Perse Express

We begin our day at the National Museum, which traces the rich history of the country from ancient Persia to the Islamic era. Ancient objects are numerous and testify to a flourishing past. The Golestan Palace, a former Qajar royal palace, is located in the citadel of Tehran, in the heart of the old city. Its superb architectural ensembles are organized around a garden composed of pools and are full of rich collections of Iranian craftsmanship. Our morning ends at the Grand Bazaar of Tehran. The bazaars (from old Persian vāzār) are true institutions here: people come to stroll, exchange, haggle, chat…

After lunch our last stop in the capital takes us to the National Museum of Crown Jewels, an absolutely stunning place that houses one of the greatest treasures in the world: jewels, precious stones, diamonds, … an absolutely unique collection of marvels gathered by the shahs.

After this visit we fly south towards Shiraz.

On the way to the hotel we stop at the most important pilgrimage site in the city: the mosque of Shah-e Cheragh, which houses the tombs of the brothers Amir Ahmad and Mir Muhammad, sons of the seventh Shiite imam Moussa al-Kazim.

An hour's drive takes us this morning to a mythical place: the city of Persepolis, capital of the Achaemenid empire, founded 2500 years ago by the "King of Kings" Darius I. The ruins of the buildings, partly carved into the rock, are remarkably well preserved and show architecture influenced by Mesopotamian models. It is likely that the city served both as a government center and as a sumptuous venue for spectacles and royal receptions.

A short distance to the north, the Necropolis site is where the Achaemenid kings were buried.

We head back to the road to Shiraz. After some rest at our hotel, we set out to explore the Sang-e-sia historic quarter. This quarter, one of the oldest in the city, includes many passages, the most important of which reveals a series of historic sites and sacred sanctuaries, including the famous Bibidokhtaran sanctuary. Mosques, tombs, and historic houses punctuate our explorations and bear witness to the evolution of Iranian architecture from the Qajar era to the present day. In particular, the architecture and decoration of the old Pahlavi houses, centered around beautiful interior courtyards, are sure to charm visitors.

We leave Shiraz this morning and head north. After 140 kilometers of road we reach an exceptional remnant of the Achaemenid civilization: the ancient city of Pasargades, founded by Cyrus the Great in the 6th century BC and the first capital of the Achaemenid Empire.

In the afternoon we arrive in Isfahan, jewel of the Middle East and most beautiful city in the world in the hearts of many Iranians. Perched at 1500m altitude in the middle of Iran's desert plateau, it appears as an oasis of greenery thanks to its irrigation systems. Isfahan was the capital of the Persian Empire under the Safavid dynasty between the 16th and 18th centuries.

Upon arrival we set off to wander through the city and discover the splendors of the Jameh Mosque (the Friday Mosque or Great Mosque of Isfahan) whose construction began more than 1000 years ago, the amazing Shaking Minarets (Menar Jonban), tombs of the Sufi Amou Abdollah Soqla, and also the Armenian Cathedral of Vank. Finally, we arrive at the Si-o-se-pol, the "bridge of thirty-three arches" or Allahverdi Khan Bridge, a double-level arched bridge that spans the Zayandeh River and where Isfahanis love to stroll in the late afternoon.

On the northern route, we dedicate a good part of the day to the Natanz region, rich in historical heritage but also renowned for its climate and food crops. Among the local sacred places, we can mention the sanctuary of Sheikh Sufi Abd al-Samad dating from the 14th century.

A short distance away, the Tarq Castle is a very fine vestige of the Sassanid era, which from the 3rd to the 6th century preceded the arrival of Islam.

About forty kilometers west of Natanz, nestled at an altitude of over 2000m in the Karkas mountains, lies one of the oldest and most beautiful villages in Iran, Abyaneh. Evidence from the Sassanid era is clearly visible here: ruins of an old fort, traditional clothing and local dialect imbued with remnants of the Pahlavi language of the time.

Arrival in Kachan in the late afternoon and check-in at the hotel.

The beginning of the day is devoted to visiting Kachan. This city with rich architecture is also one of the great oases of the deserts in central Iran, and traces of human habitation date back to the 6th millennium BC. The remarkable buildings of the city are relatively recent, notably the magnificent traditional residences of the Tabatabaei and the Boroudjerdi, which date from the Qajar era (19th century). The Fin Garden is Iran's oldest garden.

We then head towards Tehran. Along the way we stop in Qom, a sacred Shiite city, where we visit the Shrine of Fatima Masoumeh, daughter of the seventh Shiite imam Musa al-Kazim.
Arrival at Tehran airport and end of services.

(If desired, possibility to visit the Maranjab caravanserai instead of Qom).