10 Days Classic Tour – History & Culture

Start the day with the historic Sa'dabad Palace Complex in Northern Tehran, a 300-hectare complex built by the Qajar and Pahlavi monarchs, next to the house of the current president. After this, you could visit Tajrish Bazaar for a lively shopping experience. Depending on your departure, you could also either visit Milad Tower, Tehran’s tallest highrise, or the iconic Azadi Tower, an amalgam of classic and modern Iranian art. You can also head to ASP Towers for tasty and trendy dining options in the evening.

In Kashan, stop by the Agha Bozorg Mosque, a multilevel theological school that served as the center of Kashani life. Visit the Sultan Amir Ahmad Bathhouse for a lesson in classic bathing. Explore the fascinating Abbasian House & Tabatabaei House, two examples of opulent homes with exceptional architectural details, designed specifically for the desert. Visit an active Pottery Workshop to see Kashan’s traditional earthen handicrafts. After a quick stop in Fin Garden, spend the night in Kashan.

Stop by the pre-Islamic city of Maybod to explore the remarkably maintained Sassanid-era Narin Castle. Visit the Maybod Pigeon Tower, an important invention in message sending and fertilization. Move on the Maybod Yakhchal, a millenia-old icehouse within the desert, and the Abbasi Caravansary. Explore the abandoned mud-brick village Kharanaq, a well-preserved example of how Persian cities looked thousands of years ago. Spend the night in Yazd.

Start the day off with the Yazd Jameh Mosque, built in the 13th c. over a Sassanid fire temple. Then, hit the narrow, mud-brick streets to visit the Amir Chakhmagh Complex, which contains a caravanserai, a bathhouse, and many confectioneries. Learn how underground water channels kept the city hydrated with a visit to the Yazd Water Museum. Stop in at the Zoroastrian Fire Temple and see the holy fire that has burned since 470 AD. Finish by seeing Tower of Silence to witness the location of sky burials.

Head to Shiraz in the early morning. On the way, visit one of the oldest living organisms in the world, the Cypress of Abarkooh. The Cyprus tree is an ancient Zoroastrian symbol of life and beauty. Estimated to be between 4,000-5,000 years old, this cypress is said to have been planted by the prophet Zoroaster himself. Spend some time at the final resting place of Cyrus the Great, the founder of the first Persian Empire, the Achaemenid dynasty, at Pasargadae. Make your way to Shiraz for the night.

Arrive before 8am for the best views of the Nasir ol-Molk “Pink” Mosque. Move on to the Vakil Complex, featuring the Vakil Mosque, Vakil Bathhouse, and the famed caravansary. Relax in the World Heritage-listed Eram Garden, before visiting the Citadel of Karim khan. A former prison, the citadel has been converted to a giant garden, complete with local vendors. A quick stop at the Tomb of Hafez, the worldwide-renowned Persian poet, and it’s off to dinner with a local Shirazi family.

Start the day with the World Heritage-listed Persepolis, once the center of the Persian Empire and one of the great cities of the ancient world. The towering columns, remarkable relief carvings, and massive gateways are still imposing. Move on to the Naqsh-e Rostam Necropolis, a royal graveyard of massive tombs, carved straight into the mountainside, from the Achaemenids to the Sassanids. Arrive in Esfahan and rest for the night.

After a night’s sleep, visit the 16th c. Naqsh-e Jahan Square, the seat of Iran’s Safavid dynasty. Explore Qeysarie Bazaar, a local hub filled with handicrafts, spices & carpets. Visit the Sheykh Lotfollah Mosque‘s mesmerizing dome, the Shah Mosque‘s enchanting courtyard, Ali Qapu Palace’s view. You can also visit Chehel-sotun Palace, the royal Safavid reception for foreign dignitaries and ambassadors. At night, visit Khaju Bridge & Si-o-Se Pol Bridge, local hangouts along Zayandeh Rud river

Time permitting, visit the 8th c. Jameh Mosque of Isfahan, a former Sassanid-era Zoroastrian fire temple. Make your way from Isfahan's Historic District, through ancient bazaar-pathways, to the more modern Naqsh-e Jahan Square from yesterday. Handicrafts here haven't changed for over 400 years, so some take time to pick out last minute handicrafts for friends and family at home. Finish the day with the bright frescos of Vank Cathedral in the Armenian quarter of New Jolfa. Drive towards Tehran for IKIA.