£3150 (sgl supp £450) | Price without flights £2665
Monday 26th April - Wednesday 12th May 2010, 17 days with Dr Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones
Tour Manager: Gudrun Schmid; Availability: Singles Full| Doubles Full
Introduction
Iran is rich in antiquities, and the monuments and archaeological sites bear witness to the sweep of its epic history. We shall explore the jewels of ancient Persia and walk in the footsteps of Cyrus the Great, Darius and Xerxes at their palaces of Persepolis and Susa; we will visit the monumental citadels of the Parthian and Sassanian monarchs at Bishapur and Firuzabad; discover the Islamic splendours of Sasavid and Qajar Persia in the beautiful cities of Shiraz and Isfahan and wonder at the legacy of the Pahlavi monarchs in Tehran.
To many people Iran is a mystery, a country out of bounds for the traveller. Nothing seems further from the truth: most Iranians welcome travellers and treat them with a hospitality unparalleled elsewhere in the Middle East. This tour of Iran allows you to experience the uniqueness of the country first hand, and explore the diversity of its landscape, from desert plateaux to snow-covered mountains.
We have created an unusual itinerary: the sites which we include to the west are of great archaeological interest and our journey takes us through some spectacular landscapes, allowing you to experience both ancient Persia and modern Iran as you trace its history from Great Kings to Shahs. You will have a knowlegeable and passionate guide in Dr Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones, and a tour manager who has travelled independently in Iran, as well as a professional Iranian guide.
Hotels range from the outstanding to best available.
Itinerary
Day One
Evening flight from London
Day Two
Arrive Tehran in the early hours, drive to our hotel. Morning at rest to recover, afternoon visit to the Golestan Palace. In the evening visit the Azari Café for a night of traditional music and storytelling.
Day Three
National Archaeological Museum and the Abguineh Museum in Tehran.
Day Four
Early morning drive to Hamadan - ’This had always been the royal residence of the Medes, and is said to have greatly exceeded all other cities in wealth and magnificence’ (Polybius). We visit the remains of the Achaemenids, during which period it became a summer residence of the kings. We also see the small on-site museum and the tombs of Esther (Jewish queen of Xerxes I) and her uncle Mordacai.
Day Five
Drive south, stopping on the royal road to see the Bishitun Inscription of Darius the Great on the rock-face of a mountain and the Parthian relief of Mithridates II. On to Kermanshah to visit Taq-e Bostan, the well-preserved Sassanian bas-reliefs.
Day Six
The ancient city of Susa, one of the oldest cities in the world, built on a strip of land between the rivers Shaour and Dez. Evidence of occupation has been found from 5000BC, and it became one of the most important royal centres of the Achaemenid empire. In the early evening we visit the Tomb of Daniel.
Day Seven
The 3000 year old site of Haft Tepe (‘seven hills’) contains dozens of small mounds which were once ziggurats. On to Choga Zanbil, one of Iran’s Unesco World Heritage sites: a magnificent brick ziggurat and the best preserved example of Elamite architecture. It was built about 1250BC by King Untas-Napiris, to honour the great god Inshushinak, and is part of a huge religious complex surrounded by three concentric walls.
Day Eight
Long, beautiful drive to Shiraz, with picnic lunch en route. We visit the bazaar here, and go in the evening to the beautiful Mausoleum of Hafez, the great 14th century sufi lyric poet, often described as a poet’s poet; his alabaster tombstone is inscribed with one of his works: ‘My soul, like a homing bird, yearning for paradise, Shall arise and soar, from the snares of the world set free...’.
Day Nine
Explore Shiraz – the ‘city of roses and nightingales’. Evening stroll around the Eram Garden - a wonderful example of a traditional Persian Garden, the concept of which influenced the design of gardens from the Alhambra to the Taj Mahal - the creation of a paradise on earth.
Day Ten
To the plain of Marvdasht to visit the amazing site of Persepolis (Takht-e Jamshid), the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire, and one of the greatest ruins from antiquity. On to the nearby site of Naqsh-i Rustam, the tombs of the Achaemenids and the rock cut reliefs of the Sassanians - including the one below showing Shapur I mounted before the vanquished Roman Emperor Valerian and the ransomed Philip the Arab. More reliefs at Naqsh-i Rajab.
Day Eleven
Sassanian Bishapur - the city of Lord Shapur, founded by him in AD266, a few years after his triumph over the Roman Emperor Valerian. It is possible that it was built by Roman prisoners of war. We visit the palaces of Shapur and Valerian and the small on-site museum. Drive to the Chogan Gorge to view the amazing Sassanian reliefs of Shapur I and Bahram I.
Day Twelve
Parsagard, the palace of Cyrus the Great, with remains of its formal gardens (‘paradise’). Visit the tomb of Cyrus. On to Yazd.
Day Thirteen
Explore Yazd, desert town which was on Marco Polo’s itinerary. The wind towers are the most distinctive landmark, part of a passive cooling system which can be dated back to Babylon in the 6th century BC. Many members of the Zoroastrian community of Iran (around 40,000) live in and around Yazd. Drive to Isfahan, stopping at the Na’in en route, to see a 17th century house and small museum.
Day Fourteen
All day exploring Isfahan, with some of the finest Islamic architecture in the world.
Day Fifteen
Another day to discover Isfahan.
Day Sixteen
Kashan, famous for its Fin Garden. The impressive Sialk Mounds, one of the most ancient sites in Iran, dated to the eighth century BC. On to Tehran, arriving early evening.
Day Seventeen
Fly home.
Included
WHAT’S INCLUDED
- Flights Scheduled BA flights London to Tehran
- Transfers private coach provided to coincide with group flights
- Local Travel Private a/c coach
- Meals All meals included (with water - alcohol is prohibited)
- Guide Lecturer (also local guides where these are compulsory) Not to be confused with "guest lecturers"! The guide lecturer will be with you from breakfast to supper, and probably even a drink in the bar afterwards. There is the occasional site where they may not be allowed to guide because of local regulations (we normally manage to circumnavigate these) but otherwise the guides are just that. They will have been chosen because of specialist knowledge and their ability to communicate and interest you. After 22 years of making tours worldwide, we are highly appreciative of the attributes of a good guide, and intensely critical of people who do not possess them. If you would like to know more about Dr Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones, please click his name.
- Tour Manager We never know how best to call the very special people whom we choose to accompany you on your tour. They are usually employed in this capacity only by us, and have been trained to do things in the Andante way - unobtrusive, friendly and quietly efficient.
- Local Guide
- Fieldnotes written for the tour
- Entry & tips Entry to all sites in programme; tips included.
Flights & Visa
Airline: BMI
BD931 London Heathrow 19:00/ Tehran 04:25
Please note these are an indication of what the flights are likely to be; please contact the office for confirmed schedules.
Visa and Passport Requirements (for British passport holders only)
Passport must be valid for a minimum period of six months with a minimum of two blank pages. The Government of Iran currently refuses entry to anyone who holds a passport with an Israeli stamp issued during the past year. The visa process starts three months before departure and there are two stages to be completed. Visas cost £80 if obtained directly by yourself; Andante can arrange the whole process for you for approx £100. A complete description of the application process will be attached to this Passport & Visa Information Sheet for all guests booking on our Persia tours.Hotels
Hotel
1 + 2 nights in a modern, functional and comfortable hotel in Tehran;
1 night in a hotel in Hamadan;
1 night in a hotel in Kermanshah;
1 night in a hotel in Andimeshk;
1 night in a hotel in Ahwaz;
4 nights in an excellent hotel in Shiraz;
1 night in a hotel in Yazd;
3 nights in a famous converted palace hotel in Isfahan.
