Day 1: November 18, 2023
Departure from Slovenia from Brnik airport, flight to Tehran.
Day 2: November 19, 2023
Arrival in Tehran in the early morning hours. After completing all formalities at the airport transfer from international to domestic airport and flight Tehran - Qeshm Island. Transfer to the hotel, time at leisure for a stroll around the city, dinner and overnight.
Day 3: November 20, 2023
Qeshm Island is the largest island in the Persian Gulf and is protected as a UNESCO Geopark due to its numerous geological features. The island is also known for its diversity of plant and animal species. In the morning we take a boat to the Hara mangrove forest, the largest in the Persian Gulf, and in the afternoon we walk through the geologically interesting Chah-kooh valley, where we learn about the main geological features of the island. Overnight stay on Qeshm Island.
Day 4: November 21, 2023
A day trip to Hormoz Island, which is a salt dome in its entirety and extremely interesting to explore with its colorful rocks. We will visit the Rainbow Valley and the Valley of the Stars, a salt cave and a coast with colorful minerals and learn what is the cause of this wonderful coloring of the rocks. Return to Qeshm Island in the afternoon, dinner and overnight.
Day 5: November 22, 2023
In SW part of the island there is Namakdan Cave, which is the longest salt cave in the world with its length of 6 km. We will see stalactites and stalagmites made of salt and get acquainted with the way and causes of formation of these unusual shapes for us. In the afternoon domestic flight from Qeshm Island to Shiraz. Transport to the hotel and overnight.
Day 6: November 23, 2023
Full day exploration of Shiraz, the city of poets, poetry, flowers and wine. The most famous Iranian poets, Hafez and Saadi, are from this city. We will visit the Karim Khan fort with a museum, explore the large Vakil bazaar with beautiful courtyards, a caravanserai, baths and old stores. The beautiful pink Nasir-ol-Molk Mosque with its art gallery is sure to captivate everyone. We will visit the tomb of the famous poet Hafez and listen to Persian poetry, and if time permits, we will also visit one of the sights of Shiraz. Overnight stay in Shiraz.
Day 7: November 24, 2023
We go to Persepolis, where we see one of the former Persian capitals of the ruler Darius the Great I, which was destroyed by Alexander the Great. We walk through the complex of royal palaces, treasuries and outbuildings, as well as two large ceremonial halls. Nearby we visit the necropolis with the tombs of the ancient Persian kings Naqsh-e-Rostam and later Pasargadae with the tomb of the Persian ruler Cyrus the Great, founder of the Achaemenid Empire. Late lunch at a local restaurant. Overnight stay in Shiraz.
Day 8: November 25, 2023
We will drive towards the city of Kerman with a stop at the Maharlu Salt Lake. We will learn about the ecology of the salt lake and the reason for its formation. If we are lucky, we can observe water birds and learn why the lake's water sometimes has a pink color. On the way to Kerman we will admire a beautiful landscape with saffron and almond plantations, and in one of them we will stop for a real Persian picnic.
Kerman is an important city on the edge of the desert on the former Silk Road. We visit the old bazaar and enjoy tea in a local tea house. We visit the "glacier" Moayedi (Yakhchal), a building that once served as a cold storage in the hot summer days of the desert. Overnight stay in Kerman.
Day 9: November 26, 2023
From Kerman we drive to the Lut Desert and spend a full day exploring the largest caluts (sand dunes) and nebkas (vegetated dunes) in the world. We will visit a salt river and a waterfall and climb up to the basalt plateau above the desert, from where we will have a wonderful view of one of the most diverse deserts in the world. We will also wait for the sunset in the desert.
The desert of Lut was included in the World Heritage List UNESCO due to its extremely diverse geomorphological forms, kaluts and valleys. It is also considered the hottest desert in the world. We will spend the night in the camp in the village of Dehseyf, where there will be dinner.
Day 10: November 27, 2023
After breakfast we will go once again to the desert of Lut, this time to the other side, where there are impenetrable dunes. We will enjoy a drive among them and admire the picturesque landscape. After returning from the desert, we will drive to the city of Rayen, where we will visit the restored sand citadel. We will get acquainted with the construction method made of sand bricks, which is very typical for this part of Iran.
We drive to Rayen through picturesque villages and stop at the colorful Hormak Mountains and admire the deep gorges. Dinner in Rayen, then drive to Kerman, overnight.
Day 11: November 28, 2023
We drive to the city of Yazd along the impenetrable pistachio plantations, the most prized in this part of Iran. On the way we will stop at a former caravanserai and see the Khanate system that will accompany us to Yazd. Before arriving in Yazd, we will stop at a renovated caravanserai that has been converted into an idyllic hotel and restaurant by members of the Ismaili minority. We will also have dinner there before arriving in Yazd, and admire the sunset from the roof of the caravanserai.
The city of Yazd is the center of Zoroastrian culture and famous for silk weaving and confectionery. The Old City is on the World Heritage List UNESCO and has the second oldest architecture in the world. Overnight stay in Yazd.
Day 12: November 29, 2023
Learn about Zoroastrianism, once the predominant religion in Iran: visit the Steps of Silence and the Temple of Fire, where eternal fire has burned for more than 700 years. Then visit the Petka Mosque with the tallest minarets in Iran and the Museum of Windmills. In the afternoon, visit Dowlat-Abad Garden with the tallest wind tower. Overnight stay in Yazd.
Day 13: November 30, 2023
Go to Isfahan, "the most beautiful city in the world". We will see the main square Naqsh-e Jahan, where Ali Qapu Palace and Shah and Sheikh Lotf Allah Mosque are located. The rest of the day is free to explore the Grand Bazaar and other sights or relax in one of the beautiful city parks. Overnight stay in Isfahan.
Day 14: December 1, 2023
In the morning visit New Julfa, the Armenian quarter in Isfahan. We will visit the beautiful Cathedral of the Holy Savior and the Khatchatur Kesaratsi Museum with a presentation of the Armenian minority. Free afternoon, overnight in Isfahan.
Day 15: December 2, 2023
We will drive from Isfahan to the village of Abyaneh, where we will learn about its special architecture. The village is built of red mud bricks colored by iron oxides and is also characterized by a special costume of the women. Afterwards, we will drive to the city of Kashan, where we will visit the picturesque gardens of the wealthy local families, and then drive to Tehran International Airport.
Day 16: December 3, 2023
Departure from Iran and arrival in Slovenia.
Author of the program and photos: © Janja Benedik, 2017-2022.
Organizer and performer of the program: © naTOURa, Janja Benedik, s. p. in cooperation with Pars Tourist Agency (Shiraz), 2019-2023.
Before the trip, a meeting of the participants will be organized, where you will receive all the necessary information about the trip.
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