PERSIA – Land of Love – a tour of its history, culture, architecture, and textiles.
Day 1 / October 30 – ARRIVAL TO ISTANBUL
Upon arrival to Istanbul, you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel in the old city. Meeting in the lobby at 6pm, we will have a short orientation then go to our restaurant for welcome dinner in a traditional restaurant. Overnight in Istanbul. D
Day 2 / October 31 – TEHRAN
Fly to Tehran from Istanbul TK870, dep: 10:25am. arrv: 14:55 pm. After customs formalities, transfer to our hotel in the uptown part of the city. Later we meet for an orientation. Possible short drive to couple of the avenues of Tehran. Dinner will be in a nearby restaurant. Overnight in Tehran. B. D.
Day 3 / November 1 – Visits of Tehran
We start our tour at the Golestan palace, the most important palace preserved in Iran. The palace contains several museums in a row established before Islamic Republic including Ethnographic museum. After lunch, we will visit the Tehran carpet museum. We will walk in the famous Tehran Bazaar to see how the trade of old days still carried on in the many corners of this great market. We will guide and help you to find some textile treasures or other objects of art. Dinner and overnight in Tehran. B.L.D
Day 4 / November 2 – Visits of Tehran
Visit the National Museum of Iran, which contains important archaeological objects of art from the Achaemenid, Sassanian, and Bronze Age periods, along many other significant objects. Later, if time permits, we visit glass museum. Short visit to Bazaar of Iran to sample the ambience of the streets, shops and merchants. Dinner and overnight in Tehran. B.L.D.
Day 5 / November 3 – Drive to Kashan and afternoon visits
Morning drive to Kashan – 3.5 hrs. We will check into our hotel and after lunch, visit museum houses of old silk merchants and a traditional hand loom textile workshop where they still weave silk velvet and brocade fabrics. Later, visit Emir sultan Ahmet bath complex. We visit FIN gardens – A World Heritage site of Iran. Dinner and overnight in Kashan. B.L.D.
Day 6 / November 4 – Drive to Yazd and afternoon explorations
Early morning drive to the city of Yazd 4 hrs. We visit a Zoroastrian village on the way up at top of a small mountain, it has its unique architecture with red mud-brick two story houses. We also will visit the pit-loom camel hair weavers in their underground locations. They weave shepherd coats, hats and camel hair floor spreads. After lunch, continue to drive to Yazd. Check into our hotel. Dinner and overnight in Yazd. B.L.D.
Day 7 / November 5 – Highlights of Yazd
Morning visit to Tower of Silence, where Zoroastrians used to leave their dead for wild animals in older days. We will see how traditional Yazd ikats and other types of silk and cotton hand-loomed textiles are still woven by the old methods. After visiting 14th century “Friday Mosque” short visit to Alexander the Great’s prison to have a drink. Dinner and overnight in Yazd. B.L.D.
Day 8 / November 6 – Drive to Esfehan and afternoon visits
Early morning drive to ISFAHAN 4.5 hrs. We will visit a textile museum which contains 14-18th century old textiles on the way. After lunch upon arrival visit Masjedeh Shah, Nakshe Jahan – Imam square with Ali Kappu palace museum and its old market where we find textiles collectors and some old textiles and other objects of art. Dinner and overnight in Isfehan. B.L.D
Day 9 / November 7 – Highlights of Esfehan
We will visit the Shah Abbas – Chehel Sotun palace museum with its newly displayed 15th century prayer rugs with other textiles and drive the scenic bridges of town, Zayende Ruh, Si-O-Si, then a visit to the Armenian quarter JOLFA with its famous Church Kalisaya Vank. Return to hotel. Dinner and overnight in Isfehan. B.L.D
Day 10 / November 8 – ISFAHAN highlights
We first visit the most important Mosque complex of IRAN, Masjedeh Jomeh – Esfahan Great Mosque dating to Middle Ages. It is an architectural documentary, visually embodying the political exigencies and aesthetic tastes of the great Islamic empires of Persia. The mosque’s core structure dates primarily from the 11th century when the Seljuk Turks established Isfahan as their capital. Additions and alterations were made during Il-Khanid, Timurid, Safavid, and Qajar rule. After lunch, our second visit will be to Palace of Eight Paradises. Your mid-afternoon is free for textile shopping, photography or resting in the hotel. Dinner and overnight in Isfehan. B.L.D
Day 11 / November 9 – Drive to Shiraz
We drive to Shiraz, 7.5 hrs. Lunch is on the way or a lunch box will be provided before departure. Arrival to Isfahan, check into our hotel. Dinner and overnight. B.L.D.
Day 12 / November 10 – Treasures of Persepolis
Early Morning drive (1 hr.) to Persepolis to explore the extensive site of Achaemenid dynasty along with the surrounding monumental sites of Naqsh-e Rostam and Racap. Lunch is on the way. We then return to the old Safavid capital for a walking tour in old city, including the Royal Square and Mosque, which was the center of life in the Safavid period and which remains so today. This was the square where the Shahs viewed ceremonies in the old days. There are thousands of shops here to search for objects of art, from textiles to wood to metal work. Dinner and overnight in Shiraz. B.L.D
Day 13 / November 11 /12– Old Town visits of Shiraz – return to Istanbul in the morning
We start with a city bus tour of the major avenues and streets, with a visit to the Citadel and the museum of Karim Aga Khan in the center of town and Vakil bath museum. After lunch, a short visit to the local textile museum, Narenjestan Museum and Pink Mosque which is most famous for its colorful glass walls. We will then visit the old covered bazaar, exploring the area to discover some of its treasures. Dinner and short rest at the hotel. Later we transfer to Shiraz airport at 01.00 am and fly to Istanbul by Turkish Air TK885 dep. Shiraz at 03:10 am arrives to Istanbul 07:00am (March 8).
End of tour, connect to your international home bound flights or catch a group transfer to old town Istanbul if you are staying extra nights. B.L.D.
*** CULTURAL TRAVEL has the right to change the itinerary either before or during the program due to circumstances beyond our control or to improve program content.
OCTOBER 30 – NOVEMBER 12, 2017 – IRAN TOUR DETAILS
TOUR INCLUDES:
– Private meeting at the airport in Istanbul and transfer to your hotel.
– Welcome Dinner in Istanbul.
– Internal flight in Iran.
– Private A/C midi bus (28 seats) transportation during tour days in Iran after 8 persons.
– Private A/C 14 seat van transportation during tours for 6 – 7 persons.
– All museum and historical site fees as stated in the itinerary.
– Meals as stated in the itinerary as B. Breakfast – L. Lunch – D. Dinner. Couple lunches can be during driving in the bus with a lunch box – fruits, cookies, juice, fresh bread.
– Bottled water at meals and during transportation.
– English speaking Local State assigned guide.
– Visa support and invitation letters.
– Tipping to the hotel receptions.
– Tipping at restaurants.
– Private Airport – hotel – Airport transfers in Tehran.
TOUR EXCLUDES:
– All hot and cold beverages and personal expenses at all times.
– Gratuity to the Trip Leader, Local Guide and the Driver. (Suggested amounts T.B.A.)
– Any extra services not listed in the Includes list.
Hotel accommodations as below:
Istanbul – Hotel Arcadia or similar – http://www.hotelarcadiaistanbul.com
Tehran – Espinas hotel – http://espinashotels.com
Keshan – Manucheri House or similar. – http://www.manouchehrihouse.com/hotel.html
Yazd – Safahiye Hotel – http://www.safaiyehhotel.com/fa/index.php
Isfehan – Abbasi hotel – (webpage is not available temporarily)
Shiraz – Zandiyeh hotel – http://zandiyehhotel.com