This intresting journey heads north tothe lesser visited regions around the Caspian Sea.The heavily forested, mountaious scenery is markedly diffrent from the south and was where the Islamic sect of the Assassians holed up in precipitpus fortresses.The further north-west one goes the more pronounced is the Azarbaijan influence which can be seen in the architecture,people and culture.

Arrive in Tehran,Meet and Greet at the airport,transfer to hotel.

Today enjoy a full day sightseeing tour of Tehran, including visits to the Archaeological Museum,the Golestan Palace and the magnificent crown jewels housed in the vaults of the National Bank.(B)

The Castles of the Assassins,immortalised in Freya Stark's 'Valley of the Assassins' are historic fortresses in the remote valleys near the northern town of Qazvin.Today's drive will take you up into the mountains to see these heavily fortified structures built by the heretical religious zealots, who followed Hassan Sabbah in the 11th century.Although the castles are mostly in ruins it is pleasant to take a picnic and enjoy a walk amongest the beautiful mountain scenery.(B)

Today head over the mountains and towards the Caspian sea coast. The drive north brings with it a complete change of scenery from dry desert to lush and sub-tropical vegetation.Pass through Rasht,then into the heavily forested mountainside the roof of one houses forms the courtyard of the one above.Ruturn to the coast and overnight in the port of Bandar-e Anzali.(B)

Stroll around Anzali with its Russian and Armenian style houses and take an optinal boat ride on the Anzali lagoon,home to lotuses, and wild birds.It's also possible to visit the state caviar factory(depending on season).In the afternoon travel up the coastal road to Astara, on the border with Azarbaijan and visit one of the markets where fish is the speciality,then continue to Ardabil.(B)

This morning visit the Sheikh Safi-ol-din Mausoleum,visit the city Sarein,nestled under majestic Mount Sabalan.Sarein is famous for its hot springs and you can stop to have a thermal bath.(B)

Today visit the Armenian Church of St. Stepanos set in magnificent mountain scenery near Jolfa.Continue northwest to Maku,visit Maku palace then on to Kara kelisa,or Church of St.Thadadeus,the most famous place of pligramage for Armenian Christians in Iran.Descend via the small twon of Marand towards Tbreiz and overnight.(B)

Enjoy a guided sightseeing tour of Tabriz.Visit the Ark(citadel),El-Goli park,the Blue Mosque and the central Bazaar area,mostly dating from the 18th and 19th century.In the afternoon transfer to the airport and fly to Tehran.(B)

A further day for sightseeing in Tehran including the Carpet Museum showng some of the best carpets n the world and the Saad Abad palace Complex built by Reza Shah in the 1930's. Continue to the Niavaran Palace,the lost Shah's residence,which has remaind untouched since the Iranian Revolution in 1979.In the late aternoon.your uide will take you to Darband,to the north of the city where Tehranis go for an evening out.The mountainside is full of little restaurants and tea houes overlooking a rushing stream and you can have something to eat or smoke a hubble bubble under the cool air of the plane trees.(B)

Transfer to the airport for flight to home.