Essential Iran Enhanced

Itinerary

• Days 1-2: Tehran (Iran)
  

  Arrive in Tehran, Iran’s bustling modern capital, where in the past 100 years the population has grown from under 300,000 to over 9 million. On your one full day here, get a window into Persian culture at two major museums, gaze at the spectacular Crown Jewels, and have your first experience of splendid Persian architecture at Golestan Palace.

  HIGHLIGHTS

  • The wide-ranging collection of art and sacred relics, including calligraphy, textiles, carvings, and carpets, at the National Islamic Museum of Iran
  • Tools of Neanderthals, prehistoric pottery, artifacts from Persepolis, and other archaeological treasures at the National Museum of Iran
  • The spectacular Iranian Crown Jewels, including Darya-ye-Nur, the world’s largest uncut diamond, and the Peacock Throne, covered in over 23,000 gems
  • The grand buildings and elegant garden of Golestan Palace, the 16th-century fortress of the Safavid Dynasty, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Days 3-6: Kerman, Rayen, Mahan, Yazd
  

  An hour-and-a-half flight takes you from Tehran to the mile-high city of Kerman, home to a classic bazaar and the base for visits to the ancient citadel Arg-e Rayen, the mausoleum of revered Sufi teacher Shah Nematollah Vali, and UNESCO-listed Shahzadeh, one of Iran’s grandest Persian gardens. The next stop is Yazd, a desert city of such beauty and cultural significance that it’s designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in its entirety. Yazd is a traditional center of Zoroastrianism; its Fire Temple remains an important pilgrimage site, and its Towers of Silence, central to Zoroastrian death rituals, loom on the hilltops outside of town.

  HIGHLIGHTS

  • Rayen Castle, one of the finest examples in the world of ancient mudbrick architecture
  • The vibrant blue-tiled dome and minarets of the Shah Nematollah Vali Mausoleum
  • The terraced pools gracing UNESCO-listed Shahzadeh Garden
  • Kerman’s huge, bustling covered bazaar
  • The many treasures Yazd, including the UNESCO-listed Dowlat Garden, the Friday Mosque, and the Zoroastrian Fire Temple and Towers of Silence
• Days 7-9: Pasargadae, Shiraz, Persepolis
  

  Departing from Yazd, stop at the ruins of the city of Pasargadae, founded by Cyrus the Great in the 6th century BC, and then arrive in Shiraz, one of Iran’s most beautiful and historically rich cities, renowned for its gorgeous gardens and intricate architecture. In the “City  of Roses and Nightingales” you’ll explore a stunning, light-dappled mosque and people-watch at the shrine of a beloved poet. From there, travel to Persepolis, one of the world’s great ancient archaeological sites.

  HIGHLIGHTS

  • The limestone mausoleum of Cyrus the Great at the UNESCO-listed ruins of Pasargadae
  • The verse-engraved tomb of Iran’s greatest lyric poet, Hafez, a site of pilgrimage and reverence surrounded by a lovely garden and a teahouse
  • The exquisite tilework and stained glass at Nasir-ol-Molk Mosque, where sunlight creates bursts of color
  • Shiraz’s Narenjestan Ghavam Museum, a grand 19th-century house set amid meticulously maintained gardens
  • The ornate columns and beautifully rendered bas-reliefs of UNESCO-listed Persepolis, a remarkable archaeological site that served as the ceremonial capital of the ancient Achaemenid Empire
• Days 10-12: Isfahan
  

  Past and present majestically intertwine in the city of Isfahan, where beautiful, historic public spaces buzz with local activity. Stroll through the centerpiece, UNESCO-listed Imam Square, and explore the spectacular buildings that surround it—the Imam Mosque, the Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque, and the Ali-Qapu Palace. Other Isfahan attractions include the Friday Mosque, the Chehel Sotun Palace, the elegant bridges over Zayandeh River, and the Armenian and Jewish quarters.

  HIGHLIGHTS

  • Taking in the scene at 22-acre Imam Square, one of the largest city squares in the world
  • The turquoise minarets and intricate tilework of the magnificent Imam Mosque
  • The frescoes and the giant reflecting pool of Chehel Sotun Palace
  • Eight hundred years of Persian architecture on display at UNESCO-listed Friday Mosque, the largest and most eclectic mosque in all of Iran
  • Discovering the legacies of minority cultures in Isfahan’s Armenian and Jewish quarters