Iran Revolutionary Tour

DESCRIPTION

Join our first Iranian Revolutionary Tour of the year! This tour takes us to all of the major sites in Tehran as well as the ancient capitals of Shiraz and Esfahan. On top of the rich history of the region, this tour also offers lots of opportunities to interact with locals, and witness the visual reality of what is the Iranian Revolution. On the trip itself and through our local guides, we will be doing lots of hidden extras (not published on the itinerary!) and where possible we will show you every side of this unique and majestic country.

Tour begins and ends in Tehran, but has been arranged with enough flexibility if people need to arrive or leave one day early. What makes this tour special is not just what we will be doing, but what we won’t be doing! All meals will be held in genuine restaurants used by local people, not tourists traps, nor will we be taken on expensive shopping trips.

We offer visa support for people of all nationalities (except for Israel) under the following deadlines: March 28th (US/British/Canadian Nationals) and April 13th (All other passports). And if this was not enough, we are offering a fabulous Iraqi Kurdistan and Armenia/Nagorno-Karabakh extension at the very end of this tour, taking us to Tabriz, Iran, before crossing the border into Armenia and continuing on to the unrecognized breakaway republic of Nagorno-Karakabkh, the “other” NK, still being in a state of war with Azerbaijan and having its very own abandoned DMZ area. We also finish the extension by chartering our very own private deluxe train carriage that drops us to Tbilisi, Georgia, and the end of the tour!

ITINERARY

Monday 23^rd April – Tehran

Morning and afternoon arrival by flight.
Free afternoon to walk around Tehran, get to know your group.
Visit National Jewellery museum – the contents of this place actually back up the Iranian currency, a truly amazing experience and certainly one of the highlights of the trip regardless of if you are a jewellery fiend or not!
Visit to the heart of Old Tehran to soak up the night time atmosphere, drink some local tea and people watch.
Overnight in Parastoo Hotel.

Tuesday 24^th April – Tehran

Drive through Tehran past anti-US propaganda and the US embassy (possibility of actually seeing inside the embassy, something which was considered impossible only a couple of years ago!).
Visit Saad Abad & Niavaran palaces, the last Palaces of the last Shah of Iran. Lunch at Darband hills.
One hour free time or tea by the river.
Shopping in the Tajrish Bazaar of Tehran and visit a nearby mosque. One hour free time.
Traditional Iranian dinner of kebabs at famous restaurant Ayaran restaurant, near Ferdosi square.
Evening walk around the city, with us taking the opportunity to try some shisha, fresh juice bar, and mingle with locals.
Overnight in overnight in Parastoo hotel.

Wednesday 25^th April – Tehran/ Shiraz

Check out of hotel for morning flight Shiraz.
Visit the citadel in the centre of the city and mingle with locals.
Visit Grand Bazaar for some shopping and photos. Chance to buy old anti-American stamps from a local shop owner and collector.
Lunch in Saray E Mehr restaurant in the middle of bazaar for traditional Di Zi dish.
Free walk around the bazaar or relax with tea and shisha at poets house/tea house. Great chance to mingle with local students.
Dinner at hotel or out to a fast food joint for burgers, falafel, and sambusas.
Overnight at Parsian hotel.

Thursday 26^th April – Shiraz/Persepolis

Up bright and early to visit the colour stained mosque when the morning light shines through spectacularly.
Late morning drive to Persepolis.
Lunch at traditional restaurant called “Paradise” on the way to Necropolis tombs.
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.
Exploring the streets. Shopping for military hats and patches.
Overnight in Parsian hotel.

Friday 27^th April– Shiraz/Esfahan

Drive to Esfahan with stop at Cirus’s tomb, an old fortress on the way. Tea time break.
Lunch in a restaurant in one of the smaller cities on the way.
Go to the famous old Khaju bridge.
Walk across bridge and mingle with locals. Short rest at hotel.
Walk for a dinner at local restaurants.
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.
Evening visit to the 300 year old Abbasi Hotel for traditional Iranian tea.
Overnight at the centrally located Esfahan tourist Hotel.

Saturday 28^th April – Esfahan

Visit the beautiful Safavid Chehelsetoon Palace.
Sheikh Lotfollah mosque and Ali-qapoo palace.
Lunch in a traditional restaurant at the square.
Visit to Shah Mosque.
Free time to see square and shop for gifts at surrounding bazaar.
Chance to change money for small crisp rial denominations. There is an official change place with good rates but they also have a stack of small denominations that they hold. (They remembered us from last time and changed some money for the group).
Optional visit to Iran/Iraq war museum.
Visit Zurkhane gym to watch an ancient Persian sport workout, a strength building exercises done with traditional drum and bell music.
Overnight at the Tourist Hotel.

Sunday 29^th April– Esfahan/Tehran

Morning flight to Tehran.
Visit Mausoleum of Ayatollah Khomeini.
Visit the Revolutionary Martyrs Cemetary.
Stop at the Shah’s Monument AKA Revolution Monument for photos on the way from the airport.
Farewell meal at the Armenian Club. Armenians are the main ethnic Christian minority in Iran.
Opportunity to have a drink of Armenian wine and vodka, the only legally allowed place to have alcohol in Iran.
Overnight in Parastoo hotel.

Monday 30th April – Tehran

Morning