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Day 1: Tehran
Arrival at Tehran airport, transfer to hotel & rest. O/N Tehran.
Day2: Tehran - Qazvin
Morning drive toward Qazvin. Near Qazvin, in Alamut Valley climb Alamut, visit ruins of Hasan Sabah castle, a sacred full mountain fort which was residential from end of 11 to the middle of 13 century by a community of nationalist named Assassins. Then continue to Qazvin, O/N Qazvin.
Day 3: Qazvin - Lahijan -Rasht
Qazvin, a 1000-year-old city, was once the capital of Iran .After breakfast we will visit Friday Mosque with the largest 'Mihrab' of any mosque in Iran, Shrine of Shahzadeh Hossein, a Muslim saint, Heydarieh Theological School, darb-é Kushk (the city old entrance gate) ,Ali Qapu & Chel Sotoun of Qazvin converted to a museum. Then drive to Rasht; en route we will visit traditional Caspian houses, Chahar Oleya (4 Guardians) mosque and mausoleum of Sheikh Zahed in Lahijan. O/N Rash.
Day 4: Rasht - Masuleh - Astara
Morning drive toward the mountain village of Masuleh with yellow-clay external façade of the houses. In fact this 1000-year-old village resembles an anthropological and architectural museum. Then continue to Astara, a border city. En route enjoy watching tea farms and traditional houses of local residents. O/N Astara.
Day 5: Astar- Heyran Pass- Ardebil - Shurabil Lake - Sarein
After breakfast drive toward Ardebil. The route winds its way up along a river to top of mountains, passing through steep gorges named Heyran pass. In Ardebil we will visit Sheikh Safi -Ad-Din (the great Sufi) mausoleum with dome of Allah Allah (about 56 feet high) above the resting place, Ardebil bazaar composed of all elements formed a traditional bazaar like small shops, aisles, public bath and a mosque in the centre. Continue to Shurabil Lake, have a stop there for photo opportunity. Then drive toward Sarein. O/N Sarein.
Day 6: Sarein - Lahrood- Meshkin Shahr- Ahar- Tabriz
Sarein is a Spa region with numerous hot mineral springs of various temperatures known for their therapeutic values. Drive to Tabriz. En route you'll pass through Lahroud, Meshkin Shahr and Ahar (well known for carpet). Tabriz was the capital of Armenia. There we will visit the 13th century blue mosque (Masjede Kaboud) and El Goli, a pleasant hillside garden around an artificial lake. O/N Tabriz.
Day 7: Tabriz-Maku
Drive to Maku valley at the very NW of Iran. There we will view the Baqcheh Jug Palace and the 1000-year-old Ghare Kelisa (black Church) which is the graveyard of Saint Thaddeus located at the foot of a hill. Black and white stones were applied in its construction. O/N Tabriz.
Day 8: Tabriz - Kandovan
In the morning drive toward Kandovan Village, a living example of human adaptation to exceptionally unusual natural surrounding. Historians have recently quoted specific geographical references as evidence that links the surrounding area of Kandovan with the Garden of Eden. O/N Tabriz.
Day 9: Tabriz-Maragheh-Takab
Drive to Takab, en route we will visit Blue & Red domes of Maragheh and Ghaffariyeh dome. One of UNESCO's world heritages is in Takab named Takhteh-e Suleiman (Throne of Salomon) built around a small lake about 3rd century AD. There are remains of buildings from various periods. O/N Takab.
Day 10: Takab- Hamedan
Drive to Hamedan , en route we will visit in Sultanieh (means town of Sultans) , The 700-year -old Sultanieh dome, the great mausoleum of a Mongol Sultan, the third highest dome in the world ( after Blue Mosque in Istanbul and St Paul's in London). O/N Hamedan.
Day 11: Hamedan - Kangavar - Bisotun- Kermanshah
We will visit Ester & Mordkhay tombs (Jewish holy shrine), Alaviyan dome, Hegmataneh hill and Achamenian Ganjnameh (Treasure Inventory), a lengthy inscription in cuneiform script carved on face of two rocks in the mountain. Then drive to Kermanshah, en route we will visit Anahita temple in Kangavar, built in honor of the female guardian of waters. Continue to Bisotun which can be called a living museum of the Iranian civilization from ancient time to present with the biggest Cuneiform inscription (tablet of Darius I), where you also visit the stone statue of Hercules in the mountain. O/N Kermanshah.
Day 12: Kermanshah-Andimeshk
According to historical documents Kermanshah has been an important center. There we will visit Taq-e Boston and a group of rock sculpture shows scenes of battles and hunts. Drive southward to Andimeshk. O/N Andimeshk.
Day 13: Andimeshk - Shush - Choghazanbil- Shushtar- Ahwaz
Drive to Ahwaz ,en route we will visit Tomb of Prophet Daniel, Acropolis , Darius Palace (Apadana) and a museum in Shush. Continue to Choghazanbil, one of the oldest Ziggurats in the world, then we will visit Friday mosque in Shushtar. O/N Ahwaz.
Day 14: Ahwaz - Bishapour - Shiraz
Early morning drives toward Fars province. En route we will visit Bishapour, an ancient city in heart of history, built as the commemoration of Persian Victory in Persian-Roman war. Continue to Shiraz. O/N Shiraz.
Day 15: Shiraz - Firuzabad- Shiraz
Drive to Firuzabad , en route you'll see and enjoy Nomad Tents live along the plains (If at the season) you may get off, sit and drink tea with them. Then we will visit Sassanid Palace (224-642 AD) in Firuzabad With an area of 11 thousands sq m. it is one of the biggest monuments left from the dynasty. O/N Shiraz.
Day 16: Shiraz
We will visit Eram and Naranjestan Gardens, Nasir-ol-Molk Mosque, Khan Theological School, Hafez (or Saadi) mausoleum , Vakil complex and the most astonishing mirror decoration of Aliebnehamze Holy Shrine. O/N Shiraz.
Day 17: Shiraz-Persepolis- Necropolis-Pasargad - Isfahan
Drive to Isfahan , en route we will visit Quran gate, Persepolis (a temple palace made by free workers not slaves in 500 BC) , Necropolis (tombs of Achamenian kings) and Pasargad , tomb of Cyrus the great which was the Achamenian center. Continue to Isfahan. O/N Isfahan. Day 18: Isfahan
In the morning we will visit Imam square, the huge open square in center of Isfahan with four monuments at four sides including Imam mosque covered inside and outside with intricate turquoise tiles, The smaller Sheikh Lotfollah mosque contains some of the best mosaics from 17th century, Ali Ghapoo Palace which was the first skyscraper in Iran and Isfahan bazaar where we can visit the workshop of artists who paint miniature sometimes on bone. In the afternoon, we will visit Si-o-Se Pol (thirty three) and khajoo bridges over zayanderud, relax in one of the traditional tea houses, drink tea and smoke Persian water pipe. O/N Isfahan.
Day 19: Isfahan
We will visit Armenian quarter of Jolfa, Vank cathedral, Friday mosque, Shaking Minarets and Chehel Sotoun known as forty column palace with its exquisite wall painting. O/N Isfahan.
Day 20: Isfahan- Abyane
Drive to Abyane, an ancient fascinating village with its colorfully dressed inhabitants and mud brick houses, where little has changed for several centuries. En route we will visit Natanz Friday Mosque. O/N Abyane.
Day 21: Abyane- Kashan- Tehran
Drive to Tehran, en route we will visit Fin complex in Kashan, a city well known for carpet. O/N Tehran.
Day 22: Tehran
We will visit Archaeological & Islamic Art Museum, the finest museum in Iran where we will view a collection of ancient Persian civilization, Niavaran palace set in fifty hectares of gardens with four separate museums, jewelry museum and Jamshidiyeh park. O/N Tehran.
Day 23: Tehran
Transfer to Tehran Intl. airport for your return flight.
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