Day by Day Itinerary

July 1 Depart NEW YORK
Sunday
Meet your traveling companions today at New York’s JFK airport for our TURKISH AIRLINES flight (TK2) departing at 4:45 PM. Meals aloft. Alternate departures available from Chicago, Los Angeles or Washington, DC. See Airfare and Upgrades on page 7 for more information.

July 2 ISTANBUL
Monday
Arrive in Istanbul at 9:25 AM. Day rooms will be provided at the Istanbul Airport Hotel for those flying from New York on TK2 in order to prepare for Iran as rested as possible. (We do not recommend going into the city of Istanbul but a stopover may be arranged at the end of the trip.) Continue our TURKISH AIRLINES flight TK874 to Tehran departing at 9:30 PM.

July 3 ARRIVE TEHRAN
Tuesday
We arrive at 2:45 AM. Khosh amadid (welcome) to Iran! We’ll be greeted at the airport, proceed through entrance formalities, and transfer to the new deluxe Espinas Hotel. We have a rest and a late breakfast before heading out for a tour of Tehran. This sprawling city became Iran’s capital in the 18th century under Agha Mohammad Khan, the founder of the Qajar Dynasty. Tehran (meaning warm slope) is located south of the impressive snow-capped Alborz Mountains and the city is known for its large museums, art centers and palaces.

We begin with the National Archaeological Museum, the country’s foremost museum established in 1937. A good introduction to Iran, the museum is divided into two parts: Prehistoric and Pre-Islamic periods. See a stone capital of a winged lion from Susa and the sixth century BC audience hall relief of Darius the Great from the Treasury at Persepolis. We are then guided through the Glass and Ceramics Museum, which was once an extraordinarily beautiful private residence during the Qajar period, and later was used as the Egyptian Embassy. Here you can find glass and ceramic artifacts dating back to the second and first millennia BC. We return to the hotel for dinner. (B-L-D)

*****Espinas Hotel

July 4 TEHRAN
Wednesday
Today, after a restful night and hearty breakfast, Bahman will lead us on a full-day city tour of Tehran. Our first stop will be the Saadabad Palace Complex, which was founded under the Qajar Kings in the 19th century. Also see the State Crown/Jewels Museum, which holds one of the most fabulous collections of treasures in the world. Overnight in Tehran. (B-L-D)

*****Espinas Hotel

July 5 TEHRAN - SHIRAZ
Thursday
Today after an early morning breakfast transfer to the domestic airport for a short flight to Shiraz departing from the domestic airport about 9.00 AM. Upon arrival we go to our hotel for check-in and lunch; then after a short rest we have an afternoon tour of Shiraz. Shiraz is the present-day capital of the Fars Province, the heartland of Iran which gave its name to the Persian language: Farsi. Shiraz is a city of historic monuments, poets and philosophers, warriors, kings and orchards. It was capital of the Zand Dynasty (1747-1779) and one of the most important cities of the medieval Islamic world. Shiraz is situated in a plain surrounded by two mountain ranges. The city is well known for its mild climate and friendly people.

We have our dinner at a first class restaurant. (B-L-D)

*****Homa Hotel

July 6 SHIRAZ
Friday PERSEPOLIS
Today we leave our hotel after an early morning breakfast at 7:30 am for a half day excursion to Persepolis and Necropolis. We’ll drive about 35 miles to Takht-e Jamshid or as the Greeks called it, Persepolis, a ruined capital of ancient Iran. It is one of the greatest artistic legacies of the ancient world and perhaps one of the most beautiful and spectacular archaeological sites surviving today. In the 6th century BC, the Achaemenian King Darius I, created Persepolis as a palatial precinct for an empire which eventually became larger and more efficiently ruled than any other in the ancient world. He erected the monument on a mountain slope called Rahmat above a plain he considered holy. Persepolis was reserved only for ritual celebrations. In the spring of each new year, the dynamic ruler and his court gathered at Persepolis to receive the tribute of subject nations and to reestablish universal order for the coming year. Step back in time as we enter through the Gate of All Nations. The arrival of the erstwhile delegations was announced by trumpeters who stood at the top of the staircase in front of the Gate of Nations. They were then led to the Hundred Column Palace to the presence of the king. Superb bas reliefs depict the flow of ritual processions that once passed through the palaces and audience halls of the Achaemenian Kings. We’ll explore the Gate of Xerxes, the Apadana Palace, the Treasury, the Harem and the private palaces of the different rulers. Persepolis was completed by Xerxes and Artaxerxes I who ruled Persia in the 5th century BC. The palaces were used by the Achaemenid kings up until they were destroyed by Alexander the Great in 330 BC as revenge for the sacking of Athens during the Persian Wars with the Greeks.

After lunch we return to Shiraz en-route visit the Qoran gate and then go to a carpet workshop to see some exquisite tribal and city carpets where you can see or even purchase very fine Persian rugs. Then we continue our tour of Shiraz and then end up in Shiraz nomadic bazaar for further shopping and exploring. We will step back in time as we wander through the Vakil Bazaar with its blue-tiled dome roof. It is considered by many to be the most beautiful bazaar in the world. The bazaars take travelers completely away from the outside world and immerse them in an age-old rhythm of life. Here the atmosphere is full of the market cries of vendors, the hammering of the coppersmiths, the activities of carpet weavers, silversmiths and cloth printers, the grilling of kabobs and the preparation of spices. We have our dinner in a traditional restaurant. (B-L-D)

*****Homa Hotel

July 7 SHIRAZ
Saturday Pasargadae - ISFAHAN
Today after breakfast we will visit one or two more sites in Shiraz and then leave for Isfahan. En route we see Pasargadae, the capital of Cyrus the Great and site of his simple but imposing tomb and the remains of three of his palaces.

After lunch at a local restaurant enjoy another stop - at the ancient city of Izad Khast to see the remains of a Parthian/Sassanian city as well as a great Safavid Caravanserai. Then we continue towards Isfahan. Upon arrival, check in to our 5-star Abbasi hotel for dinner and overnight. (B-L-D)

*****Abbasi Hotel

July 8 ISFAHAN
Sunday
Full day tour of Isfahan, the 17th century capital of the Safavids, referred to as Nesf-e-Jahan (Half of the World) in Safavid sources. We’ll stay for three nights at the exotic Abbasi Hotel which was built in the 1960’s on the site of a 17th century caravanserai.

We’ll begin with a visit to the historical bridges of Sioseh and Khaju, constructed by Shah Abbas II in 1650. It is essentially a bridge superimposed upon a dam, 436 feet long and supported by twenty-four stone arches. Continue to the Christian Armenian Quarter to visit the richly decorated Vank Cathedral. Begun in 1606 at the time of arrival of Armenian immigrants to Isfahan, it was completed between 1655 and 1664 under the supervision of Arch-bishop David, with the encouragement of the Savid rulers. It is the historic focal point of the Armenian Christian Church in Iran. The dome and walls have colorful paintings representing the story of Creation.

This afternoon, we’ll explore the Hasht Bahesht (eight paradises) and Chehel Sotuni (forty pillars) Palaces. They were built as an official court and a reception hall by Shah Abbas II (1647 AD). There will also be some time for shopping at Isfahan’s bustling bazaar. During our time in Isfahan, you are invited to a private home to visit with a famous miniature artist. Overnight at the Abbasi Hotel. (B-L-D)

*****Abbasi Hotel

July 9 ISFAHAN
Monday
Today is another full day of sightseeing in wonderful Isfahan. We’ll begin with a visit to the beautiful Friday Mosque. The Friday Mosque as it stands now is the result of continual construction, reconstruction, additions and renovations on the site from around 771 to the end of the twentieth century. Archaeological excavation has determined an Abbasid hypostyle mosque in place by the 10th century. Buyid construction lined a façade around the courtyard and added two minarets that are the earliest example of the double minaret on record.

In the afternoon, we visit the Naghsh-e Jahan complex, the central focus of Isfahan. It is a Royal Square, 1674 feet by 540 feet and enclosed by double-storied arcades. The square drew merchants and ambassadors to the Safavid court for centuries. It’s unmatched in elegance and spaciousness anywhere in the world! It is seven times the size of the Piazza San Marco in Venice, and puts the grandeur of the surrounding palaces and mosques into appropriate proportions. On the north side is the entrance to the Royal Qaysariyyeh Bazaar. On the east side is the Lotfollah Mosque. Constructed between 1603 and 1617, it served as a private chapel for the Imperial family. You’ll see exquisite 17th century Persian tile work on the domed ceiling. On the west side is the Ali Qapu Palace. To the south is the Shah Mosque, dedicated to Shah Abbas the Great. To many it is considered to be the most beautiful mosque in the world. Overnight at Abbasi Hotel. (B-L-D)

*****Abbasi Hotel

July 10 ISFAHAN - NATANZ
Tuesday ABYANEH - KASHAN
TEHRAN
Today we enjoy a leisurely coach ride to Tehran with an en route stop at the charming town of Natanz to visit a beautiful Islamic Complex of Friday Mosque, Monastery and Tomb of Sheikh Abdol Samad Isfahani. We will also enjoy a tea break under the shade of a beautiful and old plane tree just outside the complex.

On a lovely country drive we continue to the historical village of Abyaneh, one of the oldest in Iran. The town is set on a steep hillside and has a distinctive reddish hue. The narrow lanes show a reverence for nature, and the roofs of some houses serve as a courtyard for houses higher up the slope. The friendly people of the village are committed to honoring their traditions, and they are on hand to welcome you in their distinctive dress – ladies in their floral scarves and colorful full skirts which reach only to the knees. They speak a particular form of Parthian Pavlavi. During the Safavid Dynasty, this town as well as many others were forced to convert from Zoroastrian to Shi’ite Islam.

We will then continue to Kashan for lunch and several visits. These include the historical garden of Fin which was first planted during the Safavid period and kept alive with water from the nearby Suleymaniye Spring/Qanat. This beautiful walled Persian Garden was expanded by the Zand and Qajar monarchs, with many open pavilions added. A museum on the site displays artifacts from nearby Teppe Sialk, which is one of the most important archaeological sites in Iran, dating back to 4000-5000 B.C. We will also visit some of the many restored merchant houses in Kashan, such as the Borujerdi and Taba-Tabai House, with very fine examples of the “Badgirs” or wind-catchers.

We continue our drive to Tehran (289 miles) and, stop by the Mausoleum of Imam Khomeini for a photo opportunity. (B-L-D)

*****Espinas Hotel

July 11 TEHRAN - SOLTANIYEH
Wednesday ZANJAN
We are off to the northwest to Zanjan by coach (4 hours). En route visit the greatest 14th century tomb tower of Iran in Soltaniyeh. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is the tomb of the Mongolian King Oljaytu.

Then we go to Zanjan city to see an historical public bath and finally check in to our Zanjan hotel for dinner and overnight. (B-L-D)

****Grand Hotel

July 12 ZANJAN - TABRIZ
Thursday
Today we drive to Tabriz, departing in the morning at 7:30. Upon arrival in Tabriz, after a 4-1/2 hour drive, we have lunch and then an afternoon tour of Tabriz, the third largest city in Iran after Tehran and Mashad. To Herodotus, even in ancient times, this area had a turbulent history. In the 13th Century it was the Mongol capital. On our tour, we’ll see the Blue Mosque built by Shah Jahan in 1465, the small exquisite Azerbaijan Museum, and the Citadel.

We’ll have a chance to stroll to the Safavid summer residence of Shah Goli, a short walk from the hotel. Tabriz was the capital of the Safavid dynasty until the end of the 16th Century, when it was moved to Isfahan. There, as you have already learned, half the world was to be found in the huge square, Naqsh-e Jahan. The other half was in Tabriz. Research has shown that this area, today rich in the production of nuts and fruits, might have been the site of the Garden of Eden. Other research interestingly places Eden under the waters of the Persian Gulf. Settle in to our 5-star Pars hotel for dinner and overnight. (B-L-D)

*****Pars Hotel

July 13 TABRIZ
Friday
Today we have full day tour of Tabriz, as well as a visit to Tabriz bazaar, which is a World Heritage Site and second oldest in the world after the one in Aleppo, Syria. The Silk Road passed through Tabriz; today silk, wool and cotton Tabriz carpets with figures on a pink background, are a well-known export to France and Germany. (B-L-D)

*****Pars Hotel

July 14 TABRIZ - ARDABIL - ASTARA
Saturday
Today after breakfast we drive east towards the Caspian Sea visiting the city of Ardabil to see one of Iran’s precious jewels, the mausoleum of Sheikh Safii-eddinn Ardebili, father of the Sufi inspired Safavid dynasty and museum. The gardens, amongst the exquisite tile work, is a gathering place for both visitors and friendly local people alike.
Then continue to the border/port town of Astara on the Iran-Azerbaijan border. Our stay will be at the 5-star Espinas hotel, Astara, which is overlooking a great natural wetland where you can watch birds and enjoy the beauty of the Caspian region. (B-L-D)

*****Espinas Hotel, Astara

July 15 ASTARA
Sunday MASULEH - ANZALI
Today we drive all the way to the city of Masuleh to see this beautiful 1,000-year-old village in the mountains of Alborz, then we’ll continue to Anzali, which is the oldest port in the Caspian area. Upon arrival, check in to our lovely resort hotel for short rest and dinner. (B-L-D)

***Sepid Kenar Anzali Hotel

July 16 ANZALI - TEHRAN
Monday
Today after check out we drive to the Anzali port to visit the port and Russian ships as well as an optional ride on a jet boat for an hour in the biggest lagoon in the Middle East. Then we drive back to Tehran via a very scenic road. (5 hours of driving)
(B-L-D)

*****Espinas Hotel, Tehran

July 17 TEHRAN
Tuesday
Full day tour of Tehran. (B-L-D)

*****Espinas Hotel, Tehran

July 18 TEHRAN - ISTANBUL - U.S.A.
Wednesday
We rise early this morning and are transferred to the airport for our 7:00 AM flight to Istanbul (TK879) arriving at 8:55 AM. Connect to JFK (TK001) departing at 11:00 AM. Arrive in New York at 2:45 PM with plenty of time for flights to your home city. Welcome home!

B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner

Note: Flight schedules always subject to change.