All 30 photos
Iran’s greatest hits at an unhurried pace — the bazaars and palaces of Tehran, the desert cities of Kashan and Yazd, the turquoise domes of Esfahan, and the gardens and poetry of Shiraz, finishing at the ruins of Persepolis. Twelve days through the heart of ancient Persia, personally escorted from first day to last.
Land in Tehran and transfer to your hotel. Time to rest before an evening welcome dinner and trip briefing. Overnight in Tehran.
A full day in the capital — the Golestan Palace (UNESCO), the National Museum of Iran and the labyrinthine Grand Bazaar, with the Alborz mountains rising behind the city. Overnight in Tehran.
Drive south to the edge of the central desert to Kashan. Explore the UNESCO-listed Fin Garden and the great 19th-century merchant houses — Tabatabai and Borujerdi — with their windcatchers and painted halls. Overnight in Kashan.
Continue across the plateau towards Yazd, stopping at the red mud-brick village of Abyaneh in the foothills. Arrive in the ancient adobe city of Yazd by late afternoon. Overnight in Yazd.
A day in 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 into the desert around Yazd — the dramatic Zoroastrian cliff shrine of Chak Chak, the abandoned mud-brick village of Kharanaq, and the ancient ice-house and castle of Meybod. Overnight in Yazd.
Drive northwest to Esfahan, pausing at the oasis town of Nain along the way. Arrive in Iran's most celebrated city for the first of three nights. Overnight in Esfahan.
Begin at Naqsh-e Jahan Square, one of the largest public squares in the world — the Imam (Shah) Mosque, the jewel-like Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque and the Ali Qapu Palace, then the surrounding bazaar. Overnight in Esfahan.
More of Esfahan — the UNESCO-listed Jameh Mosque, the Chehel Sotoun pavilion, the Armenian quarter and Vank Cathedral, and the famous bridges of the Zayandeh River. Overnight in Esfahan.
Drive south to Shiraz, stopping at Pasargadae and the tomb of Cyrus the Great en route. Arrive in the city of poets and gardens. Overnight in Shiraz.
Day trip to Persepolis — the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid empire — and the royal tombs of Naqsh-e Rostam. Return to Shiraz for the stained-glass Nasir al-Mulk Mosque, Eram Garden and the tomb of Hafez. Overnight in Shiraz.
A final morning in Shiraz — the Vakil Bazaar and Karim Khan citadel — before your transfer to the airport for your international 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.
