Tehran 2N/ Kashan 1N/ Yazd 2N/ Kerman 2N/Shiraz 3N/Isfahan 2N

Those on the group flights arrive very early this morning (or late the previous night) and will be transferred to the hotel. Land only passengers should arrive at the hotel this morning though we do recommend arriving the night before if not on the group flights (this night is included).Tehran is a sprawling metropolis buzzing with people. It is the economic heart of Iran and a modern city with museums, cafes and restaurants. We head out into Tehran and visit the Archaeological Museum with its collections of pottery, bronze and valuable pieces from various ages ranging from millenniums BCE to the Islamic era. We also visit the Abguineh Glass and Ceramics Museum, a valuable collection of pre-Islamic, Islamic and European glass and ceramics displayed within an elegant early-20th Century mansion. Finally, we visit the Carpet Museum with its extensive collection of old and new Persian carpets and rugs from the country’s major carpet-weaving centres.

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 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.

As we leave the hustle and bustle of the  Iranian  capital  behind,  we  make  our  way through the desert to Kashan. This oasis town was a favourite of Shah Abbas who was buried here. Visit the historical garden of Fin which was 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. In Kashan, there are also fine examples of grand 19th Century merchant residences and we will have the chance to visit one these. We continue on to Abyaneh, a small village hidden away in the Karkas Mountains and an Iranian Cultural Heritage Site. The village was originally settled by Zoroastrians fleeing the Arab invasion of Persia and is very traditional with winding alleys of red-mud brick houses adorned with lattice woodwork and balconies. The people of Abyaneh have preserved their ancient culture and traditions over the centuries and dress in colorful clothes.

  After touring Abyaneh, we drive to Yazd. En route, we stop in the town of Na’in to visit the early Islamic period Friday Mosque and the Pirnia House /Ethnographic Museum, a beautiful example of a late Safavid period private house with delicate monochrome painted plaster decoration. We continue to the nearby village of Mohammadiye to see the traditional pit workshops weaving the camel cloaks worn by the Muslim clergy in Iran, before finally arriving in Yazd. (Total drive time about 7hrs plus visits)

We enjoy a full day sightseeing in historic Yazd, the centre for Iran’s small Zoroastrian community. Visit one of the two Zoroastrian abandoned Towers of Silence (Dakhma). Dating back to the 18th Century, until some 70-odd years ago the bodies of the dead were carried and left here to decompose and be devoured by birds. The next Zoroastrian site is the Fire Temple which houses a flame which is said to have been burning for over 1,500 years. Amongst Yazd’s Islamic sites are the Friday Mosque (1324AD) which boasts the highest portal and minarets in Iran and the Mirchachmagh   Maidan and Mosque.  Other notable monuments, found in the old Fahadan area of Yazd, are the Saljuk shrine, dedicated to the Twelve Shi’ite Imams; and Ziaieyeh Theological School, also known as Znedan-e-Eskander (Alexander’s Prison). Yazd also has many beautiful old houses such as Dowlat-Abad Garden, an 18th Century feudal hexagonal house.

  Leaving Yazd, our first stop is the troglodyte village of Maymand. Recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage site, villagers still live in cave dwellings today. We explore the village and visit some of these cave dwellings which have been transformed as show-houses. As the caves are strewn along a slope with rubble, make sure to wear walking shoes or trainers with grip. We continue to the desert trading city of Kerman with its blend of Persian and Baluchi people (Total drive time 7.5hrs plus visits).

We head towards the village of Rayan to visit the Arg (Citadel) of Rayan, a miniature version of the Bam Citadel which was destroyed by an earthquake in 2003. Arg-e-Rayan has all the typical architectural features of a desert Citadel with ramparts, towers, covered lanes and spectacular views of the nearby Mt. Hezar, snowcapped for most of the year. Retruning towards Kerman, we stop in the small town of Mahan to visit the blue-tiled Mausoleum of Shah Nematollah-e-Vali, the great 14th century Sufli Leader, and the Shahzadeh Garden (a late 19th century Qajar period house and garden).

  Back in Kerman we visit the Friday Mosque, the Ganj-Ali Khan Complex and Hammam which has been converted into an Ethnographic Museum. We explore the Maidan (square) with its mosque, madrassa and water cistern all dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries and the Vakil Tea House (another covered bathhouse).  We   will   walk   through bazaar. Being a Friday, some shops may be closed but there’s still a great atmosphere.

  Today is the longest travel day. This is mitigated, however, by the stunning scenery as we cross over the Zagros Mountains and into Iran’s fertile Fars region to the city of gardens and poets which is Shiraz. On the way, we visit the remains of the Sassanian Palace at Sarvestan, a fifth century building thought to be a hunting lodge built by Bahram V (9 hrs plus stops).

Shiraz,  the city  of ‘roses  and  nightingales’  is  the centre  of Persian  culture, known for its poets, gardens and,  at  one time, wine  which  was  produced  in  the  fertile  valley  the  city is located in. We spend the day exploring Shiraz’s main sites, visiting the expansive Eram Garden; the tomb of Iran’s greatest lyric poet: Hafez, a popular spot for local lovers, the pink tiled 19th century Nasir-ol-Molk Mosque with its coloured glass windows, the Arg-e-Karim Khan (an 18th century citadel; the Madrassa Khan where we   can   interact   with   students  and  the Qajar-period Narenjestan Garden and House, the Vakil  Bazaar  and  the  Holy  Shrine  of Shah-e-  Cheragh (though only from the outside if not Muslim as it is not open to non-Muslims).

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 head to Iran’s greatest city, Isfahan. En route we visit Pasargadae, the site of the simple, but impressive tomb and remains of the palaces of Cyrus the Great, the founder of the Persian Empire (Total drive time 6-7hrs plus visits).

  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 Qeisarieh 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 Menar Jonban (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 Rood River and stop for a well-deserved tea at one of the stunning bridges. We are approaching the end of the journey hour by hour. Our last dinner is spent in a luxurious restaurant with live music and we go to the airport. It's time to say goodbye and return home.