TEHRAN EXTENSION OPTIONS. By David McGuinness. 8 days

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1 y David McGuinness 8 days

2 All accommodation subject to availability. Final accommodation choices will be confirmed after booking. ID P a g e 1

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4 Your Itinerary Explained Date Place visited : The first part of the text in each day is the itinerary schedule and will explain what you will reakfast normally see/do during this day of your itinerary. --L: The part of the day s text in italics (and comes after the three dashes --- ) is background Lunch information on the places or sites on that day of your itinerary. It is not part of your D: itinerary and may mention places that will not be visited on your itinerary. If you have any Dinner questions please ask us. Travel times where noted are only meant as a guideline. Tour Itinerary Day 1 South sites A variety of options of things to do in South (up to 4 sites possible per day, typically). --The Glassware and Ceramic Museum houses a valuable collection of pre-islamic and Islamic glass and ceramics. The collection is beautifully displayed within an elegant early 20th century mansion that was once the Egyptian Embassy. Systematically ordered, with clear descriptions of the artefacts in English, Iran s history is told through glass. Opening in 1976, the Carpet Museum of Iran is an unusual building. It is decorated with a structure resembling a loom, which has the added benefit of creating shadow around the building to deflect the heat of the sun. The museum was created by Iran s last Queen, Farah Diba Pahlasi. At the end of the Royal Square is one of the most breath-taking Islamic monuments in the world, the Imam Khomeini Mosque. The rectangular entrance portal and two turquoise minarets which flank it dominate the Square. The Imam Khomeini Mosque is another of Iran s UNESCO World Heritage sites. Altogether, the 200,000 vendors of the bustling Grand azaar occupy 20 square kilometres and greet up to 2 million visitors in a single day. Often described as a city within a city, the bazaar is composed of labyrinthine corridors with several entrances. It contains many buildings, including the Imam Khomeini Mosque. Each segment specialises in a particular ware, such as carpets, spices and precious metals; modern goods are also for sale. This particular location of has facilitated trade for more than a millennium and the oldest walls of the current bazaar stand at four centuries old. ID P a g e 3

5 The three-storey concrete Museum of Contemporary Art, designed by Kamran Diba, was inspired by the wind-towers of Iran. The permanent collection allows visitors access to paintings by renowned artists such as Claude Monet, Vincent van Gogh, Pablo Picasso and Andy Warhol, among others. The rest of the museum houses temporary exhibits which are updated monthly. Sculptures can be viewed in the Sculpture Court and the Sculpture Park to the north of the museum. uilt at the heart of 's Zoroastrian community (and opposite an Orthodox Church), 's Fire Temple provides a rare opportunity to see an active Fire Temple. Although not an official tourist site, the temple can usually be visited in the morning. The US Den of Espionage, as the former US Embassy is now known, is the site of the famous Iranian Hostage Crisis, recently portrayed in the film "Argo". After the crisis, teams of volunteers spent thousands of hours piecing together shredded documents, in order to demonstrate that espionage was indeed being carried out here. It was also from here that the coup that overthrew Mohammad Mossadegh, Iran's first ever democraticallyelected leader, was orchestrated. The site is currently open to the public, but is prone to unannounced closures every once in a while. The anti-us murals on the walls outside and the US helicopter that was downed by a sandstorm while trying to rescue the hostages make the site worth a visit regardless. Day 2 More South sites Further sites in South (up to 4 sites possible per day, typically). --The Golestan Palace Complex is the oldest of all the historic monuments in, belonging to a group of buildings once enclosed within the historic Arg of the ancient city. The Arg itself was built during the Safavid dynasty between 1524 and It later became the royal residence of the capital during the Qajar dynasty, first lived in by Agar Mohamed Khan Qajar. The Palace today appears as it did in 1865 when it was rebuilt by Haji Abolhasan Mimar Navi, but parts of the original structure still remain. As a complex of 17 different palaces built over a time span of 200 years, the Golestan Palace has historically been the place of coronations and important ceremonies. The Tahkt-e-Marmar or marble throne is particularly stunning, and the palaces are adjacent to beautiful gardens. Moghadam museum was built by the archeologist and collector Mohsen Moghadam, the son of a former mayor of. This lovely Qajar-era house, gardens and museum make for a lovely tranquil visit. Exhibits include items from his personal excavations in Iran, as well as items bought from traders, house owners and smugglers. The building itself has exquisite architecture and carvings. The beautiful new Malek Museum houses a wide range of exhibits, including coins, paintings (by Kamal ol Molk in particular), mosque covers, medicine and calligraphy. The coin exhibit is a useful introduction to the various dynasties that ruled over Iran throughout the ages. ID P a g e 4

6 Ebrat Museum is a former Savak political prison. Savak were the notoriously vicious secret police of the Pahlavi Shahs. Famous for cruelty and torture, Ebrat housed up to 10,000 prisoners, including communists and Islamists, many of whom never left its confines. Prisoners here included the current Ayatollah Khamenei, the prominent liberal politician Rafsanjani and even some of the current museum staff. Not for the faint-hearted. The Masoudieh Mansion is a Qajar-era palace built in It boasts an extensive fivehectare garden featuring temporary exhibitions, a theatre, the former Ministry of Education and a selection of handicraft shops. The on-site cafe is good for coffee and lunch, but may need to be pre-booked. The octagonal Negarestan Gardens were built in 1807 under the Qajar Fath-Ali Shah. Previously an Iranian academic centre, an agriculture school, a school of fine arts and a library, it is also said to have housed the first meteorological instrument in Iran. A summer palace of Qajar kings, the gardens are now beautifully manicured and visitors can see a collection of paintings from Nasir ol-molk, as well as those of his teachers and pupils. The Sufi shrine of Safi Ali Shah Khanegah, while not an official tourist site, is worthwhile to visit for those interested in Sufism. It is the mausoleum of Safi Ali Shah, who "translated" the Koran into Farsi poetry. It is an active shrine and photos are not allowed here. Tourists in small groups are usually allowed in, but a small monetary contribution may be expected. A pleasant small park, 's Artist's Forum (a.k.a. Park e Honar) is a good place to meet some of Iran's arty types. The park houses various small galleries and a vegetarian restaurant. It tends to be busiest in the evenings. 's Jumeh (Friday) Market, as the name suggests, is only open on Fridays from 8am to about 5pm. This local car-boot sale takes place in a multi-storey carpark and has numerous small stall vendors selling a range of bric-a-brac, including old radios, phones, brassware, cloth and ornaments. It is best visited around 9-10am when it is at is busiest. Only photos from mobile phones are allowed here. Gandhi Shopping Centre is a great place to meet young, liberal is and experience a side of Iran that few expect - sharp dressers, smartphones and selfies abound here. The centre is a hive of energy and features numerous upscale cafés and restaurants. It is best visited in the afternoon and evening. 's Islamic Museum is located next to the Archaeological museum and specialises in the art of Iran's Islamic period. It has an extensive collection of inlaid doors, carpets, woodcarving, sculptures, silks, Korans, ceramics and cloths from the 6th century onwards. Laleh Park, located in Central with a stunning backdrop of the Alborz mountains, is a great place to meet locals. In the mornings, it is full of people exercising - badminton, aerobics, football and jogging are popular activities. You will also find people playing chess, reading and young couples trying to find some privacy. ID P a g e 5

7 Day 3 North sites A variety of options of things to do in North (up to 4 sites possible per day, typically). --The National Archaeology Museum of Iran was completed in 1928 by the French architect Andre Godard. It contains ceramics, pottery and other archaeological gems from excavations all over Iran, including Persepolis, Susa and many other significant sites. The exhibition displays are charmingly chaotic, but stuffed with authentic artifacts, including pottery dating back to 6-7th millennium C. Striking finds include a human-headed capital from Persepolis and some stunning friezes from the Apadana Palace. The museum is an absolute must for anyone interested in archaeology or the history of Iran. The Crown Jewels Museum houses the largest set of crown jewels in the world. Its displays include splendid crowns and expensively decorated thrones, swords and shields, aigrettes and a vast number of precious gemstones used to make exquisite jewellery. Highlights include the world's largest pink diamond and the famous Peacock Throne. Open Saturday to Tuesday (afternoons only). Constructed in the 19th century in the foothills of Tochal and Darband, the Sa dabad Palace was first occupied by monarchs of the Qajar dynasty and their family members. Over the years, the palace complex has sprawled out over 275 acres and expanded to include 17 palaces, museums and Halls. The most popular are the French-style White House, the summer residence of Mohammed Reza Shah and his wife Farah, and the Green Palace, the more ornate home of Reza Shah which was a guesthouse during his son's reign with guests including Jimmy Carter and Anwar Sadat. Other sites here include a Military museum, Fine Art Museum and a Museum of Calligraphy. Not far from Tajrish market is the beautiful Imamzadeh Saleh mosque, which houses the tomb of the son of the Musa al Khadim, the seventh Shia Imam. The mosque boasts beautiful pixelated tile work, a lovely azure dome and minaret and is set against the stunning Alborz mountains. Tajrish market is located in North (Shemiran) and is easily accessible by metro. It is a local market and one of the oldest in. Here you can find a range of fruits, vegetables, sweets, crafts and more. Evenings are usually the best time to visit. 's extensive Music Museum has a wide selection of traditional stringed, wind and percussion instruments. The origins of some of these instruments date back around 4,000 years. The three-storey museum has a basement workshop where you can play these instruments and often watch craftsmen creating traditional instruments. A downloadable audio guide is also available and there is a small on-site café. ID P a g e 6

8 The Niavaran Palace complex dates back to Fath Ali Shah of the Qajar Dynasty. The first pavilion was built on this site by Nasir al Din Shah and the second was built by the last Qajar Shah, Ahmad Shah. The site was further extended by the Pahlavi Dynasty with a mansion, now named Niavaran Palace. This was built by Mohammed Reza Shah and became the family's primary residence. Its quadrilateral design is inspired by Iranian archaeology, but much of the interior and furniture shows French influence. The whole site contains five museums, each of which has a separate entrance ticket. The Jamshidieh Stone Gardens are located in the Niavaran neighbourhood of North. It was formerly a private Qajar royal garden, and today is a nice place to relax and meet local people. It is a very popular place for picnics and features a pond, a teahouse and a number of restaurants. There are also some trails up the mountain from here. Palizi ice-cream shop is very popular with locals and has spawned a plethora of imitators. Its most popular treat is the ironically named Vitamina, which contains chocolate icecream, banana, cashews, pistachios, hazelnuts and chocolate sauce! On a clear evening, there is no better place to get a bird's-eye view of than from Milad Tower. Standing 435 metres high, it is by far the highest building in and even the lower levels have spectacular 360 degree views, best experienced around sunset. The lower floors have a food court and various stores. The upper pod features a revolving restaurant and an observation deck. If the weather is not clear, the trip here may not be worthwhile. The newly-built Holy Defense Museum in is a modern, extensive and wellpresented museum devoted to the Iran-Iraq war, the 20th century's longest conventional war which claimed over a million lives. The museum tells the Iranian side of this war, and how the majority of the rest of the world's powers lined up behind Saddam. It is advisable to use an on-site guide for the best experience. Outside, there is a line of tanks, a jet and missile launchers. You can also hear recordings from the war in a mock-up of a battle field. The dramatic Nature ridge (a.k.a. Tabiat ridge) was designed by Leila Araghian when she was only 26 years old. It was her first project and designed while she was still a student. uilt on three levels, it houses coffee shops, restaurants and sitting areas. The adjacent Aboatash park is a pleasant place to spend a couple of hours and people-watch. Day 4 Qom Day trip After breakfast embark on a private guided excursion to Qom with your driver/guide. Return to for overnight. --Qom, the site of the shrine of Fatema al-masumeh, is considered one of the holiest cities in Iran. It is the largest centre for Shi'a scholarship in the world. While the inhabitants can be somewhat ambiguous towards tourists compared to other parts of Iran, it is an interesting look inside one of the vanity projects of the Islamic Republic. It is hard to deny Qom s splendour. NOTE: to visit the centre of Qom it will be necessary to take a local bus in and out. ID P a g e 7

9 Day 5 Day 6 Cooking Class Walking in Darband Enjoy a day walking in the foothills of Darband. Overnight in. --Darband, just at the northern extremities of, is the perfect place for a city escape and to explore the beautiful walking trails in the Alborz mountain range. Trails can be very busy on Thursdays and Fridays, but it is a great place to meet locals. At the foot of the mountain, a wide range of eating and drinking options are available. Cooking Class Experience a traditional cooking class. Overnight in. --The cooking class will start at 8am, when you will meet up with your local chef and go to the market together to pick out the ingredients for the dishes you will cook today. You will then return to the chef's home and learn to prepare a traditional starter, main dish and dessert. The recipes would be tailored to your preferences and would be something you can re-create when you are back in your home country. After eating together, you will have the rest of the day free (from about 3pm). The class will be held in North or Northwestern, so you could choose to explore some of the sites nearby or relax elsewhere. L NOTE: A maximum of 5 people can participate in the cooking class at once. Day 7 Dizin Day 8 First day skiing in Dizin After breakfast depart and drive to Dizin in the Alborz mountains. Spend the rest of the day skiing. Overnight in Dizin --Located just 45 miles north of in the Alborz mountain range is Dizin ski resort. With the highest ski lift reaching 3,600m, Dizin is ranked among the top 40 highest ski resorts in the world. The off-piste skiing and long season here make the area particularly appealing to those with an interest in winter sports. Second day skiing in Dizin LD Spend the day skiing in Dizin. In the afternoon, drive back to. Overnight in. L NOTE: It is possible to do a single (long) day trip to go skiing in Dizin if time is a factor. ID P a g e 8 Powered by TCPDF (