Iran Silk Road Tour

After breakfast, visit Imam Reza Holy Shrine, the 8th Shiite Imam. Next, visit Goharshad Jameh Mosque, one of the most glamourous mosques in Iran built in early 15th century by the wife of Shah Rukh of the Timurid dynasty. Astan Quds Razavi Museums is the next visiting place filled with numerous valuable objects. After lunch, visit Anthropology Museum of Mashhad to get to know the lifestyle of ethnic Khorasan people. Next visit Tomb of Nader Shah (1688 –1747), the last great King of Persia to see his statue and to get to know his victory over his enemies and his effort to unify Persia once more after the fall of Safavid Dynasty. Transfer to hotel and rest. O/N in Mashhad

Drive to north to Radkan village to visit Radkan Tower, a conical spired astronomical brick tower built by Khajeh Nasir Al-Tusi, one of the greatest Persian scholars of the Islamic Golden Age. Drive toward Tous, the birthplace of Abul-Qasem Ferdowsi Tusi, the author of Shahnameh (The Kings Book), in which he narrates the history and mythology of Ancient Iran in an epic verse. Visit the epic statue inside the Tomb of Ferdowsi to get to know the Iran’s history and literature. Next to that, visit the Tomb of Mehdi Akhavan Sales, the Iranian modern poet, the passionate follower of Persian History and Ferdowsi. Then visit the Tous Museum to visit the vessels, potteries, bows and arrows etc. used in 4th and 5th century in Khorasan. Close to the tombs, visit Haroniyeh Mansion, a huge monument which rumor has it was built by order of Harun al-Rashid, the great Caliph of Baghdad, for keeping prisoners. Bread Museum of Mashhad is the next visiting place where you see and touch the process and art of making bread. Transfer to Shandiz to have a Persian dinner at a traditional restaurant. Transfer to hotel and rest. O/N in Mashhad

After breakfast, check out and drive toward Sabzevar. En route to Sabzevar, stop at Neyshabur, the city of poetry. Visit Tomb of Khayyam, a marble monument designed by the architect Hooshang Seyhoun, one of the great architects of modern Iran. Read Khayyam poems translated by Edward FitzGerald in 1859 to get to the philosophy of Carper Diem. Walk toward Attar Neyshaburi Tomb, a Persian poet, theoretician of Sufism, and hagiographer who had a huge influence on Persian poetry and Sufism. Next to that, visit Tomb of Kamal-ol-molk, the greatest Persian painter in 17th century whose painting will be seen later Golestan Palace in Tehran. After lunch, drive toward Sabzevar to visit Jameh Mosque of Sabzevar and Musalla of Sabzevar built during the rules of Sarbedaran, a group of Persian patriots, who fought for Persian culture against Mongol invasion. Step into Faramarz Khan Caravansary to see the handicrafts. Transfer to hotel and rest. O/N in Sabzevar

Drive toward Shahroud, stop for a short time to visit Khosrogerd minaret, a Seljuk architecture functioning as a path-finding lighthouse for caravans in the middle of desert on Silk Road. Resume our trip to stop for a tea in Miyandasht caravanserai, the largest caravanserai on Silk Road. Spend some time to visit the nearby brick-mud castle and water reservoir. Continue our trip to Rezaabad village, a unique village situated between mountain and desert. Walk on the golden sands and spend the night around the fire under the starry night. O/N in Eco-lodge in Rezaabad

After breakfast, drive toward Shahroud, to visit Tomb of Abu al-Hassan Kharaqani, one of the master Sufis of Islam and the teacher of great Persian scholars such as Avicenna and Mahmud of Ghazni. Walk into the Persian Garden-like complex to delve into the world of sufism. Next, visit Bayazid Bastami Tomb, a controversial Persian Sufi with Zoroastrian root who converted to Islam and reached to one of the highest levels of Sufism. Drive toward Semnan. First delve into the history by getting into the oldest part of Seman, Tepe Hissar, featuring an uninterrupted occupational history from the 5th to the 2nd millennium BCE. Next visit Wall Barrow, a large wall built for protecting the city from the invaders. Then, visit Damghan Tarikhaneh Mosque, the second oldest mosque in Iran which used to be a fire temple before Islam. Visit Pire Alamdar dome, a unique architect with Kufic epigraphy. Drive toward Semnan and rest in hotel. O/N in Semnan

After breakfast, head to city center to visit Semnan Arg Gate, a gate built in late 18th by order of Fath-Ali Shah Qajar. The gate’s exterior covers with seven-colored tiles depicting Rustam, the great Persian warrior of Shahnameh fighting with the white dragon. Next, visit Pahneh Bath, a Persian bath to get to the philosophy and function of different sections of Hammam. Continue your trip to Garmsar to visit Salt Mines Of Garmsar, the best of its kind in Iran. Pick up your camera to walk through the tunnels formed with a length of 1.5 kilometers to take great pictures. Continue your trip to ancient city of Rhagae or Rey, a city mentioned in Bible. Visit Rey Castle dating back to Parthian Empire (247 BC – 224 AD). Next to that visit Fath Ali shah inscription carved on stone, one of the best of its kind in 18th century. Toghrol Historical Tower is the next visiting place built by Seljuq ruler Tuğrul Beg in 11th century functioning as a Sundial, travelers’ guide and echoing the sound. Last but not least, if there is enough time, visit the most important holy shrine in Tehran, Shah Abdol-Azim shrine. Transfer to hotel and rest. O/N in Tehran

This morning, after a short leisure walk at National Garden, Tehran, the only remaining Tehran gate, venture into the history of Persia from Paleolithic Time to early settlement in the villages and from Elamite Empire to Sassanid Empire at National Museum of Iran. After having a Persian cuisine for lunch, spend the afternoon exploring labyrinthine alleys of Tehran Grand Bazaar, economic heart of Iran. Stop at Haj Ali Darvish Tea House smallest tea house in the world to taste traditional Saffron and mint tea. Then take a guided walk in extraordinary Golestan Palace (UNESCO World Heritage Site) dating back to 16th century. Hear the story of Tehran settlement from a small village to a metropolis while visiting the main stunning palaces merging Persian art with European architecture. Transfer to hotel and rest. For evening we will go to Darband mountain for a dinner. O/N in Tehran

After breakfast, head to uptown to visit the Sa'dabad Complex (Green Palace Museum & White Palace, Master Farshchian Miniature Museum), home to Qajar and Pahlavi monarchs. The complex includes more than 180 hectares of natural forest, streets, galleries, mansions, palaces and museums. The National Jewelry Treasury, (open from Saturday to Tuesday) the priceless and most unique jewelry collection in the world. Then visit Carpet Museum of Iran to see the best collection of Persian carpets from 16th century to present. Then visit Milad tower, sixth-tallest tower and the 24th-tallest freestanding structure in the world. Transfer to hotel and rest. O/N in Tehran

Drive toward Alamut, a notorious spot of rebels and assassins. Trek to the famous castle of Assassins, Alamut Castle in Alborz Mountains. Get to know the history of the great leader, Hassan-e Sabbāh, and his ideology behind the assassinations and enjoy the beautiful trekking path from Qazvin to Mazandaran. Drive back to Qazvin to taste an ethnic dish of Gheymeh Nesar. Transfer to hotel and rest. O/N in Qazvin

In the morning head to Chehel Sotun Palace, built in Tahmasp I Safavid for his residence as the second capital of Persia in Safavid Era. The palace is decorated with colorful stain glasses and stuccos. Enjoy a leisurely walk in Safavieh Garden & Historical Complex. Pass Ali Qapu to enter the first street of Iran, Sepah Street. Continue walking to Tomb of the Four Prophets, a burial of Jewish prophets: Sahuli, Salam, Alqia , and Saloum. They are said to be the prophets who brought the news of the birth of Christ from Jerusalem to the East. Head to visit Sardar Bozorg Cistern, the greatest water reservoir in the east of Iran. Then take a walk in Aminiha Hosseiniyeh, a Persian house-style ornamented with colorful glasses, subtle woodwork and stunning stucco design. After lunch, drive toward Zanjan. Visit the only Chinese temple in Iran built in early 14th century. Dashkasan Dragon Temple is decorated with two raised dragon and some Islamic Mihrabs at two sides of the it. Our next visit is Dome of Soltaniyeh (UNESCO World Heritage Site), third largest dome in the world after the domes of Florence Cathedral and Hagia Sophia. Drive toward Zanjan to visit Rakhtshoykhaneh Museum. The museum shows the lifestyle of locals washing their clothes in the river and the story behind it. Transfer to hotel and rest.

Drive toward Takab Spend the day discovering symbolic and spiritual significance of fire and water in the archaeological ensemble of Takht-e Soleyman aka Azar Goshnasp Fire Temple (UNESCO World Heritage Site). Built during Sassanid Empire, the fire temple is an exclusive scared home for “Kings’ Warriors” to bow before the holy fire and make sacrifice for the Persian goddess of water and rain, Anahita. Before entering into this main sanctuary that is the foremost religious architecture in Zoroastrianism, take a walk around the fortified oval lake to enjoy the beautiful landscape of the valley. Next, climb up the zig zag pathway toward the conical peak known by local as Zendan-e Soleyman (Solomon’s Prison) where sacrifices were made by religious leaders of Mannaeans, dating back the 1 st millennium B.C. Stay in a local eco-lodge in Takab. Drive toward Kandovan village, the exotic conical houses carved into the mountain. O/N in Kandovan

Drive toward Tabriz, the first capital of Safavid Dyansty. Take a light walking tour of Tabriz Historic Bazaar Complex (UNESCO World Heritage Site) where a series of interconnected, covered, brick structures and buildings joint to each other to for the largest covered traditional bazaar in the world. Next, visit Blue Mosque, known as Turquoise of Islam for its turquoise-colored exterior and interior. Built by the order of Jahan Shah, the ruler of Kara Koyunlu, in 15th century, the mosque displays Kufic, and Thulth scripts, the exquisite arabesque patterns, and the admirable choramatic facades compositions. Our next visiting place is Constitution House of Tabriz where the prominent figures such as Sattar Khan fought for Persian Constitutional Revolution during Qajar Dynasty. The house displays the sculptures of famous Iranian constitution revolutionaries and their personal belongings, such as weapons, underground published newspaper and letters. Transfer to hotel and rest. O/N in Tabriz

Set off by a private car for a Christian-themed full-day excursion. Visit St. Thaddeus Monastery (UNESCO World Heritage Site) dating back to 7th century. A monument bear testimony to very important interchanges with the other regional cultures, in particular the Byzantine, Orthodox and Persian. Then explore Jolfa and pay a visit to Saint Stepanos Monastery (UNESCO World Heritage Site) with its long story and history. Back to Tabriz and rest in hotel. O/N in Tabriz

Transfer to airport. End of the tour.