TOUR PERSIA
zagros@ts.co.nz
Ph ++64
(0)3 5402513
ITINERARIES
With such a multitude and variety of places to see and experience in Persia we vary the tour itinerary from season to season. Always included are the highlights of Shiraz, Persepolis, Isfahan and Tehran.
Second time tourists have been astounded at what they missed taking in on their initial tour and are delighted with the additional unique sights included.
Examples of alternative 18 day itineraries:
TOUR 1: Tehran, Kashan, Abyaneh, Nain, Yazd, Pasargade, Persepolis, Shiraz, Bishapur, Yasuj, Isfahan, Hamedan, Soltanieh, Tabriz, Tehran.
TOUR 2: Tehran, the Caspian Coast, Ramsaar, Masuleh, Anzali, Ardabil, Tabriz, Soltanieh, Hamedan, Bisatun, Isfahan, Yasuj, Shiraz, Firuzabad, Bishapur, Tehran.
SPECIALISED TOURS:
Zagros Ltd has over the past years conducted geological field trips for academic groups and oil exploration companies. These are normally of 7 to 10 days duration and can be based in Shiraz and/or from fully serviced tented camps. The emphasis is on the stratigraphy and structure of the Zagros fold belt, the active plate margin to the NE of Shiraz and visits to the unique emergent salt domes and salt glaciers for which Fars Province is renouned.
ADD ON TOURS:
Some tourists often wish to extend their tours to visit other areas including the Mashad region in the north east and western Iranian Azerbaijan with its Lake Urumia and Mt Ararat on the Turkish border. Others wish to see the oil field belt in Khuzestan Province and the archaeological sites of the Elamite ceremonial Ziggurat at Choga Zanbil, the nearby Susa Achemenian palace and the tomb of Daniel. We are able to arrange such extensions to our tours.
ITINERARY TOUR PERSIA May 1 to May 18 2012
May 1. Arrive Tehran, transfer to Laleh Hotel. After lunch visit the Jewelry, and Glass and Ceramics Museums.
May 2. Tehran. In the city’s northern suburbs along the Alborz Mountain front visit palaces of the Qajar and Pahlavi dynasty Shahs at Saadabad and Niavaran. Lunch at the downtown Firdowsi Hotel before visiting the (pre-Islamic) Archaeological Museum and the Museum of Islamic Art. Dinner at a Traditional Restaurant.
May 3. Shiraz. Early morning flight Tehran to Shiraz. Visit the Bagh-e Eram botanical gardens before checking in to the Pars International Hotel. Late afternoon visit the garden mausoleums of the 12th and 13th Century Poets Saadi and Hafez. Later proceed to the Vakil Bazaar where we mix with locals and Qashqai tribal folk Dinner at a traditional restaurant.
May 4. Shiraz. Visit the exquisite Nasir-al Molkh Mosque and the Narangestan garden complex. Mid-afternoon drive 40km north to Persepolis, the ceremonial site and capital of the Achemenian Dynasty 550BC. It was from here that Darius, Xerxes and later Kings ruled over the Persian Empire which spread as far as Greece, Egypt and present day Ethiopia in the west and much of central Asia and western India to the east. Naqsh-e Rustam lies some 7 km west of Persepolis and there in bold cliffs of limestone we see the tombs of four of the Achemenian Kings. Return to Shiraz.
May 5. Shiraz. Today’s tour takes us through spectacular mountains of the Zagros fold belt After passing through the depression (graben) of Dasht-e Arjan the road descends down the flank of Kuh-e Shah Nishin through the natural defile of Tang-e Bul Hayat thence through oak forests to the partly excavated site of the Sassanian city of Bishapur (220AD) at the entrance to Tang-e Chogan. Limestone cliffs bounding the tang (gorge) display bas reliefs extolling Sassanian achievements including their victory over Roman invasions. Return to Shiraz via Kazerun.
May 6. Yazd. Today’s travel takes us across the northern part of the Zagros ranges. We have a picnic lunch at Pasargade, site of the capital of Cyrus the great (pre-Persepolis) founder of the Achemenian Empire. There the lonely and austere elevated tomb of Cyrus is well preserved on the plain of Dasht-e Morgab. North through elevated barren mountains and across the Abarqu depression to pass through the central Iran ranges to Taft and on to Yazd . Check into the Moshir al Mamalek garden hotel. Before dinner attend a display at the Zurkhaneh (house of strength) where pahlavans perform their exercise ritual which embodies a mix of sport and religious devotion.
May 7. Yazd. In this ancient desert city we visit a Zoroastrian fire temple, see the tallest minarettes in Persia at the Jameh Mosque and lunch in a restaurant in the heart of the bazaar. In the afternoon we travel to the Zoroastrian village of Cham where, after visiting a splendid example of a Dakhmeh (tower of silence), we meet a local family in their home. Time for shopping in the Yazd bazaar before dinner at our hotel.
May 8. Isfahan. The drive northwestwards from Yazd along the edge of the Dasht-e Kavir (great salt desert) takes us to the pottery and weaving town of Meybod and further on to Nain,famed for its fine carpets and woven fabrics. After lunch at Nain proceed to Isfahan. Check in to the Abbasi Hotel.
May 9, 10. Isfahan. This well preserved medieval city is the jewel of Safavid Persia. On the periphery of the huge Maidan-e Imam (square) we visit the Ali Qapu Palace, the huge Imam Mosque and the exquisite Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque which displays some of Persia’s finest mosaic tile work. Later we marvel at the fine frescos which decorate the Chehel Setoon reception palace and have plenty of free time to explore the extensive bazaar where artisans can be seen producing exotic handicrafts. We will visit the 11th Century (Seljuk) Jameh Mosque where the intricate and varied brick work has been well documented by the American Iranologist, Arthur Upham Pope whose tomb is on the banks of the Zayandeh Rud river. Several of the bridges which span the Zayandeh Rud will be visited. We shall also go to the Armenian quarter of Julfa where we visit the Vank Cathedral and adjacent Armenian Museum.
May 11. Isfahan. The bazaar area surrounding the Imam Square is a shoppers paradise and today is a free day to enable you to explore the labarinth of bazaar shops.
May 12. Hamadan. Today’s drive takes us northwest from Isfahan via Khomein, Arak and Malayer to Hamadan. Check in to the Parzian Eram Hotel.
May 13. Hamadan. Present day Hamadan has a long history dating back to pre 1000BC. At an elevation of 6000feet, this city was originally called Ecbatana the capital of Media in 650BC. In 521BC the city fell to the Achemenian Persians. In the centre of the city we visit the tomb of biblical Ester and her Guardian Mordecai. A Jewish orphan, Ester married the Persian King Xerxes and thereafter persecution of the Jewish community was much reduced. At Hekmatana Hill we visit recent archaeological excavations and the adjacent museum. Later we visit the mausoleums of the early medical writer Ibn Sina (Avicenna) (born 980AD) and the poet Baba Taher. In the hills above Hamadan, at Ganjnameh, we visit two granite panels with cuniform inscriptions in Elamite, Old Persian and Babylonian languages commemorating the achievements of the Achemenian Kings Darius and Xerxes.
May 14. Tabriz. On the way from Hamadan to Tabriz we stop at the Soltanieh.Mausoleum. This UNESCO heritage site is the world’s tallest mud brick dome. Currently under restoration, this building exhibits fine examples of brickwork. It was built by Oljeito Khodabandi last of the Mongul rulers who was buried here in 1317AD. We continue on via Zanjan (lunch) where the road joins the expressway to Tabriz. Check in to the Pars International Hotel at the El Goli Park in Tabriz.
May 15. Tabriz. This city has had a chequered history dating back to Sassanian times. During the Mongul period it was the Ilkhanid capital of Azerbaijan and was later sacked by Tamerlane. Early in Safavid times Tabriz was the nation’s capital and suffered disputes involving Ottoman attacks. Azari Turkish is mainly spoken in Tabriz. The Qajar rulers attempt to Persianise the region caused unrest which was exploited by Russian attacks in 1908. The Russians invaded the region again during both world wars. We visit the Blue Mosque built in 1465 and the intricate calligraphy and dark blue tile work made it a unique structure. Two severe earthquakes in 1727 and 1773 destroyed a large part of the Mosque. Restoration work commenced in 1951 and continues at the present time. Close by we visit the Museum and also a recent excavation of a burial site dating back 3000 years. We have time to visit the extensive Tabriz bazaar.
May 16. Bandar-e Anzali. Today’s travel takes us east to Ardabil where we visit the mausoleum complex of Sheikh Safi Od-Din (1253-1354). In this dervish monastery is the tomb of the Allah-Allah Tower while nearby we can marvel at the reproduction of the renouned “Ardabil Carpet” the 1568 original of which is in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London. Leaving Ardabil and the towering Mt Sabulan we drop down from the high plateau along a picturesque road which leads to Astara on the Caspian coast at the Iran -Azerbaijan border. Thence along the rice paddies of the Caspian littoral to the main Iran Caspian port of Bandar-e Anzali where we stay overnight.
May 17. Ramsar. Before leaving Anzali we visit the large freshwater lagoon which parallels the coast and is home to a multitude of seasonal waterfowl .Our route follows the coast to Rasht and then south via Fuman through rice paddies and tea plantations to the forested slopes of the Alborz Mountains and the unique mountain town of Masuleh. This is a relaxing place where in the small bazaar handicrafts can be purchased. Return to the coast and continue eastwards to Ramsar and check into the Azadi Hotel.
May 18. Tehran. We drive along the Caspian coast to the resort towns of Chalus and Noshar thence on a most spectacular crossing of the Alborz mountains. The dense rain forests of the northern Alborz give way to semi arid slopes and deep valleys as we continue on to the Karaj dam, Karaj and on to Tehran. This evening we have a farewell dinner at the Laleh Hotel. May 19. Transfer arrangement will be made for your departure from Imam Khomeini International Airport.
GUIDES:
In our efforts to be informative regarding all the new and different sights and experiences encountered during our tours we are fully aware of the tedium of standing listening to lengthy descriptions and details of sometimes trivial matters. We realise that having travelled around the world tourists desire to have sufficient time to explore the sites we visit and so we streamline the descriptive dialogue. Should further explanation be requested personal attention is provided. Harry McQuillan provides explanations of many of the sites and tries to bring to life the history surrounding them. Leila Farmani, our English speaking assistant is a qualified tour guide who is able to give in depth explanations if required but has now adapted her style with brevity in mind.
In some instances we seek assistance from local guides if considered necessary. Having led these tours for several years we have assembled a group of efficient personnel including competent and cooperative coach drivers and their assistants. Hotel staff know us and are always waiting with a warm welcome.
Maureen McQuillan's guiding abilities are helpful in dealing with personal matters, shopping and local etiquette for women. Being familiar with the traditional Persian kitchen she is adept at ensuring that we are served a varied selection of dishes. Her Persian language ability assists in circumventing any misunderstandings that occasionally arise.
DISCLAIMER: The itinerary outlined above may require some modification should circumstances such as closures of some sites on certain days occur. In such cases a change of timing of visits will be made or an alternative place of interest will be included. Our tours frequently encounter unexpected treats such as tribal weddings, musical functions and other entertainments.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
We have just returned from the most wonderful tour we have ever experienced. Our escorts lived in Iran for 20 years when Harry was leading oil exploration surveys Also he has lectured extensively at many Universities in Iran. The tour took in not only historical sites and places of interest but also we were given a unique tour of the Zagros Mountains where we searched for fossils and were made aware of the geological significance and history of the region.We had plenty of time to shop, we dined for lunch and most dinners at local restaurants, but most of all our escorts could speak the Persian language , were well versed in the history of Persia and took us to remote villages and nomad camps where we gained experience in the local customs and everyday life of those polite, very friendly people. A unique and first class tour in every respect, relaxed, thoroughly enjoyable and ALL expenses were pre-paid, so we were not continually paying for extras, even water was included! We consider that this tour with the McQuillans is a Must.
Julie and Alastair Rose,
Nelson, New Zealand.
Zagros Ltd.
www.tourpersia.co.nz
Email: zagros@ts.co.nz
Phone: ++64 (0)3 5402513