Glory of Persia

We begin the day with a visit to the National Museum, composed of the Museum of Ancient Iran (opened in 1937) and the Museum of the Islamic Era (opened in 1972). This museum houses masterpieces of Iranian art, from prehistory to the Islamic period: pottery, figurines, bronzes, textiles, books and rare coins. We discover the evolution of humanity through these relics and objects from the Islamic period

Next, we visit the Golestan Palace, a former Qadjar royal complex and one of the oldest historical monuments of world heritage. It includes gardens, royal buildings, collections of Iranian craftsmanship and European gifts from the 18th and 19th centuries.

We end the day with a walk through the bazaar, the economic heart of Iran, a place of socialization and center of corporate and political powers.

NB. If possible, we will visit the National Museum of Crown Jewels depending on the departure times of the train. Our excursion to Tehran ends with the visit. Our visit to Tehran will end at the National Museum of Jewels, which houses invaluable gems including one of the two largest diamonds, the Darya-e-Noor (Sea of Light).

After our visits we head to the station for our overnight train heading to Shiraz.

Our excursion today takes us to Persepolis. Founded by Darius I in 518 BC, this city was the capital of the Achaemenid Empire. Built on a vast semi-artificial terrace carved into the rock, the "king of kings" erected an impressive palace complex inspired by Mesopotamian models. The grandeur and preservation of the ruins make Persepolis an exceptional archaeological site.

We then continue towards Nécropolis. Located facing Mount Rahmat, ten minutes to the north, this necropolis is the majestic burial place of Achaemenid kings. The site also includes seven bas-reliefs dating from the Elamite and Sassanid periods.

Night at Aghamir chalet or Ojagh-e Seyyed Karim.

Today we set our course due east towards the Dasht-e Lut desert, one of the driest and hottest deserts on the planet, in Kerman province.

Today, we head towards the Lut desert, also called Dasht-e Lut desert, meaning "the plain of emptiness". This vast desert extends across Kerman and Sistan-and-Baluchestan provinces. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since July 17, 2016, it is the 27th largest desert in the world. Temperatures reaching up to 70°C have been recorded there, making this place one of the hottest and driest on the planet.

We will cross the desert to admire its natural wonders until Shahdad. Along the way, we will visit Lake Bakhtegan, the village of Dehmurd, and the cities of Herat and Rafsanjan, famous for its pistachios.

The night will be spent in a traditional house in the village of Dolat Abad.

Today, after a night of stargazing, we set off at sunrise for a safari in Kaluts, known for its wind and water-eroded geological formations offering a spectacular landscape of sculpted ridges and valleys.

We then head to Mahan to visit the Shah Ne'mat Ollah-e-Vali mausoleum and the Shahzadeh Garden, a magnificent classic Persian garden located 6 km from Mahan, at the foot of the mountains. This garden, with its fountains utilizing the natural slope, is a fine example of the ingenuity of Persian gardens in response to climate and geological constraints.

We then stop in Rayen to see its citadel, a replica of the Citadel of Bam.

Then, we explore the kaluts of the Dasht-e Lut desert.

The night is spent in a hotel in Kerman.

Today, we continue our journey towards Zeinoddin or Fahraj. Saryazd, Fahraj and Zeinoddin were among the first caravanserais on the routes connecting Yazd, Shiraz, Kerman and Sirjan. Spending a night in one of these caravanserais is an unforgettable experience. The Zeinoddin caravanserai, dating from the Safavid era, is located in the heart of the desert and has been carefully restored while preserving its original character. It received two UNESCO awards in 2005 and 2006.

On the way to Zeinoddin or Fahraj, we visit the Meymand rock village, near Shahr-e Babak in Kerman province. This ancient village, inhabited for 12,000 years, is one of the earliest human settlements on the Iranian plateau. The village houses stone carvings nearly 10,000 years old and pottery deposits nearly 6,000 years old, testifying to its rich past.

Overnight at Zeinoddin caravanserai.

Today we join Yazd. Yazd is a city partially built from clay, considered one of the oldest in the world. It is surrounded by the summit of Shirkouh, which reaches 4000 meters in altitude, and by two of Iran's most majestic deserts, the Dasht-e Kavir and the Kavir-e Lut. This ancient city is home to mosques of exceptional beauty.

On the way, we first stop at Mehriz. This city is recognized for its mild climate.

Next, we visit Saryazd Castle, built in the 3rd century during the Sassanid dynasty. This castle, equipped with imposing towers and a moat 6 meters wide and 3 to 4 meters deep, served as a safe for grain, money, gold and jewelry during invasions. It is reputed to be impregnable.

We continue our route to Yazd. Before reaching our hotel, we visit the Silence Towers, used by Zoroastrians for funeral rites, and the Fire Temple, an important place of worship for Zoroastrians.

In the evening, we explore the Amir Chakhmaq complex, known for its symmetrical architecture. This site includes a mosque, a caravanserai, a tekyeh (Shiite place of mourning), a hammam, a cold water well and a confectionery.

Night in Yazd.

Today, we depart from Yazd to Isfahan at 8 o'clock in the morning. Along the way, we visit Meybod, an ancient city with many historical sites, formerly the capital of Iran under the Mozaffarides.

We explore the Narin Citadel, dating from the Sassanid era, offering breathtaking views over the city.

Next, we head to Nain, famous for its ancient qanats, underground aqueducts still in use in the 1960s. We visit an abaya weaving workshop and the Jameh Mosque of Nain, one of the oldest in Iran, dating from the 9th century and listed as a heritage site.

Finally, we head to Varzaneh, known for its spectacular sand dunes.

Finally, we head to Varzaneh, known for its spectacular sand dunes. We visit the thousand-year-old Ghoortan citadel, then have lunch with a local family before heading back to Isfahan.

Night in Isfahan.

Today, we continue our exploration of Isfahan by visiting the Jameh Mosque, a true gallery of Islamic architecture that illustrates centuries of historical evolution. Next, we discover Vank Cathedral, one of the most beautiful Armenian churches in the world, captivating the attention of Christian visitors.

We make a stop at Menar Jonban, the tomb of a famous Sufi known for its shaking minarets, and visit some historic bridges. The day ends with a visit to the Allahverdi Khan bridge, known as Si-o-se-pol, with its thirty-three arches. It is an emblematic example of Safavid bridge architecture and the longest bridge over the Zayanderud, measuring 297.76 meters.

We then take a night flight to Mashhad, where we will spend the night.

We are departing for Nishapur, located in the Khorasan province in the northeast of Iran. Former capital of the Tahirid dynasty and later of the Seljuk dynasty, Nishapur transformed itself into a major cultural, commercial and intellectual center of the Islamic world.

We visit the tomb of Omar Khayyam, a famous scholar, mathematician, astronomer, philosopher and poet born in Nishapur. Khayyam is one of the principal mathematicians and astronomers of the Islamic Golden Age and wrote numerous treatises on various scientific subjects.

We also visit the tomb of Attar, a Persian mystical poet and theorist of Sufism, originally from Nishapur. Attar had an immense influence on Persian poetry and Sufism. Next, we will explore Shadyakh, a large neighborhood of ancient Nishapur created in the 9th century. Archaeological excavations have revealed buildings, a skeleton and other objects, and Shadyakh is now an Iranian national monument.

Our day ends with a visit to the Nishapur Museum.

We spend the night in Mashhad.

Today, we take the train at 6 am to Shahroud.

In case of unavailability of train tickets, we will be transferred to Shahroud in private cars with an additional charge. Upon our arrival in Shahroud, we check into the hotel and have lunch. It is highly recommended to spend the night in the Chahjam desert.

In case of unavailability of train tickets, we will be transferred to Shahroud in private cars with an additional charge. Upon our arrival in Shahroud, we check into the hotel and have lunch. It is highly recommended to spend the night in the Chahjam desert.

In the evening, we explore the tombs of the eminent theosophers Abolhasan Kharghani and Bayazid Bastami in the charming villages of Kharaghan and Bastam, to immerse ourselves in Iranian literature, culture and Sufism.

Then, we head towards the Chahjam desert, approximately 80 km away, for a nocturnal desert crossing. We enjoy dinner in a magnificent oasis and drink tea under the starry sky. We also discover qanats, which we learned about at the Yazd Water Museum.

The night will be spent in the Chahjam desert or in a hotel in Shahroud.

Today, we start by visiting the Abr village before continuing to the Abr forest. The Abr forest, also known as "Cloud Forest", is one of the natural wonders of Iran. Located at the foot of the Chogholgir mountain range, in Semnan province, it is famous for its picturesque landscapes where forests meet clouds.

We descend to the village of Shirinabad by taking the Shirinabad Abr road, on foot or by bike. The road can sometimes be impassable, in which case we take the Alang road.

We continue our day at Gonbad-e Kavus to see the world's tallest brick tower, the Kavus Tower.

We also visit a Turkmen community in local traditional attire, where we can take photos while wearing the traditional clothing of Iranian Turkmen.

We dine at Naharkhoran and spend the night in Gorgan.

This morning, we take a flight to Tehran.

Upon our arrival, we begin by visiting the Azadi Tower.

The planned visits may be carried out or replaced depending on available time. (As part of "Glories of Persia", we did not deem it necessary to book a hotel for this night. However, upon request, we can book a hotel at IKA airport for a few hours or for the entire night, depending on your departure time).