Iran: Suggested Tours

Land at Tehran International Airport under your own arrangements (We recommend the flights offered by BMI from London Heathrow – please ask us for a quotation). On arrival you will be met by a Corinthian Travel representative then transferred to your hotel located in the centre of Tehran.

Accommodation: Stay for 2 nights at the Laleh International Hotel (Standard Room) / Laleh International Hotel (Junior Suite).

Today there will be a leisurely start. In the late morning you will be met by your full-time English speaking guide. Sightseeing will include a visit to the Carpet Museum (Closed Mondays) which houses many beautiful and well displayed examples from all over Iran; the State Jewels Museum (Closed Wednesday to Friday) which holds one of the most fabulous collections of treasures in the world; and the Archaeological Museum (Closed Monday) containing a fine collection of pre-Islamic artefacts.

This morning drive to Qazvin, one time capital of the Safavid empire, and visit the Chehel Sotun Palace, the glittering mirrored 19th century shrine of imamzadeh Hossein, and the fine Masjid-e-Jame (Friday Mosque) dating from the Seljuk period. Continue to Soltanieh to see the stunning egg-shaped blue domed Mausoleum of Oljeitu - a UNESCO World Heritage Site and ‘one of Persia’s supreme architectural achievements’. Following your visit continue to Zanjan.

Accommodation: Stay for 2 nights at the Zanjan Grand Hotel (Standard Room) / Zanjan Grand Hotel (Junior Suite).

Today drive through the mountains to the dramatically sited UNESCO World Heritage Site of Takht-e-Soleiman (Solomon’s Throne) once a great Sassanian religious centre where the Warrior’s Fire (Adhar Gushnasp), one of the four most sacred fires of Zoroastrianism, was kept. The fortress walls and the remains of 38 towers built around a ’bottomless’ crater lake of intense blue are still standing: within them are the ruins of a palace, Anahita temple and a fire temple. In the afternoon return to Zanjan.

After breakfast drive to Hamadan. In ancient times this pleasant leafy city, which is the capital of the province of Media, was known as Hagmatana (The Place of Assembly) or Ecbatana by the Greeks. Cyrus the Great made the city his summer capital following the defeat of the last Median king Astyages in 550 B.C. Successive sackings have regrettably spared few of Hamadan’s once glorious monuments. This afternoon explore the sites of Hamadan including the Sang-e-Shir, a stone lion that is thought to have been commissioned by Alexander the Great to honour his general Hephaestion, who died here.

Accommodation: Stay for 1 night at the Bu Ali Hotel (Standard Room) / Bu Ali Hotel (Standard Room).

This morning drive through the Zagros mountains to Kangavar to see the remains of an enormous Seleucid or Parthian temple dedicated to Artemis or Anahita - the mother goddess. Next, drive on to Bisitun, one of the most famous sites in Near Eastern archaeology. Here, on a smoothed rock face high up on a cliff is a relief showing Darius I (reign 521 to 486) facing a line of royal prisoners with his foot on the body of his principal opponent, the defeated Gaumata. A journey of 30 minutes will take you to Kermanshah. In the afternoon visit the beautifully sited Sassanian grottoes at Tagh-e-Bostan.

Accommodation: Stay for 1 night at the Jamshid Hotel (Standard Room) / Jamshid Hotel (Standard Room).

Today there will be an early start for the long drive to Ahwaz: en route visit the remains of an enormous Sassanian bridge at Pol-e-Dokhtar, then drive on to Susa; a site which at the height of its importance under the Achaemenians, claimed to be the capital of the world. The great Elamite ziggurat of Chogha Zanbil will be your penultimate stop. Built by Untash Gal, King of Elam around 1250 B.C., the temple and tomb complex is one of the most complete ziggurats surviving in the world. The final leg of your journey will take you on to Ahwaz.

Accommodation: Stay for 1 night at the Ahwaz International Hotel (Standard Room) / Ahwaz International Hotel (Junior Suite).

This morning there will be an early start for your long drive to Shiraz stopping en route at the Sassanian site of Bishapur. The route will take you through the barren, oil rich plains of Khuzestan into the rich agricultural province of Fars. Bishapur was built by Shapur I in 266 A.D and it is estimated that the town was once home to about 50,000 people. In a narrow gorge just before the site are a series of fine Sassanian rock reliefs commemorating Shapur’s victories over the Romans. Bishapur itself is surrounded by walls punctuated by circular towers and contains several important buildings including the ‘royal audience chamber’ and an Anahita temple. Following your visit continue on to Shiraz.

Accommodation: Stay for 3 nights at the Homa Hotel (Standard Room) / Homa Hotel (Junior Suite).

Today explore Shiraz, a city that is renowned for its Persian lyrics, roses, cypresses and nightingales. Start your sightseeing at the peaceful tomb and pavilion of Hafez. Next, visit the Eram Gardens, a typically Persian garden complex named after one of the four gardens of Paradise described in the Koran: the 19th century Naranjestan Palace (Orangery), and the beautifully decorated Nasir-ol-Molk mosque. In the afternoon visit the Pars Museum (Closed on Mondays) , the Citadel of Karim Khan, and conclude the tour at Shiraz’s traditional market: the Bazaar-e-Vakil (Closed Friday) which still retains much of its 18th century character.

After breakfast drive to Persepolis, one of the world’s most magnificent archaeological sites. Known as Parsa to the ancient Persians, this site was the ceremonial capital of Iran’s Achaemenian kings from the time of Darius the Great (reign 522 to 485) for more than 200 years until its destruction by Alexander the Great in 330 B.C. This afternoon visit Naghsh-e-Rajab, the site of four fine Sassanian rock reliefs, then continue to Naghsh-e-Rostam where four giant rock-cut tombs house the remains of Darius the Great and three of his successors.

This morning depart from Shiraz for Pasargadae, the capital of Cyrus the Great, founder of the Achaemenian empire. Most notable of the ruins at Pasargadae is the tomb of Cyrus - a simple stepped construction that recalls a Mesopotamian ziggurat. The tomb was richly furnished, and according to various classical writers once bore an inscription which read: ‘O man, I am Cyrus who founded the Empire of the Persians and was king of Asia. Grudge me not therefore this monument.’ Once you have completed your visit drive onto Isfahan, stopping en route at the attractive village of Yzad-e-Khast.

Accommodation: Stay for 3 nights at the Abbasi Hotel (Pardis Room) / Abbasi Hotel (Qajar Suite).

Today you will start your tour of Isfahan, a city with some of the world’s most beautiful Islamic monuments. Isfahan’s moment of glory came in the 17th century when the town was made the capital of the Safavid empire by Shah Abbas the Great. Few people are not astonished by what they see. Start at the Chehel Sotun Palace, then walk the short distance to the Maidan-e-Naghsh-e-Jahan, a stunning square framed by the Masjid-e-Imam (Shah Mosque), noted for its supreme perfection in Islamic architecture on one side, and the Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque with its colourful detailed tile work ranking among the best in the world, on the other. Next visit the Ali Qapu Palace and Isfahan’s Qaisarrieh Bazaar - one of the most exotic in the Middle East, then complete the day’s sightseeing with a walk along the Zayandeh river enabling you to see some of Isfahan’s beautiful bridges.

This morning see the Vank Armenian Cathedral, an impressive 17th century building built in the curious Islamo-Christian style, then visit the Masjid-e-Jame (Friday Mosque), a building that has been described as being an encyclopaedia of Persian Islamic architecture. Following lunch, return to the Imam Square to enjoy some time at leisure. This will enable you to revisit some of the marvellous monuments and perhaps plunge once again into the Qaisarrieh Bazaar.

After breakfast drive to Natanz a quiet mountain town which was a favoured hunting spot for the Safavid kings; its Masjid-e-Jame mosque is one of the finest in Iran and has a particularly impressive 13th century portal decorated with beautiful blue tiles and Islamic calligraphy. Next, drive on to Kashan, a town that is considered to be the epitome of everything Persian. On arrival visit the Boroujerdi House, a fine example of a traditional residence, and the city’s lovely ‘Fin Gardens’. Late this afternoon arrive in Tehran.

Accommodation: Stay for 1 night at the Laleh International Hotel (Standard Room) / Laleh International Hotel (Junior Suite).

Transfer to Tehran Airport and check in for your onward flight.