Iran. There are so many tall stories that you can hear from the compatriots about this country. Of course, it is very dangerous there, another war is going on, a woman without burka can’t go outside and local ayatollahs are aiming at dropping the atom bomb…
Iran is meanwhile the safest country of all that I could visit. And if you say the magic word “Rusia” (that means, of course, Russia), the generous hospitality will extend to you. Moreover, there are beautiful landscapes, ancient cities and towns and unique monuments of extinct civilizations. You will also have an opportunity to stay at homes of the local people (leaving out hotels).
I suggest you the tour around Iran where everybody can find entertainment for themselves. You can contemplate natural landscapes and visit ancient temples of the little-known religions, as well as admire marvelous Persian architecture and sample gastronomic delights of this corner of our diverse planet.
The dates and times: from October to April, 8-9 days
The cost of the tour is 1150USD per person
The advance payment is 300USD
Car transportation. The driver is a local citizen of Iran with a good knowledge of English and secret sites along our routes.
Accommodation is in the homes of local people, caravanserais or in tents (in case of the night in the desert).
The programme can be changed or expanded on request, but always for the better. The tour is possible for more days. Also, it is possible to arrive in Tehran and depart from Shiraz. The flight from Shiraz is operated by Turkish airlines.
The brief programme of the tour:
The 1st day: The arrival at the airport of Tehran. A border control and currency exchange. Our Iranian friend has already been waiting for us and we immediately go the south to the ancient city of Yazd which is the centre of Zoroastrianism. Along our route we also stop by the city of Meybod where we explore the ancient centre, visit the textile bazaar and sample the famous saffron ice-cream. The trip takes about 8 hours. After we arrive in Yazd we walk around the city and stay for a night at local people.
The 2nd day: We visit a Zoroastrian temple inside the city, the surroundings of Yazd with its famous Towers of Silence, the village of Chak Chak which is a place of worship for Zoroastrians and the abandoned town of Kharanaq. Spending the night at the local people.
The 3rd day: We are on our way to the hottest place in the world — the Lut desert with its Martian landscape. The trip takes 7 hours. Along our route we also stop by the city of Kerman and the city of Shahdad. A night in tents in the desert.
The 4th day: We come back from the desert. Along our route we explore the ancient underground irrigation channels built more than 8000 years ago and functioning till now. We keep heading south and reach Rayen Castle which is almost the copy of the Bam citadel which was destroyed by an earthquake. After the lunch we go to the village of Meymand, dating back to 10000 years ago. Its residents live in the hand-dug houses amid the rocks and we spend a night in a such cave as well.
The 5th day: A very early start. We leave Meymand, have breakfast in the city of Shahr-el-Babak and go west to the places of interest of Persia. We visit Pasargadae, Naqsh-e Rostam and Persepolis. A night in the caravanserai near Persepolis.
The 6th day: In the case of a nine-day tour we stop by the city of Shiraz and go sightseeing there. We spend a night in the historic caravanserai in the centre of the city. In the case of an eight-day tour we go back to the north, to the city of Kashan. The trip takes 8-9 hours. Spending the night at the local people.
The 7th day: In the case of a nine-day tour we go back to the north, to the city of Kashan. The trip takes 8-9 hours. Spending the night at the local people. In the case of an eight-day tour we go sightseeing in the city of Kashan. We visit famous historic houses (which look like real palaces) — the Borujerdi House and the Tabatabai House, as well as the old bazaar and the underground city. We have our last dinner in the semi-underground restaurant with its delicious meat dishes. Late at night we go to the airport. The trip takes about 3 hours.
The 8th day: In the case of a nine-day tour we go sightseeing in the city of Kashan. We visit famous historic houses (which look like real palaces) — the Borujerdi House and the Tabatabai House, as well as the old bazaar and the underground city. We have our last dinner in the semi-underground restaurant with its delicious meat dishes. Late at night we go to the airport. The trip takes about 3 hours. In the case of an eight-day tour we say goodbye to our Iranian friend at midnight, check-in and wait for our flight from Iran (it is possible to do some shopping in duty-free – it is open at 24-hours).
The 9th day: At midnight we say goodbye to our Iranian friend, check-in and wait for our flight from Iran (it is possible to do some shopping in duty-free – it is open at 24-hours).
Summarizing: During 8-9 days in Iran we travel a distance of more than 3500 km and see all the places that you can visit only if you have at least two weeks. Due to the fact that we spend our night at local people, we save our money and have a chance to examine the way of ordinary people’s life.
The price includes:
— Visa support
— Car, fuel, road tolls along the whole route
— Services of a driver and an interpreter
— Local mobile services
— Food along the whole route
— Accommodation
— Museum tickets
The price doesn’t include:
— Visa fees (60USD at the moment, depends on your citizenship)
— Flight to Iran and back (for example, from Moscow — 420USD at the moment)
— Travel insurance (must be purchased in advance, is needed for a visa)
— Souvenirs
— Personal needs
Requirements and recommendations
— Your foreign passport has to be valid for at least 6 months beyond the dates of your trip. It mustn’t have any stamps of the visit to Israel!
— In order to get a visa you must give me your foreign passport, one photo of the standard model (3x4cm, white background), the copy of your insurance for the trip and visa fee.
— I get all the permissions into the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran, give all the passports into the consulate and pay all the taxes. You don’t have to visit it!
— A dress code is obligatory! For women: a head must be covered with a scarf, arms – up to the elbows, legs – completely (besides the feet). Trousers or a floor-length skirt are suitable. A cardigan is obligatory. For men: legs must be covered completely (no shorts!).
— For the flight to Iran take all your luggage as a hand luggage!
— The toilet paper in Iran isn’t typically used. If you need it, take a roll of it with you.
— All alcoholic drinks are prohibited! Don’t take them with you and don’t try to buy them there. You may go to jail (I don’t think it would be a paradise for you).
— The smoking is allowed. It is better to take the cigarettes with you.
— Vegetarian food isn’t diverse (only rice and beans). Meat eaters are extremely happy (meat is delicious).
— Put on the sneakers (or another comfortable footwear) and also a pair of shower shoes.
— If you are very sensitive to the sunlight, take the sun cream even in winter
— It is advisable to take accumulators for your smartphones. There isn’t any opportunity to charge your gadgets in the desert and in some other places.
— The country’s currency is a real. The largest bill is one million. There’re two exchange rates: the official and the street one. However, local prices and all the amounts are expressed in tomans. One toman is equal to 10 reals.
— Iran is disconnected from the global credit system. It’s impossible to pay by credit card or withdraw money from it. You have to take US dollars in cash with you.
— In Iran most of the social nets (Facebook, Vkontakte, Instagram etc.) are blocked. Although we have a notebook with a special channel which help us evade the restrictions.
