Taste of Persia Tour

DAY 01: ARRIVE-TEHRAN

Arrival at Tehran’s IKA Airport; meet and transfer to Hotel for overnight stay.

 DAY 02: TEHRAN-SHIRAZ

Full day visit to some of Tehran’s major museums, including Iran’s National Museum (Archaeological only  – Islamic Museum is currently under renovation), displaying an authenticated collection of pre-historic and ancient artifacts with pottery dating back to 6-7 millennium B.C., the Abguineh (Glass & Ceramics) Museum, a valuable collection of pre-Islamic and Islamic glass and ceramics, beautifully displayed and located in an elegant early 20^th-century mansion, and the Carpet Museum, with an extensive collection of old Persian carpets and rugs from the major carpet-weaving centers of Iran; transfer to airport for evening flight to Shiraz, as available; transfer to Hotel for overnight stay.

DAY 03: SHIRAZ/EXCURSION PERSEPOLIS

Half day excursion to Persepolis, one of the most important sites of the Ancient World, the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid kings with remains of the palaces of Darius the Great, Xerxes and Artaxerxes, and its famous bas-reliefs, depicting kings and courtiers and gift-bearing representatives of tributary nations of the Persian Empire. Also visit Naghsh-e-Rostam to see Ka’be-Zardosht (fire temple/sanctuary), and Royal Tombs (also Achaemenid); plus seven magnificent Sassanian rock-reliefs (including Shapur the First’s famous victory over Roman Emperor Valerian); and Naghsh-e-Rajab, a nearby grotto with more Sassanian reliefs; return to Shiraz for some visits in this city of “roses and nightingales”, to include the tomb of Iran’s greatest lyric poet Hafez; Narenjestan (a reception/residential house/garden), and the pink-tiled Nasir-ol-Molk Mosque; overnight stay at Hotel.

DAY 04: SHIRAZ/PASARGADAE– ISFAHAN

Further visits in Shiraz, and drive to Isfahan, enroute visit Pasargadae, the site of the simple, but impressive, tomb and remains of the palaces of Cyrus the Great (the Founder of the Persian Empire); continue to Isfahan for overnight stay at Hotel.

DAY 05: ISFAHAN

Full day 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) in Safavid sources, to visit the famous bridges of Shahrestan, Khajou & Sio-se-pol, the Armenian Quarter with several churches, including the important Cathedral of Vank; in the afternoon visit one of the world’s grandest squares, the Maidan-e-Naghsh-e-Jahan, with several sites (the Ali-Qapu Palace with its enchanting music rooms and balcony overlooking the Maidan, from where the Safavid Kings watched polo games, and two of Islamic world’s greatest mosques – the Sheikh Lotfollah and the Imam – with magnificent architecture and tilework), finishing with a visit to the Qeisarieh Bazaar with hundreds of shops displaying the arts and handicrafts for which Isfahan is world-famous; overnight stay at Hotel.

DAY 06: ISFAHAN

Another full day sightseeing of Isfahan to visit the magnificent Friday Mosque, with the famous Uljaitu Mihrab (Prayer Niche) of the Il-Khanid period. The Friday Mosque is considered a museum of a thousand years of Persian religious architecture and is truly one of the world’s greatest mosques. From here drive to the Chehel Sotun Palace, built by Shah Abbas II in the 17^th century; its twenty wooden columns reflected in the surface of the pool give rise to its name ‘The Palace of Forty Columns’. Final stop of the day is at the Hasht Behesht pavilion built in 1670 by Shah Solayman and known as the Pavilion of Eight Paradises or the Palace of Nightingales. The small but intricate building is set amongst tree-lined alleys, a reflecting pool and water rills; return to the Maidan for further visit to shops and bazaar; overnight stay at Hotel.

DAY 07: ISFAHAN-TEHRAN

Morning drive to Tehran, enroute visit the charming town of Natanz to see Friday Mosque/Monastery/Tomb Complex, on to desert town of Kashan to visit the historical garden of Fin which was first planted during the Safavid period and kept alive with water from the nearby Sulaimanieh Spring. This beautiful garden was expanded by the Zand and Qajar monarchs, with many open pavilions added. You will also visit a fine example of a 19^th century merchant residence known as Borujerdi House with its beautiful stucco dome and inlaid mirror work, with some of the best examples of existing “badgirs” (wind-catchers); on to Tehran and drive by the Mausoleum of Imam Khomeini; overnight stay at Laleh Hotel.

DAY 08: TEHRAN-DEPARTURE

Transfer to IKA Airport for departure flight.