You will discover the exquisite inventiveness of early Islamic architecture in Isfahan, and of course carpet making, bazaars and a people warm and kind.

The main focus of the visit will be on Persian Carpets. You will have the chance to watch carpet making in progress and to buy rugs with the expert advice of Christopher Legge at merchant prices. It will also be an introduction to a country whose rich past is veiled by present politics. Be prepared for surprises every day.

An English speaking Iranian guide, will accompany us throughout and provide insight and information on what we see, both old and new.

IRAN
Iran is a country with 2500 years of written history. It was the cradle of western civilisation and culture, the source of the rose and the tulip and the home of the Aryan race.

Iran borders seven different nations and is therefore infused with a rich mix of cultural influences and great ethnic diversity. In spite of this diversity there is a strong sense of national pride and an open-hearted welcome to all visitors. It is not unusual for locals to invite visitors into their homes to share tea and pistachio nuts.

Travelling in Iran is very safe contrary to the impression you may have from the media. Provided you respect local customs, particularly when visiting holy places, the hospitality and welcome you experience will make an unforgettable impact. Iranians are open hearted and very friendly.

The land area of Iran covers three times the area of France and we will limit ourselves to the midwest area and major sites of architectural interest.

Clothing
Men should wear long or short sleeved shirts and long trousers. Jeans are quite acceptable.

Women’s clothing must aim to disguise the shape of her body and only flesh on hands and face should be left showing. A long sleeved, loose shirt over trousers or a long skirt would be ideal. A headscarf is compulsory but it can be colourful and patterned if you wish.

Shopping
Carpets or kilims sell at very reasonable prices in the local bazaars. Gold is also good value. Caviar, Pistachios and natural remedies and perfumed oils make excellent gifts to take home.

Tour itinerary:

Day 1: Depart London Heathrow early evening and arrive Tehran early morning
Accommodation: Simorgh Hotel 4*

Days 2 & 3: A gentle morning to recover from the late flight. Tehran and late afternoon flight to Shiraz on day 3.

Tehran is a huge industrial city with some attractions, and in particular some revealing insights into post-revolutionary Iran.

The carpet Bazaar is most worthwhile and there we will begin our introduction to Persian carpets. Christopher and Abbas will show us a wide selection of traditional weaving and explain broadly the scope of the carpets we will see.
If time allows we will include a visit to the Iranian Carpet Museum
Accommodation: Simorgh Hotel 4*

Days 4 & 5: An excursion to Persepolis and Naksh-e-Rustam. Short tour of Shiraz sights early evening. Day 5 is spent in and around Shiraz.

Persepolis, about an hour from Shiraz, was built by the biblical Darius the Great and destroyed in 331 BC by Alexander. It is probably the most impressive pre-islamic monument in Iran, thoroughly excavated to reveal columns, ceremonial staircases, chambers and stunning reliefs celebrating the triumphs of the Achaemenid dynasty.

Naksh-I Rustam nearby is the site of huge rock reliefs dating from five centuries later, telling the stories of Sasanian victories over their neighbours, including the Roman emperor Valerian in 260 AD.

Shiraz is a city dear to the heart of Persian romantics, the home of poets, famous for its roses and (whisper it not) vineyards.It is also a centre for tribal carpet weaving and while here we are welcomed into the homes of local weavers and are able to see the wool being dyed and the carpets washed and finished. Visits to the Botanical Gardens, the Tomb of the Poet, Hafiz, and the colourful Bazaar will provide a day full of contrasts
Accommodation: Pars Hotel 4*

Day 6: Drive from Shiraz to Shahr e Kord via Yasuj .

The journey from Shiraz up to Shahr e Kord, the capital of the Bakhtiari district, through the Zagros Mountains is unforgettable and not normally taken by tourists. There are 47 peaks over four thousand metres and in places the scenery looks remarkably like New Mexico.

On arrival we will have a private view of new carpets made and designed in
Shahr e Kord and enjoy local hospitality.
Accommodation: Parsian 3*/4*

Day 7: Drive from Shar e Kord to Isfahan.

We will spend the morning with the local carpet manufacturers viewing both old and new carpets as well as the local felt making traders. After lunch we will transfer to Isfahan (about 2 hours) and in the early evening explore the great square (Maidan-i Imam) which is surrounded by half a dozen scintillating tiled and painted buildings of the 16th and 17th centuries, representing one of Iran’s periods of imperial greatness.
Accommodation: Abbasi Hotel 5*

Day 8: Isfahan

Isfahan is the Florence of Iran - full of architectural jewels, and also a great centre for trading and handicrafts. Some highlights:

• The Imam and Sheikh Lotfallah mosques – triumphs of turquoise tiling
• Ali Qapu Palace in the Square
• The Forty Column Palace

An early evening visit to the Si-o-Se and Khaju bridges and the Vank (Armenian) Cathedral

Accommodation: Abbasi Hotel 5* The grandest hotel in Iran, built in a converted 17th century caravanserai, still as romantic as ever with a magnificent garden courtyard and solicitous service.

Day 9: We will leave Isfahan mid morning and drive via Nain to Yadz.

We take a morning to visit the Friday mosque - huge and complex, built from the 10th to the 17th centuries - a miracle of space and decoration.

From there we will drive to Yazd with a stop for lunch at Nain, a city famous for its Friday mosque, carpets and the workshops making Aba, the traditional clergy robes.
In Yazd we make a dusk visit to the Towers of Silence – the Zoroastrian burial grounds before stopping at the hotel.
Accommodation: Yazd Laleh Hotel 4*

Day 10: Yazd

The day in Yazd will include some of the following :

• A visit to an Ateshkadeh (Zoroastrian House of Eternal Fire)
• Jame Mosque
• The Old City
• The stunning three storey façade of the Tekiyeh in the Amir Chakmaq complex
• The Dolat Abad Garden
• Water Museum

Evening flight to Tehran
Accommodation: Simorgh Hotel 4*

Day 11 & 12: Tehran

On Friday we will visit the Tehran Friday Bazaar – an exciting and colourful experience. The remaining time provides a chance to choose carpets with the accumulated knowledge of the journey. Christopher and Abbas will be available to help with purchases and valuations in the main bazaar where there is also an excellent jewellery section. If time allows we will also include a visit to the Ceramics museum, and a modern glass showroom.
Accommodation: Simorgh Hotel 4*

Day 13: Early morning flight from Tehran to London Arrive Heathrow approx 1130


Tour Leader(s): Christopher Legge

Cost of the tour is £2,200 per person (all inclusive except visa costs and transfer to Heathrow Airport). Optional single supplement, £225 per person