Iran: Azeris and Caspian Sea (2025)

Day 1

Welcome to Iran! Transfer to the hotel. In the afternoon (variable schedule based on arrival flights), we will begin the visit to TEHRAN, the capital of the country, a modern city with almost ten million inhabitants. We enter the Tajrish Bazar, a small and active bazaar full of activity and life. Inside we visit the Imamzadeh Saleh Sanctuary, one of the most popular Shiite shrines in Iran, magnificent blue architecture, dedicated to a descendant of the prophet. Tehran is on the slope of the Alborz Mountain range, some peaks exceed 5000 meters, and at its foot - on the edge of Tehran - is DARBAND VILLAGE, with its mountain atmosphere, its waterfalls, its green paths, its numerous Tea houses and its restaurants. Dinner included.Note: If the arrival time of your flight is after 5 p.m., you will not be able to attend the activities planned for this day.

Day 2

We include a visit (with guide and tickets included) to the great metropolis. We begin by going to the 437 meters high MILAD TOWER, its views are impressive (if it´s a foggy day with low visibility, instead of the Milad Tower we will go to the Azadi Tower). We visit the National Museum, the largest historical and archaeological museum in the country, where we can learn more about this land, the cradle of civilizations. Afterwards, we visit the Golestan Palace, declared a world heritage site by UNESCO, a site of palaces and gardens which construction began in the 16th century. Lunch included. In the afternoon, we will visit the National Jewelry Museum, property of the central bank, an amazing collection of precious stones and metals, highlighting the “peacock throne” and the “earth globe”. Free time; we will drop you off in the Grand Bazaar area, with its many covered streets, alleys and hundreds of shops.Note: Sometimes the jewelry museum is not open, in that case, we would visit the carpet museum that shows Persian carpets, some from the 16th century.

Day 3

After breakfast we leave for the west of Iran, a magnificent highway takes us to QAZVIN in about two hours. We are in one of the oldest cities in Iran, it is also known as "Little Isfahan" due to the similar structures built by the Safavid kings in both cities. It is also considered the capital of Iranian calligraphy. During our visit, we will visit the Atiq Mosque - one of the oldest mosques in Iran -, we will visit the Aminiha House - a luxurious 19th century home - and the Chehel Sotoun Palace (the calligraphy museum is located here) - with its beautiful gardens, the monumental Ali Qapu Gate, in the Mausoleum of Hamdollah Mostofi geographer and historian of the 14th century and the magnificently restored ancient Caravanserai. Lunch included. In the afternoon we continue our route, we cross the mountain range that separates the interior of Iran with the Caspian Sea, mountains, forests, green landscapes take us to RASHT, arrival at the end of the day to the largest Iranian city in the Caspian area. Afterwards, we have time for a stroll through its traditional bazaar and the Mohtasham garden (the city park).

Day 4

We continue our tour in the Caspian region, BANDAR ANZALI is a port city (24 meters below sea level - the Caspian is actually an inland lake -, we visit the Russian bazaar and we will include a boat ride through the Anzali lagoon inhabited by numerous birds. Afterwards, we cross again the mountain range with its beautiful green landscapes and large forests so different from other regions of Iran. Lunch included. We stop at THE CRYSTAL HANGING BRIDGE in Hir, a very popular excursion place for Iranians; we will enjoy the landscapes of this place. At the end of the afternoon, we arrive at SAR-EYN, a thermal city very close to Arabil, a lively touristic place full shops and restaurants. Do you dare to bathe in one of the pools? Hot Springs?

Day 5

After breakfast, we will leave to ARDABIL, an Iranian city of Azeri culture very close to the border with Azerbaijan. We visit here the Mausoleum of Sheikh Safi al-Din: This historical site houses the tomb of the religious leader and Sufi poet, Sheikh Safi al-Din. It is an important pilgrimage site and an impressive example of Islamic architecture, declared a World Heritage Site. We also visit the anthropology museum, with its traditional bath. Later we have some time in its beautiful covered bazaar and city center. Lunch included. After lunch we travel to TABRIZ, arriving at the end of the afternoon to the most important city in eastern Iran, capital of the eastern Azerbaijan region, located in a fertile valley, due to its location it has had influence and has been inhabited by people from all over the world. Middle East (Armenians, Azeri’s, Georgians, Kurds, Persians, Turks, Arabs...); the majority of its population is Azeri speaking. At night, we will walk through EL-GOLI PARK, a pleasant park with a large lagoon in the center surrounded by small restaurants -dinner included.

Day 6

We visit TABRIZ, a city with just over one and a half million inhabitants. We will visit the blue mosque, built in the 15th century but badly damaged in an earthquake; we will visit the Azerbaijan museum where we will learn about its collections from different periods. We will also pass in front of the mausoleum of the poets, where we learn about the rich cultural heritage in poetry that Iran and Arg-e-Alishah have - remains of the great fortress and walls that the city had. At the end of the morning we will leave the city, a little less than an hour away KANDOVAN, a very picturesque mountain town, for more than 800 years its inhabitants have resided in troglodyte homes, it reminds us of the Cappadocia region in Turkey. Lunch included. In the afternoon we return to TABRIZ, you will have plenty of free time to visit the BAZAAR, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the largest covered bazaar in the world, important for centuries because it is located on the Silk Road (cited by Marco Polo and Ibn Batuta), the carpet area stands out.

Day 7

Today we include a flight to TEHRAN; Schedules are subject to frequent modifications and both the time of your transfer and your flight will be informed at the time of the booking (at the time of preparation of this itinerary, the flight is scheduled to depart at noon). Arrival at Tehran airport.