Iran Tour Departing from Ankara with Mahan Air 7N/8D

Day 1: TEHRAN

Meeting at Esenboğa Airport International Departures Terminal. After ticketing, baggage, and customs procedures, we depart for Tehran on a scheduled Mahan Air flight. The name "Tehran" in Persian means "Hot Place." The city's origins trace back to the Neolithic era. Located at the foot of Mount Elburz, Tehran is spread over a vast area and, like many other Iranian cities, consists mainly of two- or three-story brick buildings. Upon arrival, we meet our guide and driver. After approximately one hour’s transfer, we reach the city center of Tehran. Following a panoramic city tour, we have dinner and check in to our hotel for overnight stay.

Day 2: TEHRAN

After breakfast at the hotel, we begin our full-day city tour of Tehran. Sites to be visited include Azadi Square, Milad Tower, and Tehran’s wide avenues. We then visit the Golestan Palace, a masterpiece influenced by European architecture and built during the Qajar Dynasty. Next, we explore Shah Mosque and Tajrish Bazaar. Afterwards, we visit the Imamzadeh Saleh Shrine, and then take a tea break in Darband, known for its natural beauty and waterfalls. Following the tour, we return to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 3: SHIRAZ

After breakfast at the hotel, we take a domestic flight to Shiraz. Upon arrival, we visit the tomb of the famous Persian poet and philosopher Saadi Shirazi, author of Bustan and Gulistan. Dinner and overnight stay in Shiraz.

Day 4: SHIRAZ – PERSEPOLIS

Before breakfast, we head to Nasir al-Mulk Mosque to witness the sunrise. Due to the use of pink tiles in its interior, the mosque is popularly known as the "Pink Mosque." With the first light of the day, the interior turns into a breathtaking display of colors. After returning to the hotel for breakfast, we visit the Karim Khan Citadel, built entirely of brick with a unique architectural style. Built for defense, its walls are about 14 meters high and are well-preserved to this day. A Persian inscription at the entrance reads:

"A traveler newly arrived in Shiraz will not stop praising the elegance of Karim Khan's Palace for a long time."

One of the towers is slightly leaning, similar to the Leaning Tower of Pisa (though not as steep). During the Pahlavi era, it was used as a prison.

Our panoramic city tour of Shiraz includes Karim Khan Citadel and the Bazaar. Although the mosque was built in 1773, most of the floral tile decorations were added during the Qajar era. Despite surviving two major earthquakes, the mosque remains a solid structure. After lunch and some shopping, we depart for a tour of Persepolis and Naqsh-e Rostam, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Persepolis, the ancient ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire, was founded by King Darius I around the late 6th century BC. Later expanded by Xerxes I and Artaxerxes I, it served as the capital of the Persian Empire and left behind many impressive monuments.

Naqsh-e Rostam is an archaeological site located 12 km northwest of Persepolis, believed to depict the mythical hero Rostam. The site contains seven royal tombs carved into the cliffs. One is clearly marked as belonging to Darius I. The others are believed to be those of Xerxes I, Artaxerxes I, and Darius II. Two completed tombs behind Persepolis likely belong to Artaxerxes II and III. An unfinished tomb may belong either to Arses or, more likely, to Darius III, the last Achaemenid ruler defeated by Alexander the Great. Below the tombs are seven enormous Sassanid rock reliefs.

After the tour, we return to Shiraz for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 5: YAZD

After breakfast, we set off on a 6-hour journey to the 5,000-year-old city of Yazd, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Known for its desert pathways, wind towers, and surreal architecture, Yazd offers a unique atmosphere. Visits include the Jameh Mosque, Amir Chakhmaq Mosque Complex, the city center, and the Zoroastrian Fire Temple (Ateshkadeh), where a sacred fire believed to have been burning since 470 BC is housed.

Next, we visit the Towers of Silence (Nekropolis), another important Zoroastrian site where the dead were traditionally left for sky burials. Dinner and overnight stay in Yazd.

Day 6: ISFAHAN

After breakfast at the hotel, we travel to Isfahan. Known as “Half of the World,” Isfahan was conquered by Muslims in 640 AD. It was declared the capital by Seljuk ruler Tughrul Bey and later developed by his grandson Melik Shah. We begin with a panoramic tour showcasing the city’s historic bridges.

We visit Naqsh-e Jahan Square, Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque, Ali Qapu Palace, the Grand Bazaar, and Chehel Sotoun Palace. Naqsh-e Jahan Square, formerly known as Shah Square, is one of the largest squares in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Many key landmarks are accessible from this square.

Ali Qapu Palace, with its six floors, dominates the square. Behind it lies a large park and a structure with 20 columns, whose reflection in the pool created an illusion of 40 columns—thus the name "Chehel Sotoun" (Forty Columns). However, the pool is now dry, and the reflection is no longer visible. After the city tour, dinner and overnight stay in Isfahan.

Day 7: KASHAN

After breakfast and checking out, we complete the remainder of the Isfahan city tour and then depart for Kashan. Located on a historic caravan route, Kashan is a city with deep-rooted history.

We visit the UNESCO-listed Fin Garden, which features water channels and the historical bath where Amir Kabir was assassinated. Other highlights include the Sialk Hills archaeological site and Boroujerdi House, which belonged to one of Kashan’s prominent families.

After the tour, we travel to the city of Qom, known as the religious center of Iran and famous for its theological schools. We visit the shrine and mosque of Hazrat Masumeh, then continue to Rey (32 km), the former Seljuk capital, to visit the mausoleum of Sultan Tughrul Bey. We end the day with dinner and overnight stay in Tehran.

Day 8: TEHRAN

At the time specified by our guide, we gather and transfer to Tehran Airport. We then depart for Ankara on a scheduled Mahan Air flight, marking the end of our tour.

Day 2: TEHRAN

After breakfast at the hotel, we begin our full-day city tour of Tehran. Sites to be visited include Azadi Square, Milad Tower, and Tehran’s wide avenues. We then visit the Golestan Palace, a masterpiece influenced by European architecture and built during the Qajar Dynasty. Next, we explore Shah Mosque and Tajrish Bazaar. Afterwards, we visit the Imamzadeh Saleh Shrine, and then take a tea break in Darband, known for its natural beauty and waterfalls. Following the tour, we return to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 3: SHIRAZ

After breakfast at the hotel, we take a domestic flight to Shiraz. Upon arrival, we visit the tomb of the famous Persian poet and philosopher Saadi Shirazi, author of Bustan and Gulistan. Dinner and overnight stay in Shiraz.

Day 4: SHIRAZ – PERSEPOLIS

Before breakfast, we head to Nasir al-Mulk Mosque to witness the sunrise. Due to the use of pink tiles in its interior, the mosque is popularly known as the "Pink Mosque." With the first light of the day, the interior turns into a breathtaking display of colors. After returning to the hotel for breakfast, we visit the Karim Khan Citadel, built entirely of brick with a unique architectural style. Built for defense, its walls are about 14 meters high and are well-preserved to this day. A Persian inscription at the entrance reads: "A traveler newly arrived in Shiraz will not stop praising the elegance of Karim Khan's Palace for a long time."

One of the towers is slightly leaning, similar to the Leaning Tower of Pisa (though not as steep). During the Pahlavi era, it was used as a prison.

Our panoramic city tour of Shiraz includes Karim Khan Citadel and the Bazaar. Although the mosque was built in 1773, most of the floral tile decorations were added during the Qajar era. Despite surviving two major earthquakes, the mosque remains a solid structure. After lunch and some shopping, we depart for a tour of Persepolis and Naqsh-e Rostam, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Persepolis, the ancient ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire, was founded by King Darius I around the late 6th century BC. Later expanded by Xerxes I and Artaxerxes I, it served as the capital of the Persian Empire and left behind many impressive monuments.

Naqsh-e Rostam is an archaeological site located 12 km northwest of Persepolis, believed to depict the mythical hero Rostam. The site contains seven royal tombs carved into the cliffs. One is clearly marked as belonging to Darius I. The others are believed to be those of Xerxes I, Artaxerxes I, and Darius II. Two completed tombs behind Persepolis likely belong to Artaxerxes II and III. An unfinished tomb may belong either to Arses or, more likely, to Darius III, the last Achaemenid ruler defeated by Alexander the Great. Below the tombs are seven enormous Sassanid rock reliefs.

After the tour, we return to Shiraz for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 5: YAZD

After breakfast, we set off on a 6-hour journey to the 5,000-year-old city of Yazd, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Known for its desert pathways, wind towers, and surreal architecture, Yazd offers a unique atmosphere. Visits include the Jameh Mosque, Amir Chakhmaq Mosque Complex, the city center, and the Zoroastrian Fire Temple (Ateshkadeh), where a sacred fire believed to have been burning since 470 BC is housed.

Next, we visit the Towers of Silence (Nekropolis), another important Zoroastrian site where the dead were traditionally left for sky burials. Dinner and overnight stay in Yazd.

Day 6: ISFAHAN

After breakfast at the hotel, we travel to Isfahan. Known as “Half of the World,” Isfahan was conquered by Muslims in 640 AD. It was declared the capital by Seljuk ruler Tughrul Bey and later developed by his grandson Melik Shah. We begin with a panoramic tour showcasing the city’s historic bridges.

We visit Naqsh-e Jahan Square, Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque, Ali Qapu Palace, the Grand Bazaar, and Chehel Sotoun Palace. Naqsh-e Jahan Square, formerly known as Shah Square, is one of the largest squares in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Many key landmarks are accessible from this square.

Ali Qapu Palace, with its six floors, dominates the square. Behind it lies a large park and a structure with 20 columns, whose reflection in the pool created an illusion of 40 columns—thus the name "Chehel Sotoun" (Forty Columns). However, the pool is now dry, and the reflection is no longer visible. After the city tour, dinner and overnight stay in Isfahan.

Day 7: KASHAN

After breakfast and checking out, we complete the remainder of the Isfahan city tour and then depart for Kashan. Located on a historic caravan route, Kashan is a city with deep-rooted history.

We visit the UNESCO-listed Fin Garden, which features water channels and the historical bath where Amir Kabir was assassinated. Other highlights include the Sialk Hills archaeological site and Boroujerdi House, which belonged to one of Kashan’s prominent families.

After the tour, we travel to the city of Qom, known as the religious center of Iran and famous for its theological schools. We visit the shrine and mosque of Hazrat Masumeh, then continue to Rey (32 km), the former Seljuk capital, to visit the mausoleum of Sultan Tughrul Bey. We end the day with dinner and overnight stay in Tehran.

Day 8: TEHRAN

At the time specified by our guide, we gather and transfer to Tehran Airport. We then depart for Ankara on a scheduled Mahan Air flight, marking the end of our tour.