IRAN The Ancient Land of Persia April 4-19, 2018 (16 days) with archaeologist Andrew Moore Babak Shakiba This in-depth tour in the company of Dr. Andrew Moore, Immediate Past President of the AIA, includes eight UNESCO World Heritage sites. In addition to the dazzling cities of Tehran, Shiraz, and Isfahan, visit (twice) ancient Persepolis, one of the world s most spectacular surviving archaeological sites; discover the Sasanian religious center of Takht-e Soleiman; Pasargadae, location of the first Persian capital; Yazd, one of the last strongholds of Zoroastrianism; and much more. I felt we were taken very good care of. [We saw] the best places (sights, sites, restaurants, etc.). An excellent mix of experiences. Anne, Toronto, Canada
Iran: The Ancient Land of Persia (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner) Wednesday, April 4, 2018: Depart Home Depart home on overnight flights to Vienna, Austria. Thursday, April 5: Vienna, Austria Tehran, Iran Upon arrival in Vienna, connect with Austrian Airlines flight #873 to Tehran, where you will be met and transferred to our hotel. Gather for dinner at the hotel this evening. Overnight at the Espinas Hotel for three nights. (D) Friday, April 6: Tehran After an introductory lecture this morning we visit the National Archaeological Museum, whose fine collection includes many famous sculptures of the Achaemenid, Parthian, and Sasanian Empires. After lunch at a local restaurant we visit the Aaran Gallery, one of Tehran s most important contemporary art galleries. This evening, enjoy a welcome dinner at our hotel s Persian restaurant. (B,L,D) We learned so much about Persian history. We could not have wished for a better group to be on this adventure with. - Gordon and Charlotte, Massachusetts Caspian Sea Takht-e Soleiman Soltaniye Takab Tehran Hamadan Tepe Nush-e Jan Bisotun Kermanshah Pasargadae Naqsh-e Rostam Shiraz Persian Gulf Isfahan Yazd Taft Persepolis Firuzabad Saturday, April 7: Tehran This morning we call at the seldom-visited Sa d-abad Museum Complex of 18 buildings that served as a royal summer home during the Pahlavi period. After lunch at a local restaurant, continue on to the Reza Abbasi Museum, whose collections focus on art, culture, and technology in Iran from the 2 nd millennium B.C. to the early 20 th century. End the day at the Treasury of National Jewels, housed in the Central Bank of Iran a spectacular collection of crown jewels, including the world s largest uncut diamond. Return to the hotel, or those who are interested can join us for a walk to the Carpet Museum, located a short distance from our hotel. (B,L,D) Sunday, April 8: Tehran Soltaniye Takht-e Soleiman Takab Depart Tehran and drive northwest to Takab, stopping along the way to visit Soltaniye, known for its mausoleum of the Mongol Sultan Oljeitu Khodabande. Admire this UNESCO World Heritage site s magnificent 14 th -century tomb tower, whose decorations and patterns carved into plastered walls have inspired geometric and floral patterns on Persian textiles. After lunch, continue on to Takht-e Soleiman (Solomon s Throne), another UNESCO World Heritage site and once a great Sasanian religious center, where we will find the well-preserved remains of a large, fortified settlement built around a small lake on a hilltop. Arriving in Takab, we will check-in to a very simple hotel. Overnight at the Ranji Hotel. (B,L,D) Monday, April 9: Takab Hamadan Tepe Nush-e Jan Kermanshah Depart Takab early this morning and drive to Hamadan, where the Median capital Ecbatana (Hegmataneh) was founded. At the height of its glory as the opulent Achaemenid summer capital, it had splendid palaces, buildings plated with precious metals, and seven layers of town walls. This afternoon s sightseeing includes a tremendous stone statue of a lion (the handiwork of Alexander the Great s craftsmen) and a visit to the new archaeological museum. Also visit the Median site of Tepe Nush-e Jan, with its extraordinary fire temple, and then continue on to Kermanshah, where we will check-in to our hotel and have dinner. Overnight at the Parsian Hotel Kermanshah for two nights. (B,L,D) Mauro - Iran 2013 Above, a golden ram s head rhyton, from the late 7 th /early 6 th century B.C., at the Reza Abbasi Museum. Below, the UNESCO World Heritage site at Soltaniye. Tuesday, April 10: Kermanshah Bisotun Taq-e Bostan Kermanshah Make a morning visit to Bisotun, a UNESCO World Heritage site whose principle significance is a 6 th -century bas-relief ordered by Darius I ( The Great ), below and around which are over a thousand lines of inscriptions, written in three languages (Elamite, Babylonian, and Old Persian). Return to Kermanshah and, after lunch, visit Taq-e Bostan, where a series of bas-reliefs and grottoes (the latter unique in Sasanian art) were carved into the cliff face. Dinner is at a local restaurant this evening. (B,L,D) en.wikipedia.org
Wednesday, April 11: Kermanshah Yazd Transfer to the airport for a flight to Yazd via Tehran. Upon arriving in Yazd, check-in to our very traditional hotel, where we have dinner this evening. Overnight at the Moshir Garden Hotel for two nights. (B,L,D) Thursday, April 12: Yazd The architecture of Yazd is perhaps the most traditionally Persian to be found, preserved by the dry climate and spared the devastations of the Mongols. Wind towers are seen all over Iran but are most Patrick C. highly developed in Yazd. Begin exploring Yazd at the home of the city s former Governor to learn how wind towers work and more Above, Bisotun, a UNESCO World Heritage site, has famous about residential Persian architecture in the desert. Take a walking tour through the inscriptions describing conquests of Darius the Great in Old Persian, bazaar, ending at the Water Museum, an excellent introduction to qanats (traditional Elamite, and Babylonian. Below, the Ateshkade (a Zoroastrian fire underground water channels for irrigation). After lunch in the old quarter, enjoy a temple) at Yazd. Bottom, Naqsh-e Rostam, featuring the carved tombs walking tour through covered streets. End the day concentrating on the Zoroastrian of four Achaemenid rulers. religion, which during Sasanian times was the state creed. There are about 400,000 Zoroastrians left in the world, of which about 60,000 live in and around Yazd. Zoroastrians worship fire as a symbol of God, and keep eternal flames burning at their temples. Visit the Ateshkade, where it is said that a sacred flame has been burning since about A.D. 470. Those who are up to it may also climb a steep, dirt path to the spiritual site of the Towers of Silence, where Zoroastrians once laid out their dead. Dinner is at our hotel this evening. (B,L,D) It s amazing to me how so many things were incorporated while maintaining good organization and flexibility; our guides were wonderful and provided us with a smooth, varied, and interesting journey. - Barbara, California Friday, April 13: Yazd Taft Pasargadae Shiraz This morning we drive to Shiraz, stopping en route at a small village called Taft that is still home to a large number of Zoroastrians. Walk through this medieval town along narrow streets to their main fire temple. Also stop at Pasargadae, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Cyrus II ( The Great ) defeated Astyages the Mede nearby in 550 B.C. and Cyrus is said to have built this first Persian capital on the site of his victory. His white limestone tomb stands apart from the scattered ruins of formal gardens, palaces, and altars on a beautiful plain. Upon arrival in Shiraz, check-in to our recently-opened hotel, where we have dinner this evening. Overnight at the Zandiyeh Hotel for three nights. (B,L,D) Saturday, April 14: Shiraz Naqsh-e Rostam Persepolis Shiraz This morning visit Naqsh-e Rostam, where we find the carved tombs of Achaemenid rulers Darius the Great, Xerxes, Artaxerxes I, and Darius II. After an early lunch, visit nearby Persepolis, ceremonial capital of the vast Achaemenid Empire. It is perhaps one of the most spectacular surviving archaeological sites in the world, and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. Persepolis comprises about 15 major ceremonial buildings, including the Apadana, Treasury, and Harem, as well as smaller palaces also embellished with sculpture. Return to Shiraz and end the day at the bazaar, considered by many to be the finest in Iran. Dinner this evening is at a local restaurant. (B,L,D) Sunday, April 15: Shiraz Firuzabad Shiraz Take a day trip from Shiraz to Firuzabad, formerly known as Gor and Ardashir-Khorra ( Glory of Ardashir ). Firuzabad was the capital of Ardashir I (A.D. 224-241), founder of the Sasanian Empire, and was built in a circular plan two kilometers in diameter and encircled by double walls. A few miles from the old city of Gor is Qal eh Dokhtar ( The Maiden Castle ), a three-story fortress built by Ardashir I in A.D. 209. In A.D. 224, he built the nearby Palace of Ardashir with a design particular to architects of Fars. Visit the remains of the Sasanian Tangab Bridge, and enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. Return to Shiraz and visit the tomb of the celebrated, 14 th -century poet Hafez, whose marble tombstone is engraved with a long verse from his works. Dinner is at a local restaurant where seating is Persian-style or (more limited) Western-style. (B,L,D) Maziart Ggia
Monday, April 16: Shiraz Persepolis Isfahan Early this morning we depart Shiraz for Isfahan (about a six-hour drive), making stops at Persepolis, for a second visit of this magnificent site, and for lunch at a local restaurant. Upon arrival in Isfahan, check-in to our charming hotel, a converted, double-storied caravanserai of the late Safavid period. Overnight at the Abbasi Hotel for three nights. (B,L,D) Tuesday, April 17: Isfahan Today we begin exploring Isfahan, perhaps the most splendid of all Iranian cities. Start at the Palace of Forty Columns, a charming pavilion whose walls are covered with frescoes and paintings. Walk to the nearby, immense, Meidan Emam ( Royal Square ), a UNESCO World Heritage site. Four jewels of 17 th -century architecture adorn each side, symbolizing the political, economic, and religious spheres of Safavid Persia. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, and spend some time this afternoon exploring the city s bazaar, learning more about traditional crafts in Iran. Gather this evening for a farewell dinner at a local restaurant. (B,L,D) Wednesday, April 18: Isfahan This morning visit the complex and magnificent Masjed-e Jame (Friday Mosque), a UNESCO World Heritage site and truly one of the world s greatest mosques. Its tiled ivans, vaulted ceilings, and lofty domes demonstrate more than 800 years of Persian religious architecture. Visit a small art gallery for a fresh juice, and then view some of the five bridges crossing the Zayendehrud River. Perhaps the most beautiful is the two-story, 17 th -century Khaju Bridge that is essentially a bridge superimposed upon a dam and supported by 24 stone arches. Continue on to Isfahan s Armenian quarter, where there are fourteen churches, and take a walking tour through its narrow, twisting alleys and streets. End the day with a private, guided tour of the new Music Museum, which houses more than 300 instruments from around Iran (many unchanged for centuries). Dinner tonight is at our hotel. (B,L,D) Babak Shakiba Above and below, the UNESCO World Heritage site of Persepolis. Bottom, the UNESCO World Heritage site of Meidan Emam, Isfahan. Thursday, April 19: Isfahan Vienna, Austria Home Transfer very early this morning to the airport for Austrian Airlines flight #880 to Vienna, connecting to your homeward flights. Andrew Moore was incredibly knowledgeable, accessible and very engaging. - Helena, New York Archaeological Institute of America Lecturer & Host Andrew M.T. Moore is Immediate Past President of the AIA. Recently retired from Rochester Institute of Technology, he also taught archaeology at the University of Arizona and Yale University. Since 1966, Dr. Moore has participated in archaeological surveys, excavations, and field research across Western Asia and Southern Europe, including Turkey, Israel, Iraq, Jordan, Syria, Italy, Malta, Croatia, and Greece. His research has concentrated on the advent of agriculture and sedentary life in Western Asia, especially in Syria. In 2002, Dr. Moore began a new project to investigate the spread of farming around the Mediterranean and into southern Europe. At the invitation of colleagues in Croatia, he is conducting this research in central Dalmatia, through surveys and excavations at the Neolithic villages of Danilo and Pokrovnik. Since 2013, Dr. Moore has lectured to excellent reviews on several AIA Tours programs. Barbara P. Moore, Dr. Moore s wife, is an archaeological conservator who has directed conservation laboratories at the Pitt Rivers Museum, Oxford, UK; the Arizona State Museum; and the Peabody Museum of Natural History at Yale University. Currently, Ms. Moore is a consultant to museums, historical institutions, and libraries across the U.S. on disaster preparation and recovery, long-term collections storage and preservation, and strategic planning. She has had extensive fieldwork experience on excavations in the United Kingdom, Italy, and Syria. In 1966 she was the surveyor for the British excavations at Siraf, a medieval port city in Iran.
What to Expect Travel in Iran is a wonderful and often heartwarming and uplifting experience. One is constantly being approached by people wanting to tell you how much they like Americans and how happy they are that you are visiting their country. Women are always kept at a comfortable, respectable distance, and it is perfectly safe for a woman to walk alone. Alcohol is not permitted inside Iran. At the time of year that we visit, average temperatures tend to range from the low 60s F at night to the mid 80s F during the day. The trip is strenuous, and there will be long drives on some days. There will be a lot of stairs, walking on uneven ground, up hills, and on very old paved flooring. Most stairs are spaced wider than those to which you may be accustomed. Participants who are not able to walk unassisted for extended periods are kindly advised not to join this tour unless accompanied by a companion who will be available to assist you at all times. If you have any questions about your ability to participate, we suggest that you visit your personal physician with this brochure in hand, and discuss whether or not the program is appropriate for you. Complete pre-departure details, what to bring with you, and what to expect will be sent to participants. AIR ARRANGEMENTS & TRANSFERS: Airfare from/to home is not included. We strongly suggest that participants book the suggested flights to/from Vienna listed below. There are several convenient U.S. gateway cities that connect to these flights (New York, Newark, Washington, D.C., Miami, and Chicago). Group transfers upon arrival in Tehran and departure from Isfahan will be provided in conjunction with these suggested flights. Once you have received your final payment invoice you should book your flights. If you are considering booking your flights before this time, please contact AIA Tours first. We do not accept liability for cancellation penalties related to domestic or international airline tickets. If you would like assistance with booking your flights, you may contact Seema at Distant Horizons at (800) 333-1240 or seemab@distanthorizons.com. (Please note that Distant Horizons charges a $100 per person service fee to issue airline tickets.) Austrian Airlines suggested flights Date Flight# City Time April 5 873 Depart Vienna (VIE) 9:45 AM Arrive Tehran (IKA) 4:35 PM April 19 880 Depart Isfahan (IFN) 6:55 AM Arrive Vienna (VIE) 9:20 AM About The Archaeological Institute of America The Archaeological Institute of America (AIA) is the oldest and largest archaeological organization in North America. The AIA seeks to educate people of all ages about the significance of archaeological discovery. For more than a century the AIA has been dedicated to the encouragement and support of archaeological research and publication, and to the protection of the world s archaeological resources and cultural heritage. By traveling on an AIA Tour you directly support the AIA while personally gaining the benefit of the AIA s network of scholars and worldwide contacts. For questions, or reservations, please contact us: (800) 748-6262 Toll Line: (603) 756-2884 Fax: (603) 756-2922 Email: aia@studytours.org Website: www.aiatours.org PO Box 938, 47 Main Street, Suite One, Walpole, NH 03608 Tour Prices (per person) Double Occupancy (15-20 participants)... $8,945 Double Occupancy (10-14 participants)... $9,445 SINGLE Supplement... $1,545 Single room supplement will be charged when requested or required (limited availability). With fewer than 10 participants, a small group surcharge may be added. PRICES Include: AIA lecturer and host Andrew & Barbara Moore; Local Iranian guide/tour manager throughout; Flights within Iran (Kermanshah-Tehran-Yazd); Fourteen nights accommodations as per the itinerary; All meals (including bottled water) as indicated throughout; Group transfers in conjunction with suggested Austrian Airlines flights on tour arrival and departure dates; Surface transportation by air-conditioned motor coach, with bottled water provided; All excursions and entrance fees as per the itinerary; Local taxes and service charges; Gratuities to guide/tour manager, drivers, porters; Handling of one piece of checked luggage (up to 44 lbs.) per person throughout; Comprehensive pre-departure information, including a suggested reading guide, travel guide, and packing list. prices Do Not Include: Airfare from/to home; passport and visa fees; inoculation fees; airport fees and departure taxes; cost of personal, trip cancellation, and baggage insurance; transportation of excess baggage; items of a personal nature, such as laundry; taxi, telephone, and fax charges; optional excursions or deviations from scheduled tour; and individual transfers to join or leave the group when traveling independently. PASSENGER CANCELLATION Fees: All requests by passengers for cancellations must be received in writing. Cancellations received at least one hundred twenty (120) days prior to departure are fully refunded less an administrative fee of five hundred dollars ($500) per person. Cancellations received between one hundred nineteen (119) and ninety (90) days prior to departure are fully refunded less an administrative fee of one thousand dollars ($1,000) per person. Cancellations received within eighty nine (89) days of departure are subject to a penalty of 100% of the tour cost. For this and other reasons, participants are strongly encouraged to purchase trip cancellation insurance. An application will be sent with confirmation of receipt of your deposit. Prices, itinerary, and leaders are subject to change. Prices quoted are based on group participation and no refunds will be made for any part of the program in which you choose not to participate. It is understood that refunds cannot be made to passengers who do not complete the tour for whatever reason. Payments: A deposit of $1,000 per person is required to reserve your space on the tour and is payable by Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or check made payable to EOS-Passenger Account-AIA Iran4/18. Final payment is due 90 days prior to departure and must be by personal check only; credit cards are not accepted for final payment. By submitting your deposit you are bound by the terms and conditions delineated throughout this brochure or elsewhere published. Due to space limitations, this is abbreviated information. Complete terms and conditions will be sent upon confirmation or upon request, and can be viewed online at www.aiatours.org. Copyright 2017 Eos. All rights reserved. Photos courtesy of Babak Shakiba (http://bmyshot.wordpress.com), Operator, commons.wikimedia.org.
Other Select Archaeological Institute of America Tours www.aiatours.org Jungle Kingdoms of the Ancient Maya January 27 - February 9, 2018 with Jeff Karl Kowalski This extraordinary tropical adventure provides the best-paced itinerary available to explore ancient Maya sites in the lush jungles of Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras. Explore the sites of Palenque, Bonampak, Yaxchilán, Tikal, Copán, Yaxhá and Quiriguá; with free time to bird watch or relax and enjoy our comfortable hotels and remote jungle lodges. Limited to 12 participants. Other Select Archaeological Institute of America Tours www.aiatours.org Decorated Caves of the Pyrenees & the Rhone Valley April 19-29, 2018 with Ian Tattersall Discover with acclaimed paleoanthropologist Ian Tattersall many unheralded examples of Ice Age art in Spain and France. Highlights include the original decorated caves of Isturitz and Oxocelhaya, Niaux, Bédeilhac, and Gargas; plus the newly-opened Chauvet cave replica. Enjoy fine food and accommodations while an expert trip manager handles all the logistics. Limited to 20 participants. Pyramids & Temples of Yucatan February 17-25, 2018 with Virginia Miller This luxurious winter holiday provides a weeklong adventure exploring the sun-drenched Yucatan s ancient sites such as Chichén Itzá, Uxmal, Ek Balam, Dzibilchaltun, and Labna. Bird watch, shop for crafts, and relax at our comfortable resorts (two nights at Chichen Itza and three nights each at Merida and Uxmal). Limited to 12 participants. Prehistoric Tombs & Standing Stones of Wessex & Brittany May 8-19, 2018 with Paul Bahn Delve into the mysteries of the extraordinary prehistoric sites of Wessex, England, and Brittany, France. Amidst beautiful landscapes see world renowned, as well as lesser known, Neolithic and Bronze Age megaliths and monuments such as enigmatic rings of giant standing stones and remarkable chambered tombs. Explore medieval churches, charming villages, museum collections, and more. Limited to 20 participants. Sri Lanka: South Asia s Multicultural Isle March 11-26, 2018 with Nancy Wilkie Explore Sri Lanka s archaeology, history, and culture with visits to all six of its cultural World Heritage Sites: sacred Kandy and Anuradhapura, ancient Sigiriya and Polonnaruwa, the Old Town of Galle, and the cave-temple of Dambulla. Also explore nature reserves and a national park to see monkeys, elephants, various birds and, possibly, a leopard. Limited to 12 participants. Undiscovered Greece: Macedonia to Epirus May 19 - June 1, 2018 with Kathleen Lynch Admire up-close legendary Mt. Olympus, the monasteries atop karst pinnacles at Meteora, and tranquil Lake Ioannina; and savor three days at a luxury spa/resort in the rugged, remote Pindus Mountains. Explore the ancient sanctuary at Dodoni; Amphipolis, where a Macedonian tomb is being excavated; the royal tombs and golden treasures at Vergina, and more. Limited to 12 participants. Morocco: From the Desert to the Sea March 13-26, 2018 with Trevor Marchand Join us for a unique look at the archaeology, architecture, and history of Morocco, visiting six UNESCO World Heritage sites (Volubilis, Medina of Marrakech, Rabat, Meknes, Fes, Aït ben Haddou casbah) and the ruins of medieval Sijilmassa and Aghmat (recipient of an AIA Site Preservation Grant), meeting with locals from all walks of life, and much more. Limited to 15 participants. The Aegean Islands, Athens & Ephesus September 1-16, 2018 with Nancy Wilkie Round-trip airfare from five North American gateways is included! Explore Greece s cultural treasures during a seven-night Aegean cruise aboard the private, 26-cabin M/V Athena plus seven nights on the mainland to visit ancient Delphi, the Meteora monasteries, and Athens. Cruise to the islands of Syros, Mykonos, Delos, Patmos, Naxos, and Santorini plus visit Greco- Roman Ephesus, Turkey. An optional extension in Athens and the Peloponnese is available.