Incomparable Iran: History, architecture & people

You will be greeted at Imam Khomeini International Airport by both your YellowWood & local guides, to be transferred to your 4* hotel in Tehran to relax and freshen up. We will then enjoy our first group dinner together, discovering the delicious cuisine of Iran in a recommended restaurant in the city.

The capital of Iran, Tehran, is a fascinating, liberal and dynamic city at the base of the Alborz Mountains, which you can see on its skyline. It is the perfect place to start our journey and is full of delights such as the Ahmad Shahi Pavillion in the great wooded Niavaran complex in the North of the city. Home to the last Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, it has been kept in fabulous condition and houses an array of fascinating souvenirs and ornaments giving insight into how Reza Pahlavi lived and worked. We visit the UNESCO World Heritage 'Golestan Palace' and the other royal buildings in the gardens of Royal Qajar complex of the preceding dynasty; some of the oldest historical buildings in the city and perhaps one of the most spectacular sites you will see on your adventure. For a change of pace we then head to the bustling and vibrant Bazaar before lunch.  This afternoon we drive to Mehrabad airport for our flight to Shiraz; one of the best tourism destinations in Iran. (Flight included).

Visiting the lush Eram Gardens gives us a wonderful start to our time in Shiraz. It is one of the most beautiful Persian gardens in all Iran, with fragrant flowers, cypress trees (one said to be 3000 years old!), and a beautiful 3 storey pavilion. The beauty doesn’t end here - we move on to the stunning Nasir ol Molk Mosque (1888), better known to the world as the ‘Pink Mosque’. Its incandescent mosaics and stained glass windows cast a rainbow of colours into the interior, as the sunlight shines through them. It is a celebration of Islamic heritage with its design showcasing Islamic art, architecture, and tile making.We dine and stay in Shiraz this evening.

Driving out of the city into the dry deserts of Iran, we are heading towards one of the greatest historical sites in the world!  Persepolis was the ancient capital of the Persian Empire, before it was mostly destroyed by Alexander the Great in retribution for the burning of Athens.  In 480 BC, under the Persian Achaemenid Empire, it ruled the greatest ever percentage of the global population (around 44%) making it the largest empire in history. Wonder at the stone carvings and proud pillars before we drive 20mins to Necropolis to see the tombs of 5 great Achaemenid kings, including Darius and Xerxes. Last on our itinerary today (1hr drive) is the magnificent monumental tomb of Sirius the Great, at Pasargadae.From here we head right into the heart of Iran (6 hr drive), arriving at the ancient desert city of Yazd before dinner, to stay in our hotel… dug into the ground to keep rooms cool!

The Zorastrian religion, which pre-dates Islam, is one of the world’s oldest monotheistic religions, founded in ancient Iran around 3500 years ago. Whilst it used to be the official Persian religion, today there are less than 190,000 followers worldwide. We visit the Tower of Silence and a fire temple where Zorastrians worship, believing that fire represents God’s light or wisdom. The fire here has been kept alight continuously since 470AD!  The city’s 12th Century AD ‘Jame’ (town centre) Mosque, with its minarets soaring above the city (they are the highest in the country), is still used today and showcases some of the finest Persian mosaics. Finish today on a high with a rooftop dinner, watching the sun go down amid the city’s windcatchers, for which it is famous.

Our destination today is Isfahan, a picturesque city that was once one of the largest and most important in Central Asia, due to its location at a crossroads on N-S and E-W trade routes. It is a 3 hour journey by car but we pause en route to look at the mud-brick Narin castle in Meybod. Though crumbling (parts of the settlement date back to 4000BC!), it is still imposing and gives an interesting view showing the development of the city around it. We also visit the Jame mosque and Pirnia house in Nain.  This is a great opportunity to discover some of the smaller towns of Iran and meet the local people there.  We will of course be continuing to discover the country’s delicious foods in many different types of local restaurants.  We finish off the day relaxing in the the calming atmosphere of beautiful Isfahan. 

We partake in a full-day excursion in Isfahan to visit it’s cultural highlights, including Naqsh-e Jahan Square, Ali Qapu Palace, Imam Mosque and the Sheikh lotfollah mosque and Bazaar, before heading to Hasht Behesht and Chehel Sotun Palace. Of course, having a relaxing day at the local Hamam baths, or walking around the many beautiful gardens of the Safavid Palaces is also an option, and you are free to see as much or as little as you like, but we would recommend the Jame Mosque - it is not to be missed! After dinner this evening we can walk down to the famous bridges where many of the city’s inhabitants congregate in the evenings before another comfortable night in our hotel.

It is well worth the early start and 2 hour drive towards Matin Abad Eco Resort in the desert this morning. We stop en-route to explore the unique Abiyaneh Village and the delicate and refined architecture of Kashan’s Fin Garden and Tabatabieha House. Built in around 1880 it belongs to the Tabatabaei family, one of the most affluent families of Kashan in the 19th Century. It is astonishingly symmetrical and one of the most beautiful examples of traditional Kashan houses. When we reach the resort in the afternoon, you have the option of enjoying a camel ride out into the desert to enjoy the sunset and a camp fire, or relaxing in the café on the hotel terrace for the spectacle of the sun’s rays dipping below the horizon.. We will enjoy our last group dinner this evening, at the resort, where they serve delicious, organic and healthy dishes.

Leaving the desert this morning concludes our cultural adventure! We have a 3 hour drive from the camp to the airport for flight departures. If you would like to extend your visit with an additional night or more in Tehran, then we will be happy to arrange this for you. Time to reflect on your adventure, and plan your next escape!