930 Irwin Street, Suite 222, San Rafael, CA 94901 Phone: 415-381-5861 888-367-6147 inquire@originalworld.com www.originalworld.com CST Permit #2057026-40 Persian Treasures of Iran Highlights Tour: 16 Days/15 Nights April 5-20 and September 22-October 7, 2019 April Tour Precedes Caucasus Tour; September Tour Follows Caucasus Tour & Precedes Central Asia Persian Treasures of Iran Highlights tour offers all the must see sites of this intriguing country as well as visits to rural villages for slice-of-life observations. There will be opportunities for interaction with local people and immersion with the culture. We will visit historic sites, ancient traditional villages, enjoy spectacular landscapes, browse crafts centers and local bazaars. Our itinerary gives distances; coaches do 50-70 km an hour depending on roads (mountainous or flat) and the drives are mostly full days with en-route visits. The roads are very good here and not bumpy dirt roads.
DETAILED ITINERARY April 5 Sat /Sep 22 Sun Day 1 ARRIVAL TEHRAN PM OR April 6/Sep 22 ARRIVAL TEHRAN EARLY AM You will be met at the airport and transferred to hotel. Rest of day/evening at leisure. April 6 Sun /Sep 23 Mon Day 2 TEHRAN TOUR (B,L) Come down to breakfast as you wish, breakfast restaurant opens at 7 am. We shall meet our guide in the lobby at 8:40 am and head out, about a 20 minute drive, to visit to the opulent Golestan Palace/Museum Complex, the former residence of the 19 th early 20 th century Qajar Kings of Iran, with several museums including the Marble Throne Room. This is the oldest of the historic monuments in Tehran. This is an extensive visit of about 3-4 hours. Afterwards, an exploration of the Grand Tehran Bazaar. The bazaar dates back to 19th and early 20th century with more than 10km of corridors and passageways. Lots of traditional merchants are busy working there. This is a great way to see a slice of the authentic Iranian lifestyle. Lunch at a local restaurant inside the bazaar, Moslem Restaurant or similar. Then, a quick 10 minute drive brings us to the National Museum, which is comprised of two buildings. The Museum of Ancient Iran (Archaeological Museum) displays an authentic collection of pottery, bronze and valuable pieces from millenniums BC until the Islamic era. The objects on display have been found from different regions of Iran including Susa, Persepolis, and many other ancient sites. The Museum of the Islamic Era (which has been under renovation for 9 years) has finally opened in late 2015. It contains arts and antiquities from throughout the Islamic period. This museum provides an excellent introduction to Iran. Our visit here may be 1.5-2 hours. (closes at 6:30 pm). Next, five minutes away, we visit the fabulous National Jewels Museum (open 2-4:30 pm) with its extraordinary collection of gemstones and jewelry. The National Jewelry Treasury is housed within the Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran, at the heart of the City of Tehran. Here is the most dazzling collection of gemstones and jewelry known in the world. The Crown Jewels of Iran have been little more than a legend in the past. Travelers marveled at the splendor surrounding the shahs of ancient Persia; but few were permitted to examine it in any detail. Now the most spectacular objects have been placed on public display. Note: the National Jewels Museum is small and it does not take more than 30 minutes to tour, but there is always a long line to enter and you could be waiting on line for 30 minutes. There is not a system to pre-book tickets. Return towards our hotel and visit the Carpet Museum of Iran, which has an excellent collection of Persian carpets from different regions of Iran. It is one minute from our hotel. (closes 6 pm). Enjoy a casual dinner at a local restaurant (pay direct) and return to the hotel for an evening of leisure. April 7 Mon /Sep 24 Day 3: TEHRAN We depart at 8:30 am and start the day with a 30-40 minute drive to North Tehran to visit the former residence of the ex-royal Family of Iran at Sa ad-abad Palace/Museum Complex, located at the foothills of the Darband Mountains. The complex contains 18 palaces, of which 7 have been converted into museums. The current presidential palace is located adjacent to the Sa d Abad compound. We will tour here for approx. 2.5 hours. Afterwards we enjoy fresh air of the Darband Mountains, a beautiful area with a river that streams down from atop. There is a 250km walking path dotted with traditional restaurants. We ll walk about 10-15 minutes on the promenade and enjoy lunch here away from Tehran s congestion. Next, a 22 minute drive to Reza Abbasi Museum, south of Sa ad-abad Palace, in the eastern part of the city. The museum displays collections of Persian art from pre-islamic and Islamic eras until 20 th century; the two galleries of paintings and calligraphy in this museum show different schools of painting and calligraphy in different time periods in Iran. Our tour here will be about 1.5 hours. http://www.rezaabbasimuseum.ir/ It s a short 20 minute drive back to city center and Next, (about 45 min drive due to traffic congestion), we are guided through the lovely Abguineh Glass and Ceramics Museum with a beautiful collection of glass and pottery from different periods. The exquisite museum, located in the historical part of Tehran, is housed in a beautiful building, built in the 19 th century for a prominent Persian family. It was later the home of the Egyptian Embassy and then the Iranian Commercial bank. A group of Iranian and Austrian architects lavishly refurbished the museum which opened in 1989. The wooden staircase, decorative walls and windows are a blend of Persian and European styles. Each item, porcelain, glass and crystal is displayed in its own case. Glass works exhibited start from the 1 st and 2 nd millennium BC. We will spend an hour here. Closes at 5 pm.
Transfer to hotel. Enjoy dinner at the hotel restaurant (pay direct). April 8 /Sep 25 Day 4: FLY TO SHIRAZ Transfer to airport for direct flight to Shiraz Iran Air IR324 departs 1110 am, arrives 1245 pm. On arrival, you will transfer to the hotel. This afternoon we visit the Afifabad Garden, Holy Quran Gate abd Shah-e Cheraq Shrine. Your guide will take you to a local restaurant for dinner (pay direct). April 9 /Sep 26 Day 5: SHIRAZ Full day city tour of Shiraz, the city of roses and nightingales. We visit some of the delightful gardens of Shiraz, including the Eram Garden, the tombs of Iran s greatest lyric poets, Hafez and Sa adi, both located in pleasant gardens, with a charming Chai-Khaneh (tea-house). Shiraz, as the capital of the 18 th -century Zand Rulers of Iran, has many monuments dating back to this period: the Arge-Karim Khan, a fortress building in the now town-centre, which was the seat of government of Zand Rulers, and has been extensively restored in recent years; the Vakil Mosque. Additionally, we visit the Qajar-period Nasir-ol-Molk Mosque, popularly known as the Pink Mosque because of its colorful tile decorations. This will be a tour inside the mosque. And then the Narenjestan Garden/Pavilion, also dating from the Qajar period, and the family home of the wealthy Qavam Family of Shiraz. The Narenjestan has a reception hall or Biruni and the private quarters of the family or Andaruni, which are now in two separate buildings. Complete the day with a visit to Vakil Bazaar. April 10 /Sep 27 Day 6: SHIRAZ EXCURSION TO PERSEPOLIS (100 km round trip) A full 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. We 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 several more important Sassanian reliefs. Time-permitting drive further 70 km to visit Pasargadae, the site of the tomb and remains of palaces of Cyrus the Great (the Founder of the Persian Empire), all located in the magnificent Dasht-e-Morghab. Return to Shiraz for overnight. April 11 /Sep 28 Day 7: SHIRAZ-KERMAN (560 km/7 hrs not incl stops for sightseeing) The drive to Kerman is slow as it is on mountain roads. We will pass salt lakes spectacular mountains and outstanding fig and almond orchards planted on the steep slopes of the mountains. En-route we visit the ruins of the Sassanian Palace at Sarvestan, thought by many to be a hunting lodge or small palace built by Bahram V (420-440 AD). Transfer to hotel. Dinner at hotel restaurant (pay direct). April 12 /Sep 29 Day 8: KERMAN - EXCURSION TO RAYEN & MAHAN VILLAGES (250 km rnd trip) Full day excursion to Rayen Village. Visit the Arg, or Citadel, a miniature version of the Arg-e-Bam, with all the architectural features of a desert citadel, now on the map as a result of the tragic earthquake in Bam, which destroyed the town and its magnificent citadel. On the return to Kerman, stop at Mahan and visit the blue-tiled Mausoleum of Shah Nematollah-e-Vali, the great 14 th century Sufi Leader; and the Shahzadeh Garden (late 19 th century Qajar period garden/house). Overnight in Kerman. April 13 /Sep 30 Day 9: KERMAN-YAZD (360 km/4 hours) Morning tour in Kerman including an inside tour of the 14 th century Jameh Mosque one of the most ancient structures of the country, Ganj-Ali-Khan Complex, including the bathhouse (hamam) turned into an Ethnographic Museum, the Caravanserai and the traditional tea house (another converted hamam). This afternoon we drive to Yazd, (UNESCO city), en-route visit Zein-ol-Din Caravanserai, dating from the Safavid period. Dinner at a local restaurant (pay direct).
April 14 /Oct 1 Day 10: YAZD Full day sightseeing in Yazd, the center for Iran s small Zoroastrian community, who, seeking refuge from the invading Arabs found a safe haven within its fortified walls. On this day, we will visit one of the two Zoroastrian abandoned Towers of Silence (Dakhma), dating back to the 18 th - century, where until some 40-50 years ago the dead were carried and left to decompose and be devoured by birds; and the active Zoroastrian Fire Temple, the fire of which has been burning for about 1500 years. We have a quick visit of the Museum of Zoroastrian History & Culture, located adjacent to the Fire temple. This building was once a school. Among Yazd s Islamic sites is the Friday Mosque,1324 A.D. (aka Jāmeh Mosque of Yazd), with the highest portal and minarets in Iran. We shall tour inside it. We shall meander in the Fahadan neighborhood, one of the oldest, traditional and cultural heritages of Yazd. We shall see historical buildings such as cisterns, workshops, affluent houses and visit Ziaieyeh Theological School, known as Zendan-e-Eskandar or Alexander s Prison a 15 th century domed building, former Islamic school now hosting a small museum and handicraft vendors. There are many beautiful old houses to be seen in Yazd, among them the Dowlatabad Garden (UNESCO), with an 18 th - century feudal hexagonal house built according to original Iranian architectural style. We also visit the Water Museum. This 124 year old museum displays the tools and techniques used for the past 400 years in Iran to create underground waterways (called qanats) and connecting them to the city and field locations for agricultural uses. Before the Romans built their aqueducts, Iranians built their extensive system of qanats. The museum building was once a merchant s house built in 1929. Two qanats are running beneath the museum at different levels and are reachable through a special stairway called payab. Another notable Islamic monument we shall visit is Amir Chakhmaq Complex, a prominent structure noted for its symmetrical sunken alcoves. At night orange lights illuminate the arched alcoves. Return to hotel. Dinner at hotel restaurant (pay direct). April 15 /Oct 2 Day 11: YAZD-ISFAHAN (300 km/4 hours) After breakfast we depart to Isfahan, en-route stop over first at Meybod, a small desert town with several very interesting monuments of desert/mud architecture and a caravanserai. Continue to the village of Mohamadiye to see the traditional workshops weaving the camel cloaks worn by the Moslem clergy in Iran. Then onward to Na in another charming desert town, half way between Yazd and Isfahan. Here we visit the 10 th century Friday Mosque, the 17 th century Pirnia House/ Ethnographic Museum and a walk through the old part of town. Dinner at a local restaurant (pay direct). April 16 /Oct 3 Day 12: 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. We start with a visit to the famous bridges of Isfahan there are eleven all together. We shall see three: Shahrestan, Khaju, and the Allahverdi Khan Bridge commonly known as Sio-se-pol. This can take between 1-2 hours depending on time spent at each one. The Shahrestan bridge is the oldest on the Zayandeh River. The foundations date back to the Sasanian era (3 rd -7 th century C.E.), but the top was renovated twice, first in the 10 th century and then during the 11 th century. Nevertheless the architectural style remains entirely Sassanian. The bridge has two tiers of pointed arches, 13 large ones spanning the river and 8 smaller ones that nest between them. The Khaju Bridge is described as the finest in the province, with 23 arches and 133 meters long. It was built by the Persian Safavid King, Shah Abbas II around 1650, on the foundations of an older bridge. It links the Khaju quarter on the north bank with the Zoroastrian quarter across the Zayandeh River. It also served a primary function as a building for public meetings. This structure was originally decorated with artistic tilework and paintings, and served as a teahouse. In the center of the structure, a pavilion exists inside which Shah Abbas would have once sat, admiring the view. Today, remnants of a stone seat are all that is left of the king's chair.
Built between 1599 and 1602, Sio-se-pol is the longest bridge and most famous example of Safavid bridge design. It consists of two superimposed rows of 33 arches. In the afternoon visit one of the world s grandest squares, the Maidan-e-Naghsh-e-Jahan, (UNESCO) 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 Shah with magnificent architecture and tile work). We shall tour the inside of Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque. Next, we ll walk to the nearby Chehel Sotun Palace, built by Shah Abbas II in the 17 th century. Its wooden columns reflected in the surface of the pool give rise to its name The Palace of Forty Columns. The day concludes with a visit to the Qeisarieh Bazaar (closed on Friday) with hundreds of shops displaying the arts and handicrafts for which Isfahan is world-famous. We will attend a demonstration of the making of Persian tiles here in the bazaar. Return to the hotel. April 17 /Oct 4 Day 13: ISFAHAN Another full day sightseeing of Isfahan. Departing at 9 am, we start with a visit to the magnificent Friday Mosque, with its 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. Afterwards, it s about a 30 minute drive to the Armenian Quarter and see several churches, including the important Cathedral of Vank. We stop for lunch in a local restaurant and then visit the newly opened Music Museum, located in the Armenian quarter in Jolfa. The museum displays a fine collection of Persian instruments. The museum regularly hosts live performances (not guaranteed on our dates). Next, we will see the Harun-e-Velayat Shrine and the Ali Minaret (view from the outside). At the end of the day, time-permitting, we return to the Maiden with our guide and visit handicraft shops which are open on Friday. The bazaar is closed on Friday. Dinner at a local restaurant (pay direct). April 18 /Oct 5 Day 14: ISFAHAN-ABYANEH (200 km) A lovely drive this morning to Abyaneh, with an en-route stop at the charming town of Natanz to visit a beautiful Islamic Complex (Friday Mosque, Monastery, Tomb of Sheikh Abdol Samad Isfahani). Continue to Abyaneh, a small village hidden in the Karkas Mountains. Abyaneh is one of the last places in Iran that surrendered to Islam. The people of Abyaneh have preserved their ancient culture and traditions over the centuries and still wear their traditional attire. April 19 /Oct 6 Day 15: ABYANEH-KASHAN-TEHRAN (300 km) Today is a full day and we are attempting to not arrive in Tehran too late. Please pay special attention to the guide s leadership about our timing and pace of our visits today. We depart this morning at 8 am driving 1.5 hours to Kashan. Here we visit the historical UNESCO Garden of Fin, 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. We will spend about one hour here. Onward to Kashan s 800-year-old Saraye Ameriha House with an area of 9000 square meters (97,000 sq feet) it has 85 rooms and 7 courtyards. It is the largest historical house and one of the most spectacular in Iran. This house has the highest wind catcher among other wind catchers of Kashan s houses. Ameri House has been bequeathed to the private sector and it is currently used as the biggest traditional house-hotel in Iran. We will have our last lunch together here in the elaborate Hall of the Mirrors restaurant. After lunch, about 20 minutes drive away, we will also visit a fine example of a 19 th century merchant residence known as Borujerdi House with its beautiful stucco dome, inlaid mirror work and some of the best examples of existing badgirs (wind-catchers).
At 3 pm, we depart Kashan driving 3-4 hours to Tehran (depending on traffic). We will have a photo stop at the Mausoleum of Imam Khomeini (max 30 minutes). The mausoleum is one the grandest architectural endeavors of the Islamic Republic. Built on an enormous scale. The Holy Shrine also contains the tombs of Khomeini's wife, second son and several other important political figures; in 2017, former president Akbar Rafsanjani was buried here. The shrine is flanked by four 91m-high towers symbolizing Khomeini s age when he died. The huge gold central dome is adorned with 72 tulips, which symbolize the 72 martyrs who fought and died with Imam Hossein in Karbala. Inside the vast main hall, covered with 12,000 carpets each 12 sq metres, Khomeini's tomb itself is enclosed in a stainless steel zarih, a cage-like casing through which pilgrims pay their respects and no small number of bank notes. Men and women approach respectfully from different sides. Transfer to the hotel. Arrival will be approx. 7:30 pm. Dinner on your own at hotel restaurant. April 20 /Oct 7 Day 16: TEHRAN-DEPARTURE Transfer to the IKA airport for departure flight. PRICE: $3565 per person based on min 6 people, Single Room: $400 Extra night in Tehran: $58 per person twin share; $114 single room. Plus arrival transfer: $15 Upgrade to Garden View room at Abbasi Hotel Isfahan, based on availability; prices upon request Cheshmandaz Wing (regular rooms with garden view). Pardis Wing (bigger, newly renovated rooms with garden view) Includes: Accommodation as listed or similar: We selected the smaller and more traditional hotels, centrally located wherever available. 5* in Tehran, Shiraz, Kerman & Isfahan and the rest mainly 4* however in Abyaneh rated 3* may be more like 2* it is best available. Please note that we have rated the hotels lower than what they rate themselves to provide realistic expectations. All hotels based on availability. Tehran: Laleh Hotel 5* (formerly Inter-Continental) http://www.lalehhotels.com/index/index/lang/fa Shiraz: Pars 5* http://en.parsinternationalhotel.com/ or Zandiyeh 5* http://www.zandiyehhotel.com/en/ Kerman: Pars Hotel 5* http://pars-hotels.com/kerman-info/ Yazd: Moshir Al-Mamalek Garden Hotel 4* http://hotelgardenmoshir.com/en or Parsian Safaiyeh 4* http://www.parsianhotels.com/ Isfahan: Abbasi 5* http://www.abbasihotel.ir/en or Kowsar 5* http://www.hotelkowsar.com/ Abyaneh: Abyaneh 3* https://www.tripadvisor.com/hotel_review-g680042-d1548177-reviews-hotel_abyaneh- Abyaneh_Isfahan_Province.html Or Viruna 3* http://www.viunahotelabyaneh.com/en.php Daily breakfast and lunch days 2-15; breakfast only day 16. Arrival/departure transfers on tour dates Land transport by ac van 8 seats, mini bus 14-16 seats, or bus 31 seats depending on group size Accompanying professional national escort/guide Domestic flight Tehran-Shiraz Entrance fees to monuments Visa approval reference number Meals: Breakfast at the hotels and lunch at best available local restaurants or at hotel restaurant if in a town with no quality options. Does Not Include: Visa fee Trip Cancelation/Travel Insurance Transfers if not arriving/departing together on same flights (extra cost for additional transfers) Dinners Tips to drivers and guides Personal Expenses such as phone calls, laundry, drinks NOTES: Sequence of daily activities is subject to change.
Meals: For the included lunches, in the big cities the guide will order a variety of dishes that everyone will share. In the smaller towns only one or two food items will be available, usually chicken or beef with vegetables. Please let us know at the time of your booking is you are vegetarian or vegan. Tourists are not allowed to venture out on their own without a guide. Our guide is on duty until 7 pm. If we arrive or finish touring by 6 pm he can take the group to a local restaurant for dinner. If it is after the guide s hours you will have dinner in the hotel restaurant. I very much am aware that it is desirable to not have to eat all dinners at the hotel restaurant. I indicated in the itinerary where I think it can work for you to have dinner at a local restaurant, but this is only an estimate of the time. Where you eat dinner is entirely dependent on the time. The same applies to shopping. We must be accompanied by the guide. I understand that some people like to shop and some do not. I hope all will find it interesting to browse in the bazaars. It s a great people-watching place. We will not allot too much time to shopping, but need a fine balance to suit everyone. We will try to arrange a visit to a school some place during the tour, (not guaranteed). It is not easy to get permission. The Abbasi Hotel in Isfahan is Iran s most sought-after hotel, and is fully-booked all the year round, and overbooked during high seasons. We can only confirm this hotel if the majority of people sign up approx. 8-9 months in advance. Garden view rooms are limited and are only allocated, on availability, at supplementary cost, and with advance request. Please also note that standard rooms at the Abbasi will be allocated in the old or new section of the hotel as available. The alternate hotel, Kowsar, is a 5* and also heritage style architecture/décor. All distances/drive times are estimates and actual timing depends on traffic congestion, road construction or detours and any situations that can cause delays.