10 Days Classic - History & Culture

With over 15 million residents, Tehran is Iran’s
melting pot, the center of its national identity. Check
out local shopping experiences in the maze-like
Grand Bazaar of Tehran, before heading off
to the World Heritage-listed Golestan Palace,
in Central Tehran. The 18th c. Qajar-era complex
is a masterpiece of hand-painted tiles, set within
a lush garden. After a quick stroll through Shahr
Park, stop by the National Museum of Iran,
which holds artefacts from ancient and medieval
Iranian antiquities.

Start the day with the historic Sa’dabad Palace
Complex in Northern Tehran, a 300-hectare
complex built by the Qajar and Pahlavi monarchs,
next to the house of the current president. After
this, you could visit Tajrish Bazaar for a lively
shopping experience. Depending on your
departure, you could also either visit Milad Tower,
Tehran’s tallest highrise, or the iconic Azadi
Tower, an amalgam of classic and modern Iranian
art. You can also head to ASP Towers for tasty
and trendy dining options in the evening.

In Kashan, stop by the Agha Bozorg
Mosque, a multilevel theological school
that served as the center of Kashani life.
Visit the Sultan Amir Ahmad Bathhouse for
a lesson in classic bathing. Explore the fascinating Abbasian House & Tabatabaei
House, two examples of opulent homes
with exceptional architectural details, designed specifically for the desert. Visit
an active Pottery Workshop to see Kashan’s
traditional earthen handicrafts. After a
quick stop in Fin Garden, spend the night
in Kashan.

Stop by the pre-Islamic city of Maybod to
explore the remarkably maintained Sassanid-era
Narin Castle. Visit the Maybod Pigeon
Tower, an important invention in message
sending and fertilization. Move on the Maybod
Yakhchal, a millenia-old icehouse within the
desert, and the Abbasi Caravansary. Explore
the abandoned mud-brick village Kharanaq,
a well-preserved example of how Persian
cities looked thousands of years ago. Spend
the night in Yazd.

Start the day off with the Yazd Jameh Mosque,
built in the 13th c. over a Sassanid fire temple.
Then, hit the narrow, mud-brick streets to visit the
Amir Chakhmagh Complex, which contains
a caravanserai, a bathhouse, and many
confectioneries. Learn how underground water
channels kept the city hydrated with a visit to
the Yazd Water Museum. Stop in at the
Zoroastrian Fire Temple and see the holy fire
that has burned since 470 AD. Finish by seeingTower
of Silence to witness the location of sky burials.

Head to Shiraz in the early morning. On the way,
visit one of the oldest living organisms in the
world, the Cypress of Abarkooh. The Cyprus
tree is an ancient Zoroastrian symbol of life
and beauty. Estimated to be between 4,000-
5,000 years old, this cypress is said to have
been planted by the prophet Zoroaster himself.
Spend some time at the final resting place of
Cyrus the Great, the founder of the first Persian
Empire, the Achaemenid dynasty, at Pasargadae.
Make your way to Shiraz for the night.

Arrive before 8am for the best views of the Nasir
ol-Molk “Pink” Mosque. Move on to the Vakil
Complex, featuring the Vakil Mosque, Vakil
Bathhouse, and the famed caravansary. Relax
in the World Heritage-listed Eram Garden,
before visiting the Citadel of Karim khan. A
former prison, the citadel has been converted to
a giant garden, complete with local vendors.
A quick stop at the Tomb of Hafez, the
worldwide-renowned Persian poet, and it’s off
to dinner with a local Shirazi family.

Start the day with the World Heritage-listed Persepolis, once the center of the Persian
Empire and one of the great cities of
the ancient world. The towering columns,
remarkable relief carvings, and massive
gateways are still imposing. Move on to
the Naqsh-e Rostam Necropolis, a royal
graveyard of massive tombs, carved straight
into the mountainside, from the Achaemenids
to the Sassanids. Arrive in Esfahan and rest
for the night.

After a night’s sleep, visit the 16th c. Naqsh-e
Jahan Square, the seat of Iran’s Safavid
dynasty. Explore Qeysarie Bazaar, a local
hub filled with handicrafts, spices & carpets.
Visit the Sheykh Lotfollah Mosque‘s
mesmerizing dome, the Shah Mosque‘s
enchanting courtyard, Ali Qapu Palace’s
view. You can also visit Chehel-sotun Palace,
the royal Safavid reception for foreign dignitaries
and ambassadors. At night, visit Khaju Bridge
& Si-o-Se Pol Bridge, local hangouts along
Zayandeh Rud river

Time permitting, visit the 8th c. Jameh Mosque
of Isfahan, a former Sassanid-era Zoroastrian
fire temple. Make your way from Isfahan’s
Historic District, through ancient bazaar-pathways, to the more modern Naqsh-e Jahan
Square from yesterday. Handicrafts here
haven’t changed for over 400 years, so some
take time to pick out last minute handicrafts for
friends and family at home. Finish the day with
the bright frescos of Vank Cathedral in the
Armenian quarter of New Jolfa. Drive towards
Tehran for IKIA