Exploring Spirituality in Iran

Welcome to Iran! Transfer to the hotel. In the afternoon (variable schedule based on arrival flights), we will begin the visit to TEHRAN, the capital of the country, a modern city with almost ten million inhabitants. We enter the Tajrish Bazar, a small and active bazaar full of activity and life. Inside we visit the Imamzadeh Saleh Sanctuary, one of the most popular Shiite shrines in Iran, magnificent blue architecture, dedicated to a descendant of the prophet. Tehran is on the slope of the Alborz Mountain range, some peaks exceed 5000 meters, and at its foot - on the edge of Tehran - is DARBAND VILLAGE, with its mountain atmosphere, its waterfalls, its green paths, its numerous Tea houses and its restaurants. Dinner included.Note: If the arrival time of your flight is after 5 p.m., you will not be able to attend the activities planned for this day.

We include a visit (with guide and tickets included) to the great metropolis. We begin by going to the 437 meters high MILAD TOWER, its views are impressive (if it´s a foggy day with low visibility, instead of the Milad Tower we will go to the Azadi Tower). We visit the National Museum, the largest historical and archaeological museum in the country, where we can learn more about this land, the cradle of civilizations. Afterwards, we visit the Golestan Palace, declared a world heritage site by UNESCO, a site of palaces and gardens which construction began in the 16th century. Lunch included. In the afternoon, we will visit the National Jewelry Museum, property of the central bank, an amazing collection of precious stones and metals, highlighting the “peacock throne” and the “earth globe”. Free time; we will drop you off in the Grand Bazaar area, with its many covered streets, alleys and hundreds of shops.Note: Sometimes the jewelry museum is not open, in that case, we would visit the carpet museum that shows Persian carpets, some from the 16th century.

After breakfast, on the outskirts of Tehran, we visit the Mausoleum-Shrine of Imam Khomeini, considered the founder of the Islamic Republic and whose construction began in 1989 after his death. The immense complex of over 20 square kilometers is a cultural and tourist center that also houses a seminary and a university of Islamic studies. We continue to QOM, the provincial capital and one of the holiest Shiite religious centers in the Islamic world that houses the Mausoleum of Fatima Masuma, sister of the eighth Shiite Imam, Imam Reza. Tens of thousands of pilgrims visit Qom every year. Qom is known for being a major center of Shia Islamic studies and is home to numerous religious schools and seminaries, as well as Al-Mustafa Islamic University, which attracts students from all over the world. Accompanied by an Islamic scholar we will visit the sacred mausoleum (courtyards and outdoor areas) and he will introduce us to Islam in its Shiite branch, enveloping us in the atmosphere of this holy place. After that, we´ll visit Imam Khomeini´s house. Free time in the city´s bazaar, with its many shops specializing in prayer and religious objects. Lunch included. In the afternoon we continue to Kashan making a stop, before entering the city, at the Fin Garden, wonderful gardens dating back to the sixteenth century, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, in an area of thermal springs and surrounded by a wall. We´ll stroll through the gardens, the palace and the baths. We continue to KASHAN, a pleasant city whose historic center, with numerous monuments and historic adobe houses, are of great beauty. Free time in the historic center, with a lively tourist life.

In the morning we begin the visit of Kashan with the Agha Bozorg mosque/madrasa, a beautiful and original construction. The ground floor is occupied by the madrasa and the upper floor by the great mosque that reminds us of the constructions made by the Persians in India. The center of Kashan has several ancient houses/palaces; We will visit one of them, the Boroujerdi house-museum, from the nineteenth century, where we will be surprised by its mural paintings, in which the rich merchant who built it wanted to show the places he had visited, and the ventilation system to give freshness to the palace in summer. We will also enter the hammam "soltan bath", with its blue tiles it is one of the most beautiful historical baths in Iran. Flower drinks are typical in Kashan, so to try them, we will visit one of the factories-shops of these unique flower drinks, see how they are made and have a delicious tasting.After this pleasant experience, we will continue south, making a stop in ABOUZEYDABAD where we will visit an old restored caravanserai, very close to the desert dune area and have a traditional lunch (included). We will continue through arid regions and deserts on our way. We will have time to visit ARDAKAN, a historic adobe city, and the NARIN CITADEL, whose origin dates back to 4000 years before Christ.We continue to YAZD, a beautiful city in the desert, with a historic center that is a World Heritage Site, with its winding streets, its wind towers and its brick and adobe houses. The city, founded 5000 years ago, is inhabited by people from different cultures, where 10% of the population follows the ancient religion of Zoroaster. Free time for a stroll through its old town, which according to UNESCO is one of the oldest settlements in the world.

After breakfast we will visit the city of Yazd, we will love its traditional atmosphere and the customs of its inhabitants. On the outskirts of the city, we will visit the Towers of Silence, where, according to Zoroastrian beliefs, corpses are deposited, considered impure, so that they do not contaminate the sacred elements: earth, water or fire. Later, in the historic center, we visit the Amir Chakhmaq compound, with its impressive three-story façade, which includes a caravanserai, cistern and public toilet. We also visit the Water Museum, to introduce us to the great construction works of underground canals, used for 2000 years, to preserve water from evaporation. Lunch included. In the afternoon, we visit the Fire Temple, a sacred place for the Zoroastrian community of fire worship, a fundamental symbol of their religion. It is said that the sacred fire of the temple has not stopped burning since 470 AD. We also visit the Dolat Abad garden, a World Heritage Site. Its 33.8-meter wind tower is the tallest adobe wind tower in the world.

After breakfast, we´ll head to CHAK CHAK, a small mountain town with a sacred shrine for Zoroastrians. Every year, thousands of Zoroastrians from Iran, India, and other countries make a pilgrimage to this fire temple.Later, a volcanic and arid landscape will lead us to a historic mud-brick town, KHARANAGH, "birthplace of the sun". We will be able to visit its castle, its caravanserai and its old stone bridge. Lunch included.Continuation to GARMEH, for many, the most beautiful desert village in Iran. Surrounded by palm trees and with its spring of water, this adobe oasis village has been populated for more than 4,000 years and was a stop on the Silk Road. We continue to KHUR, a small active town in the middle of the desert.

We will depart from Khur to the east of the country; we will cross the "dry salt lake" with its colors and polygonal crystal formations. We will make a stop in TABAS, known as "the bride of the desert", a pleasant city where we will visit the Golshan Garden. Afterwards, we will stop at the Historic Village of ESFAHAK, an oasis city that was destroyed by an earthquake in 1978, rebuilt as an adobe city and hiding many places of great charm. Lunch included.We will continue to FERDOWS, recently declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its "Qanat". This city on the edge of the desert is known for its excellent saffron and pomegranates. We will head to Baghestan-e Olia to visit Baladeh Qanat and explore how the ancient Iranians used their technology to supply water in arid areas and desert regions centuries ago. Then, we´ll stroll through its tree-lined streets.

We continue our route to the east. We will meet at the impressive qanat of GONABAD QASABEH, continuation of our route to TORBAT JAM, a small provincial capital located near the border with Afghanistan, inhabited by the Baluchis, an ethnic group of Sunni religion, known for their unique dance and music as an important cultural expression. We will listen to their music and their stories of victories and failures throughout history. After that, we´ll visit the mausoleum of Ahmad Jami, the Underground Mosque, the Tombstone of Sadooghi, the Dome of Firoozshahi and the Caravanserai of Jam.

A little over two hours away, approaching the borders of Turkmenistan and Afghanistan, we find a city full of strength: MASHHAD, the holiest city in Iran, which, with its three million inhabitants, is also the second city in the country. The Haram, its massive shrine complex commemorating the martyrdom in 818 of the eighth Shiite imam, is a place of pilgrimage, attracting more than 20 million pilgrims a year. We will visit the shrine of Haram-e Razavi, with its dazzling blue domes and minarets that seem to transport us to the tales of the Arabian Nights. We must be respectful of our attire and surroundings (non-Muslims can access all outer courtyards, but they will not be allowed to enter the interior of holy buildings). We will also learn about the mausoleum of Nader Shah, who after his military campaigns returned with immense riches: the peacock throne, the Koh-i-Noor diamond and "700 elephants, 4,000 camels and 12,000 horses carrying chariots, all loaded with gold, silver and precious stones". Nader ordered that upon his return, Mughal craftsmen should build him a large tomb in the Mughal style: the Kakh-e-Khorshid, or "Palace of the Sun." Lunch included. In the afternoon, we will also visit the Anthropological Museum located in the former public bath and the Darougheh House Palace. Free time.

After breakfast, we drive to NISHABUR, a city that was once one of the most prosperous in the country, on the ancient silk road, today its activity is focused on agriculture and turquoise mines. We will also visit the mausoleum and planetarium of Omar Khayam, a Persian mathematician and astronomer originally from this town, and the "wooden mosque" on the outskirts. Lunch included. We continue to ZAFARANIYEH, a quiet village on the Silk Road that has maintained its ancient caravanserai, also its ancient "ice house" and the remains of its great citadel. After that, we continue to SABZEVAR, an active provincial capital whose history dates back to 1000BC, the city has several universities. We´ll visit its main mosque and suggest a stroll through its historic bazaar.

After a journey among so many deserts, today we will be surprised by the variety of landscapes in Iran; the Alborz mountain range separates us from the Caspian Sea, with its peaks of over 5000 meters. On our route, we take a detour to the village of ABR, in the mountains, where its streams and the great rainforest take us to another world, we are in one of the most beautiful landscape areas in the country, frequently covered by fog and dense clouds, sometimes so thick that it seems we could walk on them. Lunch included. We continue to DAMGHAN, on our route to Tehran there are numerous ancient caravanserai that offered accommodation for caravans as we follow the Silk Road. In this small town, the archaeological site of Tappeh Hessar shows us that the city has existed for 4000 years and was the capital of one of the areas conquered by Alexander the Great. They say Damghan pistachios are the best in the world, should we try them? We visit Tarikhaneh, the second oldest mosque in Iran with its tall minaret.

We return to Tehran, on the way we stop in GARMSAR, a small town inhabited mainly by the Tat, a minority who have their own language and customs. Lunch included. Then we enter the Salt Mine (entrance included), an impressive underground area with immense halls and columns and amazing colors. We continue our journey to TEHRAN, arriving around 18.00 hrs.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport and end of our services.