JOURNEY TO PERSIA

Day 1
Depart London.

Day 2
Those on the group flights arrive early morning and transfer to the joining hotel. After breakfast and a rest we will begin our guided tour of Tehran mid- morning. There are some fantastic museums in Tehran and we will begin by exploring the National Museum which contains a fantastic collection of prehistoric and ancient artefacts. We can then visit the Glassware and Ceramic Museum, whose collection is thoughtfully curated and is housed in a wonderful nineteenth century building. Later we will visit the majestic Golestan Palace, the oldest palace in Tehran. There will also be time to simply take in the sights and sounds of Iran's capital, and acclimatise to the Persian culture. We will transfer to the domestic airport late afternoon for our short flight to Shiraz.

Day 3
This morning we drive from our hotel in Shiraz to Persopolis after breakfast for our tour of this incredible site, the ceremonial capital of Darius I. Persopolis is a magnificent complex of ancient ruins: columns, carved gateways, forty foot tall sculptured horses and bulls, reception hall, Winter Palace and the famous carved Apadana Staircase. It is the best-preserved monument of the Old Persian Empire and has attracted archaeologists from all over the world. Before returning to Shiraz we shall also visit the tombs of Darius I and II, Xerxes and Artaxerxes at Naqshe Rustam. After lunch we drive back to Shiraz, capital of the province of Fars. It was from here that the great Achaemenids, Cyrus and Darius, ruled from the 6th century BC, and later the Sassanians until the Arab invasion in the 7th century, and it is here that we find the remains of their cities. Shiraz is an atmospheric city and holds a very romantic place in the heart of Iranians. It may lack the magnificence of Isfahan but as a city famous for its roses, nightingales and poetry, its beauty is both subtle and evocative. The mausoleums of Persia's two most famous poets, Hafez and Sa'di are to be found here in very peaceful gardens. Present day Shiraz is a mixture of the hustle and bustle of modern life, covered bazaars with wonderful crafts and brightly coloured nomads' textiles. The serene havens of tiled madrassahs, glorious gardens, such as the Bagh-e Eram, and many mosques tiled with the rose motif, including the exquisite Nasir al-Mulk of the Qajar era, are testimony to why this is the Iranian people's favourite city.

Day 4
We have a long drive of 450km from Shiraz to Yazd and so en route we visit Pasargadae, which pre-dates Persepolis. Here we have the opportunity to see the simple but imposing tomb of Cyrus the Great, the Founder of the Persian Empire, and remains of his several palaces, all located in the beautiful plain of Dasht-e-Morghab. Then we continue our journey on to Abarkuh, a charming desert town, for a tea-break under the shade of a 4000-year old Cyprus tree, before reaching Yazd for our overnight stay.

Day 5
Yazd is a true desert city and the centre of Zoroastrianism, Persia's ancient religion of fire worshippers. It was an important trading centre on the Silk Road and renowned for its silk and carpet weaving. We spend the day looking around Yazd: we will see the wind towers designed to catch even the smallest movement of air and direct it downwards to cool the living quarters below and visit the beautiful Dowlat Abad Garden and Pavilion. Also the Towers of Silence, where the Zoroastrians laid out their dead to be eaten by the vultures. The old town of Yazd is a maze of narrow lanes and old mud structures, which we will have time to explore. In the evening you may choose to have dinner in a traditional bathhouse that has been converted into a restaurant.

Day 6
We set off to the architectural centre of Iran, Isfahan, 300kms away. On our way we visit the village of Mohamadiye, to see the traditional workshops weaving the camel cloaks worn by the Moslem clergy in Iran before continuing onto Na'in, another charming desert town, half way between Yazd and Isfahan. Here we'll see the famous 10th century Friday Mosque and the 17th century Pirnia House/Ethnographic Museum. Later we drive onto Isfahan to our hotel.

Day 7 - 8
Isfahan nesf-e jahan, 'Isfahan is half the world', the magnificent capital of Shah Abbas I. Architecturally, Isfahan is one of the most important cities of the world. At its centre is the Maidan-e Imam (Imam Square), one of the finest city squares in the world containing the immense tiled Imam Mosque, Ali Ghapu's Palace and the mosque of Sheikh Lotfollah. The Bazaar Qaisarieh, or Imperial Bazaar, is a labyrinth of domed alleyways, filled with carpets, textiles, sweets and spices, metal work, tile-makers, jewellers and bright clothes which stretches from Imam Square all the way to the 10th century Friday Mosque in the north. It was among bazaars such as these that the revolution of 1978 took root.We will also visit Vank Cathedral within the Armenian sector, Jolfa, and may possibly have time to experience the phenomenon of the 'shaking minarets' of the Minar-e Jonban in the west. Isfahan is a rarity among Iranian cities in that a river, the Zayandeh, passes through it. This contributes to the pleasant climate of the city whilst its bridges, particularly the Si o Se Pol (the Bridge of Thirty-three Arches), and the Khaju Bridge, provide the perfect setting to spend the evening soaking up the atmosphere. We finish with a visit to the Qeisarieh Bazaar with hundreds of shops displaying the arts and handicrafts for which Isfahan is world famous.

Day 9
After breakfast we begin our drive to Tehran stopping at Kashan en route. Half way between Tehran and Isfahan, it is a city famous for its carpet weaving and is an oasis town once part of an all important caravan route. Home to some of the most beautiful traditional houses in Iran, some of which have been restored to their former glory, there are also impressive gardens, and some fine examples of Islamic architecture. We have lunch there and spend a couple of hours exploring the Fin Garden, the best surviving example of a walled Persian Garden, and the Tabatabaee House, a very fine example of an early 20th century traditional merchant house. In the afternoon we continue the drive to our hotel in Tehran, where we will arrive in the evening.

Day 10
Fly to London.