16 Days Iran UNESCO Sites Tour

Begin the day at the National Museum‍ of Iran, displaying the country’s archaeological findings. Then we enter the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Golestan Palace, part of a complex of royal buildings that were once enclosed within the mud-thatched walls of Tehran’s historic Arg or citadel. The oldest of the historical monuments in Tehran, this opulent palace dates back to the Qajar Dynasty (1789-1925). We continue our Tehran exploration by visiting the collection at the Abgineh Glass and Ceramics Museum, impressive not only for its exhibits but for the building itself, constructed in the early 1920s as a private residence for a prominent local family and later housing the Egyptian Embassy.

O/N Tehran

Depart Tehran for Hamedan, a major stop on the ancient royal road to Baghdad. Welcome to the first capital of Iran under the Median empire that was created by King Diocese (728-675 B.C). Here, view the Alavian Dome, a 12th-century structure regarded as the finest example of Seljuk art in Iran. It’s registered as an Islamic world site (ICESCO). See the Hegmataneh (Ecbatana), the largest hill from ancient times in Iran, there are archaeological holes, an ancient city, a museum, and two churches. We will also visit the Tomb of Avicenna, a world-renowned polymath who is regarded as one of the most significant astronomers, physicians, and philosophers of the 10th century. Going on, we will pay a visit to Ganjnameh, where the area of Achaemenid rock carvings is located. Engraved on two stone panels, the inscriptions record the achievements of Darius I and his son Xerxes and the extent of their empires.

O/N Hamedan

An early departure for Kermanshah takes us via the Sassanian site at Kangavar, where the remains of a temple dedicated to Anahita, the beneficent divinity of water, are to be found. We then view the incredible Achaemenid bas-reliefs at Bisotun, one of the most famous Near eastern archaeological sites and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Trilingual inscriptions carved 521-519 B.C. in Old Persian, Elamite, and Akkadian served as the key to the decipherment of cuneiform script in the mid-19th century. The relief above the inscription shows Darius the Great facing nine rebel kings—the rulers crushed by Darius when he came to power. Then on to the sensational site at Taq-e Bostan, where a sacred spring emerges from a mountain cliff and empties into a large reflecting pool.

O/N Kermanshah

En route to Ahvaz we enjoy a picnic lunch and, in the afternoon, view the remains of Pol-é-Dokhtar, a bridge constructed by the Sassanians 2,000 years ago. It is huge – 900 feet long and rising 90 feet above water level and with eight arches needed to span the Kashkan River. Finally, drive to the ancient fortress city of Shushtar to see the Historical Hydraulic System, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The watermills can be traced back to Darius the Great in the 5th century B.C. and still supply water to the city. Continue to Ahvaz and stay for two nights.

O/N Shushtar

Begin in Haft Tepe, the site of an ancient city built 3,500 years ago and an imposing feature rising about the surrounding plain. Here are found elaborate vaulted graves and a temple of the Middle Elamite royalty. We now visit two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Tchogha Zanbil and Susa. The well-preserved Elamite ziggurat at Tchogha Zanbil is the largest man-made structure in Iran and one of the few remaining examples of ziggurats in the Middle East. Our next site is Shush, or Susa, the setting of the Biblical Book of Esther. Dating back to around 6000 BC, Susa was one of the great ancient cities of Iran and an important Elamite center until it was destroyed by the Assyrians in the 7th century BC. Across the river, visit the Tomb of Daniel, said to hold the remains of the Jewish prophet, and is still a place of pilgrimage.

O/N Ahvaz

Leaving Khozestan behind, continue to Kazerun to visit Sassanian City of Bishapur visiting Anahita Temple  and Old Bishapur City belonging to Shapur I and Tang-e Chogan a complex of Sasanian Bass Reliefs. 

O/N Shiraz

Explore lovely Shiraz, the City of Roses, and Nightingales. Begin in Eram Garden, with its beautiful cypress-lined avenues leading to an elegant summer palace. Continue to the pink-tiled 19th-century Nasir-al Mulk Mosque  and the Narenjestan Garden, with the richly decorated pavilion featuring a mirrored porch set among graceful trees. Visit the Tomb of Hafez , Iran’s greatest lyric poet. Late this afternoon, spend some time in the famous Vakil Bazaar.

O/N Shiraz

An early start takes us to Persepolis (Takht-é Jamshid), the heart of the Persian Empire and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here, walk through a complex of palaces and temples that are said to be one of the architectural wonders of the world. Massive winged bulls, derived from Assyria but given a characteristic Persian stateliness, greet us at the head of a grand stairway wide enough for five horses to ride abreast. On the stairway up to the Apadana, the reception hall to the palace of King Darius I, survey the hundreds of figures carved in low relief exactly as Darius and Xerxes saw them. Nearby, visit Naqsh-e Rajab, where magnificent Sassanian reliefs are located in an alcove in the rocks. Nearby, at Naqsh-e Rostam, gaze upon the immense memorial carved for the Sassanian Ardashir I after his conquest of the Parthians.

O/N Saadatshahr

Our explorations take us to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Pasargadae  to see the impressive, elevated Tomb of Cyrus and to walk through the different sections of the ancient city: the residential Palace, the Audience Hall, the Gatehouse, and the curious Zendan-e Soleyman. Continue to Yazd, on our way, we also visit the historical city of Abarkooh. In this city, you’ll be shaded by the ancient 4000 years old cypress tree and visit Abarkooh Ice House.

O/N Yazd

Located in the remote desert, the old city of Yazd  is built almost entirely of adobe and is an architectural wonder. To deal with the extremely hot summers, many old buildings have magnificent wind towers, with large underground areas to circulate cooling air. Yazd has been a Zoroastrian center since Sassanian times. Zoroastrians still make up a significant minority of the population, and the Fire Temple (Atashkadeh) in Yazd is the most important Zoroastrian fire temple in Iran. The sacred flame visible behind glass in the interior of the fire temple is said to have been burning for over 1500 years. We visit the Tower of Silence (or Dakhma), where the bodies of the deceased were placed, to avoid contaminating the earth as a Zoroastrian funerary tradition, and then the Fire Temple and its grounds, On the way we visit Dowlat Abad Garden, Amir- Chakhmaq Square, Jame Mosque, walking in the old part of the city that registered as a UNESCO site.

Zurkhaneh is optional (the traditional gymnasium, where amateurs practice their strength and flexibility to the accompaniment of devotional music).

O/N Yazd

Drive this morning to Isfahan. Iranians say that their lovely city is “half the world”. The capital of the Safavids from the 16th century, but on the way to Isfahan there are some so interesting cities to visit, one of them is Meybod in Yazd province and then Naein in Isfahan. In Meybod we will visit Narin Castle  which is a mud-adobe fort built about 2000 years ago, Icehouse  and water reservoir , and Pigeon Tower  in Naein city we visit one of the oldest mosques in Iran goes back to the 9th century. Isfahan is said to have the most beautiful bridges. We view two of them in the evening, the Si-o-Se Pol as well as the ornate Pol-e Khaju.

O/N Isfahan

We start this day with the magnificent Jameh Mosque  with its famous Uljaitu Mihrab of the Il- Khanid Period and with UNESCO World Heritage status. There are nine gardens in Iran designated UNESCO World Heritage, and we will visit one today– Chehel Sotun, a pavilion constructed as a reception hall for visiting dignitaries by Shah Abbas II. Next, Continue on to the Naqsh-e Jahan Square, yet another UNESCO World Heritage Site. The gigantic open plaza is framed by a wall of arches and surrounded by two of the Islamic world’s most impressive mosques, the Masjid-e Sheikh Lotfollah  and the Masjid-e Shah (Imam). Both houses of worship contain magnificent architecture and tilework. Walk through the Ali Qapu Palace with its enchanting music room and balcony overlooking the Meidan where the Safavid kings sat to watch polo tournaments. Bazaar  is including hundreds of shops and stalls that offer a rich variety of carpets, tiles, hand-block-printed cloth, miniature paintings, and jewelry. Finish our day in the Qeisarieh Bazaar, located just off the Meidan.

O/N Isfahan

This morning, drive to Kashan to walk through the famous Fin Garden, another one of the UNESCO Persian Gardens. In keeping with many of the gardens of this era, the Fin Garden has many stunning water features that are fed from a spring emerging from a slope behind the garden. Circulating pools and fountains were created using only the water pressure of the waterway. We also visit Tabatabayi historical house and Borujerdiha/Abbasian historical house in Kashan. We also visit the old bazaar and Aminoddole Carvansarai (Timche Aminoddole) and end our day with an excursion to Sialk Archaeological Hills. 

O/N Kashan

Spanning an impressive amount of human history, the Reza Abbasi Museum displays artifacts from the 2nd millennium BC to the 20th century AD. Explore this museum and continue to the Niavaran Palace before breaking for a free evening to explore or relax. Gather together again this evening for our farewell dinner.

O/N Tehran

Early morning and after checking out of the hotel, you will be transferred to the IKA airport for your departure flight.