Join a Small Group Tour to Iran

Featured Offer for Winter of 2023: People & Places Tour

Destination Iran has planned the “People & Places” package in form of a small group tour to Iran for you. To sign up for this featured cultural tour, you can choose to fill out the form at the bottom of this page!

What’s the “People and Places” Tour?

You join a group tour to Iran that is unique! “People & Places Tour” is an exclusive tour package you won’t find anywhere else! We know this is a bold statement, but we’re sure about it. Why? Because you Meet People & Visit Places and it’s our original idea to present and operate this tour!

Let’s see how:

  1. Only one half of the tour is spent on the highlights of Iranian historical sites, museums, etc.
  2. Another half of the tour is spent on the Iranians’ lifestyle, crafts, traditions, food, poetry, arts, etc.

This tour includes the cities of Tehran, Shiraz, Yazd, Maybod, Nain, Esfahan, and Kashan. We’ve arranged for interactions with Iranian people on an unforgettable trip in a short period of time.

How the Tour Starts

You join a group tour to Iran in the lobby of the first hotel in Tehran most probably one day after your arrival in Iran. In other words, as you may come from different countries, you will arrive at different times. The next day, the tour starts at 8:00 am when everyone has arrived and taken some rest.

How the Tour Ends

Your departure could also be different from each other. Therefore, the group tour will end in the lobby of the last hotel in Tehran. Some people may ask for extra days of leisure, extended tours, etc. So, departure times could vary. We will finalize what you could do at the end of the tour and before departure when you order the tour.

This is a guided tour in which a guide accompanies you from the start to the end. He follows the itinerary of this group tour package called “People & Places”.

This is a full board tour. So, the guide pays for entering sites, meeting with people, and eating all the meals on your behalf.

He manages the tour, takes responsibility for solving any issues occurring during the tour, contacts head office in Tehran and coordinates with the operation manager, etc.

This is a cultural tour in which you learn about the tangible and intangible cultural heritage of Iranians.

This is mainly a driving tour with one domestic flight. During the drives, approximately every 90 minutes you will stop to see sites and people, stretch your legs and relax for a while, have some refreshments, etc.

As during the tour, you walk for a short/long time here and there, you must make sure you’re fit enough to do it.

You Join a Small Group Tour to Iran, Not a Private One!

You cannot customize the “People & Places” tour. Actually, you join this tour and accept it on an as-is basis.

Yet, if you’re interested in seeing more, after the initial tour sign-up and before the tour is finalized, you can ask us for the addition of more days with sightseeing, etc after the tour.

You can extend your tour to visit other cities, villages, sites, regions, etc. As long as the tour is doable, we will do our best to help your wishes come true.

During the customization process, Destination Iran provides you with tips based on its local knowledge and experience. In case, some activities or plans aren’t practical for various reasons, you will be notified.

The tour includes the following services for each group member:

  • Visa application processing assistance as your host in Iran.
  • All the transportation during the trip in a private air-conditioned minibus or on the economy-class seats of a plane.
  • Transfers from the start to the end of the tour in a private air-conditioned minibus.
  • All accommodations in 4-star hotels, 5-star hotels, and traditional house hotels inside Iran. The quality in all cases won’t go below 4-star hotels with Iranian standards. (Don’t worry! We’re quite picky in choosing accommodation.)
  • Breakfast in all the accommodations, and lunch and dinner in all the restaurants mostly outside hotels.
  • Tipping at all the hotels, restaurants, airports, etc for all the services. The gratuity for the group tour’s driver and guide is already paid by you.
  • Guidance of all the tours by our certified national tour guide.
  • Admissions to enter all sites, museums, etc, and compensation to meet all the people.
  • Refreshment of two bottled water a day (every day) and tea/instant coffee (on the roads)

The tour excludes the following services for each group member:

  • Visa stamping fee,
  • Accommodation before arrival in Iran and after farewell in the last hotel,
  • Entrance fees for the places/people not mentioned in this tour itinerary,
  • Tour of the sights and museums not specified in this tour’s itinerary,
  • International flights,
  • Other guides in other places,
  • Other refreshment items not mentioned in this tour package, and
  • Travel insurance.

The Winter Tour of 2023 will start on March 1st. The price for this tour is:

  • 1575.00 Euro per person in a shared double/twin room
  • 1800.00 Euro per person in a single-bed room

covers all the expenses included from the time when the tour starts until the time when it ends. The transfers at the beginning and the ending periods of the tour aren’t covered. They need to be separately paid, which could be varied depending on different factors.

The Spring Tour of 2023 hasn’t been decided yet. As soon as the date and price of this tour are decided, you will be notified here. However, you can inform us of your readiness if this is enough for you to make up your mind at this stage.

There will be two stages of showing your decision to join a group tour to Iran with us:

  1. Initial Signup Stage: From now until 2 months before the tour begins. Just fill up the form below!
  2. Confirmation Stage: 2 months before the tour begins, just send a positive reply to our email!

Please note that you won’t pay anything at the “Initial Signup Stage”. We trust you’ve made up your mind about the tour.

At the confirmation stage, we send you an email to see if you still confirm joining the group. Upon receiving your positive reply to our email, we will direct you on how to proceed to pay the tour price. Then, you pay 100% of the tour price, which will be non-refundable, to secure your place on our small group tour.

Major Cultural Attractions:

You can find some of the cultural activities of the “People & Places” tour below here:

Watch Artists, Workshops, Performances, etc

  • Naqali (storytelling) performance
  • Traditional Henna-making workshops
  • Zoorkhaneh traditional sports rituals
  • Unique pottery-making style
  • Iranian intellectuals’ hangout
  • and so on

Learn Cooking, Rituals, Calligraphy, etc

  • Iranian music
  • Traditional skills of baking Lavash bread
  • Traditional skills of nomadic cooking
  • Persian night of poetry, music, etc
  • Reading poems and singing songs
  • Writing Persian calligraphy
  • Traditional skills of carpet weaving
  • Mourning rituals and practices in Shiism
  • Traditional gardening & farming
  • etc

Try Food, Calligraphy, Music, etc

  • Traditional Iranian bath
  • Traditional Iranian food
  • Iranian musical instruments
  • Learning calligraphy
  • Staying in a rural house
  • etc

Meet Locals, Nomads, Artists, etc

  • A local family and dine with them
  • Persian nomads
  • A globally recognized artist
  • A nomadic bread-baking and carpet-weaving session
  • etc

Walk in Ancient & Modern Quarters, Parks, etc

  • In the historical city center of Tehran
  • In ancient residential areas of Yazd
  • Iranian musical instruments
  • In Nain ancient quarter
  • In parks along the river in Esfahan
  • etc

Major Historical Attractions:

You can find some of the major historical sites of the “People & Places” tour below here:

UNESCO Sites

  • Golestan Palace in Tehran
  • Persepolis near Shiraz
  • Pasargadae near Saadat Shahr
  • Qanat System near Yazd
  • Fahadan Quarter in Yazd
  • Dolat Abad GArden in Yazd
  • Chehel Sotun Palace in Esfahan
  • Imam Khomeini Square in Esfahan
  • Jame Mosque of Esfahan
  • Fin Garden in Kashan

Gardens

  • Dolat Abad garden
  • Fin garden
  • Bagh Ferdows Garden
  • Traditional fruit gardens

Museums & Galleries

  • National Museum of Iran
  • Carpet Museum
  • Music Museum
  • Cinema Museum
  • Aran Art Gallery

Palaces & Mosques

  • Chehel Sotun Palace in Esfahan
  • Aliqapoo Palace in Esfahan
  • Vakil Mosque in Shiraz
  • Grand Jame Mosque in Yazd
  • Friday Mosque of Nain
  • Imam Mosque of Esfahan
  • etc

Bazaars

  • Bazaar of Tajrish in Tehran
  • Vakil Bazaar in Shiraz
  • Traditional Bazaar in Esfahan

People & Places Tour Itinerary

The People and Places Tour is 14 days. The first and last days aren’t mentioned in the itinerary below. Please go through the following itinerary to find out what sort of experience is awaiting you:

Day 01: Introduction, Museums & a Modern Hangout in Tehran

After transferring from the international airport, the tour begins with a short introduction in the lobby and learning more about the nature of the tour and its requirements. Then, the group goes to the National Museum of Iran to have a general look at the abundant wealth of artifacts from 10s to 1000s of years ago until the early 20th century covering both pre-Islam and post-Islam eras.

After this visit, a walking tour begins in quite an interesting street in Tehran where you will visit a Fire Temple and a Church and continue to the old and famous Nadery Cafe for lunch. After lunch, you visit the unique carpet museum of Iran and head to the north of Tehran for a change so that you can see Iran today in Bagh Ferdows to enjoy some refreshments in a beautiful garden where young and more modern people hang out.

Day 02: Majestic Palace, Art Gallery, Walking Tour to See Life in Tehran

You start the day by walking around the Golestan Palace garden and visiting a few of them to get an idea about how Qajars and then Pahlavi kings ruled in Iran.

After a traditional lunch and a modern art gallery, you walk into a famous neighborhood of Tehran to see several bookstores the iconic City Theater Hall.

Day 03: Iconic Tower, Traditional Bazaar & Iranian Music PLUS a Flight to Shiraz

Go to the vegetarians’ heaven, fruits, and Veggie Bazaar of Tajrish in the north of Tehran. This area used to be the summer resort of Qajar kings in the 19th century who lived in the city center of today’s Tehran.

Then, check out a puppet museum of children together with a short puppet show there to learn about this art in Iran and the atmosphere where such plays are being prepared.

At the end of this surface touching of Iranian culture in Tehran, you will be transferred to the domestic airport to fly to Shiraz for an enthralling tour of the Persian Empire, Persian Gardens, and more.

Day 04: Persian Empire Palaces, Tomb of a Poet & Rich Iranian Gastronomy in Shiraz

Probably one of the main reasons many people travel to Iran is to visit Persepolis and learn about the Persian Empire. This is what you will do first and continue to see their fantastic tombs.

You go back to Shiraz to witness how Iranians love their poets in the tomb of Hafez where you would also try the local specialty of Shirazi people, Faloodeh. Later in the afternoon, you’re invited to a local family’s home to learn about Iranian cuisine and have a homemade dinner.

Day 05: Iranian Hammam, Body Building Gym, Ladies’ Beauty Hall & Sightseeing in Shiraz

Today you will experience a certain tradition that had faded out very much: Going to an Iranian Hammam. When ladies go there, men visit a modern bodybuilding gym and when men go to the Iranian bath, ladies will go to a beauty hall to see how Iranian women style their hair and get makeup.

Later in the day, you visit a fortress in the city center, Arg-e Karimkhani followed by part of the 18th-century Royal Complex including Vakil Bazaar and Vakil Mosque. You deserve a reception in a traditional teahouse in the bazaar where herbal tea is served.

At the end of the day, you will visit a breathtaking shrine to learn more about Shiite mourning rituals and the eye-catching architecture of such places of worship in Iran.

Day 06: Experience Life in Countryside, Visit Pasargadae & Go Among Nomads in Saadat Shahr

Drive across the Zagros Mountains to reach Saadat Shahr to learn about traditional gardening and farming. Visit Pasargadae where the first capital city of Persian Emperors was founded and the tomb of its founder is located. After having a unique nomadic lunch served nowhere else, spend the rest of the day with Persian nomads to learn how Lavash flatbread is baked, nomadic food is made, Fars carpets are woven and the nomadic lifestyle is lived.

Tonight you will have the opportunity to stay in a traditional accommodation in Saadat Shahr.

Day 07: Crossing Desert, Storytelling Tradition, Underground Aqueduct Works & Stay in Yazd

Today, you see various landscapes of low deserts and high mountains, pistachio trees, as well as vernacular architecture to survive in the desert. You cross flatlands to get to the desert town of Abarkouh to see the oldest tree in the world, a Cypress tree. You also notice different architecture like an icehouse, windcatchers, houses with cupolas, water reservoirs, etc.

Then, after refreshing a bit, you watch an ancient traditional storytelling ritual performed for you. You leave this town to go toward Mehriz where the ancient underground water supplement system called Qanat is still in use. You see how it works and you learn about it.

Tonight you stay in Yazd, a city inscribed in UNESCO because of its unique architecture and desert identity

Day 08: Towers of Silence, Henna Making, Sightseeing, Persian Garden and Zoorkhaneh Traditional Sport Club in Yazd

Yazd is an ancient city where traces of ancient life can be found. Zoroastrianism is one of them. So, you start the day by visiting the place where dead bodies were exposed to the cultures on the Towers of Silence on the outskirt of Yazd. Then, you can see how henna is traditionally made in some old workshops.

After that, you walk in the past by crossing the ancient labyrinth-like alleys of Fahadan residential quarter. It’s surprisingly still inhabited. At the end of your excursion there, you reach Yazd Grand Jame Mosque where the tallest minarets in Iran has been built 700 years ago.

During midday, when it’s warm or hot, the best is to go to Dowlat Abad Garden and enjoy the beauty of the place and experience the ancient cooling system of windcatchers in practice.

You will go to a traditional sports club called Zoorkhaneh to watch Pahlevani Sports and rituals.

Day 09: Ancient Fortresses, Caravansaries, Village Life & Strolling along Zayandeh River in Esfahan

You drive to Esfahan today. En route, there are several amazing structures, landscapes, and experiences waiting for you. In Meybod, you visit Narin Fortress, an ancient motel (a Safavid caravansary where very old Zilu rugs are showcased), a water reservoir, and an ancient mailing station (Chaparkhaneh) is waiting for your exploration itchy feet.

Then, you proceed to Aqda village to see its gardens and have a tasty lunch before setting off for Nain. The Friday Mosque of Nain is a small building, but a must-see as it’s very unique as far as its history and exclusive architecture are concerned. Adjacent to this mosque, you can stroll a bit to see another fortress and several monuments.

Crossing some high mountains, when you arrive in Esfahan later in the afternoon, it’s time to stretch your legs and go for a walk where every local Esfahanies go at that time: in the parks and along the Zayandeh River.

Day 10: Explore Unique Islamic Architecture & Meet with Its Artists in Esfahan

The Sun shines from the East and Chehel Sotun Persian Garden boasts of its Palace facing it. You start the day’s sightseeing here and walk through the gardens to Naqsh-e Jahan Square where the major Esfahan monuments and bazaar are located. You visit two world-class mosques here that are 400 years old and in their best shape: Imam Khomeini Mosque and Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque. You visit the residence of this magical square’s builder: Aliqapoo Palace and go up to its balcony to see the glory of Shah Abbas capital city’s main square.

Esfahan is also today’s capital of lots of Iranian traditional arts and crafts. Therefore, visiting some workshops and meetings some artists are arranged for you this afternoon: a globally recognized miniaturist, a block-printing workshop craftsman, and a collection of fantastic Iranian carpets.

A walk in the bazaar when it cools down later in the day is the most enjoyable experience you can have. So, the best is to stay there until you see how the day comes to an end.

Day 11: Jame Mosque, Ancient Bridges, Calligraphy Class & Armenian Quarter in Esfahan

Have you ever imagined going through all pages of a book by visiting a monument? It’s Jame Mosque of Esfahan you start your day there. You’ll be blown away by the beauty of its details and the evolution of Islamic architecture at this complex. Then, go for photographing Sio-Se-Pol and Khajou bridges in daylight before you attend a private session on Persian calligraphy where you learn how to write Persian!

Then, you go to the Armenian quarter of Esfahan called New Jolfa. In this quarter, you see how a religious minority lives alongside others in its own area and how their lifestyle is. You see several coffee shops and try one of them to taste their coffee. You visit Vank Cathedral to explore the arts and embellishments used to decorate this fantastic monument.

In Esfahan, you will visit a music museum to see the instruments used for playing this ancient Iranian art followed by a meeting with some musicians. There you learn about Iranian music more deeply and play some instruments.

Day 12: Karkas Mountains, Pottery Workshop, Traditional House & Farewell

This is the last day of the tour and you cross the high local range of Karkas mountains to get to Natanz. There you meet a unique potter who is the only one left from an old tradition of making ceramics with stone, not clay! Then, you continue to Kashan to explore a Persian Garden (Fin) and an old house with exclusive architecture. This will show you how people lived in their houses in Iran before modern life was imitated from outside Iran.

Eventually, when you finish sightseeing in Kashan, you drive toward Tehran, but stop 30km before the capital city to stay at its International Airport hotel before your departure. This is where you stay for the last night and prepare to say farewell to Iran. The tour ends here and hopefully, you’ve had plenty of experiences that have made:

IRAN, THE JOURNEY OF YOUR LIFE!

Choose Your Tour and Sign Up for it!

Finally, if you’re interested in the “People & Places” small group tour to Iran, please proceed to secure your place in it by filling out one of the forms below according to your nationality!

Group A: Winter of 2023

To Sign up in Group A, with American, British, Australian, or Canadian nationality, click here!

Group B: Spring of 2023

To sign up in Group B, with all the nationalities except the ones in Group A, click here!