Holidays in Iran

country:	Iran
trip type:	A small group adventure
departures:	2008: 30 Aug, 6 Sep, 20 Sep, 27 Sep, 18 Oct, 25 Oct 2009: 28 Mar, 11 Apr, 25 Apr, 2 May, 9 May, 16 May, 23 May, 30 May, 6 Jun, 20 Jun
price:	From £725 (15 days) excluding flights. Additional local payment of US $200. Price includes transport, internal flight, accommodation, 10 breakfasts & 2 dinners

Iran holidays

the amazing things you'll be doing

Welcome to the hidden world of Iran. As we travel through this fascinating country you will discover refined Islamic cities, colourful bazaars, ancient ruins, camel-trading nomads, shimmering deserts and lofty snow-capped peaks. Whether you're relaxing in a teahouse in Tehran, or breaking bread with the Qalaqais nomads on the harsh Iranian plateau, you will be touched by the warmth and hospitality of the people, and the profound beauty of their land.

Haggle over a Persian rug in a Tehran bazaar, admire the delicate beauty of Esfahan, Ponder life in Persepolis, Gain an insight into the lives of Silk Road traders, Spend a night with a Nomadic family in the harsh Iranian heartland, Enter into the mysterious world of the Zoroastrians

day-by-day itinerary

Day 1:	Tehran. Venture through teeming bazaars and chaotic streets to the ornate Golestan Palace and its many artworks. Also visit the Iman Khomeni Mosque and chill out in a traditional teahouse.
Day 2-3:	Shiraz and Persopolis. Morning flights to Shiraz. Explore the tranquil gardens and mosques of beautiful Shiraz, taking time to discover the the ancient ceremonial capital of Persopolis.
Day 4:	Nomad Stay. Exchange animal-herding and field-tending for hot food and traditional songs when we stay overnight with the local nomads in a tent made from goat and sheep hair!
Day 5:	Abarqu. Home to the famous Ice house, 11th century Gonbad Ali Dome, Jameh Mosque and the famous 4000 year old cypress tree.
Day 6:	Zein-o-din Caravanserai. Step into the exotic shoes of a Silk Road merchant with an overnight stay in a traditional hostel, or caravanserai. Bask in the rich red skies of a desert sunset before dining under a sky full of stars.
Day 7-8:	Yazd. Visit the sacred Zoroastrian fire temple in this ancient town of wind-catchers, fine silks and ancient religions.
Day 9-10:	Esfahan. Our local guide leads us through the fascinating history, tree-lined boulevards and atmospheric bazaars of Esfahan, one of the finest cities in the Islamic world.
Day 11:	Abyaneh. Explore the ancient red rock town of Abyaneh and visit a local family.
Day 12-13:	Kashan. With some of the finest examples of traditional wooden houses in Iran, tea houses and one of the most exciting bazaars in the country, Kashan is a fascinating place to explore. While here we will try some traditional Iranian cooking in a local families house.
Day 14-15:	Tehran. Return to Tehran where you might want to check out the world's largest uncut pink diamond at the Treasury of National Jewels.

small group adventure holiday

This is a 'small group adventure' - on our group trips you'll be with a maximum of 11 like minded travellers and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends it's good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting people from other parts of the world as well as seeing new places! (more)

highly commended

This tourism business was Highly Commended in our 2007 Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards - the largest awards of their kind in the world, and organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Times, World Travel Market and Geographical Magazine, of the Royal Geographical Society.

Since 2004, the Awards has recognised individuals, companies and organisations in travel making a big commitment to the culture and economies of local communities and helping to conserve biodiversity.

how this holiday makes a difference

On this trip through incredible Iran, you will have the opportunity to meet local people, see the amazing sights and get an insight into this vibrant culture.

From learning how to cook fine Iranian food with a local family in Kashan to seeing how nomads live in the harsh Iranian desert, this trip gives you plenty of chances to assimilate with the friendly locals.

In Shiraz, you'll see the complicated process of making traditional carpets in a local workshop. As we continue on our journey, the local nomads near Abarqu will welcome an opportunity to perform their traditional Qashqai music. It’s here that you will get the chance to experience the nomadic lifestyle as we stay with them for an evening.

Wherever possible, we contract local indigenous suppliers and assist them to improve the quality of their services. By booking this tour, you'll be helping us to support Iranian service providers, artists and performers, small businesses, van owners and other poor people in communities throughout Iran.

We use local freelance guides with wide experience and knowledge of cultural traditions and an ability to interpret the cultural heritage of the people in the places visited. For this tour, you'll have several guides, all from various provinces in Iran.

Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people.

We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel.

'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left).

We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays.

We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism.

This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards.