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Beyond the cities — nights in the central desert at the Garmeh oasis, two days living with Qashqai nomads in the Zagros mountains, and the ancient oasis towns of the Iranian plateau. Thirteen days for travellers who want Iran’s wild side as well as its monuments, finishing with Persepolis and Shiraz.
Land in Tehran and transfer to your hotel. Evening welcome dinner and trip briefing. Overnight in Tehran.
A day in the capital — the National Museum of Iran, the Golestan Palace (UNESCO) and the Grand Bazaar, with the Alborz mountains behind the city. Overnight in Tehran.
Drive south to Kashan on the edge of the central desert. The UNESCO-listed Fin Garden and the great 19th-century merchant houses with their windcatchers and painted halls. Overnight in Kashan.
Head out into the Dasht-e Kavir — Iran's great salt desert — to the palm-fringed oasis village of Garmeh. Settle into a traditional mudbrick guesthouse and watch the sun set over the dunes. Overnight in Garmeh.
A full day in the desert — walk to the spring, explore the neighbouring oasis villages of Mesr and Khur, and end with stargazing under some of the clearest night skies anywhere. Overnight in Garmeh.
Drive south out of the desert to the ancient adobe city of Yazd. Afternoon at leisure to settle in. Overnight in Yazd.
The old city — one of the oldest living cities on earth — the Jameh Mosque and its soaring minarets, the Amir Chakhmaq complex, a maze of windcatchers, and the Zoroastrian Towers of Silence and Fire Temple. Overnight in Yazd.
An excursion around Yazd — the Zoroastrian cliff shrine of Chak Chak, the abandoned mudbrick village of Kharanaq, and the ancient ice-house and castle of Meybod. Overnight in Yazd.
Drive west into the Zagros mountains to meet a Qashqai nomad family on their seasonal pastures. Tea, an introduction to nomadic life and a night under canvas at the camp. Overnight with the nomads.
A day living at the pace of the migration — helping with the herds, baking bread over the fire, and walking the highland pastures with your hosts. Overnight with the nomads.
Descend from the mountains to Shiraz, the city of poets and gardens, stopping at Pasargadae and the tomb of Cyrus the Great en route. Overnight in Shiraz.
Day trip to Persepolis and the royal tombs of Naqsh-e Rostam, then the stained-glass Nasir al-Mulk Mosque, Eram Garden and the tomb of Hafez back in Shiraz. Overnight in Shiraz.
A final morning in Shiraz — the Vakil Bazaar and Karim Khan citadel — before your transfer to the airport for your flight home.
Our team has led small-group adventures across Asia, East Africa, the Caucasus and South America since 2006. We know the routes we run inside out — and we run them personally.
Never more than 15 people on this tour. Small groups move differently — you get into places larger groups can't, spend more time in the moment and actually get to know the people you're travelling with.
You book your own flights, so you have full flexibility over your dates, airline and route. We're always happy to advise on the best connections — just ask when you enquire.
No booking engine. Enquire and our team will be in touch within 24 hours to discuss everything personally — and to tailor the trip around your schedule and what matters most to you.
