Undiscovered Iran

Suggested Itinerary

Overview

Home to some of the world’s most spectacular Islamic treasures, Iran is a dazzling fusion of cultures and traditions, with the more remote areas of this vast country providing a rich haven for a significant Kurdish minority. Delve a little deeper into its ancient culture on this remarkable journey into the heart of one of the oldest civilisations on the planet. After a chance to explore some of the highlights of the Iranian capital, you’ll fly on to Ahwaz and the southern province ...

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TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

Suggested Itinerary

This is a suggested itinerary. Our experts have all travelled widely in the region and will be happy to tailor any of our itineraries to suit your tastes, or build a trip from scratch.

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COLLAPSE ALL ITINERARY DAYS

Day 1 ARRIVE TEHRAN

Day 1 ARRIVE TEHRAN

Arrive in Tehran and transfer to your hotel.

Espinas Hotel

Day 2 TEHRAN

Day 2 TEHRAN

On your city tour today head to the bazaar to see the enormous market place with its shops and stalls, visit the 18th century Golestan Palace and the Archaeological museum. In the afternoon head for the crown jewels housed in the vaults of the Bank Melli, then visit the Reza Abassi Museum with its vast collection of Persian art and antiquities, the Iran Holy Defence Museum which is dedicated to the Iran-Iraq war or the Carpet Museum of Iran which houses more than 100 carpets from the 17th century onwards.

Espinas Hotel
Breakfast

Day 3 TEHRAN - AHWAZ - SHUSHTAR

Day 3 TEHRAN - AHWAZ - SHUSHTAR

In the morning you will fly to Ahwaz, capital of the southern province of Khuzestan. This area was once the capital of the Elamite Kingdom and there are remains from both the Parthian and Sassanian periods. On arrival drive to Shushtar with its bridges built during the Sassanian period.

Tabib Shoushtar
Breakfast

Day 4 SHUSHTAR - CHOGA ZANBIL - DEZFUL

Day 4 SHUSHTAR - CHOGA ZANBIL - DEZFUL

Depart Shushtar and continue to the well-preserved Ziggurat of Choga Zanbil, now a UNESCO World Heritage site. Ziggurats are more closely associated with the Euphrates civilisations of Iraq and only a couple have been found in Iran. Your final stop before Dezful will be Susa, a site of immense importance in ancient times though today the area's many iconic statues and bas reliefs are now located in the Louvre in Paris.

Dezful Tourist Inn
Breakfast

Day 6 DEZFUL - KERMANSHAH

Day 6 DEZFUL - KERMANSHAH

Following the road north, travel to Kermanshah in the west of the country, home to a large Kurdish minority. Visit nearby Taghe Bostan with its marvellous Sassanian bas reliefs dating from the 4th century AD. The Sassanid kings chose a beautiful setting for their rock reliefs at an historic Silk Road caravan route waypoint and campground next to a sacred spring that empties into a large reflecting pool at the base of the mountain cliff.

Parsian Kermanshah
Breakfast

Day 7 KERMANSHAN - HAMEDAN

Day 7 KERMANSHAN - HAMEDAN

Visit the archaeological site of Bisotun dating from the Achaemenid and Parthian times then continue to the village of Lalejin, famous for its pottery. Also take a boat ride through the enormous Ali Sadr underground caves, before arriving in Hamedan, one of the oldest centres of civilisation in Iran situated on a high plain with snow-capped Mount Alvand in the background.

Azadi Hotel
Breakfast

Day 7 HAMEDAN - QOM - KASHAN

Day 7 HAMEDAN - QOM - KASHAN

In Hamadan visit the Mausoleum of Avicenna and the tomb of Esther. Continue to the holy city of Qom, which is now a place of pilgrimage with some magnificent mosques and shrines (tourists cannot gain entry to the majority of the buildings). Continue to Kashan, a World Heritage Site oasis town, and visit the beautiful Fin Garden and Agha Bozorg Mosque.

Saraye Ameriha Hotel
Breakfast

Day 8 KASHAN - YAZD

Day 8 KASHAN - YAZD

Leaving Kashan, travel through the desert to Yazd, one of the oldest cities in the world and the centre of Zoroastrianism. Yazd is an architecturally unique city and it is also well known in Iran for the high quality handicrafts, especially silk weaving and its sweet shops. On your afternoon tour explore the old city with its labyrinthine alleyways and see the “badgirs” or wind towers which provide natural air-conditioning during the summer heat.

Dad Hotel
Breakfast

Day 9 YAZD

Day 9 YAZD

A day for further exploration with your guide. Visits include the Zoroastrian Fire Temple or “Ateshkadeh” - where a sacred flame has burned nonstop since around 470 AD -, the Towers of Silence - traditional Zoroastrian burial grounds where the dead were left to be picked off by vultures-, Mir Chakhmagh Mosque, the Tomb of the 12 Emams and the Doulat Garden. The afternoon is left free for your own exploration.

Dad Hotel
Breakfast

Day 10 YAZD - KERMAN

Day 10 YAZD - KERMAN

Depart across the desert along the ancient caravan routes of the Silk Road, passing pistachio plantations and caravanserais, to Kerman. Stop off at the Zeyn Od Din Caravanserai. It is one of 999 such inns that were built during the reign of Shah Abbas I to provide facilities to travellers. After checking into your hotel in Kerman enjoy a city sightseeing tour including the blue-tiled Friday Mosque, the bazaar and Ganj-Ali bathhouse, built by Ganj Ali Khan, governor of Kerman, in the 19th century. 

Kerman Pars Hotel
Breakfast

Day 11 KERMAN - MAHAN - RAYEN - KERMAN

Day 11 KERMAN - MAHAN - RAYEN - KERMAN

Today drive to Mahan, a lovely oasis village, home to the Mausoleum of Shah Nematollah Valli, founder of the Sufi order. Take a walk in the cool Shahzadeh Garden with its collection of pools, against their backdrop of snow-capped mountains. Continue to Rayen, a town through which Marco Polo passed during the Middle Ages and whose architecture he much admired.

Kerman Pars Hotel
Breakfast

Day 12 KERMAN - MASHHAD

Day 12 KERMAN - MASHHAD

Leaving Kerman late morning fly to Mashad, Iran's most holy city and pilgrimage site. In the afternoon visit the holy shrine of Imam Reza and the surrounding buildings which are one of the marvels of the Islamic world. You will also visit the Koranic Museum.

Javad Hotel
Breakfast

Day 13 MASHHAD

Day 13 MASHHAD

This morning continue sightseeing in Mashad then visit the tomb of the famous Persian poet Omar Khayyam in nearby Neishabour. Enjoy some free time wandering around the Mashad Bazaar before sampling some delicious local cuisine for your final evening.

Javad Hotel
Breakfast

Day 14 DEPART MASHHAD

Day 14 DEPART MASHHAD

Transfer to the airport where your tour ends. 

Breakfast

SUGGESTED ACCOMMODATION

Hotel Rating

Ultra
The best of the best, the ultimate in luxury
Luxury
Outstanding service and facilities, giving you the 5* experience
Premium
Excellent standards offering a higher-end experience
Superior
Good quality service and overall comfort
Simple
No frills, basic accommodation, but often in the most exciting of places

Hotel Rating

Ultra
The best of the best, the ultimate in luxury
Luxury
Outstanding service and facilities, giving you the 5* experience
Premium
Excellent standards offering a higher-end experience
Superior
Good quality service and overall comfort
Simple
No frills, basic accommodation, but often in the most exciting of places

Hotel Rating

Ultra
The best of the best, the ultimate in luxury
Luxury
Outstanding service and facilities, giving you the 5* experience
Premium
Excellent standards offering a higher-end experience
Superior
Good quality service and overall comfort
Simple
No frills, basic accommodation, but often in the most exciting of places

Hotel Rating

Ultra
The best of the best, the ultimate in luxury
Luxury
Outstanding service and facilities, giving you the 5* experience
Premium
Excellent standards offering a higher-end experience
Superior
Good quality service and overall comfort
Simple
No frills, basic accommodation, but often in the most exciting of places

Hotel Rating

Ultra
The best of the best, the ultimate in luxury
Luxury
Outstanding service and facilities, giving you the 5* experience
Premium
Excellent standards offering a higher-end experience
Superior
Good quality service and overall comfort
Simple
No frills, basic accommodation, but often in the most exciting of places

Hotel Rating

Ultra
The best of the best, the ultimate in luxury
Luxury
Outstanding service and facilities, giving you the 5* experience
Premium
Excellent standards offering a higher-end experience
Superior
Good quality service and overall comfort
Simple
No frills, basic accommodation, but often in the most exciting of places

Accommodation listed here is intended as a guide only, to give you a taste of what we can do. Our experts can tailor any aspect of this itinerary and accommodation to suit your budget and tastes.

GUIDELINE PRICE & WHAT’S INCLUDED

14 days from £4,430

MEALS

As specified in the itinerary, sampling some of the country's finest cuisine.

TRANSPORT

Private air-conditioned vehicles with experienced, dedicated drivers.

ENTRANCE FEES

Tours and admission fees, including tickets specified in the itinerary.

EXPERT TEAM

Licensed English-speaking guides and a support team available 24/7.

ACCOMMODATION

As specified in the itinerary, using some of our favourite local properties.

WILD MILES

This tour will earn you 5476 Wild Miles

ACCOMMODATION

Ultra
The best of the best, the ultimate in luxury
Luxury
Outstanding service and facilities, giving you the 5* experience
Premium
Excellent standards offering a higher-end experience
Superior
Good quality service and overall comfort
Simple
No frills, basic accommodation, but often in the most exciting of places

Wild Miles Club

When you book a trip with Wild Frontiers you are awarded points, which are based on the return distance from London to the arrival city of your trip. Points are awarded for all our holidays, including both our escorted group tours and tailor-made trips. When you accrue points, you will qualify for the following discounts on all future bookings:

Blue More than 10,000 points 2.5% discount
Bronze More than 30,000 points 5% discount
Silver More than 45,000 points 7.5% discount
Gold More than 60,000 points 10% discount

This itinerary is aimed to give you an idea of what we can offer. The price shown above is per person, based on two people travelling outside of peak periods. As this itinerary is only a suggestion and can be tailor-made to suit your interests and budget, your final price may differ.

Positive Impact of this Trip

Tree
Ten trees are planted per passenger on this trip
Community
Supports Wild Frontiers Foundation community projects
Wind Turbine
A contribution to renewable energy projects

WHEN TO GO

START PLANNING YOUR TRIP

Our team of experts have a wealth of knowledge and experience to help you plan your adventure of a lifetime.

WHY WILD FRONTIERS?

Meet the expert, Dan

Dan is our Middle East expert, who has travelled extensively in the region.

Speak to Daniel by calling
+44 (0)20 3944 6258

Despite the unapparelled number of 'big ticket' sights there are to see in Iran, for me the greatest joy is walking the streets, sitting in tea houses, eating kaboob and shooting the breeze with the wonderfully friendly Iranian people.

OTHER ITINERARIES IN IRAN