Day 1: Tehran
Arrival at Imam Khomeini international airport. Welcomed and accompanied by shokouh Iranian agent. Hotel transfer. Overnight stay in Tehran.
Day 2: Tehran- Kerman
Capture the greatness and dignity of Golestan palace, a royal palace dating back to Qajar dynasty. Mark the manifestation of art and culture in the Carpet Museum of Iran, where a permanent and a temporary gallery await you. Hit upon the splendid priceless Jewelry Treasury of Iran and see one the most renowned gemstones and shah crowns around the world. Fly to Kerman. Overnight stay in Kerman.
Day 3: Kerman- Mahan
Step into a city where the traces of civilization dates back to the 4th millennium. Mark how Rayen citadel has stood there for 1000 years despite all those natural disasters striking that area. Touch spirituality in Shah Nematollah Vali shrine– the tomb of famous Iranian poet Shah Nematollah Vali. Get astonished by Shahzadeh garden which stands out like an oasis in the heart of the desert and has provided a recreational spot for the locals. Stroll in a Safavid-era square, school, caravanserai, bathhouse, mint, mosque and bazaar, all in an 11000-suare-meter building called Ganjali khan complex. Browse the Grand bazaar of Kerman stuffed with traditional Iranian goods of all kinds. Overnight stay in Kerman.
Day 4: Shiraz
Drive to Shiraz. En route, uncover the Sassanid Sarvestan palace with its diverse structures and the oldest brick dome in Iran. Transfer to your hotel in Shiraz. After a break, get the first impression of the city by walking through the gardens and treating your eyes to beautiful flower patches. Overnight stay in Shiraz.
Day 5: Shiraz
Capture the colorful beauty of Nasir-ol-Molk Mosque, where the rays of sunlight crossing through the windows fills the interior with kaleidoscopic colors. Get mesmerized in the tombs of widely known Persian poet, Hafez. Take a tour to awe-inspiring Vakil complex. Become astonished by the glory of Karim khan citadel dating back to 3 centuries ago. Overnight stay in Shiraz.
Day 6: Shiraz-Yazd
Drive to Yazd. En route, stop by the Persepolis, the glamorous capital of ancient Persia. Tread in the simple but impressive site of Pasargadae, tomb of Cyrus the Great” the Founder of the Persian Empire” and remains of his several palaces. Treat your eyes to the dazzling rock reliefs of Naghsh-e-rostam. Discover ka’be zardosht, the center of astronomy and religion in old Iran. Arrival to Yazd, the living museum of Iran, and check into a cozy traditional guest house. Overnight stay in Yazd.
Day 7: Yazd
Catch a glimpse of a Zoroastrian temple where a sacred fire has been kept burning for hundreds of years. Discover the mud-brick mazes and buildings staying cool in scorching hot summers with windcatchers, the very first air conditioning systems ever. Get captivated by the Tower of Silence, a structure previously used for excarnation, with a short distance from the city. Also, visit the Friday Mosque (1324 A.D.) with the highest portal and minarets in Iran, with a walk through the old Fahadan quarter. Unearth the silk weaving workshop where exquisite brocades are still made on traditional looms. Overnight stay in Yazd.
Day 8: Varzaneh desert-Esfahan
After a 2-hour drive from Yazd, plunge into Varzaneh Desert, one of the most accessible deserts in the world. Check out the combination of wilderness and civilization sitting right next to each other. Unique to Varzaneh, are the local women’s costumes. While women in the rest of Iran wear black chadors, they wear completely white ones. Get entertained by warm locals in traditional houses. Head off to Esfahan. Overnight stay in Esfahan.
Day 9: Esfahan
Capture the marvels of Safavid dynasty, all in a single square, Naghsh- e- Jahan square, the second biggest square around the world. Once used as a polo field, Naghsh- e- Jahan square is now a lively traditional bazaar. Marvel at Ali Qapu palace with its unique features and mesmerizing view of the square from the top. Soak up Islamic architecture in magnificent Imam Mosque on one side and small but impressive sheikh Lotfollah Mosque on the other side of the square. Sip some tea and indulge yourself in an ethnic dish in a memorable place. Stroll in splendid Chehel Sotoun palace with the gardens surrounding it. Overnight stay in Esfahan.
Day 10: Esfahan
Delight in the glamorous Atigh Mosque, which is considered a museum of a thousand years of Persian Islamic architecture and is truly one of the world’s greatest mosques. Take a walk in cobbled streets of Jolfa, Armenian district and capture the allures of Vank cathedral with the breathtaking paintings on its wall and dome. In the afternoon, take a walking or bike riding tour on the Zayanderood river side packed with parks. On your way, catch a glimpse of Khajoo bridge- the finest, Si-o-se pol bridge- the longest, and Shahrestan bridge- the oldest of all. Overnight stay in Esfahan.
Day 11: Kashan-Abyaneh
Drive to the City of Kashan, a merchant town known for its high quality ceramics, silk, carpets, and fine houses. Tread in Fin Garden, the epitome of Persian gardens including pavilion, turquoise pools, a Hammam complex, and the modest Kashan national museum. Catch a glimpse of elaborate Borujerdi mansion, built in the 1840s for the affluent Tabatabaei family containing features such as a biruni (where visitors and guests are entertained) and an andaruni (the private part only open to family members). Drive to Abyaneh– the living anthropological museum with its red mud bricks– and wonder how the man has adjusted to the environment.
Note: Based on the time of departure, tourists may stay in a cozy guesthouse in Kashan or in a hotel in the area of international hotel.
Day 12: Tehran international airport
Transfer to Imam Khomeini international airport to catch your flight out.
