Tuesday 22nd March – Tehran

• Arrive at your convenience into Tehran – the capital city of Iran which is well connected from many countries within Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.  Those coming from our Kuwait Tour arrive at 2:30pm where we are picked up and taken to our hotel.
• Pre-tour meeting will be held at the lobby of our hotel at 5:00pm to discuss tour itinerary and to meet your fellow travellers and YPT guide.
• Visit to the heart of Old Tehran to soak up the night time atmosphere, drink some local tea and people watch.
• Traditional Iranian dinner of kebabs at famous restaurant Ayaran restaurant, near Ferdosi square.
• Overnight at New Naderi Hotel.

Wednesday 23rd March – Tehran

Morning

• Breakfast at hotel
• Head out on our day tour of the main sights of Tehran with first stop being a visit the Mausoleum of Ayatollah Khomeini – the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the leader of the 1979 Iranian Revolution.
• Head on to the Revolutionary Martyrs Cemetery, expect to see a lot of locals around paying their respects
• Visit the Azadi Tower – formally known as the Shahyad Tower or Shah’s Monument, standing 45 meters high, it is one of the most iconic landmarks of Tehran. The tower is located at the west entrance of the city and was built by the last Shah of Iran to mark the 2,500th year of the foundation of the Imperial State of Iran in 1971.
• We’ll drive through Tehran passing anti-US propaganda slogans and posters, as well as stopping by the former US embassy to visit in the inside.

Afternoon

• Lunch downtown to sample incredible local Iranian dishes
• Visit the Ebrat Museum which displays atrocities carried out by the Shah’s secret police during the 1970s within a former prison. Heavy doses of brutality and propaganda, not for the faint-hearted!
• Explore Tajrish Bazaar – this covered bazaar has ancient architecture and structure with some part of it being built more than 200 years ago back during the Qajar dynasty.
• Visit a nearby mosque in the old district.
• Dinner at the Armenian Club. Armenians are the main ethnic Christian minority in Iran.
• Overnight in New Naderi Hotel

Thursday 24th April – Tehran – Esfahan

Morning

• Breakfast at hotel and begin our drive to Esfahan located in central Iran, mostly known for its Persian architecture. We’ll arrange plenty of stops for breaks and photos on the way (4-5 hours).
• Lunch in a restaurant in one of the rural towns on the way.

Afternoon

• Visit the famous old Khaju Bridge – the bridge was built around 1650, under the reign of Abbas II. One would think the primary function of a bridge would be to cross it, for this unique structure it was to hold public meetings in the past.
• Visit one of the oldest carpet shops. Explanation on a variety of Persian carpets and opportunity for a purchase. The presentation involves a show how carpets are made and explanation of 30 different styles of carpets.
• Dinner at a popular restaurant that prepares the best Chelow kabab – the national dish of Iran.
• Evening visit to the 300 year old Abbasi Hotel for traditional Iranian tea.
• Overnight at the centrally located Esfahan Tourist Hotel.

Friday 25th March – Esfahan

Morning

• Breakfast at hotel and head straight to the majestic Ali Qapu Royal Palace – this palace served as the official residence of Persian Emperors of the Safavid dynasty dating back to 1597 CE.
• Visit the Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque – this is considered one of the masterpieces of Iranian architecture that was built during the Safavid Empire in 1619.
• Explore Naqsh-e Jahan Square which translates into “Image of the World Square” –  it is the largest square in Iran of a total area of 89,600 square metres. The square is depicted on the reverse of the Iranian 20,000 rials banknote.

Afternoon

• Lunch at a traditional restaurant by the square.
• Visit the Imam Mosque – famed for its traditional architecture which includes seven-colour mosaic tiles and calligraphic inscriptions. The mosque was previously called the Shah Mosque before the revolution.
• We’ll visit an official money exchange place located by the square that will give you the best chance to receive crisp rials for money collectors.
• Visit a Zurkhaneh Gym to watch an ancient Persian sport workout – a strength building exercises done with traditional drum and bell music.
• Dinner in town
• Overnight at the Tourist Hotel.

Saturday 26th March– Esfahan – Yazd

Morning

• Breakfast and check out of hotel
• Begin our 4 hour drive to Yazd, formerly also known as Yezd – a 5000 year old city located southeast of Esfahan. It is the centre of Zoroastrian culture and in 2017 the city was granted World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Afternoon

• Lunch on arrival in town
• Visit the must-see Amir Chakhmaq complex and nearby mosque – during the Iran-Iraq War and the Iraq War with the US and Afghanistan, many Iraqis and Afghanis fled here.
• Explore the old city, the Jame Mosque and we’ll then head to Rafieian’s Old House – over 250 years old and a great example of traditional architecture in the region
• Dinner at the local kebab house in one of the old-fashioned Persian restaurants in the city
• Overnight in Yazd

Sunday 27th March – Yazd-Shiraz

Morning

• Breakfast at hotel and head to the beautiful Dolat Abad Garden – built in 1747, this walled complex includes the country’s tallest wind catcher, orchards & fountains.
• Visit the Zoroastrian Fire Temple – a place of worship for the followers of Zoroastrianism, the ancient religion of Iran.
• Explore the Yazd Tower of Silence – The Zoroastrian tradition is that once someone has passed away, their body is immediately contaminated by demons and made impure. So to prevent this, the Zoroastrians purified the dead body by exposing it to the elements on top of these towers called dakhmas in the desert.

Afternoon

• Lunch in Yazd and then we hit the road for a 5 hour drive to Shiraz located south central of Iran.
• On arrival we’ll visit the citadel within the centre of the city to mingle with locals.
• Have free time to walk around or relax with tea and shisha at a tea house.
• Dinner in Saray E Mehr restaurant in the middle of bazaar for traditional Di Zi dish
• Overnight in Parsian hotel.

Monday 28th March – Persepolis – Shiraz

Morning

• Wake up bright and early to visit the colour stained mosque when the morning light shines through spectacularly.
• Drive to Persepolis, the ancient capital of the Persian Empire during the Achemaenian era and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, burned to the ground by Alexander the Great but the ruins are one of the top sights in the whole of Iran.
• Lunch at traditional restaurant called “Paradise” on the way to Necropolis tombs – a collection of ancient Iranian rocks cut into the face of the mountain which contains the final resting place of four Achaemenid kings.

Afternoon

• Persepolis covers a vast area and we will explore the palaces, forts and treasury along the way.
• We’ll head back to Shiraz where we will visit the botanic gardens of Shiraz.
• Stop for traditional Shiraz ice cream at a famous local shop.
• Visit a famous Hafeizieh Iranian poet’s park and tomb. Great opportunity to mingle with locals and take photos.
• Dinner at hotel or out to a fast food joint for burgers, falafel, and sambusas.
• Overnight in Parsian hotel.

Tuesday 29th March – Shiraz

• Tour concludes. YPT can arrange your onward travel back to Tehran if required, or airport transfer to Shiraz International Airport.
• Group members of our Caucasus Unrecognized Countries Tour continue on!

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