Pearls of Persia

Isfahan, Persepolis, Shiraz. Evocative names long-enshrined in the history and legend of Central Asia. Symbolising the wealth and accomplishment of Persia's great civilizations - inspiring images of exotic caravanserais, delicate turquoise domes and huge vaulted bazaars, cool rose gardens and priceless carpets, learned poets and philosophers. Our journey charts a passage through the riches of Iran's unique heritage with the Iranian's pride in their country and its glorious past is evidenced by a genuine warmth of welcome that adds its own imprint on your tour.

- Cultural highlights and museums of Tehran
- The majestic ruins of the ancient city of Persopolis
- Beautiful Islamic architecture at the World Heritage Site of the royal city of Isfahan
and the famous Friday Mosque
- Seven magnificent Sassanian rock-reliefs
- Legendary Royal tombs of Naghsh-e-Rostam

Thursday 6th October - London/Tehran
Depart London Heathrow with British Midland International on your overnight flight to Tehran.

Friday 7th October - Tehran
Arrive to Tehran in the early morning where you will be met on arrival and transferred directly to the Esteghlal Hotel for an immediate check-in. Later in the day meet your tour guide and visit some of Tehran's major museums, including Iran's National Museum, displaying an authenticated collection of pre-historic and ancient artifacts with pottery dating back to 6-7 millennium B.C., the Abguineh (Glass & Ceramics) Museum, a valuable collection of pre-Islamic and Islamic glass and ceramics, beautifully displayed and located in an elegant early 20th-century mansion, and the Carpet Museum, with an extensive collection of old and new Persian carpets and rugs from the major carpet-weaving centres of Iran.

Saturday 8th October - Tehran
Further visits in Tehran to include the Golestan Palace andMuseum Complex dating from the 18th to the early 20th century, to include the Marble Throne Hall and several other galleries. Also visit the former residence of the ex-Royal Family of Iran at Sa'ad-Abad Palace. In the evening transfer to airport for your flight to Shiraz and a stay at the Homa Hotel.

Sunday 9th October - Persepolis
Today experience Persepolis, one of the most important sites of the Ancient World, the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid kings with remains of the palaces of Darius the Great, Xerxes and Artaxerxes, and its famous bas-reliefs, depicting kings and courtiers and gift-bearing representatives of tributary nations of the Persian Empire. Visit Naghsh-e-Rostam to see Ka'be-Zardosht, (the fire temple), and Royal Tombs d); plus seven magnificent Sassanian rock-reliefs including Shapur the First's famous victory over Roman Emperor Valerian. More Sassanian reliefs can be seen at Naghsh-e-Rajab, a nearby grotto.

Monday 10th October - Shiraz
Enjoy a full day city tour of Shiraz to visit some of the famous gardens of this city of "roses and nightingales", including the Eram Garden, the tombs of Iran's greatest lyric poets, Hafez and Sa'adi, both with beautiful gardens. See the pink tiled 19thcentury Nasir-ol-Molk Mosque, the 18thcentury citadel of Arg-e-Karim Khan and the Madrassa Khan where you can interact with teachers and students. Wander the gardens of the the Qajar-period Narenjestan House and view the outside of the Holy Shrine of Shah-e-Cheragh. This evening fly to Isfahan for a stay at the Abbasi Hotel.

Tuesday 11th October - Isfahan
The beautiful city of Isfahan awaits your arrival. The capital of the Safavids, referred to as Nesf-e-Jahan, meaning 'Half of the World' in Safavid sources. Here, visit the famous bridges of Shahrestan, Khajou and Sio-se-pol, the Armenian Quarter with several churches, including the important Cathedral of Vank. After lunch visit one of the world's grandest squares, the Maidan-e-Naghsh-e-Jahan. With several sites including the Ali-Qapu Palace with its enchanting music rooms and balcony overlooking the Maidan, from where the Safavid Kings watched polo games, and two of Islamic world's greatest mosques; the Sheikh Lotfollah and the Shah with magnificent architecture and tilework. End the day with a wander through the Qeisarieh Bazaar with hundreds of shops displaying the arts and handicrafts for which Isfahan is world-famous.

Wednesday 12th October - Isfahan
Enjoy another full day sightseeing of Isfahan and visit the magnificent Friday Mosque, with the famous Uljaitu Mihrab (Prayer Niche) of the Il-Khanid period. The Friday Mosque is considered a museum of a thousand years of Persian religious architecture and is truly one of the world's greatest mosques. Also visit the Harun-e-Velayat Shrine and the Ali Minaret. From here drive to the Chehel Sotun Palace, built by Shah Abbas II in the 17th century; its wooden columns reflected in the surface of the pool give rise to its name 'The Palace of Forty Columns'. Our final stop of the day is at the Hasht Behesht pavilion built in 1670 by Shah Solayman and known as the Pavilion of Eight Paradises or the Palace of Nightingales. The small but intricate building is set amongst tree-lined alleys, a reflecting pool and water rills.

Thursday 13th October - Tehran
Spend today travelling by road to Tehran, stopping at the charming town of Natanz to see Friday Mosque and Monastery, the oasis town of Kashan to visit the historical Persian Garden of Fin which was first planted during the Safavid period and kept alive with water from the nearby Sulaimanieh Spring. This beautiful garden was expanded by the Zand and Qajar monarchs, with many open pavilions added. You will also visit a fine example of a 19th century merchant residence known as Borujerdi House with its beautiful stucco dome and inlaid mirror work, with some of the best examples of existing "badgirs" (wind-catchers). Drive by the Mausoleum of Imam Khomeini before arriving to Tehran.

Friday 14th October - Tehran/London
Early morning transfer to Tehran Airport for your flight with British Midland International to London Heathrow.