"Possibly the friendliest country on earth.."

We will help you spend a few days in dynamic Tehran to discover the city’s more exciting and beautiful side. Historically, the capital was the seat of both the Qajar dynasty and then the Pahlavi era, and during which the 1953 coup’de ta of Mohammad Mossadeq’ took place. It was later the staging point for the 1979 anti-Shah Pahlavi revolution.

On your first night be greeted at IKA, then check into your hotel and meet for dinner. In these first few days in Tehran you will visit the must see highlights: The Qajar Golestan Palace, Grand Bazaar, Imam Khomeni Mosque, Azadi Tower, the former Shah’s Sa’Abad Complex, Treasury of National Jewels, Glass and Ceramics Museum, Malek National Library and Museum, The Holy Defence Museum, and the recently opened and controversial U.S. Den of Spies.

The evenings and late into the night is when the city becomes a buzz with locals. Mingle with locals as you wander the atmospheric bazaars beneath domed ceiling, ride the metro, and people watch in teahouses at popular local spots to gain a feel for the heart-beat of this city. Walk the famous streets and admire street art and the serene parks including the Tabiat Bridge park complex, Park-e Laleh, Park-e Shahr, and join locals as they relax above the mountain trails of Darband and Darakeh. Late at night experience Tehran’s hip late-night cafes, including the Film Museum or one of Tehran’s contemporary art galleries.

Shiraz is famous for its UNESCO listed sites such as the Bagh-e Eram and the late Zand leader’s Karim Khan’s Citadel. You will also find the mausoleums of Iran’s two great historic poets- Hafez and Sa’di, and in the evenings you can gather to listen to locals recite their poetry. At night you can marvel at the spectacular mirror decorated Shah-e Cheragh Mosque, and in the morning witness the sun rays blare through the multi-coloured glass work of the Nasir al-Molk “Pink” Mosque.

Other main attractions include, the Vakil quarter’s ancient Bazaar and Hammom, Naranjestan Palace, the sunset over-looking the city at Quran’s Gate, and the adjacent park where families picnic together and hike up the cliff-side. Visit the small surrounding villages of Shiraz like Qalaat and experience the real laid-back hospitality of locals.

Other must-see attractions include the Chehel Sotun (Forty pillar) Palace combining the Persian love of exquisite interior decoration with the classic Persian garden. Dating back to the 17th century, Jolfa, the Armenian quarter has the Kelisa-ye Vank (Vank Cathedral) as its focal point.

Proud of its artistically visual appeal and famously represented in its Islamic buildings, historic square, and their famous picturesque bridges and parks, the city still attracts sizeable crowds of welcoming locals year-round.

The city has many modern and traditional restaurants with a romantic ambience where you can enjoy live music too. Many of them are also built in the traditional design using fountains, splendid murals, and elegant courtyards. Afterwards, congregate with locals as they line up at humble shopfronts to buy local deserts.

There is so much to see around Isfahan. Explore and traverse the nearby villages and towns of the Zagros Mountains home to a large number of Nomads. Places to visit include Shahr-e Kord, Chaleshtar, Borujen, Kuhpayeh and Toudeshk located in Chaharmahall va Baktiyari.

Other must-see attractions include Amir Chakmaq complex, Masjed-e Jameh, the Unesco-listed gardens of Dolat Abad, the Yazd Water Museum, Dakhmeh-ye Zartoshtiyun (“Towers of Silence” or “Crypt of Zoroastrian”), and the many famous Yazdi sweet stores.

Around Yazd includes Meybod, an 1800 year-old mud-brick city, Chak Chak a sacred site for Zoroastrians, and Kharanaq the deserted 1000 year-old mud-brick village.

Boasting architectural wonders, with some dating from the pre-Islamic period, displaying the talents and creativity of Iranian artists across the centuries, such as the old district of Naeen, the Fin Garden of Kashan, and the village of Abeyaneh. You will find Persian gardens, atmospheric bazaars, mud-brick houses, mansions, hammams (bathhouses), shrines, teahouses and confectionaries, old quarters, and the best traditional hotels, they also offer local textiles, ceramics, Persian rugs, and many other handicrafts.

The magnificent bazaar of Tabriz was registered as the world’s first bazaar by Unesco. This, along with the various calligraphic styles and azure mosaic tile works of the Kabud (or Blue) Mosque’s high portal, has attracted many tourists and archaeologists.

Interestingly based on Biblical clues, Tabriz and the areas surrounding it suggest it is the mythical Garden of Eden. Another of the areas included in the original Garden of Eden is Kandovan Village and nearby Mt Sahand- the Bible’s Mountain of God. With its unique ancient houses that are carved from the stones where volcano lava has formed for thousands of years.

Things to do in Tabriz include many museums to give you a sense of the city’s vast histories and treasures of past dynasties and its famous poets. The city is also known for its restaurants and cafés which are a growing trend and cater for its large student population. Tabriz is also a base to explore other parts of East Azerbaijan Province that contain Zorastrian castles, medieval churches, and beautiful scenic mountains and valleys.

Sitting on a high windswept plateau Ardabil was the capital of the Sajid-dynasty. But Aradabil is best remembered for producing two great leaders of Iran’s Safavid dynasty- the dervish-Sufi mystic Sheik Safi-od-Din and his descendant Ismail Safavi. Here you will find the Unesco-listed mausoleum complex of Sheik Safi, known as the most perfect in the world. Ardabil is also very famous for its sweets, particularly helva-siyah.

Qazvin, once the nation’s capital has a beautifully restored caravanserai dating back 1000 years, an art precinct, and museums. It’s primarily a staging point to the famous Castles of Assassins.

Astara is also part of Gilan province and is a major tourist destination for Iranians and foreigners especially from the Caucasus. The majority of people here are ethnically Azerbaijani. Astara has a variety of beaches and is close to a rainforest.

Both Mashad (Khorasan region) and the Turkmensahra region (culturally Turkic) rarely have foreign visitors yet both have many attractions.

Gonbad-e Kavus, a Unesco-listed tower built in 1006, remains intact after the Mongols destroyed the rest of the city, known at the time as Jorjan.

A day trip from Mashad is welcomed by some very interesting sites. These include the 17 metre Akhangan Tower, a brick building decorated by azure and blue tiles from the 9th century showing the architectural changes from the Ilkhanid to the Timurid ages. In nearby Neishabour is the tomb and complex of the mathematician, astrologist, and poet Omar Khayyam, and in Toos the Cyrus-like tomb mausoleum of Iran’s epic poet and famous man of literature Firdowsi.

And housed in a courtyard in the city centre is the famous Hosseinieh, Tekyeh Moaven-ol Molk. Its walls are decorated with colourful tiles depicting scenes of Joseph arriving at Canaan, the palace of Solomon, Iranian kings, and scenes of Imam Ali and Imam Hussein’s shrines. The historic and scenic city of Khorramabad passes by the jagged tors of the Zargos Mountains and located here is the picturesque fortress of Falak-Ol-Aflak.

Other historical attractions include the Tomb of Daniel a Jewish pilgrimage site, Shush castle, and Shush Museum.

Shushtar, with its mills and waterfalls is an ancient technological wonder built to exploit waterpower and belongs to the Sassanid era.

The serene mausoleum of great mystic and poet Shah Ne’mat-ollah Vali in Mahan, which began construction in the 9th century and continued until the 14th century, covers an area of nearly 6000 square meters.

The legendary city of Kaluts (Lut Desert) with its stepped mesas and fortress-like towers was formed by erosion about 20,000 years ago. Its wide landscapes that change colour from light brown to grey to black, sand hills, the highest sand pyramids in the world, and the desert night sky produces an unforgettable experience. The desert attracts many European tourists, despite being one of the hottest regions on earth.

Qeshm Island is also home to the traditional Bandari way of life (Iranian Arabs), with local costumes, local music, and handicrafts giving it an authentic village atmosphere.

The people are fisherman, lenges (traditional boat-builders), and miners of the island’s red-soil. Most resorts and hotels are in Bandar Abbas and Qeshm Town, while most accommodation elsewhere on the island are traditional family-run home-stays.

Its success was in large part due to its revolutionary ideology combined with a modern Shi’a political ideology that would overturn the previous state structure which was viewed by the people as one led by a religiously illegitimate Shah, and was effectively inconsistent with Islamic principles. This was all under gird by a strong current from the people’s demands and goals, which included protecting and empowering national culture against foreign influence and putting a stop to the profligate waste of national resources, unchecked corruption, and economic mismanagement, which was demonstrated across Iran by the slogan: "Estiqlal, Azadi, Jomhuri-ye Eslami!" (Independence, Freedom, and Islamic Republic!).
The revolution has been described as original and the first modern revolution. While, considered unique for its religious character, it is equally unique for its modern nature with many of its factors and conditions associated with the most advanced capitalist societies.
A highly misunderstood event, even among locals, its ideas and the social and political effect they have had were novel and dependent on modern conditions, and for this reason are still very pertinent in discussions today.
The capital will help to make sense for the curious minded the context which sparked a mass uprising and overthrew the established authoritarian regime.