Day 2

This morning, we will take you to a World Heritage Site, the lavish Golestan Palace. Built during the Qajar Dynasty, that rose to power in the late 1700s, 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.

Then, we will walk around Tehran Bazaar.

In the afternoon, you will visit the 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.

We will also visit the Carpet Museum of Iran, home to a dazzling collection of Persian carpets collected from around the country and representing centuries of extraordinary art and skill.
In the next, we will transfer to Airport to have the flight to Shiraz.

After breakfast, you will visit Nasir-al-Mulk Mosque (Pink Mosque) which is few steps far from Vakil Bazaar. It was built at Mirza Hassan Ali Nasir-al Mulk’s command (one of the lords of the Qajar Dynasty); it took 12 years to complete it in 1888. Its interior reveals a magnificent masterpiece of design with stunning colors.

This is a space where light and worship intertwine. The mosque comes to life with the sunrise and the colors dance throughout the day like whirling Dervishes. It reflects on the ground, walls, the arches and the towering spires. It even reflects on the visitors as if a colorful ball is hit by the first sun ray and has exploded into thousands of butterflies all around.

Continue your exploration in Shiraz at the beautiful orange-scented Narenjestan Garden, laid out in the 19th century during the Qajar Dynasty.

You’ll have time to explore and shop in the bustling Vakil Bazaar, home to hundreds of stores, beautiful courtyards, and even an ancient caravanserai.

You will end your day on a tranquil note in the lovely garden-tomb Hafez, one of our most outstanding poets to feel the taste of Persian Literature.

 Today, we will have some stop on our way to visit the Legendary City of Persepolis, the former capital of Darius the Great which was founded in 512 BC. There was no more impressive construction in the ancient world than Persepolis, except perhaps the Karnak in Egypt.
Darius built the terrace, Apadana (great audience hall), Tachana (a palace), and the Monumental Staircases; his son, Xerxes, added the Harem and the Hall of 100 Columns. Alexander the Great entered Persepolis in January 330 BC and then committed an uncharacteristic act of wanton destruction that still mystifies historians today, burning the mighty city to the ground.
Though a shadow of its former self, the soaring pillars, terraces and sculptures of Persepolis still remain, but probably most impressive are the bas reliefs which line the site, telling the story of ancient governors and kings that came to Persepolis to pay tribute to the Persian Emperors.
From here, we will drive a couple of miles to Naqsh-e-Rustam, the Necropolis where Darius and his successors are buried. Carved into the side of a cliff, the site is extraordinary in its magnitude and sheer ambition and does not disappoint even after the impressive Persepolis.
Then, you will visit Pasargadae, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Tomb of Cyrus the Great and former capital of the Achaemenid Empire. We will spend some time exploring the site and though not as striking as Persepolis, there is a great viewpoint where we can look over the site and the surrounding area.

Now it’s time to appreciate of nature, by visiting salt lakes. We first go to Maharlu Lake to be fascinated by the pink color of this Salt Lake. Sarvestan palace would be our next stop.
This palace has been erected on a land as big as 25 hectares and is one of the earliest rock stones structures built in Sassanid-era.
We will finish the day by going to a Salt Lake of Bakhtegan which hosts some specific species of migrant birds, such as Dalmatian pelican and flamingo.

On this day you will have a time of your life. At first, we seize the opportunity to enjoy visiting Ganjali Khan Complex which encompasses a traditional bathhouse, well-designed Bazaar, a Caravanserai and a Mosque with a divine and spiritual atmosphere.
For the next part of the day, we will travel to an area called Mahan, situated in the south of Kerman, where a green patch, known as Shazde Mahan Garden (WHS), appears right in the middle of an arid and sterile Desert.
This landmark is a dazzling pavilion at the far end of the pool which is located on top of the garden and water flows down from a stair-like path to the entrance gate.
To complete the joy, we will then go to Nematollah Vali Mausoleum. The spectacular Turquoise dome of the building is easily recognized from far away.

The home to Zoroastrians, Yazd still holds Fire temples, with fires burning for 2500 years now. The city also has a great reputation for its remarkable wind towers providing us with a natural air conditioning system to blow cool and pleasing air in the middle of the burning summer.
One may also remember Yazd by the Pahlavani and Zoorkhane rituals. On the way to Yazd, you will have the chance to visit Zein-o-Din Caravanseray in a relative shortstop. The caravanserai has offered cozy stay and accommodation for passing caravans.
Mehr-Padin Castle, located in Mehriz, is surely among the parts of your tour that you will not forget. This glorious castle was built 600 years ago.
It has two defensive battlements and nine circular towers. Exterior space of the castle is surrounded by a vast moat and interior space of the castle is surrounded by two mud brick fences. Mehriz city is famous for its beautiful and spectacular gardens.
One such garden is Pahlavan Pour Garden (WHS) which dates back to the late Qajar era; it can you can keep you away from the hectic lifestyle, at least for a few hours, by its cold water stream running right through the middle of the garden with stout and soaring trees standing at its sides.
At top of the garden, there is a pavilion with an impressive design. All in all, the features found in this garden reflect the shifting trend from traditional styles of building gardens to more modern ones which can be seen today. Fahraj Mosque demonstrates the simple architectural characteristics of the early Islamic centuries.
It is among the oldest extant mosques in Persia. The beauty of the mosque is embedded in its simplicity; its modest internal courtyard is lined with clay tiles and every visitor surely receives a relaxing and soothing vibe from the building.

Yazd is one oldest continuously inhabited towns of Iran. Its silhouette punctuated by minarets and the ingeniously-designed wind towers that capture desert breezes to cool homes during the hot summer months. Yazd is also the center of Iran’s Zoroastrian community, which is where you’ll begin the day’s sightseeing.

At the Tower of Silence, you’ll learn about one of the traditions of this ancient pre-Islamic religion. Until the mid-1900s, the dead were transported to this tower where they were left to decompose and be devoured by birds. Zoroastrian tradition considers a deceased body to be “unclean” and this process of excarnation prevents contact with either fire or earth– both of which are considered to be sacred.

At the still-active Zoroastrian Fire Temple, you’ll see a flame that is said to have been burning for the past 1,500 years. It’s an important pilgrimage site for the faithful and here our expert guide will offer additional insight into one of the world’s oldest monotheistic religions.
In Amir Chakhmaq Square, you’ll see a very impressive Hussainiya– a congregation hall for Shia commemoration ceremonies. With three tiers of recessed alcoves, all perfectly proportioned, its facade is one of the city’s most photographed landmarks.

The next place to visit is the Friday Mosque, built in 1324, where you can gaze upon the tallest minarets in the country.

Among the many other historic sites to be seen in Yazd are beautiful old homes and the Dowlat Abad Garden. Standing by the garden’s long reflecting pool, you’ll be shaded by ancient cypress trees. Ahead of you is an 18th-century hexagonal pavilion with a beautiful stained glass window and a graceful wind tower– the tallest in Iran. All around are flowering fruit trees and other ornamental plants and trees.

En-route to Isfahan, we will have a shortstop in Meybod. The city receives great credit for minting-coins workshops which we also will visit. On the way to Isfahan, we stop to visit Narin Castle Remains located in the middle of a historical texture of Meybod.

Another must-see monument in Meybod is Shah-Abbasi Caravanserai built in Safavid era. Just like travelers in the past who could rest and recover from the day’s journey, we also stop here on our way to Isfahan to enjoy the architecture of the structure having rooms all around it traditionally used as shops and stores.

Now it is time to visit Mud-Brick Icehouse which has a shape of an up-side-down cone which has a subterranean storage space; it was often used to store ice, but sometimes was used to store food as well.
We should leave Meybod to visit Nain Jame Mosque situated in the old texture of the city. The Mosque was built after the Mohamad’s Mosque in Medina.

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.

You will also visit Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque, also known as the Ladies Mosque, as it was built for the Shah’s harem, renowned for brightly colored domed ceiling, where the light creates the image of a peacock. 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 end your exploration of the square by visiting the Qeisarieh Bazaar. With hundreds of local vendors that specialize in traditional arts and crafts, it’s a wonderful place to shop for pottery, enamel, jewelry and delicately inlaid board games.

 Next up is Chehel Sotun Palace. 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 will visit several churches including the 17th-century Vank Cathedral with its lavishly decorated interior and unique blend of Islamic and European architectural elements.

We are going to have a great day with a great start. We will drive to Kashan; on the way we will visit Abyaneh. The village has a brilliant architecture; houses are constructed using peculiar reddish hue mud. The other attractive feature of the place is the women clothes which have colorful and happy patterns and under-knee skirts. Abyunaki people have persistently maintained this traditional costume.

Afterward, we continue drive to Kashan, a town originally famous for its textiles and ceramic production, but now better known for Fin Garden and its extensive bazaar and hamams.

Fin Garden (A UNESCO World Heritage Site) is our first stop; a relaxing and visually impressive Persian garden with water channels all passing through a central pavilion. There is also the chance to buy some rose water, a local specialty, outside of the site.

Then, you will visit Boroujerdi Traditional House. It was built about 130 years ago in reign of Qajar dynasty (1857) by Iranian famous architect Ustad Ali Maryam. The owner was Haj Seyed Hasan Natanzi, a well-known merchant who mostly dealt with people of Boroujerd city. That’s why the house is known as Boroujerd’s House.

Afterwards, we will visit the bazaar area, a widespread complex filled with hamams and mosques; one hamam has been converted to a traditional teahouse where we will stop for those who need a break from shopping.

Our representative will transfer you to Imam Khomeini International Airport according to your flight time.