Itinerary. Travel from Yazd to Isfahan. Isfahan to Tehran via Kashan Departures from Tehran

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2 Itinerary Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6 Day 7 Day 8 Day 9 Day 10 Day 11 Day 12 Days 13 and 14 Day 15 Day 16 Arrive in Tehran Travel from Tehran to Sari Travel from Sari to Gorgan Tours in and around Gorgan Travel from Goran to Bastam via Gonbad Travel from Bastam to Mashad via Sabzevar and Neyshabur Mashad city tour Fly from Mashad to Shiraz Shiraz city tour Travel from Shiraz to Yazd with a visit to Persepolis Yazd city tour Travel from Yazd to Isfahan Isfahan city tour Isfahan to Tehran via Kashan Departures from Tehran

3 Preface Persia is one of the oldest major Western civilizations. It rivaled classical Greece, Egypt, Mesopotamia, and the Indus Valley cultures. The Persian Empire, at its greatest extent, included, in addition to what is today Iran, all of Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey), the Caucasus (Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Armenia), Afghanistan, Central Asia (modern-day Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan), Iraq, and Syria, as well as influencing areas as far afield as Egypt, the Indus Valley of Pakistan, and Greece itself. This civilization both influenced and was influenced by the cultures around it. Current-day Iran forms the core of this great civilization and even today Iranians consider themselves Persian first and Iranian second. This is the heartland of Zoroastrianism, the world s first great monotheistic religion, which over time gave rise to both Christianity and Modern Judaism. Islam itself was molded in Iran and neighboring areas by this great Persian culture. Persian culture and language is one of the distinct groups of Indo-European language and culture. Persia s great cities were major centers of international trade, education, and scientific enquiry. On our tour, we will visit many of the important centers of Persian Culture, Art, and Architecture. In its marketplaces we will see as be able to purchase world-famous Persian carpets, silver and copperware, leather goods, weavings, and other folk arts. Persia s mosques and madrassas reflect strong Shi ite Islamic influences allowing for beautiful depictions of animals, flowers, and other living things not found in Sunni Islamic areas. Standing in the courtyards of the blue-tiled Islamic architectural monuments can be an overpowering experience. Come with us and see Shiraz, the City of Roses, where even in the mosque tile work depictions of this flower, which comes from Persia, are abundantly depicted. In Isfahan, we stand in the second largest public square in the world, surrounded on three sides by the magnificent covered Bazaar, and on the fourth by the Great Tiled Mosque. In Persepolis, we will stand in the palace of Persia s great kings, which stood as the symbol of their power until it was destroyed by Alexander of Macedonia. We will also travel through the Elburz Mountains to the Caspian Sea, visiting markets and villages along the way. From there we travel through the Turkmen region with its famous horsemen to Mashad, the site of one of the holiest places in Iran, the Tomb of Ferdowsi, Persia s most famous poet. In addition to enjoying the sights, according to Anthony Bourdain, Persian food ranks right up there along with Turkish food as being among the world s great cuisines.

4 Detailed Itinerary Day 1 Tehran - Morning arrival in Tehran, Meet and Greet by Iranian Tour Guide, Transfer to the hotel to rest, City tour. Day 2 Tehran to Sari Today, we will drive through the Elburz Mountains. Visiting small towns and local bazaars. We will stay overnight in Sari near the Caspian Sea. Day 3 Sari to Gorgan Today we will visit some of the local bazaars and towns, such as Behshahr, Bandar gaz, Kordkuy, Ashuradeh, and Bandar Torkman as we travel to Gorgan. We will have the opportunity to stop along the way to enjoy these sites. At Behshahr we will visit the Kamarband Cave, the oldest known Indo-European settlement dating from the 4 th Millennia B.C.E. Day 4 Gorgan Today will visit the Visiting Ziyarat spa and have a chance to walk in this forested area. We will also visit the holy site of Imamzadeh Noor and Nalbandan Bazaar in Gorgan. Day 5 - Gorgan via Gonbad to Bastam On our trip from Gorgan to Bastam we drive through Gonbad Kabus to visit the famous Aq Qala Friday Market, the most interesting markets in all of Iran. This market attracts many local Turkmen tribesmen, including both horsemen and women. After enjoying this picturesque market we will continue on to Bastam where we spend the night. Day 6 We begin our day with a visit to the tomb of the famous sufi Bayazid Bastami. Between Bastam and Masshad we travel along the old Silk Route visiting some ancient caravansereis and stop at the bazaar in Sabzevar. In Neyshabur we visit the tomb of the great Persian writer Omar Khayyam We end the day in Mashad where we spend the night.. Day 7 Mashad Today, on our city tour, we explore the beautiful town of Mashad and visit the Green Dome mosque, the Khaje Rabi shrine, and the holy shrine of Imam Reza complex (including several museums in the complex).

5 Day 8 Mashad to Shiraz Before flying to Shiraz we will visit the tombs of Ferdowsi and Haruniyeh in Tus, an ancient town near Mashad. Day 9 Shiraz On the city tour of Shiraz, we will be visiting several mosques and the Nomad Bazaar. This city, for which the famous Shiraz wine is named, has beautiful gardens filled with roses. In fact, the city is known as the City of Roses and throughout the day we will see many examples of roses in the tiles of the mosques and madrassas. The cover of this brochure shows an example of this. Day 10 Shiraz to Yazd Today we take a tour of Persepolis, the ancient capital of the Persian Empire. These ruins represent some of the most magnificent examples of classical Persian architecture and relief sculpture on the world. In addition to walking through the remains of the palace we will visit the carved facades on the tombs of Persia s greatest emperors including Darius and Xerxes. After visiting Persepolis we will continue in to Yazd, visiting Nashe Rostam, Pasargad, and Abarqu along the way. Day 11 Yazd City Tour. Day 12 Yazd to Isfahan On this day, we will travel to Isfahan, the great center of Islamic Persia. When one thinks of Iran or Persia, this is the classical city that comes to mind. Days 13and 14 Isfahan We will be spending two full days enjoying the sights and culture of this fabulous city. Among the great sites of this city, the Jameh Mosque, or Friday Mosque, stands out as the example of the greatness of Islamic Persia. Standing in Abbas Square beyond the reflective pool, we will view this extraordinary structure in all the beauty the designers intended. Here we spend time exploring the huge covered bazaar that surrounds the other three sides of the square. Here we also meet the Iranian people as this is a major meeting point for Iranians relaxing both during the day and in the evening. Isfahan also has one of the world s most beautiful Armenian Christian churches. While in this fascinating city we will also see many other great architectural monuments like the Arches Bridge, The Haju Bridge and the Jewish Quarter.

6 Day 15 Isfahan via Kashan to Tehran Today we are returning to Tehran and along the way we will be stopping in Kashan, with its beautiful architectural monuments and famous bazaar. This is our last opportunity to enjoy shopping before we depart for home. Kashan is famous for their intricate carpets. Kashan is the home of the Agha Bozorg Mosque with its famous sunken courtyard. Day 16 Tehran Departure We will transfer to the International Airport for departures home. Come and join us to see the new emerging and the traditional Persian people of Iran.

7 Cost of the trip: $5600 USD Double Occupancy (per person) $1200 USD Single Supplement Make checks payable to Ron Wixman Travels Send Payment to: Ron Wixman Travels 2113 West 25 th Avenue Eugene, OR Trip Costs include: All accommodations; Guides and drivers; Entrance fees; Cultural Programs; Half-fare meals (Breakfast and Dinner provided with coffee, tea, water, or mineral water at the provided meals); Domestic flight from Mashad to Shiraz; Mineral Water in the vehicle; all tips We will provide a single group transfer to and from the Tehran airport.. Cost not covered in trip price: airfare to and from Iran, personal and travel insurance, cost of visa; individual transfers to and from Tehran Airport; Lunch; beverages other than those mentioned above, personal purchases Hope to see you in Iran! Ronald Wixman