11 Days of Wandering: A Tour Around Iran
The Travel Around Iran Tour is an 11-day journey starting in Tehran, covering northern, southern, and central regions before returning to Tehran. The itinerary includes visits to 10 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, such as Susa, Meymand cave-houses, Shustar Hydraulic System, and Persian gardens, along with walks through the ancient capitals of Persepolis and Pasargadae.
11 Days
Day 1: Tehran- Arrival Day
After you arrive at the airport, your guide will greet you and transfer you to your hotel.
O/N Tehran
Day 2: Tehran - Ahwaz
In the morning, you will see the National Museum of Iran, which is over 70 years old and contains 300,000 museum objects. It is not only the country’s largest museum of History and Archaeology. Still, it ranks as one of the few most prestigious museums in the world regarding its vast monuments’ grand volume, diversity, and quality.
After that, you will go to see a UNESCO World Heritage: Golestan Palace, which has many places to offer: The Marble Throne, Karim Khani Nook, Pond House, Picture House/Gallery, Brilliant Hall, Museum of Gifts, Containers Hall, Ivory Hall, Mirror Hall, Salam Hall, Edifice of the Sun (Shams ol Emareh) and many other places.
Day 3: Ahwaz
Today, you are going to visit 3 UNESCO World Heritages in Iran: Susa (dates back to 5000 years ago), Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System (2500 years ago), and Chogha Zanbil (over 3000 years ago).
Day 4: Bishapour - Shiraz
Early morning departure to Shiraz (Overland), visiting Bishapur city in the afternoon. On this day, you can see 6 Bas-Reliefs in the valley of Tang-e Chogan, dated back to the Sasanian Dynasty (from 224 AD to 651 AD) and also the ancient city of Bishapur (founded in 266 by Sassanian King Shapur I (241-272)), and the famous Anahita Temple – Anahita is the goddess of water in ancient Persia.
Transfer to your hotel in Shiraz.
O/N Shiraz.
Day 5: Shiraz
Today, you are welcomed in Shiraz and we continue the Travel Around Iran tour.
We will start our Shiraz tour by the Karmikhani complex – Karim Khan Zand, the founder of the Zand dynasty who chose Shiraz as his capital—visiting Zandieh Complex: Karim Khan’s citadel, Pars museum, Vakil bath (traditional Iranian bath), Vakil mosque, Vakil bazaar- the traditional bazaar of Shiraz and Moshir caravanserai.
You can visit a famous Iranian Muslim holy place: the Shah-Cheragh Shrine, a funerary monument, and a mosque in Shiraz with unique mirror decoration.
In the evening, you can visit Hafez & Saadi’s tomb (Shiraz is famous for these two great Persian poets), Eram and Jahan-Nama Garden, and Quran gate (with a view over Shiraz).
O/N Shiraz
Day 6: Shiraz
Today, you will visit the most famous attractions of Ancient Persia in Iran: Persepolis and Pasargadae, two UNESCO World Heritage sites.
First, you will visit the great Persepolis—the earliest remains of Persepolis date back to 515 BCE. Alexander burned this place as the Persian Empire’s ceremonial capital during the Achaemenid Dynasty. The entrance of this ancient city is The Gate of All Nations, so you are welcomed to this city with every nationality you have. The Apadana Palace, The Throne Hall, and the tombs of Kings are among various reception halls and palaces, private palaces, royal treasury, and fortifications you can see in Persepolis.
We continue Travel Around Iran tour by visiting Naghsh-e Rostam, the Achaemenian necropolis (city of the dead). Then you will go to see Pasargadae.
Pasargadae is the capital of the Achaemenid Empire in the time of Cyrus the Great and his tomb (the most famous monument on this site).
In the evening, drive to Shahr-e Babak. You will arrive at another UNESCO World Heritage site at night: Meymand and its cultural landscape.
You can have the experience of spending the night in one of its cave houses.
O/N Meymand
Day 7: Meymand-Yazd
Half-day tour of Meymand. The villagers are semi-nomadic agro-pastoralists. They change their living place in winter and return to their unusual cave houses carved out of soft rock.
Drive to Yazd, a city in the middle of the desert. Today, you will see Zoroastrian – a religion started in ancient Persia by Zoroaster- culture and life. You will visit a famous Zoroastrian Fire Temple upon your arrival in Yazd.
Then you will visit a traditional house -now the Water Museum -to see how desert people used to find and transfer water. After visiting this unique museum, you will see the famous Amir-Chakhmagh Square.
O/N Yazd
Day 8: Yazd - Isfahan
In the morning, you will visit Masjed Jam-e Yazd with its remarkable minarets and architecture. Then, you will go to Dolat-Abad Garden, a UNESCO World Heritage site in the category of Persian Gardens. This garden has the most giant adobe wind catcher in the world.
Then, you continue your visit to Isfahan (overland). This city is famous for its bridges, minarets, mosques, and palaces. In the evening you will visit the Jolfa district and see the Vank cathedral. This cathedral was built in 1606. The mixture of Iranian architecture and decoration with the Italian painting style creates a unique cathedral.
You can see Isfahan’s famous Bridges, Siosepol, and Khaju at night.
O/N Isfahan
Day 9: Isfahan
The Travel Around Iran Tour is still going with Isfahan.Today’s tour of Isfahan starts with the UNESCO World Heritage: Naghsh-e-Jahan Square. Once a royal polo court, this site was the official center of the city when it was the Safavid Capital (17th Century). We will visit the famous Imam Mosque (Royal Mosque) on the square’s southern side, which has incredible architecture and tile work. We then visited the multistory Ali Qapu Palace, which stood on the western side of the court, from which the Safavid kings used to view the polo games and ceremonies. Then, you will visit Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque (or Ladies Mosque) on the opposite side of the square. You can take a tour of a traditional Iranian Bazaar.
Then, you will continue your tour to see Chehel-Sotun Garden (a UNESCO World Heritage site in the category of Persian Garden).
You can also visit Jame Mosque of Isfahan – a UNESCO world heritage – today, a beautiful mosque with unique architecture (over 12 hundred years ago).
O/N Isfahan
Day 10: Isfahan - Abyaneh - Kashan
Morning drive to Kahsan via Abyaneh.
Morning tour of Abyaneh. This village is one of the most significant villages of Iran- with its unique red soil and colorful women’s dresses.
Then, you will drive to Kashan, which is located near Abyaneh. This city is famous for its traditional houses. After a visit to some of these houses, you will see Tepe Sialk (The Sialk Louvre and the Institut Francais de Recherche en Iran also verifies the oldest settlements in Sialk, dating back to 5500 / 6000 BC.)
They have a different experience of staying in one of the traditional hotels of this city that is in combination with modern facilities.
O/N Kashan
Day 11: Transfer to Airport
Transfer to Imam Khomeini International Airport for your departure.
Notes: Optional Day
Day 7: Kerman
After visiting Meymand, we will go to Kerman and start a full-day tour in Kerman and Mahan, visiting the mausoleum & monastery of Shah Nematollah Vali, the famous Sufi Dervish. We will also visit Shazdeh (Prince) Garden (a UNESCO World Heritage in the category of Persian Garden).
O/N Kerman.
- Tehran
- Tehran to Ahwaz: (795) km
- Ahwaz to Shiraz: (525) km
- Shiraz to Yazd via Meymand: (677) km
- Yazd to Isfahan: (311) km
- Isfahan to Kashan via Abyaneh: (296) km
- Kashan to Tehran: (248) km
- Tehran
Highlights
- Duration: 11 Days
- Arrival: Tehran
- Departure: Tehran
- Wheelchair Access Available
- Iranian Cuisine Workshop
- Iranian SIM card
- Road trip experience Around Iran
- Visit the Ziggurat of Chogha Zanbil, a 3250-year-old brick structure; the temple of the goddess Inshushinak and the guardian of the historical city of Susa. Also, witness the ancient and hydraulic structure of Shushtar. After Shushtar, travel to Bishapur to see the statue of Sassanian Shapur and the Anahita Temple.
- The Karimkhan Complex in Shiraz, which includes a bathhouse, mosque, bazaar, and citadel, is the next destination. Also, visit the Nasir al-Mulk Mosque, the tombs of Hafez and Saadi, and the Shah Cheragh shrine. Don't miss Pasargadae and Persepolis, representing ancient Iran on this day.
- Travel from the unique village of Meymand with its underground homes to Yazd. See the Towers of Silence, where Zoroastrians of Iran exposed their dead to be decomposed by carrion birds. Yet, experience the vibrancy of life again in the Dolat Abad Garden in Yazd.
- Discover Isfahan, Kashan, and Abyaneh. Experience the traditional houses of Kashan, the mud-brick huts of Abyaneh and its cultural texture, and the exhilarating mosques and bazaars of Isfahan alongside the palaces of the Safavid dynasty.
Hotspots
- UNESCO World Heritage
- Persepolis
- Pasargadae
- Golestan Palace
- Masjed Jame Isfahan
- Masjed Jame Yazd
- Dolat Abaad Garden
- Eram Garden
- Bishapour
- Sadie Tomb
- National Museum of Iran
- Susa
- Naghsh-e Rostam
- Fire Temple of Zoroastrian
- Tape Silak
- Chehel Sotun
- Chogha Zanbil
- Shushtar
- Zandieh Complex
- Shah-Cheragh Shrine
- Kashan traditional houses
