Shiraz 2N/Isfahan 2N/Tehran 1N

You will fly to Shiraz with Turkish Airlines via Istanbul. You will be met on arrival at Shiraz International airport and transferred to your hotel.

  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 a 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 Isfahan at night and go to the hotel.

  Reach Isfahan, the 17th-century capital of the Safavid Empire and one of the world’s greatest cities – architecturally striking, wealthy beyond imagining, and politically powerful with Europeans, Ottomans, Indians and Chinese coming to its court. It was also the heart of a vast Persian empire that stretched from the Euphrates River in present-day Iraq to the Oxus River in Afghanistan. Indeed, its grandeur was such that it inspired the rhyming proverb, Isfahan   nesf – Jahan  ( Isfahan  is  half  the  world). Join our expert guide in exploring the city, starting with some of the centuries-old, still-elegant bridges that span the Zayandeh River. The 14th-century Shahrestan Bridge, for example, reminds one of the aqueducts of ancient Rome and is the oldest bridge in Iran.

  Other famous bridges on the Zayandeh River are Sio-se pol and Khajou. There are sluice gates below the bridges to let the water flow down the river in the spring and there are beautiful stony archways above each gate.

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.

  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

Colorful 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 loca l 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. After a full day in Tehran, we go to the restaurant for dinner and then go to the airport to return home.