Step back in time on this 4-day Classical Persian tour from Tehran, seeing all the top attractions that date back to this fascinating era.
With overnight accommodation included and an expert guide to accompany you, the tour highlights the country’s most intriguing archeological sites – three of which are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Explore Golestan Palace, Masjed-e Jāmé of Isfahan, and Naqshe-e-jahan square.
DAY 1: TEHRAN
After arriving in Tehran from Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKA) our professional tour guide will meet and greet you then you will be transferred to hotel for rest.
Overnight: Tehran
DAY 2: TEHRAN-ISFAHAN (Flight)
after breakfast, you will visit National Museum of Iran, where you can see fabulous historical items from 5000 BC to the advent of Islam in Iran which shows a brief history of our Land.
The National Museum of Iran now has two new complexes. The Museum of the (post-) Islamic Era which is consists of three floors. It contains various pieces of pottery, textiles, texts, artworks, astrolabes, and Adobe calligraphy, from Iran’s post-Islamic era and The Prehistory section of the National Museum of Iran is devoted to artifacts ranging from the Stone Age to the Iron Age. Covering a wide spectrum of materials ranging from terracotta, metal, stone, and bitumen.
Then we visit the Treasury of National Jewels inside the Central Bank of Tehran, you’ll be dazzled by a breathtaking collection of crown jewels, many of them gathered from around world during the Safavid Dynasty that ruled from 1502 to 1736.
Also part of this glittering collection is the Naderi Throne; made of wood, covered in gold, and encrusted with more than 26,000 precious gemstones, some believe that this throne was inspired by the legendary Peacock Throne of Shah Jahan, the Mughal Emperor who built the Taj Mahal.
This day we take you a World Heritage Site, the lavish Golestan Palace. Built during the Qajar Dynasty that rose to power in the late 1700’s, this fabulous walled complex is centered on a landscaped garden with tranquil pools. Many of the elements you’ll admire today date to the 19th century when local Qajari architects and artisans were looking to integrate traditional Persian style with elements of Western and Russian origin. The palace buildings are among the oldest in modern Tehran and they are still regarded as a crowning achievement of the Qajar era.
Time permitting, we can walk around Tehran Bazaar, few steps far from Golestan Palace. Continue along the Bazaar route, we go to the Timche Akbarian. Timche Akbarian dates back to almost 260 years from the Qajar era when its main purpose was for exchange and gold. Later it was developed into the first bank of Iran ran mainly by Jews who were the prominent residents of Oudlajan neighbourhood.
In afternoon you’ll fly to Isfahan.
Overnight: Isfahan
DAY 3: ISFAHAN
Isfahan as the 17th-century capital of the Safavid Empire, Isfahan was one of the world’s greatest cities – architecturally striking, wealthy beyond imagine, and politically powerful with Europeans, Ottomans, Indians and Chinese coming to its court – 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 inspired the rhyming proverb, Isfahan Nesf-Jahan (Isfahan is Half the World).
Continue your exploration in Isfahan at another UNESCO World Heritage Site. Simple at first glance but wondrous in its rich detail and bold design, the Masjed-e Jamé is another masterpiece of Iranian architecture, covering nearly 5 acres in the heart of this historic city.
This is one of the oldest congregational mosques in the country, and its construction and embellishment over the past twelve centuries illustrate a number of important periods in Islamic architecture.
This morning, your exploration continues in Imam Square. This 17th-century site is one of the largest public spaces in the world. Here in the square, you’ll visit the 17th-century Shah Mosque, revered as a masterpiece of Islamic architecture and easily recognized by its magnificent tile-work and soaring cupola and minarets. In the Ali Qapu Palace, you’ll marvel at its beautiful music rooms and the balconies where Safavid kings would sit to enjoy the polo matches unfolding in the square below. You’ll visit Qeisarieh Bazaar that 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, jewellery 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. Entering through a portico with twenty slender wooden columns, you’ll discover soaring halls embellished with frescoes, paintings and mosaics; the Hall of Mirrors is especially breathtaking!
In the city’s Armenian quarter, you’ll delve more deeply into the region’s complex history as you visit several churches including the 17th-century Vank Cathedral with its lavishly decorated interior and unique blend of Islamic and European architectural elements.
You’ll join our expert guide to begin your exploration of the city, starting with some of the centuries-old, still elegant bridges that span the Zayandeh River. The 14th-century Shahrestan Bridge, for example, evokes the greatest aqueducts of ancient Rome and is the oldest bridge in Iran. Other famous bridges on the Zayandeh River are Sio-ce-pol and Khaju. Their aOtherce gates below the bridge to let the water runoff from Zayandeh River in the spring, and there are beautiful stone archways above each gate. These archways provide a great acoustic place for every man who wants to sing. You can always find a man or a group of men singing under the bridge. The songs are usually about betrayal or unrequited love. You have the chance to chat with these men and listen to their songs.
Overnight: Isfahan
DAY 4: ISFAHAN-KASHAN-TEHRAN 5 h 3 min (460 km)
Today we drive to Kashan to visit Bagh-e Fin Garden. This very early Persian garden reflects ancient landscaping principles that trace their roots to the time of Cyrus the Great in the 6th century BCE.
Today, it’s a delightful setting where you can meet young Iranian families who are out to enjoy their day. You’ll also visit the historic Borujerdi House here in Kashan. With fine decorative motifs handcrafted of stucco, impressive domes, wall paintings and inlaid mirror mosaics, this former merchant’s home is regarded as a masterpiece of traditional Persian architecture. It also boasts 130-foot tall wind towers to catch lofty breezes that can cool the entire house.
Then Drive to Tehran and transfer to the airport and fly back home.
All accommodations
All breakfasts, lunches and dinners
Economy class flight (if any)
Land travel in Iran by air-conditioned coach
Extensive tour notes
Services of an Iranian tour lecturer throughout the tour
All entrance fees to sites mentioned on itinerary
International air fares, taxes and surcharges
Travel insurance
Items of a personal nature such as laundry or phone calls
Visa costs
Tips to local guides and drivers
SAYE SHAHMS
saye@surfiran.com
+98 912 880 3921
HAMED MEHRANIAN
hamed@surfiran.com
+98 991 173 6577
This tour is also available for booking privately for travel anytime through the year, and we can also customise the itinerary to fit your personal requirements. Please contact us for details and prices.
An arrival transfer is included on this trip.
The maximum check-in baggage allowance is 20 kg per person plus hand luggage.
Please note that this itinerary will change according to passengers’ flight details and arrival time.
The priority in sightseeing may be changed due to the time of your arrival, preference of your guide and also official and unofficial holidays of some museums.
Check-in time for the hotel is at 2:00 PM. According to your arrival time, if you need early check-in you must book an extra day.
We use private AC Van, Middle Bus or Bus throughout this tour depending on the final size of the group.
The tour includes a 24-hour airport meet & assist service in Tehran Imam Khomeini International Airport, your arrival and departure airport-hotel transfers and all other transfers.
Passports should be valid for at least six months after your departure from the country. Please do not bring an almost full or almost expired passport. Visa arrangements are the responsibility of the traveller. For more information about how to get an Iranian visa please visit this page.
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Opening Hours:
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Just came back from Iran and I can say that I’m really enthusiast from people and visited places. A very big thank to SURFIRAN because of their help, organization and professional way to manage everything that we need. I do suggest to visit Iran and contact SURFIRAN. they can really help you and make your life easier!
Everything was arranged very efficiently. Nothing went wrong. Our guide, Mostafa Farhadi, was remarkable. Not only was he a brilliant driver, but his knowledge of the culture, history and contemporary life of Iran was amazing. He also had superb contacts in all the places we visited.
We organized a 3 weeks tour in Iran through SURFIRAN. SURFIRAN is a very Professional travel agency who understands their customers needs and expectations. Our stay in Iran was just fabulous, the program built by SURFIRAN was great, we have seen many and many very interesting sites and locations.
Most we enjoyed the landscape and wildlife we saw, it was just amazing and not comparable with nature we found in Germany and Europe, one of my greatest experiences! Second we enjoyed the kindness of you guys (Mehdi, Negin and her family, and the two houses we stayed) it was like meeting family and friends :)
We visited Iran on October 2016 with SURFIRAN travel and tours company. Organization of round trip, hotel accommodation and flights were perfect. Our guide Mostafa was absolutely excellent, helpful, friendly and his information about Iran were very informative. Thanks a lot ! Will come back soon.
Talk with a SURFIRAN travel specialist who can help organize your trip.
Staying alongside an Iranian nomad family is likely to be one of the most memorable parts of your journey. Since we began designing and arranging journeys to Iran, we’ve been setting up small homestays in partnership with nomadic families, thus providing additional income for them and an intimate authentic experience to our clients.
Spend a night or more at a homestay and get stuck in to family life! Learn first-hand of the infamous Iranian nomadic hospitality, sharing fresh milk, traditional bread, help out with chores such as milking and try your hand at making dairy products. Learn about the daily challenges of nomadic life whilst playing local games.
Generally, the families will have a spare Siah-Chador (black tent) which will be available for you sleep in, on other occasions, you might be camping in a Siah-Chador next to a nomadic family, sharing the family Siah-Chador, or in a Siah-Chador set up by SURFIRAN – all of which will offer an unforgettable family-stay experience.
Facilities are very basic, with no running water and definitely no en-suite! Get back to basics as you live like nomads do.
We’re proud that the nomadic families we work with have all gone on to create their own independent businesses, helping them to stay in the countryside and maintain a satisfactory income whilst doing so.
If you’re yearning for the authentic taste of home-cooked flavors in a local setting, our Iranian lunch or dinner experience is exactly what you need! This half-day culinary adventure takes you into the warm and welcoming home of an Iranian family, where you’ll partake in the delightful process of cooking and eating an authentic Iranian meal.
During this immersive experience, you’ll be more than just a guest; you’ll become a part of the family, sharing stories and laughter as you learn the secrets of traditional Iranian cuisine. From selecting fresh ingredients to mastering the delicate balance of spices, every step is an opportunity to understand the culture and culinary traditions that make Iranian food so unique.
As you chop, stir, and simmer alongside your gracious hosts, you’ll gain insights into the everyday life and customs of Iran. The kitchen will come alive with the aromas of rich stews, fragrant rice, and freshly baked bread, tantalizing your senses and building anticipation for the meal to come.
Finally, when it’s time to eat, you’ll gather around the table to enjoy the fruits of your labor. This is more than just a meal; it’s a celebration of togetherness and hospitality, a hallmark of Iranian culture. Enjoying each dish, you’ll savor not just the exquisite flavors but also the warmth and generosity that embody the spirit of Iran.
Join us for this unique and heartwarming experience, where the joys of Iranian cooking and the pleasure of familial company combine to create memories that will last a lifetime.
SURFIRAN
WhatsApp: +98 912 880 3921