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For air travel arrangements please contact Elizabeth Holmes Travel.

DAY 01: November 6 - AMSTERDAM-TEHRAN

Arrival at Tehran airport late in the evening, meet and transfer to hotel for overnight stay.

DAY 02:  November 7 - TEHRAN

Tehran - Young, restless, complex, dynamic and a mile high with a population of fourteen million people. 18% of the country's population lives in the Capital.

Visits in Tehran to include Iran’s National Museum (Archaeological Museum only as Islamic Museum is currently under renovation), displaying an authentic collection of pottery, bronze and valuable pieces from millennia B.C until Islamic era. The objects on display have been found from different regions of Iran including Susa, Persepolis, and many other ancient sites; Glass & Ceramics Museum with a beautiful collection of glass and pottery from different periods; also visit to the Carpet Museum, displaying a beautiful collection of old and new Persian carpets and rugs. 

DAY 03: November 8- TEHRAN/SHIRAZ

Shiraz - The city of gardens, poets, nightingales and wine. A pilgrimage destination for the lovers of poetry who come to visit the mausoleums of Hafez and Sa'di. Walk into the Bazaar-e Vakil, taste some faloodeh and ice cream and watch the Shirazis.

Morning flight to Shiraz, as available, and spend the rest of the day on visiting some of the famous gardens of this city of “roses and nightingales”, including the Eram Garden, the pink tiled 19^th-century Nasir-ol-Molk Mosque, the Arg-e-Karim Khan (18^th-century citadel), the Madrassa Khan (Theological School), to have interaction with teachers and students, the Qajar-period Narenjestan Garden/House, the very interesting 18^th-century Vakil Bazaar of Shiraz, which bustles with everyday shoppers.

DAY 04: November 9 - SHIRAZ/PERSEPOLIS 

Persepolis - The pride of Iranians, a reminder of the glory of Persia and its past history and grandeur. Come to Persepolis, look around and then close your eyes and try to imagine what this must have been like over 2,500 years ago when the horses and carriages rushed across this valley and Cyrus ruled his kingdom.

Full day excursion to Persepolis, one of the most important sites of the Ancient World, the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid kings with remains of the palaces of Darius the Great, Xerxes and Artaxerxes, and its famous bas-reliefs, depicting kings and courtiers and gift-bearing representatives of tributary nations of the Persian Empire; also visit Naghsh-e-Rostam to see Ka’be-Zardosht (fire temple/sanctuary), and Royal Tombs (also Achaemenid); plus seven magnificent Sassanian rock-reliefs, return to Shiraz for further visits, including the tombs of Iran’s greatest lyric poets, Hafez and Sa'adi, both located in beautiful gardens.

DAY 05: November 10 - SHIRAZ/YAZD 

Drive to Yazd, en route visit Pasargad, the site of the simple, but impressive tomb, and remains of palaces of Cyrus the Great (the Founder of the Persian Empire), all located in the vast Dasht-e-Morghab, and drive through Abarkuh (a typical desert town), and have tea under the shade of a 4,000-year old Cypress tree; continue to Yazd.

DAY 06: November 11 - YAZD

Located in the middle of Dashte Kavir, Yazd is an ancient desert city that does not disappoint the traveler. Zoroastrian temples, Badgirs, an amazing maze of streets lined up by mud walls, Towers of Silence/burial in the sky grounds, silk and some of the most traditional and charming hotels in Iran. The old gardens of Yazd with their pools and bursting pomegranates are ever so inviting.

Full day sightseeing in Yazd, the center for Iran’s small Zoroastrian community, who seeking refuge from the invading Arabs found a safe haven within its fortified walls. On this day you will visit one of the two Zoroastrian abandoned Towers of Silence (Dakhma), dating back to the 18^th-century, where until some 40-50 years ago the dead were carried and left to decompose and be devoured by birds; and the active Zoroastrian Fire Temple, the fire of which has been burning for about 1500 years. Among Yazd’s Islamic sites is the Friday Mosque (1324 A.D.), with the highest portal and minarets in Iran. Other notable Islamic monuments in the old Fahadan area of Yazd are the Seljuk shrine dedicated to the Twelve Shi’ite Imams; and Ziaieyeh Theological School, known as Zendan-e-Eskandar or Alexander’s Prison. There are, also, many beautiful old houses in Yazd, among them the Dowlat Abad Garden, with an 18^th-century feudal hexagonal house.

DAY 07: November 12 - YAZD/ESFAHAN

Drive to Esfahan, en-route stop over first at the village of Mohamadiye, to see the traditional workshops weaving the camel cloaks worn by the Moslem clergy in Iran; on to Na’in, another charming desert town, half way between Yazd and Esfahan, to visit the 10^th century Friday Mosque, and the 17^th century Pirnia House/Ethnographic Museum (closed on Mondays), with  a walk through the old part of the town; continue to Esfahan.

DAY 08: November 13 - ESFAHAN

Esfahan has been called Iran's masterpiece, the jewel of ancient Persia and one of the finest cities in the Islamic world. The exquisite blue tiled mosques, the ancient Bazaar and the many gardens and palaces will enchant you.

Full day tour of the beautiful city of Esfahan, the 17^th century capital of the Safavids, referred to as Nesf-e-Jahan (Half of the World) in Safavid sources, to visit the famous bridges of Shahrestan/Khajou/Sio-se-pol, the Armenian Quarter with several churches, including the important Cathedral of Vank; in the afternoon visit one of the world’s grandest squares, the Maidan-e-Naghsh-e-Jahan, with several sites (the Ali-Qapu Palace with its enchanting music rooms and balcony overlooking the Maidan, from where the Safavid Kings watched polo games, and two of Islamic world’s greatest mosques – the Sheikh Lotfollah and the Shah – with magnificent architecture and tilework), finishing with a visit to the Qeisarieh Bazaar with hundreds of shops displaying the arts and handicrafts for which Esfahan is world-famous.

DAY 09: November 14 - ESFAHAN 

Another full day sightseeing of Esfahan to visit the magnificent Friday Mosque, with the famous Uljaitu Mihrab (Prayer Niche) of the Il-Khanid period. The Friday Mosque is considered a museum of a thousand year of Persian religious architecture and is truly one of the world’s greatest mosques. Also visit the Harun-e-Velayat Shrine and the Ali Minaret. From here drive to the Chehel Sotun Palace, built by Shah Abbas II in the 17^th century; its wooden columns reflected in the surface of the pool give rise to its name ‘The Palace of Forty Columns’. Final stop of the day is at the Hasht Behesht pavilion built in 1670 by Shah Solayman and known as the Pavilion of Eight Paradises or the Palace of Nightingales. 

DAY 10: November 15 - ESFAHAN/TEHRAN 

Morning drive to Tehran, en-route to Kashan to visit the historical garden of Fin which was first planted during the Safavid period. This beautiful garden was expanded by the Zand and Qajar monarchs, with many open pavilions added. 

DAY 11: November 16 - TEHRAN/RAMSAR

Caspian Sea region is green, lush and tropical. The beautiful drive climbs several thousand feet up and down through Alborz Mountains before it meets the sea. Towns and villages are sprinkled along the coastline where life takes on a slower pace.

Drive to Ramsar, the old ‘Riviera’ of Iran, via scenic mountainous Chalus Road. You will enjoy the beauties of Alborz Mountains as you drive towards Chauls. The road takes you up to the heights of the Alborz Range, and then down to the Caspian Sea where you will take the coastal road to Ramsar. All along the coastal road there are rice paddies and lush green forests. 

DAY 12: November 17 - RAMSAR/RASHT 

Drive to Rasht, via small Caspian towns and villages, visit the local fish and vegetable markets; and continue on excursion to visit the traditional and ancient village of Massuleh, one of the oldest and longest inhabited villages in Iran and pronounced as a heritage site by the Iranian Cultural Heritage Organization; in this village the roads winding up to the higher stages are over the roof tops of houses where local women are busy knitting colourful dolls and socks. Return to Rasht for overnight stay.

DAY 13: November 18 - RASHT/TEHRAN 

Drive to Tehran via Qazvin, and visit the shrine of Shahzadeh Hussain, son of the Eighth Imam of Shiites, dating from early Safavid period. The shrine has undergone major restorations. Also visit the Friday Mosque of Qazvin, dating from the Seljuk era with further expansion and decoration in the Safavid and Qajar eras. Continue to Tehran for overnight stay.

DAY 14: November 19 - TEHRAN 

Visit the Golestan Palace/Museum Complex, the former residence of the 19^th early 20^th century Qajar Kings of Iran, with several museums including the Marble Throne Room Also 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. In the afternoon visit the former residence of the last Royal Family of Iran at Sa’adabad Palace/Museum Complex, in north Tehran. Return to the hotel for overnight stay. 

DAY 15: November 20 - TEHRAN-AMSTERDAM