Duration

12 Days

Activity Level

Moderate

Best Months

May, Jun, July, Aug, Sep

Activities

Multi-Activity

Travel Styles

Off the Beaten Track, Classic

Custom-made Iran’s active holiday including of trekking in the nomadic region of Zagros along visiting of main world heritage UNESCO sites in major historical-cultural cities

TOUR CODE

184-STN-MLT

START

Shiraz

FINISH

Tehran

REGION(S)

Central Iran

INCLUDED

MEALS: 11 Breakfasts, 7 Lunches, 5 Dinners
ACCOMMODATIONS: Hotel: 7 Nights, Local House: 4 Nights
TRANSPORTATION: Private vehicle
All transportation according to the itinerary Accommodation as mentioned in the itinerary Meals as indicated in the itinerary English speaking tour guide Backpack handling by Mules/Horses (limited to 15kg per person)

NOT INCLUDED

Entry fee for the sites not mentioned in the itinerary
Travel insurance
International airfare
Excess baggage charges
Airport and departure taxes
Any extra hotel costs such as early check in or late checkout
Laundry
Mini bar used in the room
Meals not stipulated in the itinerary
Tips (optional)
Cost of medical immunizations
Bottled water
Phone calls
Any other service not mentioned in the itinerary

Best Iran hiking in two different regions of Zagros mountains
Crossing Oak trees forest of Dena UNESCO biosphere reserve
Hiking alongside of foothills of the mountain chains
Walk through seldom visited villages in non touristic areas of Mt Zagros
Taste of Persian cuisine in local houses
Explore off the beaten tracks of Iran
Interact and mingle with Bakhtiari nomadic tribe
camp besides the nomad’s tents and share their food and lifestyle
Explore Abyaneh historical village
Visit Iran’s world famous & important UNESCO designated world heritage sites

HIKE AND DISCOVER IRAN tour is a soft adventure holiday with combination of Iran’s cultural-historical attractions with moderate hiking activity. Besides visiting Iran’s world famous highlights, we include 4 days hiking in two separate regions of the massive Zagros mountain range. As most of Iran classic tours are designed for spring and autumn, the same itinerary is offered during the summer. However we have designed this tour specifically for the Persian summer season. The journey has two main segments. The first segment focuses on the hiking activity which we have designed in a manner that covers areas never mentioned in any guide book. We have chosen two regions of Zagros range (Nomadic region & a National Park) for the hiking segment . The second segment will be focused on cultural/historical sightseeing activities. These include visiting cities of Shiraz, Esfahan and Kashan ; plus Abyaneh historical village as well as Persepolis . The trip begins in Shiraz and ends in Kashan with transfer to Tehran IKA airport. This trip does not include any time spent in Tehran since there is not sufficient time. If you would like to continue your trip and would like to spend time in the capital city, please contact us.

Day 1: Arrival to Shiraz

Depending on your arrival time you’ll likely have free time to relax, get adjusted and explore the famous city of Shiraz. Overnight stay at hotel. (-,-,-)

Day 2: Shiraz- Persepolis excursion

In Persepolis we start a full sightseeing of Persia’s imperial past by visiting Naghseh Rajab and Nagshe-Rostam. In the late afternoon we will drive back to Shiraz. Overnight stay at hotel. (B, L)

Day 3: Shiraz City tour- drive to sisakht

In the morning we will start a walking tour to visit Karimkhan citadel, Vakil mosque & baths, Nasirolmolk mosque, the grand bazaar and the old part of the town. Afternoon we will spend a while for visiting Hafez mausoleum Persia’s beloved poet and Eram garden registered in UNESCO World Heritage sites. late afternoon we will leave Shiraz towards Sisakht “ Dena mountains foothill” which is 216 km away. Overnight stay in a traditional guesthouse. (B, D)

Day 4: Enter to Dena national park

After breakfast start your long day trekking. Starting point is national park’s gate for 6 days. The altitude of starting point is 2500m from sea level. More or less we will traverse around 15 km per day taking us to the central part of the region. Dinner in the camp. (B, L, D)

Day 5: Passing by villages & farms

Second day walk is also around 7.5 km passing forest and mountain foothills. Today we will visit a waterfall which is the highest waterfall in Dena region. (B, L, D)

Day 6: Drive to Nomadic region of Zardkuh mountains

After breakfast, we will pack our bags and we will drive to a cave around the region to explore hidden attraction of the mountains. Afterward, we will have a long drive to Mt Zardkuh, the nomadic region of Zagros takes about 5-6 hours. We have two hours mountain off road in the last part of the road. We reach to a nomadic region of Bakhtiari tribes and we will wall to the village. We stay the night in the village. (B, L, D)

Day 7: Nomadic Hike

After early breakfast with local in the house, we will start our hiking through the nomadic tents of Bakhtiari who they moved from low land up to highland during spring and summer. We are going to have between 6- 8 hours hike. In the late afternoon you will arrive to another nomadic region. You will stay in the tent or a very basic house for this night. (B, L, D)

Day 8: Explore nomadic village – drive to Isfahan

We will have eraly breakfast in the camp and continue our hiking toward another region. In the afternoon we will finish our today hike in a village. Afterward a local vehicle pickup us and we have off road driving towards a main town. Afterward we will drive to Isfahan city take 4-5 hours. In the evening we will be in Isfahan. Overnight stay in a hotel. (B, L)

Day 9: Isfahan city tour

A full day Esfahan city walking tour to visit all of the UNESCO’s world heritage sites on Naqshe Jahan Square, Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque, Imam Mosque as well as Aali Qapu Building, Chehel Sotun (Forty Pillar) and Hasht Behest (Eight Heaven) building on this day. Overnight stay at hotel. (B)

Day 10: Abyaneh - Drive to Kashan

Check out from the hotel at noon and after having lucvh in the town, we will drive to Abyayeh by the afternoon. Abyaneh is a mountain village and it’s one of the most beautiful villages of Iran with a special architecture. It takes 2.5 hour drive (180 km). We will have a short walk in the village to explore the historical houses and visit the local people and women who has their own dress. Afterward, we will drive to Kashan take 1 hour (87 km). We will stay in traditional house for tonight. (B, L)

Day 11: Kashan city tour

After breakfast in the house, we will have a full day Kashan city tour. We will have a short drive out of the town takes half an hour to visit Fin Garden which is registered as a Persian Garden in UNESCO heritage site and Fin historical bath as well. We also visit the old part of the town and a couple of historical houses and Agha Bozorg famous mosque. Overnight stay in traditional hotel in Kashan. (B)