INDISCOVERED PERSIA 14 DAYS
For those wanting something a little diffrent,venture into the more
remote parts of this huge country. Head out west where there is
a significant Kurdish minority,along the way finding about the
Elamites,Parthians and Sassanians who are all part of Persia?s
a long history.This trip also includes Mashad, site of the shrine
of Imam Reza,which attracts huge numbers of pilgrime from
throughout the Shi'ite Islam world.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 : Tehran
Arrive in Tehran,Meet and Greet at the airport,transfer to hotel.
Day 2 : Tehran
Go with your guide on a full day sightseeing tour of the busy
capital of Iran. Visit the amazing Crown jewels in the vaults of
the National Bank, the Archaeological Museum,and Golestan
Palace.(B)
Day 3 : Tehran-Ahwaz-Andimeshk
Late this morning catch a flight to Ahwaz, capital of the southern
province of Khouzestan.This area was once the capital of the
Elamites kingdom and there are remains from both the Parthiean
and Sassanian periods. On arrival drive to Andimeshk,your base
for the next two nights.(B)
Day 4 : Andimeshk-Susa-Choqa Zanbil-Andimeshk
Today enjoy a full day excursion to Susa(or Sush), an important
Elamites city of the 3rd millennium BC which later became the
winter capital of Darius the Great in 521BC. Continue to the
well preserved Ziggurat of Choqa zanbil, now a Unesco world
heritage site and on to Shoushtar with its bridges built during
the Sassanian period (224-637). Overnight in Andimeshk.(B)
Day 5 : Andimeshk-Kermanshah
Following the road north, travel to Kermanshah in the west
of the country,home to a large Kurdish minority.Visit nearby
Taghe Bostan with its marvellous Sassanian bas-reliefs dating
from the 4th century AD.(B)
Day 6 : Kermanshah-Hamedan
Visit the Archaeological site of Bisotoon dating from the
Achaemenid and Parthian times then continue to the village
of Lalejin famous for its pottery.Also take a boat ride
through the enormous Ali Sadr underground caves, before
arriving in Hamedan.(B)
Day 7 : Hamedan-Qom-Kashan
In Hamedan visit the Mausoleum of Avicenna,the famous
medieval philosopher and the tomb of Eshter,the Jewish
wife ofthe persian king xerexes.Continue to the holy city
of Qom. In 1816 Fatima, the sister of Imam Reza was
buried here and it is now a place of pligriame with some
magnificent mosques and shrines. Overnight in Kashan
a world heritage site,also famous for its annual harvest
of roses. Visit the beautiful Fin Garden and Agha Bozorg
Mosque.(B)
Day 8 : Kashan-Yazd
Leaving Kashan,travel through the desert to Yazd, one
ofthe oldest cities in the world and the centre of
Zoroastrianism. See the Zoroastrian fire tempels,the
wind towers and explore the old city made of sun-dried
bricks with its labyrinthine alleyways.(B)
Day 9 : Yazd
Continue your sightseeing tour of Yazd including the
Zoroastrian Towers of silence and the Jame Mosque.
The afternoon is left free for your own exploration.(B)
Day 10 : Yazd-Kerman
Depart for Kerman along the ancient caravan routes
of the Silk Road,stopping off at the Zeyn Od Din Caravansrai.
After checking into your hotel in Kerman enjoy a city
sightseeing tour including the Friday Mosque,the bazaar
and Ganj-Ali Khan bathhouse.(B)
Day 11 : Kerman-Mahan-Rayen-Kerman
Today take a trip out to Mahan, a lovley oasis village,
home to the Mausoleum of Shah Nematollah Valli, the
founder of a Sufi order. Take a walk in the cool Gardens,
set against a bachdrop of snow-capped mountains.
Later on travel to Raye,through which Marco Polo
passed during the Middle Ages and admired the
architecture.(B)
Day 12 : Kerman-Mashad
Leaving Kerman late morning fly to Mashad, Iran's most
holy city and pligrimage site. In the afternoon visit the
holy shrine of Imam Reza and the surrounding buildings
which are one of the marvels of the Islamic world.You
will also visit the Koranic Museum and learn about the
Shi'ite religion and the Sufi tradition.(B)
Day 13 : Mashad-Tehran
This morning continue sightseeing in Mashad then visit
the tomb of the famous Persian poet Omar Khayyam in
nearby Neishabour. Enjoy some free time wandering around
the Mashad Bazaar before catching the late evening
flight back to Tehran.(B)
Day 14 : Tehran
Transfer to the airport for flight to home.