Shiraz  2N / Yazd  2N / Isfahan 3N / Kashan 1N / Tehran 2N/Istanbul 3N/Cappadocia 1N/Izmir 2N

Salam! You will fly to Shiraz with flight TK884 Turkish Airlines via Istanbul. Your flight will land at 02:05 o'clock at Shahid Dastgheib International Airport. After your welcome, the tour guide will transfer you to the hotel. Since you arrived in Shiraz in the morning, all your check-in have already been done. Have a good rest and collect your energy for the next morning.

Visit the Nasir-ol-Molk Mosque (Pink Mosque) after breakfast. This mosque was built as per the order of one of the lords during the reign of the Qajar Dynasty, Mirza Hasan ‘Ali Nasir-ol-Molk, and it took 12 years to complete. Its interiors are magnificent masterpiece of design with stunning colors.

This is a space where light and worship intertwine. The mosque comes to life with sunrise and colors dance on its floor throughout the day like whirling dervishes. Also visit the orange-scented Narenjestan Garden, laid out in the 19th century, before heading for the bustling Vakil Bazaar, home to hundreds of stores, beautiful courtyards and even an ancient caravanserai. Your next destination is the Karim Khan Citadel, built during the Zand Dynasty.  End your day in Shiraz on a tranquil note in the lovely garden tombs of Sa’adi and Hafez, two of the most outstanding poets of Persia.

We spend today exploring the heritage of the Achaemenid dynasty in Persepolis and the royal tombs of Naghsh-e-Rostam. Persepolis, the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid kings with remains of the palaces of Darius the Great, Xerxes and Artaxerxes, is famous for its bas-reliefs depicting kings, courtiers and gift-bearing representatives of tributary nations of the Persian Empire ranging from India to Ethiopia.

   We then visit nearby Naghsh-e-Rostam to see Ka’be-Zardosht (a fire temple) and the royal tombs dug into the rock itself. This site also has seven magnificent Sassanian rock-reliefs including Shapur the First’s famous victory over Roman Emperor Valerian. We will continue to visit Pasargad, the site of the simple, but impressive tomb and remains of the palaces of Cyrus the Great, the founder of the Persian Empire.  After a long day, we arrived in Yazd at night and go to the hotel.

This ancient desert city was a major stop on the caravan routes to Central Asia and India during the Silk Road period – Marco Polo even visited the city on his way to China – and it still retains a rustic feel today. Yazd is also the heart of the Zoroastrian religion. On arrival, set out on a walking tour visiting the Jameh Mosque, notable for its fine mosaics and beautiful exterior.

   From here you are ideally placed to explore the older parts of the city, which are some of the oldest on Earth according to UNESCO. Walk the narrow kuches (lanes), past simple courtyards and the ornate doors of the mud brick buildings. One of the most distinctive features of Yazd are the wind towers ‘badgirs’ that capture even the softest of breezes and send them to the buildings below in a forerunner of modern air-con.

  The water museum shows how the quants (underground water channels) brought water to the city from the mountains for thousands of years. You will also visit the Fire Temple and Towers of Silence, both vestiges of the city’s Zoroastrian heritage. In the Zoroastrian religion, fire and water are agents of ritual purity, and the fire in the “Atashkade” Fire Temple is said to have been continuously burning since 470 AD.

   The places we will see in Yazd include: Amir Chakhmagh Ensemble, Fahadan old neighborhood, Ziyaiyeh School (Aleksandra Prison), Congregational Mosque, old Fire Temple, Water Museum, and Dolat Abad Garden.  Return to the hotel and rest

This ancient desert city was a major stop on the caravan routes to Central Asia and India during the Silk Road period – Marco Polo even visited the city on his way to China – and it still retains a rustic feel today. Yazd is also the heart of the Zoroastrian religion. On arrival, set out on a walking tour visiting the Jameh Mosque, notable for its fine mosaics and beautiful exterior.

   From here you are ideally placed to explore the older parts of the city, which are some of the oldest on Earth according to UNESCO. Walk the narrow kuches (lanes), past simple courtyards and the ornate doors of the mud brick buildings. One of the most distinctive features of Yazd are the wind towers ‘badgirs’ that capture even the softest of breezes and send them to the buildings below in a forerunner of modern air-con.

  The water museum shows how the quants (underground water channels) brought water to the city from the mountains for thousands of years. You will also visit the Fire Temple and Towers of Silence, both vestiges of the city’s Zoroastrian heritage. In the Zoroastrian religion, fire and water are agents of ritual purity, and the fire in the “Atashkade” Fire Temple is said to have been continuously burning since 470 AD.

   The places we will see in Yazd include: Amir Chakhmagh Ensemble, Fahadan old neighborhood, Ziyaiyeh School (Aleksandra Prison), Congregational Mosque, old Fire Temple, Water Museum, and Dolat Abad Garden.  Return to the hotel and rest.

Start the day by exploring Imam Square, the 17th-century site which is also one of the largest public spaces in the world.  Visit the Shah Mosque, revered as a masterpiece of Islamic architecture and easily recognized

due to its magnificent tile work and a soaring cupola and minarets.

   Marvel at the beautiful music rooms and balconies of Ali Qapu Palace and get the chance to explore the Qeisariyeh Bazaar, which surrounds Imam Square. With hundreds of local vendors that specialize in traditional arts and crafts, it’s a wonderful place to shop for pottery, enamel, jewelry and delicately inlaid board games.

   Next up is Chehel Sotun. Set in a landscaped and forested park in front of a tranquil reflecting pool, this graceful pavilion was built by Shah Abbas II for entertainment and court receptions. Enter into the building through a portico supported by twenty slender wooden columns and discover soaring halls embellished with frescoes, paintings and mosaics. The Hall of Mirrors is especially breathtaking!

   In the city’s Armenian quarter, you’ll get the chance to delve more deeply into the region’s complex history. Visit several churches in the area, including the 17th-century Vank Cathedral with its lavishly decorated interior and a unique blend of Islamic and European architectural elements.

You have a free day to explore this lovely city, so take time to wander along the City's many tree-lined boulevards and spacious gardens. Visit the Jameh Mosque (Friday Mosque), the biggest in all Iran and full of lovely designed stuccos, or Afif Abad museum and garden, or you could also discover the bizarre Manar Jomban (shaking minarets). Perhaps head to the Armenian Quarter and the Church of St. Joseph of Arimathea, which has a striking interior of gilded ceilings, walls and paintings. The stunning, delicate artwork of the dome depicts the biblical story of Genesis, from Creation to Man’s expulsion from the Garden of Eden. Make sure to take a stroll by the Zayandeh River and stop for a well-deserved chai at one of the stunning bridges.

Drive to Kashan after breakfast. Visit the Abyaneh

 village  en route.  The  village  is  also known as the Red Village because of its red-mud houses (the area has red soil). The houses of Abyaneh bear an ancient architectural style and feature the use of clay as the main construction material along with latticed windows and wooden doors.

   On reaching Kashan, head for its two famous traditional houses, Boroujerdi or Tabatabaei. Travel to the Fin Garden, a UNESCO World Heritage site, This Persian garden reflects ancient landscaping principles that trace their roots to the time of Cyrus the Great in the 6th century BCE.

   Leaving Kashan behind in the evening and head for Tehran.

Salam! Welcome to Tehran.

This marvellous city sits at the bottom of the Alborz Mountains – their snowy peaks serving as a photogenic backdrop for the colourful buildings below. Tehran is commonly known as one of the country’s most liberal metropolitan areas and this may become obvious through an adventure into the depths of their hospitality scene. Lamb, chickpeas, tahdig (crispy rice pies) and potatoes are all big staples in Iranian cuisine – just don’t forget they’re best washed down with a cup of dugh (minty yoghurt drink).

   Upon arriving in Tehran, we go straight to the restaurant, once you arrive, get to know the other travelers over a juicy Iranian kebab served with a side of local bread or rice – the kebab’s rich aroma should have you smelling it well before it reaches the table. Once you’ve filled up, wash it all down with a cup of tea. After a delicious dinner we go to the hotel and crawl into bed before tomorrow’s adventures.

   It’d be easy to call Iran a land of kebabs, but the country’s gastronomy is a little more complicated than that.

In the morning we will go to see National Museum of Iran, aging more than 70 years, containing 300,000 museum objects.

   Then we will have the visit of Iran Glassware and ceramic Museum, in order to see objects of 4th millennium B.C. up to the present time.

   After that we will go to see a UNESCO World Heritage: Golestan Palace that has many places to offer: The Marble Throne, Karim Khani Nook, Museum of Gifts, Containers Hall, Mirror Hall, Salam Hall, Edifice of the Sun (Shams ol Emareh) and many other places. After that visit the fabulous State’s Jewels Museum, housed in the vaults of the Central Bank of Iran displaying the most dazzling and priceless collection of jewels and gems in the world.

   We see more of Tehran today with full day visits including the Golestan Palace Museum Complex, built by Fath-Ali Shah of the Qajar Dynasty and dating from the 18th to the early 20th century. We continue to the Shams-ol-Emareh (Sun) Palace and the Ethnographic Museum, with a walk around the garden to enjoy the beautiful tile-covered walls and buildings. In the afternoon, we visit the fabulous State’s Jewels Museum, housed in the vaults of the Central Bank of Iran displaying the most dazzling and priceless collection of jewels and gems in the world.

Drive to the north of Tehran after breakfast. Get the chance to learn more about the Qajar and Pahlavi history in the Sa’dabad Palace Museum and we continue to the Niavaran Palace and the Tajrish Traditional Bazaar, the favorite shopping destination of the locals. A luxurious dinner with live music in one of the luxury restaurants, transfer to the Airport and fly to Istanbul. Upon your arrival, you will be picked you up from the Ataturk Airport and transfer to the hotel. Overnight in Istanbul.

After breakfast at approximately 8:30 am you will be picked up from your hotel to begin the full day tour. During the tour you will visit: Hagia Sophia Museum, Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, Grand Bazaar and Topkapi

Palace. Lunch will be at a local restaurant. After the tour, you will be transferred to back to your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul. Meals included: Breakfast and Lunch.

After breakfast at approximately 8:30 am you will be picked up from your hotel to the full day tour. During the tour, you will visit: Spice Bazaar (Egyptian), Bosphorus Tour on Boat, Beylerbeyi Palace, Bosphorus Bridge, Camlica Hill. After the tour, you will be transferred back to your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul. Meals included: Breakfast and Lunch.

You will be picked up from your hotel for your transfer to the airport to catch your early morning flight to Kayseri or Nevsehir. Upon arrival at the airport you will be transferred to Cappadocia where you will meet your professional tour guide to begin your full day North Cappadocia Tour.

Your tour will start with a visit to the Devrent Valley to see the unique fairy chimneys. Next you will visit the Pasabag Monk’s Valley to see the mushroom-shaped pinnacles. After this visit, you will drive to the city of Avanos. After lunch you will visit the beautiful open-air museum of Goreme where the remains of rock-cut churches and Christian settlements date back hundreds of years. Finally towards the end of the day tour before returning to your hotel, you will be able to visit the natural castles of Uchisar. After the tour, you will be transferred to your hotel in Cappadocia for check-in. Overnight in Cappadocia. Meals included: Breakfast and Lunch.

After breakfast at the hotel around 09:30 you will be picked up and met by your tour guide to begin your full day tour of South Cappadocia. Your tour guide will brief you on the day’s activities. Your tour will begin with a visit to the Red Valley where you will be able to explore the famous rock-cut churches and hike approximately 5 km through the Güllüdere (Rose) Valley. Next you will visit Çavusin village  which  is famous

for its houses and churches of the Christian Clergymen. We will take a break for lunch around noon. After lunch you will drive to the Pigeon Valley. In the afternoon you will visit the Kaymakli underground city where early Christians lived. This will be the end of your full day tour. After the tour you are transferred to Kayseri airport for your flight to Izmir through Istanbul. When you arrive in Izmir, you will find our employee holding your name for transfer to Kusadasi for overnight stay in Kusadasi hotel. Meals included: Breakfast and Lunch.

After breakfast around 08:00 you will be picked up from your Kusadasi hotel and taken to the meeting point in Selcuk where the full group will first meet. You will then begin the Pamukkale tour with a drive from Selcuk starting at 8:30 am to Pamukkale which will be around 3 hours. En route to Pamukkale after 1.5 hours, there will be a 10 minutes stop for restroom break.

Upon arrival around 11:45, the group will be first taken to have lunch and after lunch at around 13:00 you will begin your guided tour of the Pamukkale and Hierapolis area with a profession licensed tour guide. In Pamukkale, you will see the Cotton Cliffs, one of the natural wonders of the world formed by deposits of calcareous salts. Also you will visit the ancient ruins of the City of Hierapolis with its basilica, theatre and Roman Baths. At the end of the guided tour, you will have some free time to explore the area on your own.  As an option, you may choose to swim in the

Pamukkale antique pools (at own expense) during this free time. The tour guide will inform you about the exact meeting point and time. At the end of the tour around approximately 4:00 pm, you will be transferred to your hotel at around 19:00. Overnight in Kusadasi. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

After breakfast at the hotel around 08:30 you will be picked up and met by your tour guide to begin your full day tour of Ephesus. Your tour guide will brief you on the day’s activities. You will first visit the Temple of Artemis which was once one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. Next you will visit the world famous ancient Greco- Roman City of Ephesus, the most well preserved example in the world. After visiting this impressive site, you will  have a  break  for lunch.  After lunch you will  visit  the  House  of  Virgin  Mary,  where  it is

believed she spent her last days. This is a holy place for both Christians and Muslims. Afterwards you will visit the Isabey Mosque. At end of the tour you will be transferred to Izmir airport for your return flight to Istanbul. Upon arrival you will be picked-up from the airport and transferred to your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul. Meals included: Breakfast and Lunch.

After breakfast check out from hotel (before 12:00), transfer to Istanbul Ataturk Airport as per your international flight details. End of tour and services. Meals included: Breakfast.