Middle East

Ancient Persia – Modern Iran

Photo credit: Lindsay Fincher

Duration

Price

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Trip Type

Small Group

Group Size

Max 16

Activity Level

1 2 3 4 5

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Iran From Top To Bottom

Overview

Join us on an in-depth exploration of Persia’s rich history and sophisticated culture, stretching from the time of ancient empires to modern-day Iran. The itinerary counts 13 UNESCO World Heritage Sites among its scores of marvels and includes opportunities to experience warm, welcoming Iranian hospitality.

With MIR’s expert guides leading the way, you’ll tour some of the world’s most impressive ancient ruins, highlighted by vast, ornate Persepolis. You’ll marvel at the greatest achievements of Persian architecture, including the intricate design and brilliant colors of Isfahan’s Imam Mosque. You’ll shop for traditional crafts in the labyrinthian, eight-century-old Tabriz Bazaar. And you’ll discover the country’s diverse subcultures, past and present, from the Zoroastrian Fire Temple of Yazd to the Armenian and Jewish quarters of Isfahan.

Travels to: Iran

Photos with new friends in Iran. Photo credit: Michel Behar

Map

Itinerary

Days 1-3: Tehran (Iran)
Tehran – Iran’s capital and its major metropolis, numbering more than nine million residents – is the natural starting point for exploring the country’s rich history and bustling contemporary life. Visits to major museums provide an introduction to Persian culture, and tours of two palaces are your first immersion into the region’s majestic architecture. You’ll dine at local restaurants, gaze at the spectacular Crown Jewels, and get a photo op at Azadi Tower, Tehran’s iconic modern landmark.

HIGHLIGHTS
- Golestan Palace, the 16th-century fortress of the Safavid Dynasty, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Sa’ad Abad Palace, a beautifully manicured 700-acre complex that was once home to the royal family
- The spectacular Iranian Crown Jewels, including Darya-ye-Nur, the world’s largest uncut diamond, and the Peacock Throne, covered in over 23,000 gems
- Reza Abbasi Museum’s extensive array of decorative arts, some dating back well over a thousand years
- The Carpet Museum, a striking showcase for one of Persia’s signature crafts
Days 4-6: Tabriz, Zanjan
A flight of a little over an hour takes you from Tehran to Tabriz, a city of 1.7 million that serves as capital of Iran’s East Azerbaijan Province. Tabriz is home to one of the world’s oldest and largest covered bazaars and is the site of the Blue Mosque, renowned for its 15th-century mosaics. A day trip takes you to the remote Monastery of St. Stephanos, a thousand-year-old testament to the long history of Christianity in the region. The following day, visit the Throne of Solomon, an archaeological site that includes ancient Zoroastrian and Sassanian temples, and spend the night in the charming city of Zanjan.

HIGHLIGHTS
- Browsing through the grand labyrinth of Tabriz Bazaar, a UNESCO-listed site that’s been flourishing since the 13th century
- The intricate, arabesque mosaics decorating Tabriz’s Blue Mosque
- The UNESCO-listed Monastery of St. Stephanos, distinguished by its elaborate, Armenian-style brickwork
- The remains of a 3rd-century Zoroastrian fire temple at the UNESCO-listed Throne of Solomon
Days 7-10: Kerman, Rayen, Jupar, Yazd
The next stop is the mile-high city of Kerman. This serves as a base for exploring the ancient citadel of Rayen, the mausoleum of revered Sufi teacher Shah Nematollah Vali, and UNESCO-listed Shahzadeh – one of Iran’s grandest Persian gardens. During your time in Kerman you’ll tour the city’s splendid bazaar, sip tea in what was once a traditional bathhouse, and visit a workshop in the celebrated weaving center of Jupar. The next stop is Yazd, a desert city of such beauty and cultural significance that it’s designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in its entirety. Yazd is a traditional center of Zoroastrianism; its Fire Temple remains an important pilgrimage site, and its Towers of Silence, central to Zoroastrian death rituals, loom on the hilltops outside of town.

HIGHLIGHTS
- Rayen Castle, one of the finest examples in the world of ancient mud-brick architecture
- The vibrant blue-tiled dome and minarets of the Shah Nematollah Vali Mausoleum
- The terraced pools gracing UNESCO-listed Shahzadeh Garden
- Taking tea in Kerman at a former bathhouse that’s maintained its original elegant tile-work
- The many treasures Yazd, including the UNESCO-listed Dowlat Garden, the Friday Mosque, and the Zoroastrian Fire Temple and Towers of Silence
Days 11-14: Shiraz, Persepolis, Firuzabad, Bishapur, Yasuj
Departing from Yazd, stop at the ruins of the city of Pasargadae, founded by Cyrus the Great in the 6th century BC. Next, arrive in Shiraz, one of Iran’s most beautiful and historically rich cities renowned for its gorgeous gardens and intricate architecture. Shiraz is also a base for two memorable day trips: to Persepolis, one of the world’s great archaeological sites, and to Firuzabad, home to the Ardashir I Palace and a congregating point for Qashqai nomads. A mountain drive the following day leads to the city of Bishapur, built by King Shapur I in 266 and famed for its ancient reliefs carved into a cliffside.

HIGHLIGHTS
- The limestone mausoleum of Cyrus the Great at the UNESCO-listed ruins of Pasargadae
- The brilliant colors of Nasir-ol-Molk Mosque and the cypress-lined avenues of Naranjestan Garden, two highlights of Shiraz
- The ornate columns and beautifully rendered bas-reliefs at UNESCO-listed Persepolis, once one of the great cities of the ancient world and now one of the world’s most impressive archaeological sites
- Dining on Persian stew at a local restaurant in Firuzabad
- The towering cliffside reliefs of Bishapur, depicting military triumphs by Cyrus the Great over Roman adversaries
Days 15-19: Isfahan, Tehran
Past and present majestically intertwine in the city of Isfahan, where beautiful, historic public spaces buzz with activity. Stroll through the centerpiece, UNESCO-listed Imam Square, and explore the spectacular buildings that surround it – the Imam Mosque, the Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque, and the Ali-Qapu Palace. Other Isfahan attractions include the Royal Qeisarieh Bazaar, the Friday Mosque, the Chehel Sotun Palace, the elegant bridges over the Zayandeh River, and the Armenian and Jewish quarters. En route to Tehran for departure, discover a final UNESCO-listed site: Bagh-e Fin, a classic Persian garden.

HIGHLIGHTS
- Taking in the scene at 22-acre Imam Square, one of the largest city squares in the world
- The turquoise minarets and intricate tile-work of the magnificent Imam Mosque
- Shopping for classic Persian arts and crafts at the immense Royal Qeisarieh Bazaar
- Eight hundred years of Persian architecture on display at UNESCO-listed Friday Mosque, the largest and most eclectic mosque in all of Iran
- Discovering the legacies of minority cultures in Isfahan’s Armenian and Jewish quarters
- The beautiful, brilliantly engineered waterworks at Bagh-e Fin

Dates & Prices

Small group tour – max 16 travelers

Land tour price, per person. Based on double occupancy and minimum group size of 6 travelers.

Call for dates and prices

What's Included

Activity Level

Level 3: Medium

Gallery

1/18 Photos with new friends in Iran. Michel Behar
2/18 Exterior of the Pink Mosque in Shiraz. Ann Schneider
3/18 Locals in Iran. Ann Schneider
4/18 Strolling Imam Square, Isfahan. Ann Schneider
5/18 Local women in Iran. Ann Schneider
6/18 Meeting locals in Iran. Richard Fejfar
7/18 The Friday Mosque in Isfahan, Iran. Jessica Clark
8/18 Imam Square in Isfahan, Iran. Jessica Clark
9/18 High school girls on a field trip capture fellow tour member near Shiraz. Patricia Harris
10/18 Exploring the ruins of UNESCO-listed Persepolis. Michel Behar
11/18 Mud-brick fortress of Arg-e Rayen. Michel Behar
12/18 Tehran's soaring Azadi Tower. Richard Fejfar
13/18 Exterior of Isfahan's UNESCO-listed Friday (Jameh) Mosque. Lindsay Fincher
14/18 Walking across the dry riverbed of the Si-o-se-pol bridge in Isfahan. Lindsay Fincher
15/18 Beautiful jewelry to be found at Isfahan's market. Lindsay Fincher
16/18 Stunning architectural details of the ceiling found in Isfahan's Hasht Behesht Palace. Richard Fejfar
17/18 View of Tehran and the Alborz Mountains on the northern edge of the city. Lindsay Fincher
18/18 Towering minarets of the Jameh Mosque in Yazd, Iran. Lindsay Fincher

Traveler Reviews

"An amazing historical, archeological, and cultural trip. Friendly, warm, welcoming people. Wonderful food, beautiful mosque, amazing landscape and mountains. "

C. Yee

Honolulu, HI
"Most people said, when hearing we were going to Iran, that we were nuts. But on the contrary, the trip was enlightening and more people should go to experience the people to people contact."

D. & J. Stepner

Olympic Valley, CA

Ancient Persia – Modern Iran

Iran From Top To Bottom

Overview

Map

Itinerary

Dates & Prices

What's Included

Activity Level

Gallery

Traveler Reviews

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Ancient Persia – Modern Iran

Iran From Top To Bottom

Overview

Map

Itinerary

Dates & Prices

What's Included

Activity Level

Gallery

Stay A Little Longer...

Traveler Reviews

Stories To Inspire

Introducing the Middle East

Why Travel to the UAE?

Why You Shouldn’t Miss The Louvre in Abu Dhabi

Get Our News Straight To Your Inbox