IRAN: SECRETS OF PERSIA

Transcription

1 th Street, Suite 4 Emeryville, California T: MTSOBEK ( ) F: info@mtsobek.com Isfahan. Serdar Yagci, istock photo TRIP DETAILS 18 days ~ Iran 17 days moderate touring, some long drives 16 nights hotels, 1 night caravanserai IRAN: SECRETS OF PERSIA Journey through the history, geography and contemporary culture of Iran on this Follow the Leader Trip with Gary Wintz TRIP LEVEL MODERATE 2010 GROUP TRIP Apr 5 Apr LAND COST $6,895 per person (9-15 members) $7,595 per person (6-8 members) $260 internal airfare $950 single supplement HIGHLIGHTS Visit five UNESCO World Heritage Sites Persepolis, Saint Stephanoes, Soltaniyeh, Pasargadae, and Meidan Emam Spend the night in a caravanserai, once used to house weary travelers journeying along the Silk Road Travel with expert guide Gary Wintz, who has been leading tours to Iran for almost 20 years Revised August 24, 2009 jd

2 A Follow the Leader Trip with Gary Wintz I have been visiting Iran for well over thirty years and have been leading tours there since the early 1990s. Iran is the friendliest country in the world to Americans. We are certain to be invited into people s homes, and maybe even to a wedding or two. This is my favorite part about visiting Iran connecting with the people on as many levels as possible. ~ Gary Wintz I ran is a fascinating place. Once and by many still it was deemed too dangerous to visit. But look beneath the veil of politics, and we discover an incredible warmth emanating from the people. A people who would very much like to be our friends. A vast country roughly the size of Alaska and three times the size of France Iran has a continuous history of 2,500 years. Officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, it was known internationally as Persia until Host to some of the world s most renowned and best preserved archaeological sites, dating from the Persian Empire and conquests of Alexander the Great, it has been recognized with nine UNESCO World Heritage Sites, with several additional sites under consideration. Iran gave birth to Zoroastrianism, thought to be the first monotheistic religion, and today has thriving industry, agricultural prosperity, and a vibrant sense of culture. Wander one of the many bazaars, and experience the organized chaos of sights, sounds, and smells that will tempt you at every turn. Discover the 2,500-year history of Persian carpets. Marvel at the bridges and squares and other gathering places, witness to a thriving culture where people enjoy spending time together. Consider life under a theocracy, with no separation of church and state, where actions are closely controlled for the citizen s protection. Meditate at one of the mosques or temples, considering what spirituality means to this culture. Experience the history, the architecture, the ruins, and their inspiration. Imagine traveling along the Silk Road via camel. Take pleasure in the landscape, from grandiose mountains to high plateaus to vast desert valleys, baked in sunlight and illuminated at night by millions of stars. Approximately two-thirds of the population today are under age 30, born after the Islamic Revolution, and not directly tied to memories of the past. English is widely spoken here; signs in major cities are written in both Farsi and English. And the people are friendly and kind and just as curious about us as we are about them. Visitors are considered a gift from God, and treated with generous hospitality. Join us and be one of the few lucky travelers to receive a warm welcome in this exotic and unfamiliar place.

3 ITINERARY We will rendezvous at the Imam Khomeini International Airport (airport code IKA) in Tehran very early in the morning on Day 1. It takes two to three days (depending on your airline schedule) to travel to Tehran. The date and time of arrival in Tehran varies greatly from carrier to carrier, but most flights arrive in the early morning. We ll hold rooms for you at the hotel beginning early morning of Day 1. DAY 1, April 5 ~ Tehran Early in the morning, arrive at the international airport in Tehran, the capital city and modern heart of Iran. A Mountain Travel Sobek representative will meet you outside the customs and immigration area at the airport, brief you on your immediate arrangements, and escort you to your hotel. There will be a group meeting with your leader, Gary Wintz, in the morning around 10:15 a.m. The rest of the morning is free to explore the city on your own. Our hotel is situated adjacent to Laleh Park, a large park similar in function to New York s Central Park well kept with multiple green areas and walking paths. It is adjacent to Tehran s Museum of Contemporary Art, which not only has an interesting collection of works by modern Iranian painters, but is also thought to have the largest collection of valuable Western modern art outside the U.S. and Europe. Our afternoon tour includes a visit to the Carpet Museum, which features more than 36,000 square feet of exhibition space, has the largest collection of Persian carpets on the planet, and includes a permanent exhibition as well as rotating exhibitions of carpets, kilims, and carpet designs. L,D Laleh Hotel or Esteghlal Hotel DAY 2, April 6 ~ Tehran After a buffet breakfast, we drive to the city center to visit one of the gates of old Tehran, then spend the rest of the morning visiting the National Museum of Iran. One of the most acclaimed museums in all of Iran, in existence for over 70 years, the National Museum is the largest archaeological and history collection in the country. It contains items dating from the 5th millennium B.C., pre-historic, Median, Achaemenid, Selucid, Parthian, and Sassanid periods, preserving some of the world s most valuable Persian antiquities, right up to the modern Islamic era. The museum consists of two buildings: Godard's building, which contains pre-islamic period exhibits, primarily excavations at Persepolis, Ismail Abad, Shush, Rey, and Turang Tappeh; and the smaller Museum of the Islamic Period next door (opened in 1996), with Islamic art, books, calligraphy, carpets, ceramics, miniatures, and textiles representing over 1,000 years of Muslim history of Iran. (The smaller museum is under extended renovations, and it is very likely that it will not have reopened by the time of our visit.) After lunch we ll visit the incomparable collection of royal jewelry, the Crown Jewels of Iran, by far the largest and most dazzling collection of jewels in the world. Located in the National Treasury of Iran, inside the Central Bank of Iran, this collection was so valuable that it used to back the Iranian national currency as a reserve. While it is on public display, visits are strictly regulated two hours a day, three days a week, with government representatives present during display hours. Items ranging from crowns and tiaras to a throne studded with an array of some 26,733 precious gems date from the 16th to 20th centuries. But the diamond of the National Treasury is the true 3

4 highlight: Daryayeh-E-Noor, the world s largest uncut diamond, which fittingly bears the name that describes the entire collection, The Sea of Light. We ll return to the hotel to freshen up before going to dinner at nearby Zeytun Restaurant, an intimate setting where we can order a series of small plates for our meal (like Greek meze or Spanish tapas). B,L,D Laleh Hotel or Esteghlal Hotel. DAY 3, April 7 ~ Tabriz After an early breakfast, we ll have a short drive to Mehrabad Airport for an hour-long flight to Tabriz, in the northwestern part of the country. In Tabriz we ll visit the 15th-century Masjed-e Kaboud (Blue Mosque), one of Iran s most celebrated mosques, known as much for its splendid tile work as for the fact that its floor plan is more akin to the Ottoman mosques of Turkey a square central chamber topped with a dome, and framed on three sides by nine domed bays than traditional Iranian constructions. From here we ll proceed to the Azarbayjan Museum in the city center noted for its wide collection of valuable relics including ancient local archaeological finds, a coin collection, handwritten and printed historical books, and anthropological sculptures. Later in the day we ll pass the ruins of Arg-e Alishah, the biggest Jame mosque in town, dating from the 13th century Mongol period (Jamé stems from the Arabic root word Jam, and indicates a place of gathering). We ll stroll in the bustling medieval Bazaar of Tabriz, which was visited by Marco Polo, who enjoyed its glorious architecture, decorated with wonderful designs, as well as the colors and smells of exotic spices. After a late afternoon hotel check-in, we will meet in the lobby to go to one of Tabriz s traditional restaurants for dinner. B,L,D Pars Hotel or International Hotel or similar DAY 4, April 8 ~ Tabriz Today we have a full-day excursion to the wonderland of Saint Stephanos monastery in Jolfa, 100 miles north of Tabriz. Make sure you have the delicious honey and cream breakfast in the hotel this morning, which will give you a good amount of energy to hit the road! En route we ll travel alongside the Araxes River through a deep and gorgeous valley bordering Nakhjavan (the Republic of Azerbaijan), passing by an 11th-century Seljuq tomb tower. We ll encounter the ruins of a sizeable 16thcentury Safavid caravanserai, built so that travelers who crossed the river into Iran could rest before proceeding to Sojia (now Shoja). And we ll see an early Christian chapel, the Nakheirchi (literally cattle herder or shepherd) Church, built by a cattle herder so that shepherds and other cattle herders would not be deprived of the blessing of prayer taken within a church while tending their animals outside the village. Upon arrival at Saint Stephanos, we ll be amazed at the incredible artistry and detailed stonework that covers this monastery, not only on the interior but also on exterior surfaces. Built between the 10th and 12th centuries, it is considered one of the architectural masterpieces of northwestern Iran. The church is constructed entirely of stone; the pillars and the dome The Armenian Monastic Ensembles of Iran, in the north-west of the country, consists of three monastic ensembles of the Armenian Christian faith: St Thaddeus and St Stephanos and the Chapel of Dzordzor. These edifices - the oldest of which, St Thaddeus, dates back to the 7th century are examples of outstanding universal value of the Armenian architectural and decorative traditions. They bear testimony to very important interchanges with the other regional cultures, in particular the Byzantine, Orthodox and Persian. Situated on the south-eastern fringe of the main zone of the Armenian cultural space, the monasteries constituted a major centre for the dissemination of that culture in the region. They are the last regional remains of this culture that are still in a satisfactory state of integrity and authenticity. Furthermore, as places of pilgrimage, the monastic ensembles are living witnesses of Armenian religious traditions through the centuries. ~ Armenian Monastic Ensembles of Iran UNESCO World Heritage Site whc.unesco.org 4

5 above the gate are of red limestone. Beautiful murals cover the dome, with remarkable stone reliefs of the disciples, saints, and angels, as well as detailed ornamentation on the vaults, arches, pillars, and columns all crafted with incredible precision. Not surprisingly, Saint Stephanos has found its place in the hearts of Christians throughout the world, and is visited annually by hundreds of Iranian and foreign tourists. After our sightseeing, we ll enjoy a picnic lunch in this medieval setting next to the monastery. The afternoon drive will take us back to the civilized world and our hotel in Tabriz. We ll have dinner tonight in the adjacent 17 th - century pavilion park restaurant, El-Goli, and take an after-dinner walk back to the hotel. B,L,D Pars Hotel or International Hotel or similar DAY 5, April 9 ~ Tabriz Kandovan Tabriz After breakfast we ll drive 30 miles southwest of Tabriz through a scenic valley to Kandovan, in the foothills of Mount Sahand (12,162'), in the Osku district of eastern Azerbaijan. Kandovan (plural for kando, which means bees nest) is a scenic and unique volcanic village, set with rock dwellings reminiscent of Turkey s Cappadocia. While we re exploring, we ll witness the ecological architecture of these ancient structures, dug out of volcanic rock. Despite their age (they date back about 800 years), today not only are they inhabited, but there is water, plumbing, electricity, and a sewage systems. As we stroll the back alleys of these moon-like structures, we ll also hope to meet the inhabitants. We may even be asked inside one of the caves and offered tea by a local family! On the way to the village we ll take in views of Mount Sahand. Remember the local honey at breakfast this morning? It was produced from the flowers growing on the side of this mountain. Locally Mount Sahand is called Jam Daghi mountain of the chalice referring to a small spring on the peak, and to its sacredness in the ancient religion of Persia, Zoroastrianism, believed by many to be the first monotheistic religion. This area has hundreds of spas catering to multitudes of peoples and nationalities swimming and delighting in their miraculous healing and curative waters, some of which are thought to be a cure for kidney disease. B,L,D Pars Hotel or International Hotel or similar DAY 6, April 10 ~ Tabriz Tehran Today we ll travel just over 400 miles as we make our way back to Tehran. We begin the day with a lovely morning drive through the passes, villages, and cities of Azerbaijan in the northwestern part of Iran via the Alborz mountain range. This range stretches some 600 miles from Armenia in the west, and Turkmenistan in the east, forming an arc to the south of the Caspian Sea. With average elevations topping 9,000 feet, the largest mountain in the Middle East resides here: Mount Damavand (18,602'). After lunch in Zanjan, we ll visit the 14th century tomb-tower, Soltaniyeh, with wonderful Islamic calligraphies and decorations. It is recognized as the tallest religious building of the time and is considered to be a peer of Santa Maria Del Fiore in Florence, Italy. Our next stop is in Qazvin where you ll see the 11thcentury Seljuq period Jame Mosque and the 17 th to19th-century art of tiles and mirrors in the mausoleum of Shazde-Hussain. From here we are just two hours by freeway to our hotel in Tehran. The mausoleum of Oljaytu was constructed in in the city of Soltaniyeh, the capital of the Ilkhanid dynasty, which was founded by the Mongols. Situated in the province of Zanjan, Soltaniyeh is one of the outstanding examples of the achievements of Persian architecture and a key monument in the development of its Islamic architecture. The octagonal building is crowned with a 50 m [164 feet] tall dome covered in turquoise-blue faience and surrounded by eight slender minarets. It is the earliest existing example of the double-shelled dome in Iran. The mausoleum s interior decoration is also outstanding and scholars such as A.U. Pope have described the building as anticipating the Taj Mahal. ~ Soltaniyeh UNESCO World Heritage Site whc.unesco.org 5

6 B,L,D. Laleh Hotel or Esteghlal Hotel DAY 7, April 11 ~ Yazd After enjoying the buffet breakfast in the hotel, we ll transfer to Mehrabad Airport, for a morning flight to Yazd, the driest major city in Iran. Because of its remote desert location and the difficulty in traveling here prior to air travel, Yazd remained largely immune to large battles and the destruction and ravages of war. Today it remains a center of Zoroastrian culture, and Zoroastrians make up 5-10% of the population (20-40,000 people). After checking into our hotel, a lunch of local cuisine will be served. This afternoon we begin our exploration of Yazd with a visit to a Zoroastrian fire-temple. Still in use today, it holds a fire that has been kept alight continuously since 470 A.D.! Although Zoroastrians revere all forms of fire, it is not the fire itself that drives the reverence: fire paired with clean water is an agent of ritual purity. The city also has a Tower of Silence a circular, raised structure used to expose their dead, much like the traditional Tibetan sky burial. As a corpse is deemed unclean, bodies are placed atop this tower, and so exposed to the sun and to birds of prey to prevent decay and its related evils. This evening we will take the opportunity to watch the sunset from this elevated vantage point. B,L,D Moshir ol Mamalek/Safa'iyeh Garden Hotel DAY 8, April 12 ~ Yazd Today we ll have a full-day excursion to Desert One, staging site for the catastrophic military rescue attempt of American hostages in En route we ll visit the Kharaneq oasis, an old desert Sassanid-Islamic citadel and its Jame mosque with a shaking minaret, followed by a stop at the 17th- to19th-century Qajar-Safavid caravanserai. Then we ll drive 85 miles to Robat-e Posht-e Badam, another oasis of adobe houses on the ancient Silk Road. From here, Desert One is less than 20 miles away. Lunch today is a memorable picnic in the silence of the vast desert. The desert has its own clandestine secrets, and on our drive back to Yazd we ll discover one of them, Pir Sabz-e Chak Chak (meaning drip drip, referring to the ever dripping spring from the mountain). This Zoroastrian mountain shrine is perched beneath a towering cliff face, and is famous for being the Ka'ba, or most sacred site, of Zarathustra, the ancient Iranian prophet and religious poet whose hymns are at the liturgical core of Zoroastrianism. It is the annual pilgrimage point for pious Zoroastrians, who descend upon the area each year from June B,L,D Moshir ol Mamalek/Safa'iyeh Garden Hotel DAY 9, April 13 ~ Yazd Zeynoddin Caravanserai After breakfast at our hotel, we ll explore the 15th-century Mirchakhmaq square, followed by a visit to the 14thcentury Jame mosque. Yazd mosques are very well known for their high and lofty minarets, and you can find the tallest one on the Jame mosque. From here, we ll stroll through the spiral back alleys of the old quarters of the city, visiting the prison of Alexander, the 12-Imam mosque, and Lariha House. Built in 1286, Lariha House was built as a house for fabric merchants. The door, windows, and rooms were all decorated with mirrors, making it one of the most beautiful and splendid aristocratic houses of the 13th century. The 18th-century Dowlat Abad garden and its lofty wind tower (badgir) is another wonder of Yazd that we ll visit today. Wind towers, also referred to as wind trappers or ventilation towers, are an inseparable part of the architecture of central and southern Iran, and have provided natural air conditioning in this hot climate for thousands of years. The wind tower in this garden stands almost 110 feet tall, and is considered an architectural masterpiece. We ll experience first-hand how one can be deeply in harmony with nature, and make life more 6

7 enjoyable simply by harnessing the natural elements themselves. Lunch will be served in an 18th-century public bath-house, recently converted into a traditional Persian restaurant. After lunch we ll drive to the early 17th-century Zeynoddin Caravanserai, near the central mountains of Iran. Caravanserai, or roadside inns, date back to the time of the Achaemenids and Darius the Great. Originally located every 30 miles (one day s ride by camel caravan) along the Silk Road from China to Istanbul, they were fortified complexes providing safe refuge for the night. Most often they had a square or rectangular walled exterior, with a single opening just wide enough to let a heavily laden camel or horse to enter, and a courtyard open to the sky. Some were simple with water available for drinking and washing, and stalls, bays, niches, and chambers for the merchants and their animals, servants, and wares; others included a restaurant, market, and entertainment for weary travelers. The Zeynoddin Caravanserai where we will stay tonight is notable for its unique round shape. This is a magnificent place to experience the silence and deep blue sky of the desert, laden with millions of stars, imagining caravans of camels approaching the caravanserai for a night of rest. B,L,D Zeynoddin Caravanserai Pasargadae was the first dynastic capital of the Achaemenid Empire, founded by Cyrus II the Great, in Pars, homeland of the Persians, in the 6th century BC. Its palaces, gardens and the mausoleum of Cyrus are outstanding examples of the first phase of royal Achaemenid art and architecture and exceptional testimonies of Persian civilization. Particularly noteworthy vestiges in the 160-ha site include: the Mausoleum of Cyrus II; Tall-e Takht, a fortified terrace; and a royal ensemble of gatehouse, audience hall, residential palace and gardens. Pasargadae was the capital of the first great multicultural empire in Western Asia. Spanning the Eastern Mediterranean and Egypt to the Hindus River, it is considered to be the first empire that respected the cultural diversity of its different peoples. This was reflected in Achaemenid architecture, a synthetic representation of different cultures. ~ Pasargadae UNESCO World Heritage Site whc.unesco.org DAY 10, April 14 ~ Zeynoddin Caravanserai Shiraz Leaving the caravanserai we ll drive to Shiraz via Shirkuh (Lion) Mountain toward the Zagross mountain ranges. En route we ll stop at the Grand Mosque of Abarqu, to walk around a cypress tree over 4,000 years old. No symbol is more popular in Iranian culture than the cypress; qualities ranging from freedom to perfect poise have been associated with it, and representations in poetry and visual arts are found regularly. As we wander, we ll take some time to meditate with this old tree. An eyewitness to the glorious history of ancient Persia, our picnic lunch here will become another of the memories the tree will now hold. As we leave Abarqu we ll cross a kavir (a desert without any vegetation), turning left in Surmaq to approach Pasargadae, the first Achaemenid capital and the site of Pardises, the ancient Persian royal city-gardens, which we will visit tomorrow. Fabled Shiraz is our final destination today. B,L,D Pars Hotel or Homa Hotel DAY 11, April 15 ~ Shiraz Today may very well be the highlight of our trip, with an excursion to Persepolis, the ancient ceremonial capital of Achaemenids, 30 miles from the city, and on to the royal necropolis in Naqsh-e Rostam, just a few miles northwest of Persepolis. Persepolis was home of the King of Kings for over 200 years. It once was a vast complex located on an elevated terrace, with a series of ceremonial palaces, halls, the royal treasury, and tombs. Burned to the ground by 7

8 Alexander the Great in 330 B.C., today we ll find the incredible remains of several monumental buildings including the Gate of All Nations, Palace of 100 Columns, Palace of Darius, Xerxes Palace, Central Palace, and Apadana Palace. After a tour of these exquisite antiquities we ll dine in a local restaurant and relax before returning to Shiraz. Back in Shiraz, we ll have free time in the 18th-century colorful, traditional, and crowded Vakil Bazaar, where you ll find Persian rugs, spices, copper handicrafts, and antiques. We ll end in Saray-e Moshir, an urban caravanserai at the south entrance of the bazaar that now functions as exhibition space for Iranian handicrafts. B,L,D Pars Hotel or Homa Hotel Founded by Darius I in 518 B.C., Persepolis was the capital of the Achaemenid Empire. It was built on an immense half-artificial, half-natural terrace, where the king of kings created an impressive palace complex inspired by Mesopotamian models. The importance and quality of the monumental ruins make it a unique archaeological site. ~ Persepolis UNESCO World Heritage Site whc.unesco.org DAY 12, April 16 ~ Shiraz Isfahan This morning we ll head out on a full-day tour of Shiraz, the town of roses and nightingales. This sophisticated city and cultural center was once the capital of Persia (200 years ago), and home to the greatest Persian poets, often referred to as the prophets of love. We ll begin at the idyllic Bagh-e Eram (Eram Garden) with its collection of magnificent roses, followed by a visit to the tomb of Hafiz, the 13th-century mystic and the most celebrated Persian poet. Later we ll enter the old quarter of town, with its heavy traffic and noise, to pay a visit to the 9th-century Jame mosque, Khan theological school, and the colorful nomadic bazaar. We ll take an evening flight to Isfahan. B,L,D Abbasi Hotel or Kowsar Hotel DAY 13, April 17 ~ Isfahan Isfahan (also spelled Esfahan) is a wonderful and colorful city filled with Islamic art and architecture. Twice the capital city of Iran, most recently in the 16th and 17th centuries under Shah Abbas the Great, the Persians called it Nesf-e-Jahan (half the world), meaning that to see it was to see half the world. Our tour begins with the Vank Cathedral, also known as The Church of the Saintly Sisters, which belongs to the Armenian Christians who came to this area in the early 17th century by the order of Shah Abbas the Great. In addition to the cathedral, it houses a museum, a historic printing press, and a large library which includes the first book printed in Iran, as well as an array of Armenian textiles. From here we ll walk (if time permits, otherwise we ll drive) on the Sio-Se-Pol and Khajou bridges to Chehel-Sotoun Palace, which we ll view large frescoes depicting court life, counterbalanced by miniature paintings of the 17th-century Safavid dynasty. Later we ll visit the Jame mosque where you can study and enjoy the thousand-year history of the art and architecture of the Islamic world in Iran. At the end of the day we ll have some time to watch the beauty of a Persian carpet show in a fantastic carpet shop. B,L,D Abbasi Hotel or Kowsar Hotel DAY 14, April 18 ~ Isfahan We ll begin another fascinating day with a walk in the harem garden of the 17th-century Hasht Behesht (Eight Paradises) Palace, where the family of the king used to live. You ll be enchanted by the peaceful sound of water fountains and birds throughout the garden. A short walk leads us to Naqshe- Jahan (Royal) Square, the second largest square in the world. The square was an entertainment site and the main polo ground for the Safavid kings, the first place in the world where polo was played at night. You can imagine the 8 Built by Shah Abbas I the Great at the beginning of the 17th century, and bordered on all sides by monumental buildings linked by a series of twostoreyed arcades, the site is known for the Royal Mosque, the Mosque of Sheykh Lotfollah, the magnificent Portico of Qaysariyyeh and the 15thcentury Timurid palace. They are an impressive testimony to the level of social and cultural life in Persia during the Safavid era. ~ Meidan Emam, Esfahan UNESCO World Heritage Site whc.unesco.org

9 neighing of the horses, struggling and pushed to the limit and the roaring applause of the crowds. The eternal eyewitness to these games and parades is Ali-Qapu Palace, with a large platform from which the court boasted the power of their king. Crossing the square, we ll visit Sheikh Lotfollah, the first ladies mosque in the Islamic world. It was a place where women of the court used to come via the underground tunnel to say their prayers in privacy. Although missing its minaret and courtyard, its great double-shelled dome still glistens in the sun. Inside the dome, we ll find a magnificent mixture of calligraphy and tiles, with a peaceful ambience created by the soft lighting system. As we depart the ladies mosque, you can window-shop your way through the covered bazaar on your way to the Imam Mosque (in Meidan Emam). Shah Abbas built this mosque, his own glorious Jame of Abbasi. It is a main gathering place, especially on Fridays, containing an ocean of blue tile work that embodies a spirit of peace and tranquility, with a pool in the center of the courtyard. We ll relax and meditate for a while, followed by taking a cup of tea at a traditional Sufi teahouse. B,L,D Abbasi Hotel or Kowsar Hotel DAY 15, April 19 ~ Isfahan Abyaneh We ll take a very scenic drive today through the central mountains of Iran, the Karkas (Vulture) Moutains, and to the remote and traditional village of Abyaneh. En route we ll have a look at the façade of a Khanegah (monastery or Dervish-house), visit a Sufi tomb with its magnificent stalactite decorations, and observe a skillful artist in a ceramic workshop in Natanz. Following the spiral rural road through the Karkas Mountains, we ll arrive at Abyaneh, a village that has maintained its identity over the course of centuries. Closed to the world, the people of Abyaneh have kept their ancient traditions, costumes, and dialect intact for hundreds of years. They converted to Islam 400 years after Islam s arrival in Persia, but their present costumes date back to the Safavid era. After walking the beautiful alleys of the village and enjoying the clean air of the highland, we will spend the night in a lovely new mountain resort. B,L,D Abyaneh Hotel DAY 16, April 20 ~ Abyaneh Kashan Tehran We ll drive to Tehran via Kashan, where we ll visit Bagh-e Fin (Fin Garden), a prime example of Persian style gardens of the 17th century with a huge spring and two pavilions. A short drive will take us to the 19 th -century tiled mausoleum of Emamzadeh Ebrahim, where we ll see exceptional tile and mirror work, unique to Persian art. After this, in the old quarter of town, we ll visit a traditional 19th-century house and a covered bazaar. You ll quickly note the difference in temperature between the open air and the covered bazaar, which demonstrates the logic of desert architecture. We ll have lunch in a local restaurant before heading back to Tehran, passing Qom, the main Shia cleric center in Iran and one of the main hubs for Islamic studies. The tomb of Imam Khomeini in the vicinity of Tehran is the last monument we ll seebefore checking into our hotel in Tehran. B,L,D Laleh Hotel or Esteghlal Hotel DAY 17, April 21 ~ Tehran After our buffet breakfast we ll begin a morning tour of Sa ad Abad Palace Complex, the former residence and working office of the Pahlavi kings (Shahs). Walking through the hills of this huge complex of palaces you ll feel the difference in temperature between here and the main city. Later, we ll take the freeway to Reza Abbasi Museum, where you ll find the best gold and silver collections of Achaemenid and Sassanid artifacts. Calligraphy and miniatures are also featured in this museum. We ll have lunch at a local restaurant before returning to the hotel to rest and pack for tomorrow s flight. B,L,D Laleh Hotel or Esteghlal Hotel 9

10 DAY 18, April 22 ~ Depart Transfer to the international airport and fly home. 10

11 2010 LAND COST $6,895 per person (9-15 members) $7,595 per person (6-8 members) $260 internal airfare (Tehran/Tabriz Tehran/Yazd Shiraz/Isfahan subject to change). Mountain Travel Sobek will book and issue these tickets for you. Rates quoted are per person, based on sharing double accommodations. Single Supplement $950 for requested singles; $475 for forced singles. If you prefer single accommodations, you must pay the Single Supplement Fee. If you re traveling alone and wish to share accommodations, we ll try our best to find you a roommate. If that s not possible, we will only charge you half of the single supplement. Tier Pricing Adventure travel works best with a small group of people. In order to operate these small groups, our trips are priced according to the number of full-price passengers on the trip. (Mountain Travel Sobek staff, trip doctors, and other discounted travelers are excluded from the count for this purpose.) We initially invoice you at the highest tier level price (the smallest group size we can operate). If the price drops due to an increase in group size, you will be refunded the difference. What s Included expert leadership accommodations in hotels meals as noted (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner) flights within Iran (see separate cost above) arrival and departure airport transfers sightseeing as noted in the itinerary ground transportation tipping to drivers, hotel and restaurant staffs basic medical and evacuation insurance What s Not International airfare to and from Tehran; meals not noted in itinerary; insurance other than basic medical and evacuation insurance as noted above (we strongly recommend you purchase the supplementary trip insurance offered by Mountain Travel Sobek, which includes trip cancellation insurance); optional tipping to leader and local guides; excess baggage charges; airport taxes; and items of a personal nature (sodas, alcoholic beverages, laundry, etc.). Air Travel Airfare is not included in the land cost of our trips. For air reservations, we recommend you contact the airlines directly, either by phone or the Internet. In addition, many travelers elect to use their frequent flyer miles when traveling with us. But please check with our staff before purchasing or obtaining your tickets. We need to verify your arrival and departure schedule and ensure we have enough participants to operate the trip. 11

12 Payment & Cancellation Policies I. Payment At time of reservation: $ days prior to departure: $ days prior to departure: Balance II. Cancellation If written notice of cancellation is received: Cancellation Fee will be: From time of reservation until 90 days prior to departure $ to 60 days prior to departure $ to 30 days or fewer prior to departure 50% of Land Cost 29 days or fewer prior to departure 100% of Land Cost WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT Expert Leadership Expert leadership is the key to an exciting, unforgettable experience. Our trips feature gifted leaders for whom leading trips is a true vocation. Besides showing you wonders you d never find on your own, they make sure everything runs smoothly and safely without a hitch. They are knowledgeable about all aspects of your trip, and take great pleasure in sharing their insights with you. More than just guides, they positively elevate your experience by being teachers, companions, and the best of friends. You ll be in good hands with them every step of the way. Gary Wintz has traveled to more than 220 countries in the last 40 years, researching, writing, photographing, and lecturing about distant lands and cultures. He has worked on humanitarian projects in Indochina, Indonesia, and Bangladesh, and has contributed his expertise to development projects in Ethiopia for UNICEF. In , Gary taught at universities in both China and in Tibet and lectured for the Soviet Academy of Sciences in Gary has lectured on Central Asia, Inner Asia, Southeast Asia and Buddhist themes at many universities, including Harvard, Yale, Brown, and Columbia as well as lectured on cruise ships and private jet trips. He has led hundreds of trips to all continents. Gary is a longtime member of the Mongolia Society, the Association of Asian Studies, the American Institute of Afghanistan Studies, and the Central Eurasian Studies Society as well as a number of Southeast Asian study groups. He has been a long time leader of citizens diplomacy exchanges, including pioneering "peace trains" on the trans-siberian during the cold war days of the former Soviet Union. Some of his current soft diplomacy "signatures" include utilizing creative techniques, such as Frisbees and dark chocolates. Gary wins rave reviews as a tour director. Activity Level Mountain Travel Sobek trips are designed for flexible, energetic people who like to be active and intellectually involved, and who have a spirit of adventure and a positive attitude. We rate this trip as moderate in nature. It involves some long drives and city explorations, mostly on foot. To get the most out of the trip and enjoy the sightseeing tours, a good physical conditioning program should be undertaken beforehand. Jogging and bicycling are excellent for fitness. Consult your physician for advice. 12

13 Weather In general Iran has an arid climate, with annual precipitation below 10 inches for most of the country. But temperatures do vary with the seasons, with cold winters and extremely hot summers. Spring weather, when we offer our trip, is relatively mild. Tehran, Iran Elevation: 3,906 feet Latitude: 35 41' N Longitude: ' E Month Average High Low Rainfall (inches) Jan 35 F 41 F 29 F 1.7 Feb 41 F 47 F 34 F 1.5 Mar 50 F 57 F 42 F 1.5 Apr 63 F 71 F 54 F 1.3 May 71 F 80 F 62 F 0.6 Jun 82 F 92 F 72 F 0.1 Jul 88 F 97 F 78 F 0.1 Aug 85 F 95 F 76 F 0.1 Sep 79 F 88 F 70 F 0.1 Oct 66 F 74 F 58 F 0.4 Nov 53 F 60 F 45 F 1.0 Dec 42 F 48 F 36 F 1.2 Source: Tabriz, Iran Elevation: 4,316 feet Latitude: 38 05' N Longitude: ' E Month Average High Low Rainfall (inches) Jan 27 F 32 F 21 F 1.1 Feb 31 F 37 F 25 F 1.1 Mar 41 F 48 F 34 F 2.4 Apr 53 F 61 F 45 F 2.4 May 62 F 70 F 53 F 1.8 Jun 72 F 81 F 63 F 0.8 Jul 80 F 89 F 71 F 0.1 Aug 79 F 88 F 70 F 0.2 Sep 71 F 80 F 61 F 0.4 Oct 59 F 67 F 50 F 1.4 Nov 45 F 51 F 37 F 1.0 Dec 34 F 39 F 29 F 1.3 Source: 13

14 Accommodation Please note that the standards of accommodation in Iran are comfortable, but not five star, even if they say five star. We have chosen to stay in the better hotels and caravanserais available, but will not expect the same standards we are accustomed to. THE NEXT STEP Ready to go? Signing up is easy! Just call us at MTSOBEK ( ) and reserve your spot! You can also book a reservation online at our website ( If you prefer to use a travel agent, he or she can book your trip at no extra cost and provide other helpful assistance. Then Leave the Rest to Us Before you go, we provide you with extensive pre-departure information, including clothing recommendations, suggested reading lists, and other details. Why Mountain Travel Sobek is Your First Choice for Adventure Mountain Travel Sobek is the pioneer in active adventure travel. No other adventure travel company can lay claim to that title. We were the first to take Americans trekking in Nepal, raft the wild rivers of Africa, and open up many previously inaccessible corners of the world to curious travelers. We set the standard for adventure travel and have a strong reputation for excellence that we do everything we can to maintain. Since we are the leading adventure company, we have a lot to live up to, so we make sure we provide safe, quality trips and the best customer service to our passengers. References Don t take our word for how great our trips are. We ll be happy to provide you with references of satisfied past travelers. Questions? Feel free to call us at MTSOBEK ( ) if you still have any questions or concerns. We re here to help you. You can also check out our website at Note on Itinerary Although we will do our best to adhere to the itinerary schedule as listed, it is subject to change. Please read the Limitation of Liability and Booking Conditions in the four-page Participant Information Form. You can find all this information on our website at and the form itself at Terms & Conditions Once you have made a deposit for a trip, you agree to be bound by all our terms and conditions including the Limitation of Liability Clause. The full Terms and Conditions can be found at or call MTSOBEK ( ) for a copy. These are partial conditions. Your participation is contingent on your signature on the full list of terms specified in the four-page Participant Information Form ( Any dispute concerning, relating or referring to the Terms and Conditions, to any literature concerning this trip, or the trip itself, shall be resolved exclusively by 14

15 binding arbitration in San Francisco, California, according to the then existing commercial rules of the American Arbitration Association. Such proceedings will be governed by substantive California law (but not procedural law) without regard to the California Arbitration Act. 2009, Mountain Travel Sobek CST Registration as a seller of travel does not constitute approval by the State of California. 15