millennia later.

Particularly noteworthy vestiges in the 160 hactare Complex include the Palaces, Gardens, Mausoleum of Cyrus II & Tall-e Takht, an enormous unfinished platform built to one side of a natural hillock. Like the Acropolis in Athens, it may have been intended as a massive fortified plinth to hold Palaces & Temples. This was, in fact, realized later at Persepolis when Cyrus' successors built their Palaces on large plinths somewhat similar to Tall-i Takht.

There is also a royal ensemble of Gatehouse & Audience Halls - all outstanding examples of the first phase of royal Achaemenid art & architecture, an exceptional testimony of the Persian civilization.

King Cyrus built his Tomb here. With a total area of 3,427 square meters, UNESCO World Heritage listed Pasargadae Tomb built on a funerary platform, consists of a vast main Hall containing 30 white stone columns. The construction material consisted of a large number of black & white stones. There is a doorway on the north, east, & west sides of the hall. A winged figure with 2 wings pointing to the sky & pointing to the bottom, can be seen in the northern doorway. Whereas, the hands are raised to the sky in a praying motion. His Tomb was apparently built before his death & was meticulously guarded during the Achaemenid Empire.

“Mummify my body & bury me without a coffin because every part of my flesh & Persian soil coalesces”.

Did you know that when Alexander the Great conquered Persia, he ordered the restoration of Pasargadae & the Tomb of Cyrus the Great? He didn’t mean to stay in Shiraz, but out of awe & respect for the Persian king, Alexander ordered the Tomb to be restored & repaired, making sure Cyrus’ resting place is in good shape.

The only edifice in Pasargadae referenced in Greek texts & sources is the Tomb of Cyrus. On his military campaign to Achaemenid land, Aristobulus, one of Alexander’s colleagues, provided the earliest description.

Inscribed on the Tablet found within the Tomb, as quoted from Alexander’s book Anabasis: O man, whoever you are & wherever you come from, because I know you will come, I am Cyrus, who won the Persians their Empire. So don’t begrudge me this sliver of earth that covers my skeleton.

The Nowruz (Persian New Year) & Cyrus the Great Day on the 29^th October to commemorate Cyrus, which are held in the vicinity of the Tomb, have long been celebrated throughout Persia. Evidence of the magnificent New Year celebrations held during the Achaemenid Empire has been found in Pasargadae.

Spend an hour here before moving on.

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.

The tour concludes & you drive back to Shiraz by evening.

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

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

Overnight.  B D    

Morning, depart for Zein-o-din Caravanserai - a Desert Retreat, sitting on the legendary Silk Route, surrounded by oases & hot springs, a building with history, where gold, ivory & spice Traders would hole up & gossip.

Arrive by afternoon & Check-in at the Caravanserai near the city of Yazd in an extensive valley facing the vast desert flanked by mountains, 689 km from Tehran. Caravanserais were roadside Inns where travelers & caravans used to rest & spend the night after day’s journey, communicate with other travelers & even trade some gold, ivory, silk & spice & so much more.

Balance of the day is at leisure to relax (we shall be happy to offer suggestions).

Historical Caravanserais of Iran which hold many stories from the guests who spent a night & continued their journey the next morning, are spread all over Central Asia, especially on the Silk Road route which passed through Iran & connected China to the west of the world. Caravanserais, usually constructed with adobes & earth, are rectangular areas with a central Courtyard surrounded by small rooms for accommodation.

Zein-o-din is located on the ancient Silk Road which was, until 1500, the main trade route between Europe & Asia. Today a motorway to Yazd passes through Zein-o-din but in earlier centuries, it was reached after a 2 days camel ride (around 60 km) from south of Yazd, on the main road to Kerman in an otherwise vacant desert plain.

Zein-o-din's claim to fame is that it is one of the only 2 circular Caravanserais (the other, near Isfahan, is largely destroyed) built in Iran in the 16^th century & it continues to function as a Traveller's Lodge. It is one of 999 such Inns that were built to withstand inclement weather, during the reign of Shah Abbas I to promote trade & provide facilities to weary Travelers. According to history books, the Zein-o-Din Caravanserai was built in honor of Shah Abbas’s visit to the region for meeting Ganj Ali Khan, the Governor of Kerman during the 10^th century Hijri. This construction was used as an accommodation for the gunners & the military guards.

Fenced by 5 brick Towers that are attached to the 8 meters high walls, which has resulted in a unique shape of architectural plan, the Caravanserai is a 2 storied structure, square in plan, with a courtyard & a water pool. Utterly enchanting, unlike anywhere else you have been before. An "atmospheric & fascinating" place for those with the imagination to muster days of yore with camels grumbling outside the door, a night's stay here offers a haunting glimpse of a caravan Traders’ life on the Silk Road.

This 400 year old rounded brick Caravanserai has been charmingly restored, tastefully decorated to accommodate Travelers the same way it did when it was active on the trans-Asia trade routes. Its recent renovation took 3 years to complete & included the use of 13,000 pumice stones to remove the grime on the interior walls to make it look as it would have, originally. The Caravanserai's exterior view appears like a "derelict ruin" though its interior is well furbished in its original form. It was awarded the UNESCO Citation for best renovated building in 2006.

After passing the entrance gate on the south of the building & the Hashti (the vestibule or a small space leading to a larger space), visitors enter the round space which is originally a dodecagon surrounded by brick-made porticos leading to the small rooms, where travelers stay. The Hashti is continued by 2 long corridors that pass behind the rooms. These corridors were used as horse stables.

The room on the north side - Shah Neshin (a room assigned to the Kings & Governors) - is characterized by its high ceiling & ornaments including Karbandi & Stucco works. Other parts inside the building are decorated with brickworks which is beautifully laid out based on the dodecagon shape of the construction.

Restored to a near original state, the narrow rooms are built on raised wooden Platforms. Accommodation is simple: the raised rooms offer mattresses on top of carpets & there is no door separating the rooms from the corridor, with only a thick curtain providing privacy to the occupants. There are 2 types of well-ventilated rooms, 32 in total & the entrance of the rooms around the central Courtyard are ornamented with well-formed arches. Smaller ones inside along the main corridor & other spacious ones opening to the courtyard come with beds & private bathroom with a shower.

With large wooden doors, vertiginously high ceilings, carpeted brick floors & a couple of wooden steps / ladders up to your raised bed, hidden behind a wall of heavy curtains, it is Harry Potter-gone-Persian. Thick Persian carpets cover the floors and decorate the walls. Clean, yet thin mattress, pillows & blankets are provided on the on the carpeted floor. Everything is delightfully made to evoke the feeling of a Silk Road travel & this is exactly the experience the caravan Traders would have had.

Where it differs, however, is in the stylish & crystal clean communal bathrooms upto western standards,

Some rooms have a private bathroom with a shower & for the rest, they have Tents sharing the same showers.

There is an exquisite dining room where you feast on a selection of sumptuous traditional Persian dishes like chicken with walnuts & pomegranate & bowls of saffron rice.

As the Caravanserai is located away from the city, the noise level is minimal & the night skies are clear & star studded. There are 2 Stairways on the sides of the building which lead travelers to the rooftop, where they can enjoy the serene desert landscape, the sunset & the mysterious million-star sky at night.  An amateur Astronomer conducts astronomy lectures on the rooftop. There is nothing but darkness & a light breeze brushing your cheeks & swaying your hair. Sometimes sounds of the cars & trucks passing on the highway would break the silence.

With the historical value of the Caravanserai & watching the sunrise & sunset from the top of the building, in the tranquility & the silence of the desert with nothing disturbing the views, you will enjoy the experience of staying at Zein-o-Din.  

If you want to drive out to see the settlements in the vicinity, you can visit Karimabad village. about 20 minutes drive away. There is also the 1800 years old Saryazd castle on the outskirts of Yazd (but, you are going to Yazd tomorrow, anyway).  

Overnight.  B L D   

Morning, depart on a short drive to Yazd.

Reach the hotel, Check-in & relax.

*Check-in time is 02.00 pm. For earlier arrivals in the morning, we will request the hotel for a complimentary early Check-in but cannot be guaranteed unless reserved & paid for ‘immediate occupancy’.

Every inch a city of the desert originally settled 5,000 years ago with an interesting mix of people. The city’s first mention in historic records predate it back to around 3000 years B.C. when it was known by the name of Ysatis, part of the domain of Medes, an ancient settler of Iran. Marco Polo visited Yazd on his way to China & called it the "good & noble city of Yazd".

Located in the heart of Iran between the northern Dasht-e Kavir & southern Dasht-e Lut, Yazd was a major stop on the international caravan routes to Central Asia & India.  With its winding lanes, forest of badgirs, mud-brick old town, UNESCO World Heritage listed Yazd is one of the highlights of any trip to Iran. This is a place to wander & get lost in the maze of historic streets and lanes, not to mention your imagination. Yazd has been known for its silks & other fabrics and is also home to Iran’s 2^nd largest population of Zoroastrians. It’s also an ideal base for day trips to several evocative villages and towns.

In the course of history due to its distance from important capitals & its harsh natural surrounding, Yazd remained immune to major troops' movements & destruction from wars, therefore it kept many of its traditions, city forms & architecture until recent times.

During Genghis Khan’s invasion in the early 1200’s A.D. Yazd became a safe haven & home for many Artists, Intellectuals & Scientists fleeing their war ravaged cities around Persia. Amidst the immense desert, it retains its sterling of old in religion, traditions & architecture. For a brief period, Yazd was the capital of Atabakan & Mozaffarid dynasties (14^th century A.D.). During Qajar Dynasty (18^th century A.D.) it was ruled by the Bakhtiari Khans.

The ancient & historic city is also a centre of ancient Zoroastrianism, considered the world's 1^st  monotheistic religion. Seeking refuge from the invading Arabs, the Zoroastrians found a safe haven within the city’s fortified walls. Home to Iran’s 2^nd largest population following the ancient religion, more than 10%, there is an elegant Ateshkadeh (Fire Temple) near the city centre that shelters an eternal flame kept alive through centuries.

It may not have the big-ticket sights of Isfahan or Shiraz, but, with its atmospheric alleyways & centuries of history, it exceeds both in its capacity to enchant & may be intriguing for travelers to know that the city itself is among the most popular tourist attractions of all Iran. The exceptionally traditional & dated architecture as well as its residents’ conservative lifestyle can be a reason.

Yazd has miraculously escaped the grabby hands of modernization & refurbishment throughout all these years & has kept its adobe architecture surprisingly intact. The Water Channels & Qanats in this city, along with its aged (yet still functional) Badgir (or Wind Catcher or Wind Tower) - a unique Ventilation System on the roof - to make the houses cooler during the hot summer days. Inside the house directly below the Wind Tower is a small pool & the air coming gets cooled before being circulated inside the entire house.

Always known for the quality of its silk & carpets, Yazd today is one of Iran's industrial centers for Textiles. There is also a considerable Ceramics & construction materials industry and unique Confectionery & Jewellery industries.

This region has been considered as one of the main historical paths of Iran & has always been given due importance by the governments.

It is the first raw adobe city & the 2^nd historical city in the world after Venice in Italy. Yazd is a city of different cultures & religions with all inhabitants co-existing peacefully & harmoniously. It is known as the “City of Windcatchers”, “Bride of the Desert”, “Dar al Elm”, “City of Bicycles” & “the City of Sweets”.

It enjoys an official ‘sister city’ status with Homs in Syria, Jaszbereny in Hungary, Nizwa in Oman, Jakarta in Indonesia, Holguin in Cuba & Yeosu in South Korea.

Yazd warrants a lazy approach - rambling around the maze of historic lanes (referred to locally as Yazd's 'historical texture'), popping into random teahouses or pausing to work out calligraphic puzzles in the city's exquisite tilework.

With its winding lanes, forest of Badgirs & well preserved thatched (mud, straw, brick) houses with Persian architecture, in the old town, it is a 'don't miss' destination. Yazd is a fascinating place to wander around, being one of the best preserved mud brick old towns in the near East. Stroll along / around the maze-like streets & visit the impressive Amir Chakhmaq Complex, the Jameh Mosque, Water Musuem and the 'Towers of Silence'.

Immediately after, meet the Tour-guide & proceed for a 6 hour sightseeing of UNESCO World Heritage listed ancient city of Yazd.

Yazd is one of the most ancient towns on Earth. With a unique Iranian architecture, the Old Town is a mesmerizing labyrinth, with winding streets that are extraordinarily well preserved; some say that this is one of the oldest continually-inhabited cities in the world. The architecture here is perhaps the most traditionally Persian to be found, preserved by the dry climate & spared the devastations of the Mongols. It is like a phoenix poking out in a baked-brown desert, in a labyrinth of lanes.

As UNESCO states it, it is the best place to get a feeling for the region’s rich history. Everything in the city is made from sun-dried bricks & the brown skyline - result of the sun-dried mud color, is dominated by tall Badgirs that can be seen on nearly every rooftop. The residential parts of this city seem deserted as the high walls shield the houses in the narrow lanes (kuches) zigzagging the town. The city of Yazd has resisted the modern urbanisation changes & has maintained its traditional structure.

If you take time to wander around the town you will definitely discover simple courtyards, ornate wooden doors & other lovely adobe architecture patterns. Meanwhile, you will be welcomed by numerous children eager to help you out of the maze. To get some fine views, try getting to the rooftops at some point & you will be able to admire vast brown expanses of the desert.

First stop will be Friday Mosque.

The city of Yazd has resisted the modern urbanisation changes & has maintained its traditional structure.

Masjed-e Jame (also known as Friday Mosque) is one of the most splendid attractions in Yazd with its unique architecture featuring Pishtaq (tall entry portals)

The Mosque is witness to Iran’s past wonderful architects with astonishingly perfect knowledge & expertise seen in the masterpieces of Persian & Islamic architecture in this city of mud bricks. Crowned by a pair of lofty Minarets, the highest in Iran & the portals facade decorated from top to bottom in dazzling predominantly blue color tile work, is a particularly fine example of Islamic architecture.

Construction began in 1324 continuously developed for 40 years & like many early Mosques, it was built on the site of a Sassanid Fire Temple. This Mosque with its high altitude, blue tiles & tall Minarets worked as beacons that can be seen from outside the town & enabled the travellers in the desert to find their way inside.

Inside, there is a long-arcaded court where, behind a deep-set southeast Ivan, is a sanctuary chamber which, under a squat tiled Dome, is exquisitely decorated with faience Mosaic: its tall faience Mihrab, dated 1365, is one of the finest of its kind in existence.

There is no more impressive gateway in Iran than this great soaring 14^th century edifice & Jameh Mosque is known for its incredible architecture.  Exquisite Calligraphy & Mosaic art have been used in abundance & the engrossing beautiful patterns & designs on the corners of the ceiling inside depict the holy name of Ali. The tile work has been skillfully restored & a modern library built to house the Mosque’s valuable collection of books & manuscripts.

By the side of the Masjid-e Jame, along a side street to the right was the Vaqt va Saat (Time & Hour) Complex, now the Shrine of Rokn ad-Din, who was responsible for building the complex. The Observatory, the Library & a Madraseh, have all vanished.

The view from the Dome shows the sun-baked roofs & wind towers of the city. The ideal time for taking photos is in the evening when the sun is setting & you can observe the unique scenic view of the Mosque’s azure blue tile works blend with the sun’s ray of range & red colors evanescent into distant horizons.

Other notable Islamic monuments in Yazd are the Seljuk shrine dedicated to the Twelve Shi'ite Imams, & the Ziaieyeh Theological School known as Zendan-e-Eskander, or Alexander's Prison. There are also many beautiful old houses in Yazd, among them the Dowlat-Abad Garden, with an 18^th century hexagonal house.

Next, visit the active Atashkadeh (Zoroastrian Fire Temple).

Yazd is also an ancient centre of Zoroastrianism, considered the world's first monotheistic religion. Seeking refuge from the invading Arabs, the Zoroastrians found a safe haven within Yazd's fortified walls. Zoroastrians have always been populous in the city & presently roughly 10 % of the town's population adhere to this ancient religion.

Though their original Atashkadeh was turned into a Mosque when Arabs invaded Iran, a dignified new Temple was inaugurated 1300 years later & is now one of the most significant landmarks of Yazd.

The brick Temple is located on a hill in a small fruit garden & is surrounded by evergreen trees & a large round pool in the courtyard, which offers a vivid reflection of the Temple for artistic photography. There is also a Photo Gallery & a water pool in the basement connected to Qanats (underground aqueducts supplying drinking water).

A couple of paintings, including that of Zoroaster, can be pointed out as another attraction of the place. There exists a winged figure atop the facade as well. This figure is the visual representation of the supreme god of Zoroastrians.

The pilgrims gather for the ceremonies & rituals but nobody apart form the Moubad (Grand Priest), supposedly a direct descendant of the Magi (Zoroastrian God), reciting the Avesta (holy book), has access to the chamber of Moubad-e Moubadan (Saint of Saints) where for the past 1500 years a Fire has burned in a bronze vessel enclosed in a glass enclosure. The ancient Flame has been kept alive throughout various centuries, relocations & continues to burn today, without a break.

The sacred Flame at Yazd Atashkadeh is considered to be the symbol of the God of Light & makes this the most important Temple attracting adherents from all over the world.

The Yazd Atash Behram (as the holy Fire of Victory is known) is one of 9 Atash Behrams, the highest grade of a Fire held within a Atashkadeh. The Fires are created from 16 “types” of Flames. This particular Flame is the only one located outside India.

Each day the Moubad ritually feeds the sacred Fire with dry wood several times a day, to keep it searing through. For this, the Temple & its surrounding alleyways are doused in the heavenly scent of incense & Boswellia each morning.

This particular Flame has burned since 470, since the reign of the Sasanian Empire. The Flame first flickered in the Pars Karyan Atashkadeh & then was relocated to the city of Aqda, where it burned for 700 years. The Fire continued to move around over the years before finally landing in its current home in 1934.

To enter this Temple during traditional Zoroastrian ceremonies, visitors must follow certain rules that are set into place to respect the Temple’s sacred soul. Men & women must alter their attire & wear white garments to get access to the viewing chamber. Non-Zoroastrians can enter certain areas only.

From here, you will proceed to Yazd Tower of Silence (Zoroastrian's Dakhmeh or Qaleh-ye Khamushan).  

Each ancient culture has its own customs & rituals about death. The name ‘Tower’ is misleading as they consist of huge circular walls on top of 2 hills. There are 3 impressive buildings remaining from several other similar structures on hilltops outside & in the immediate vicinity of the town where the bodies of the dead Zoroastrians would be brought to the foot of the Tower so that a ritual funerary ceremony could be held in presence of the relatives & friends of the deceased.

The body was then carried by the Priests into the Towers of Silence where it was laid on the flat stones on the ground thus avoiding that earth, water & fire, the divine elements to be contaminated, the soul of the defunct person having already been taken by Ahura Mazda.

According to a Zoroastrian tradition dating back over 3,000 years, once someone dies, their body can immediately be contaminated by demons & made impure. To prevent this infiltration, Zoroastrians purified the dead body by exposing it to the elements. Consequently, the bodies were arranged on the Towers in 3 concentric circles. Men were placed in the outer circle, women in the middle & children in the inner-most ring. The bodies were then left to slowly disintegrate & to be picked clean by the vultures.

The bleached bones were then thrown into a circular pit in the center of the Tower directly below. After the purification process, the bones were placed by the Priests in Ossuaries near or inside of the Towers. Ossuaries from these rituals have been discovered from the 4^th & 5^th centuries BC.

Similar Dakhmas (Towers) exist just outside of Mumbai, India, as well, although the most prominent “Towers of Silence” are in Iran.

As Iran developed & urbanized, Dakhmas became increasingly closer to city limits, severely curtailing their use. The custom largely disappeared throughout the Zoroastrian world around 50 years ago, at about the same time that the eternal Flame was transferred to the newly constructed Yazd Atashkadeh.

Since the 1970s, the use of Dakhmas has been illegal in Iran, forcing orthodox Zoroastrians to adapt to new burial methods & the community reluctantly moved to burying bodies beneath concrete to keep out all contaminants in the modern Cemetery at the foot of the Towers.

Although the Towers are no longer in use, some of the Towers & Ossuaries in the area, have been opened to the public. Beneath the hill, there are several other disused Zoroastrian buildings including a defunct well, 2 small Badgirs, a kitchen & a lavatory for the visitors.

Enjoy a sumptuous lunch in a quaint Teahouse.

Post lunch, visit one of the most iconic features of the city - an architectural wonder & illustration of the ingenuity of ancient civilisations.

Proceed to see the Tower of Dolat Abad in a building located inside the 18^th century Bagh-e Dowlat Historic Complex, a jewel of the city which has the tallest existing Windcatcher in Iran. These Wind Towers are seen all over Iran but are most highly developed in Yazd.

This is a complex built according to the original Iranian architectural style & consists of a large garden & some buildings, being watered by a Qanat & until recently, it was used for the residence of the provincial Governor. Lattice doors & windows with stained glass patterns impart a pleasing sight to the Complex.

Iran has an extreme & arid climate and it can get very hot in daytime & considerably cooler at night. Long before electricity & air conditioning were invented, back in Persia, staying cool required ingenuity & Persian architects came up with an ingenious idea & so Windcatchers were designed & invented. Yazd, one of the largest cities in Iran, has a very hot & dry climate, perfect for this type of cooling device.

Many old buildings in Yazd were built with magnificent Windcatchers. Now, it is known as the “City of Windcatchers”. Windcatchers are a traditional Persian architectural design that creates natural ventilation in buildings. The basic design consists of a Tower that rises from a building below, with openings at the top.

Your visit here will show how the slatted Towers capture the slightest desert breeze, drawing it down to the lower level where it is cooled by passing over water & circulated through the house. Enormous Domes starting at ground level act as protective roofs for deep water-tanks built 6 metres below street level. People access these tanks by steep staircases.

Yazd is also known for having a large network of Qanats, which are underground channels that transfer water from a well to the surface. The Windcatchers & Qanats often worked together to create an amplified cooling effect.

Windcatchers work in one of 3 ways. The most common way is to cool the inside of a building. The Tower has openings that face the wind and “catch” it, creating airflow inside the structure. When used in combination with a qanat, air is drawn down into the qanat tunnel & comes in contact with the cooler earth & cold water. The cooled air is drawn up through the Windcatcher, which faces away from the prevailing wind - not only creating airflow, but also cooling the air.

In a windless environment, Windcatchers operate like a solar chimney, allowing hot air, which is lighter, to flow upwards & escape out the top of the Tower. Combined with thick adobe walls, Windcatchers are surprisingly effective & able to chill lower-level spaces. Windcatchers can still be found throughout Iran & in several other countries in the Middle East & Persian Gulf.

Check out the impressive City Walls & click a couple of photos, as you drive by. In ancient Iran, there were many types of public structures. The 12^th - 14^th Walls of Yazd city, which are still standing, are perhaps the most interesting, imposing & skillfully planned.

You can see some sections of the medieval wall, fortified by a moat, towers & barbicans, now buried deep within a town which has long since expanded beyond its old limits. These walls were built it is said, in 1119, rebuilt & extended during the 14^th century. In some places, they were 15 meters high, decorated with ornamental pieces like unglazed pottery.

Enough of these Mosques & Monuments. Now, we briefly visit another interesting place synonymous with the city - Yazd Water Museum located in a restored Mansion with a visible Qanat running underneath,

Yazd is famous for its Qanats (underground cisterns) & this Museum, one of the best of its kind, is devoted to the brave men who built them.

Qanats run through many of the wealthy old houses in Yazd (& other Iranian cities), collecting water in pools in the basements known as sardob. The Qanats (there are many running through each town) are the reason why the wealthiest districts are always closest to the mountains - to be closest to the freshest water. As the coolest part of the house, these rooms were often beautifully decorated. Several fine examples exist & can be seen in some of Yazd's old Mansions that have been converted into traditional hotels today.

The Museum offers, through a series of photographs, exhibits & architectural drawings, a fascinating glimpse into the hidden world of Waterways that have allowed life to flourish in the desert. It illustrates the 2000 years that Iran's unique Irrigation System has been in operation & describes the drilling of mother wells (which can reach a depth of 300 meters, such as the Qanat near Mashad) & the use of Water Distribution Clocks (precursor pf the Water Meters you have in your house, which they created 2,000 years ahead of us). These Clocks (basically a bowl with a hole in the bottom) helped to mark out the 15 - 20 minutes shares of water purchasable by householder or farmer.

An interesting item on display are the unique Uniforms of the Qanat builders, an early form of the modern Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) with padded cotton hats & white-coloured clothing that was both luminous in the dark & would act as a shroud in the event of a fatal accident.

The last stop before reaching the hotel is at one of the 12 historic Bazaars - definitely worth a visit. The most important ones are Bazaar-e Khan, Goldsmiths Bazaar, Panjeh Ali Bazaar. The Bazaars here are probably the best places in Iran to buy silk fabric, cashmere, brocades & cloth (taffeta & Yazdi shawl) with all the beautiful local designs, motifs, colors, the products which brought the town its prosperity since the time of the legendary Silk Route.

Yazd is also a good place for cakes & sweets (baghlava, qottab, pashmak), although quite a lot of the tempting delicacies on display are not actually made in the town.

Reach the hotel by evening & relax as your experience is not over yet.

Later in the evening, around 06.30 pm, accompanied by the Tour-guide, proceed to enjoy one of the most memorable nights of your life. 

Beside routine sightseeing of Mosques, traditional Houses or Bazaar, which all have their own specific characters, a night with poetry, passion, music & hilarious anecdotes of Mulla Nasrudin is an attractive option to end the day.

Proceed to an atmospheric traditional house which is conveniently located in the heart of the old town.

Shabneshini (Iranian Night Gathering) is one of Iran’s long-standing memorable traditions for Iranians. For Iranian families, night gatherings have certain customs that symbolise a family reunion.

Some of the physical elements of Shabneshinis are Korsi (a type of low table with a heater underneath it, and blankets thrown over it), natural snacks such as nuts & dried fruits, drinking tea, reading Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh & most importantly storytelling.

Persian Night is an interactive experience with a family in their home, where you will have the opportunity of becoming familiar with Iran’s traditional music & poetry of a legendary poet who had revitalized the Persian language & culture. You will become familiar with some of the customs associated with the Iranian ‘night gathering’. 

Since developing ‘written communication’ humankind has been able to transmit & preserve knowledge throughout the ages in the form of Literature & Poetry which can be considered as a integral aspect of the culture of nations.

On arrival, you are greeted with a healthy cold fresh traditional Persian drink. The 3 hour experience begins with playing Persian classical music. You will be fascinated with the live performance by one of the experienced & skilled musicians playing a Setar (a wood & string instrument).

Listen to classical Persian music & recitals of legendary poems & reading lines from the “Book of the King” which narrates stories about past Iran with its legendary hero (translated in English). The evening continues with the narration of a number of funny anecdotes of Mulla Nasrudin, a famous Persian character.

During short breaks, you will be served delicious & tasty Yazdi cake as well as flavorful aromatic bitter orange blossom tea.

Traditional Persian Night experience in Yazd is very authentic due to the experienced friendly & passionate Hosts. Moreover, you may enjoy friendly chats with the Hosts & with other guests of different nationalities who may be there, about Persian culture, customs & traditions.

Iranians are known as their hospitality & express their feelings & intense excitement of hosting, preparing a feast for their guests. Following this honorable tradition, your Hosts too, will prepare a real Persian banquet featuring both vegetarian & non-vegetarian cuisine. You will be served a delicious & wholesome 3 course dinner which includes Shooli Soup, Ghormeh Sabzi & Mast-o-Khiar.

The evening ends with a sumptuous meal showcasing traditional Persian cuisine followed of course, with the famous Yazdi Cake & tea with citrus aurantium flavor.

Transfer back to the hotel.

Overnight.  B D

Early morning, depart for Isfahan, perhaps the most beautiful of all Iranian cities.

Enroute, you would be stopping to discover a little bit more about the ‘civilisation’.

Stop at Na’ian, a pre-Islamic town, more than 2,000 years old, on the edge of the Central Desert.

More than 3,000 years ago, the Persians learned how to construct aqueducts underground to bring water from the mountains to the plains. In the 1960's this ancient system provided more than 70 percent of the water used in Iran & Na’in is one of the best places in entire world to see these functioning Qanats.

Unique to Na’in are some of the most outstanding monuments in all of Iran: the Jame Mosque, one of the first 4 Mosques built in Iran after the Arab invasion; the Pre-Islamic Narej Fortress; a Pirnia traditional house; the Old Bazaar; Rigareh, a qanat-based watermill & a Zurkhaneh (a place for traditional sport).

See Masjed-e Jameh, whose construction dates back to the 8^th century CE, but the whole of the Complex has been constructed in stages. The finely detailed stucco work around the Mihrab (niche) belongs to Ale'Buye in the 11^th century.

The courtyard was constructed in the time of the Siljuks (12^th century), the basement is believed to be pre-Islamic, which may have been used as a Fire Temple before the Mosque, one of the oldest in Iran, was built on top. The exterior facade & Minaret are beautiful & many parts of the interior are decorated with stucco work.

If you stand in the middle of the yard, you will find yourself surrounded by 14 columns, each one adorned with a unique & intricate pattern of brickwork.

Its magnificent plasterwork over the niche, the marvellous brickwork around the yard, are only a few of its features.

There is an exquisitely carved wooden Minbar, which an inscription identifies as being 700 years old & an underground Prayer Hall, designed to keep the faithful cool in summer & warm in winter. Alabaster 'windows' set in the ceiling of this dug-out basement allowed natural light to filter down from the courtyard, & access to the Qanat below the Mosque served as the ablutions area. There is a stairway that connects the Mosque to the water channel & to the chambers above the pool.

There is time for another brief visit a traditional Museum House called Na’in Pirnia & Ethnographic Museum.

The traditional Pirnia House is a perfect example of the desert architecture of the region, built in the Safavid era. It consists of an exterior, an interior, a deep garden, a silo room & all the facilities a Mansion needed at the time of its construction.

The house belonged to a Governor of Na'in during the Qajar Dynasty. A few decades ago, the House was purchased by the Ministry of Culture & Art & after renovation in 1994, it was transformed into the Ethnological Desert Museum.

The old Mansion is located opposite the congregational Mosque dating from the Safavid period (1560) & consists of living quarters arranged around a sunken courtyard on 2 levels. When you enter the House & pass the first corridor, you reach an octagonal room called "hashti", which used to be a waiting room for customers and visitors. The rooms to the right from the Entrance immediately catch visitors' attention with their delicate monochrome painted plaster decoration.

The murals of the main Hall depict the scenes from the life of Joseph the Beautiful, including the scene of Zaltkhas unsuccessful attempt to seduce him. Beautiful paintings, amazing plastering of Qur'an stories, a book of famous poems & exquisite calligraphy decorate the small Sitting Room next to it.

The Mansion currently houses an Ethnographic Museum with an exceptionally fine collection. Among the most valuable objects on display is 19^th century Zoroastrian female clothing with exquisite hand-embroidery.

A Teahouse located on the same level as the courtyard is an excellent place to rest after the excursion.

Besides its magnificent monuments, Na’in is also famous for high-quality ceramics, carpets & wool textiles & finished clothing like camel-wool cloaks primarily sold in Yazd.

Heavy sheep & camel woollen cloaks (famous among Arab customers) are made in underground wool-weaving workshops.

The openings of these man-made Caves all face the rising sun & are thought to have been constructed by Zoroastrians who traditionally respect the sources of light. Nowadays, the Caves support a cottage industry that is over 700 years old.

Stroll through the old part of the town before sitting down for Lunch in one of the Teahouses. You should try Doogh, a sour drink made from yoghurt, salt & water - sometimes carbonated & sometimes flavoured with mint or other plants. Same as Turkish ayran, it is an acquired taste but will rehydrate you quickly in the heat of Iran's summer.

Finally, it is on to Isfahan.

Arrive by early 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). 

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 and 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 at 09:00 am & proceed for a 6 hour tour of the beautiful city of Isfahan, the 17^th century capital of the Safavids, referred to as Nesf-e-Jahan (Half of the World).

Walk through the huge UNESCO World Heritage listed Naqsh-e Jahan Square.

Four 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.

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. To the north is a great arch opening into the high vaulted ceilings of a snaking, covered marketplace that stretches nearly a mile.

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.

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, 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 tour concludes.

Return to the hotel or continue exploring on your own.

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). 

Overnight.  B D

Morning, meet the Tour-guide & 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 Armenian quarter of Isfahan dates from the time of Shah Abbas I, when he forcibly resettled hundreds of thousands of Armenian Christians from the town of Jolfa (now on Iran’s northern border) en-masse - as part of his scorched-earth policy in Armenia during the Ottoman War of 1603-1618, to his new capital - Isfahan & named their village as ‘New Jolfa’, located on the south bank of the Zayandehrud River, is linked to the Muslim part of Isfahan by Siosepol Bridge.

Kelisa-ye Vank today forms the centre of this fashionable area. There are also a number of other Armenian Churches here & an old Cemetery, serving the local Christian community.

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

The varying fortunes & independence of this Suburb across the Zayande River & its eclectic mix of European missionaries, mercenaries & travelers can be traced almost chronologically in the Cathedral's combination of building styles & contrasts in its external & internal architectural treatment.

Also known as the Holy Savior Cathedral or Church of the Saintly Sisters, Kelisa-ye Vank (‘Vank’ means "Monastery" or "Convent" in the Armenian language), the construction is believed to have begun in 1606 by the first arrivals & completed with major alterations to design between 1648 & 1664 under the supervision of Archbishop David, with the encouragement of the Safavid rulers.

The Cathedral consists of a domed sanctuary, much like an Iranian Mosque, but with the significant addition of a semi-octagonal Apse & raised Chancel usually seen in western Churches. The exteriors, in relatively modern brickwork, may appear drab but the elaborately decorated interior shows a mixture of styles - Islamic, Persian & Christian European with restored wall paintings full of life & colour, including gruesome martyrdoms & pantomime demons.

The interior is covered with fine frescos & gilded carvings & includes a wainscot of rich tile work. The delicately blue & gold painted Central Dome depicts the Biblical story of the creation of the world & man's expulsion from Eden. Pendentives throughout the Church are painted with a motif of a cherub's head surrounded by folded wings typical of Armenian art. The ceiling above the entrance is painted with delicate floral motifs in the style of Persian miniature. Two sections, or bands, of murals run around the interior walls: the top section depicts events from the life of Jesus, while the bottom section depicts tortures inflicted upon Armenian martyrs by the Ottoman Empire. There are several carved stones showing scenes from the Bible outside the Museum.

The Courtyard contains a large freestanding Belfry towering over the graves of both Orthodox & Protestant Christians. The graves include those of Sir George Malcolm, an English army officer, Alexander Decover, Russian Consul & Banker and Andrew Jukes, English Surgeon & Agent of the British government. Graves are also placed along the exterior wall before the entrance, with inscriptions in Armenian.

In one corner of the Courtyard, there is a raised area with a memorial to the 1915 Armenian Genocide in Turkey. Across the Courtyard, facing the Cathedral, there is a building housing a Museum of Armenian Culture which displays 700 handwritten books, the first book printed in Iran, a variety of objects related to Armenian community in Isfahan such as Safavid costumes, tapestries, European paintings brought back by Armenian merchants, embroidery & other ethnological displays related to Armenian culture & religion.

The highlight of the Museum is a fabulous collection of illustrated Gospels & Bibles, some dating back as far as the 10^th century. And, appropriate to a City of Miniature Painters, relatively recent gifts to the Museum include one of the world's smallest prayer books & a Prayer written on a single hair that is possible to see only with the aid of a Microscope.

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 ends & you will return to the hotel or continue exploring on your own.

But the day is not over yet. We have planned an exciting Wellness experience – a visit to an exotic Hammam.

In time, you will be met by The Journeys Rep / Driver & transfer to a Turkish 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 & Qom.

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.

.

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 in the city by late evening & proceed to a restaurant for dinner.

After dinner, you will proceed to Tehran Airport Hotel.

Check-in & relax.

*Most flights depart early in the morning.  So, you would be staying in the room tonight for a couple of hours only. Unless, you are leaving tomorrow.

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

 .

***        End of Services      ***