IRAN SUMMER
Highlights
The splendor of Naqsh-e Jahan Square in Esfahan
The alleys and Zoroastrian rituals of Yazd
The thousand colors of the Pink Mosque in Shiraz
Rural Iran: Abyaneh and trekking with the Qashqai nomads
Where we sleep
Boutique hotels, caravanserai, nomad camp
How we move around
Rental cars, domestic flights
TYPE OF TRIP
For more information on our trips, please see our FAQ section.
Morning/Afternoon: departure from Italy with direct flight/layover
Evening: arrival during the night, transfer to the hotel and check-in
Morning: visit to the bazaar, one of the largest in the world, and the gardens of the Golestan Palace. Street food lunch near Imam Khomeini Square.
Afternoon: travel by metro to Tajrish, at the foot of the Alborz Mountains. Exploration of the colorful bazaar, less chaotic and more picturesque than the central bazaar, and transfer by taxi to Darband for shisha and tea in the cafes built over the river.
Evening: dinner and evening in Tehran.
Morning: early wake-up, rental car pickup, and departure for Kashan. Arrival in Kashan before lunch and time to start bargaining in the city bazaar
Afternoon: visit to the Agha Bozorg Mosque and Madrasa, the Sultan Amir Ahmad Bathhouse, and the traditional 18th-century merchant family houses. In the late afternoon, transfer by 4×4 jeep to the Maranjab Desert, where we will stay in an authentic caravanserai on the ancient Silk Road
Evening: check-in, dinner, and overnight stay in the caravanserai among the dunes of the Maranjab Desert
Morning: early wake-up and 4×4 tour of the wonders of the Maranjab Desert. Return to Kashan in the late morning
Afternoon: transfer towards Isfahan. Along the way, visit the picturesque rural village of Abyaneh, located in an isolated position within a high mountain valley, with a walk through its mysterious alleys and houses built of mud bricks. Continuation of the itinerary towards Isfahan, the cultural and monumental capital of Iran
Evening: arrival at the hotel in Isfahan, check-in. Dinner and evening in the local spots of Isfahan
Morning: starting from the iconic monumental Naqsh-e Jahan Square, one of the largest in the world, a walking tour of the city and its priceless treasures: the Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque, the Ali Qapu Palace, and the stunning Shah Mosque
Afternoon: continuation of the visit to Isfahan and the churches of the Armenian quarter, returning to the center via the marvelous covered bridges of the Safavid dynasty. Free time in the Isfahan bazaar
Evening: dinner and evening in the traditional Persian restaurants of Isfahan
Morning: departure for Yazd. Along the way, visit Meybod, an ancient city on the edge of the desert dominated by the ruins of Narin Castle
Afternoon: continuation of the itinerary, stopping for a photo at the Chak Chak Zoroastrian sanctuary, uniquely perched on the walls of a rocky cliff, and the ancient ghost town center of the mud-brick village of Kharanaq. Arrival in Yazd, hotel check-in
Evening: dinner and evening in the restaurants of Yazd
Morning: walking tour of the old city: the Yazd Jameh Friday Mosque, one of the finest examples of Persian architecture in the Azeri style, and the elegant Dolat Abad Persian garden
Afternoon: afternoon dedicated to discovering the cult of Zarathustra, the mystic and prophet who lived in Persia more than 1,000 years ago. Visit to the Fire Temple, the main Zoroastrian place of worship in Iran, and travel out of town to visit the Towers of Silence, used for centuries (and until 1970) by Zoroastrians for funeral ceremonies
Evening: transfer and traditional dinner with a Zoroastrian family in Yazd, return to the hotel, and overnight stay
Morning: early wake-up and departure for Shiraz by private van. A long morning transfer across vast stretches of the plateau, arriving at lunchtime in Pasargadae to visit the archaeological site, which houses a large mausoleum commonly believed to be the tomb of Cyrus the Great
Afternoon: arrival in Persepolis, the main archaeological site of Iran: visit to the complex, the monumental staircase, and the magnificent Gate of All Nations, with its well-preserved colonnade. Continuation and arrival in Shiraz, hotel check-in
Evening: dinner and evening in the local spots of Shiraz
Morning: early wake-up to visit the stunning Nasir ol Molk Mosque, also known as the “Pink Mosque” due to the stained glass windows of the winter prayer hall which, when hit by the morning sun, create an incredible kaleidoscope of colors. Continue towards the bazaar, passing by the Karim Khan Citadel, inaugurated in the 18th century when Shiraz was the capital of the Persian Kingdom.
Afternoon: free time in the center and the colorful Shiraz bazaar, and a visit to the Tomb of Hafez, a mausoleum built in 1935 dedicated to the most famous poet in Persian history, who was born and raised right here in Shiraz.
Evening: dinner and evening in the local spots of Shiraz.
Morning: transfer of about 2 hours through the high mountain scenery of the Zagros Mountains, and guided trekking with a Qashqai guide on Mount Barm Firuz up to the spectacular lake of the same name
Afternoon: continuation of the trek in the Gambil valley and visit to the summer camps of some nomadic families, with the opportunity to experience firsthand the Iranian rural lifestyle, culture, traditions, and gastronomy of the nomadic populations. Arrival at the camp and welcome by a Qashqai nomadic family in the Fars province
Evening: dinner and evening with traditional songs and dances in the company of the Qashqai nomads. Overnight stay in a tent
Morning: return to Shiraz, transfer to the airport for the domestic flight to Tehran
Afternoon: domestic flight to Tehran and transfer from the domestic airport to the international airport
Evening: overnight flight to Italy. Arrival on Day 12… and see you on the next adventure!
