Small Africa of Iran

Nayband

Shah Nematollah

Naghsh e Jahan Square

Nasir al Mulk

Rayen Citadel

Vakil Complex

Overview

A lot of great attractions are gathered in this 14-day tour to fulfill all demands of different tastes and desires. We planned this trip for the ones who want to visit classic route and don’t want to lose some beautiful cities and villages in the east side of Iran. Tehran, Kashan, Isfahan, Yazd and Shiraz will be visited. Besides, you will discover Kerman and the cities around, Birjand and Ferdows in desert area. Nayband, which we call it small Africa of Iran, will be explored in this trip. You will surely be delightful after the end of this journey.

Details

Arrival City: Tehran

Theme: Cultural Tours

Departure City: Tehran

Duration: 14 Days

Cities: Tehran, Birjand, Ferdows, Kerman, Shiraz, Yazd, Meybod, Nain, Isfahan, Kashan

Highlights

Visiting Akbarieh Garden, one of Persian gardens registered in UNESCO list.

Being surprised by visiting Shazde Mahan Garden in the heart of desert.

Visiting Persepolis, the seat of Cyrus the Great, declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Visiting Sa'ad Abad Palace, the masterpiece of Qajar in north of Tehran.

Discovering the secrets of Jame Mosque of Yazd, an old building from Sasanid era.

Exploring a stair village of Nayband known as small Africa of Iran.

Related Attractions

National Jewelry Museum in Tehran

National Museum of Iran in Tehran

Grand Bazaar in Tehran

Tajrish Bazaar in Teheran

Darband in Tehran

Saheb Gharaniyeh Palace of Niavaran Complex in Tehran

Naqsh-e Jahan Square in Isfahan

Si-o-se Pol (Allahverdi Khan Bridge) in Isfahan

Qeysarie Bazaar in Isfahan

Ali Qapu Palace in Isfahan

Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque in Isfahan

Chehel Sotoun Palace in Isfahan- The Persian Gardens

Zoroastrian Fire Temple in Yazd

Zoroastrian Towers of Silence in Yazd

Amir Chakhmaq Square in Yazd

Yazd Water Museum

Fahadan Neighborhood in Yazd

Borujerdiha House in Kashan

Tabatabaei House in Kashan

Fin Garden in Kashan

Eram Garden in Shiraz- The Persian Gardens

Nasir-ol-molk Mosque in Shiraz

Tomb of Hafez in Shiraz

Arg of Karim Khan in Shiraz

Tomb of Saadi in Shiraz

Ganjali Khan Complex in Kerman

Akbarieh Garden in Birjand

Birjand Castle

Jameh Mosque in Nain

Baghestan-e Olya village in Ferdows

Qanat of Baladeh in Ferdows

Pasargadae

Shah Ne’matollah Vali Shrine in Mahan

Shazdeh Garden in Mahan- The Persian Gardens

Map

Itinerary

DAY 1: Tehran

First of all, you are greeted by our tour leader at the airport and then transferred to the hotel. After a quick rest, you start the journey by visiting Golestan Palace which is including some beautiful royal buildings. Iran National Museum and Crown Jewels Museum are the next points for today's excursion. To end your day, you have some free time for shopping in Tehran Grand Bazar which is the beating heart of capital city of Iran.

DAY 2: Tehran Full Day

As you visit the attractions in central district of Tehran, today you will go to northern part of the city to visit some palaces. You head off for luxurious Sa'dabad and Niavaran Palaces. After enjoying these sites you go to Tajrish Bazar which is a small traditional Bazar. Next you go to Darband Mountainous area. You come back to your hotel and rest for the next day.

DAY 3: Tehran to Birjand

You take a flight to Birjand, which is known as the city of pines. Upon arrival, you start visiting some important monuments of Birjand including Birjand Castle, Shokatiyeh School and Post Office Building .The last point is Pordeli House which is one of the most spectacular examples of residential buildings in semi-desert areas. Next, you visit Akbarieh Garden which beautifully indicates the strong potentials of the environment and nature. In the afternoon you have a visit to Amir Arab Zurkhaneh and watch an ancient sport called Pahlevani rituals. You stay the night at your hotel.

DAY 4: Birjand to Ferdows

In the morning, we drive to Ferdows to visit a UNESCO World Heritage site, Qanat Baladeh. Then, you visit Baghestan Olia and Toon Historical Town which is consisting of Olia Mosque and Kheiruz Traditional Bath. You come back to Birjand to take some rest and stay the night at your hotel.

DAY 5: Birjand to Nayband and Kerman

Today is the time to go to a unique area of Nayband which is known as Small Africa of Iran. You visit Nayband Castle, Nayband historical old village and Dig-e-Rostam Hot Spring. Finally you continue the way to Kerman to spend the night there.

DAY 6: Kerman Full Day

Today you visit a city which is well known for its long history and strong cultural heritage. First of all, you visit Rayen Citadel which is an adobe structure. Then, move towards Mahan for visiting Shazdeh Mahan Garden, a UNESCO listed Persian garden and Shah Nematollah Vali's Holy Shrine. Come back to Kerman for enjoying Ganjali Khan Complex which includes a square, bazaar, mosque, bathhouse, madrasa, cistern, and caravanserai.

DAY 7: Kerman to Shiraz

In the middle of the way from Kerman to Shiraz, you should not miss Sarvestan Palace which was constructed during Sassanid dynasty to be used as a Zoroastrian fire temple as well as a gubernatorial residence. You spend the night in Shiraz.

DAY 8: Shiraz Full Day

A whole day is going to be spent in Shiraz. Nasir-ol-Molk Mosque is the first monument you visit to enjoy its wonderful beauties. Karim Khan Citadel and Vakil Complex (bath, mosque and bazaar) host a lot of visitors and you visit them today. Beautiful Qavam House and Eram Garden are the two important garden in which you will spend time on their sightseeing. In the end, you enjoy Mausoleum of Hafez and Mausoleum of Sa'di for making your day a memorable one.

DAY 9: Shiraz to Pasargadae and Yazd

Pasargadae in neighboring Shiraz hosting the tomb of Cyrus the Great, is magnificent enough to encourage you to spend time exploring . It is an archaeological site and one of Iran's UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Continue the way to arrive to Yazd where you spend the night in.

DAY 10: Yazd Full Day

A day is not enough for the city which was registered in the UNESCO list but we try to not miss the important sites. Towers of Silence which is also famous as Dakhmeh is where you start the day with. Visiting Zoroastrian Fire Temple is the next plan. You will visit Jame' Mosque of Yazd and enjoy walking through historical Fahadan neighborhood. Amir Chakhmagh Square,the symbol of Yazd and Water Museum are other places to visit today. At night, you can watch shiny stars of desert sky in this adorable city before going to bed.

DAY 11: Yazd to Isfahan

We start driving to Isfahan in the morning but through the way, we stop in Meybod to visit its attractions such as Meybod Caravanserai, Pigeon’s Tower and Ice Storage. These sites will let you know how people live in the desert area. After driving for a while we receive Na'in and visit Jame' Mosque of Nain and Ethnology Museum. Continue the way to Isfahan and take a rest at night for tomorrow discovery of Isfahan city.

DAY 12: Isfahan Full Day

Today is the time for enjoying the astonishing sites of Isfahan which is called “Half the World”. You first go to Naghshe Jahan Square which has 4 important monuments in its four corners. Imam Mosque(Shah Mosque) attracts all the visitors with its magnificent blue dome. Sheykh Lotfollah Mosque catches the eyes with gentle interior designing. Ali Qapu Palace and Qeysariye Bazar are other places you visit. Chehel Sotun Palace is the next place. You will have a chance for walking on historical Si-o-se pol and Khaju Bridges in the evening.

DAY 13: Isfahan to Kashan and Tehran

Today you have a plan to visit Kashan on the way to Tehran. This city owns a lot of attractions such as Fin Garden, Borujerdi Historical House and Tabatabee Historical House. You go directly to IKA Airport in Tehran.

DAY 14: Tehran

You fly back home and think about your wonderful trip to Persia.

Inclusions

Visa Application Process

All transportations by best quality vehicles including transfers from/to hotel

All domestic flights

All entrance fees of sites mentioned in the itinerary

Mid-day refreshments

Professional English-speaking guide who accompanies you all days

Insurance fee

Accommodation in the hotels mentioned in the itinerary including breakfast and wifi

Exclusions

International flight

Lunch & Dinner

Related Cities

Notes

Depending on the group size, the tour price will change.

Fridays are weekend in Iran and Bazar is closed.

Opening dates and time of Jewels Museum in Tehran are Saturdays, Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays from 14:00 to 16:00.

The hotels could be replaced with other hotels in same category if these hotels have limited availability for your selected dates.

States offices, administrations, post offices and banks are generally open from 07:30 to 12:00 and reopen after lunch break from 13:00 to 16:00.

On 15 May, 03 June, 17 June, 29 & 30 August and 16 October 2020, all tourist sites are close in Iran.

You can ask the officer to not stamp your passport.

You must follow the rules of the Iranian government for clothing. Women should cover their hair whenever they are in public (since they land at the Iranian airport), for men the use of shorts is not allowed.