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The Persian Heritage - Your Itinerary
9 days
From: £1695
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What's included:
- Scheduled direct flights, including all U.K. and overseas airport taxes and applicable fuel surcharges
- The services of an experienced local Tour Manager/Guide in Iran, exclusive to the Bales group, who takes care of all the tipping on your behalf
- Private air-conditioned vehicles, exclusive to the Bales group, for included sightseeing
- Sightseeing As detailed, including entrance fees
- Accommodation and meals Heritage hotel in Isfahan, best available elsewhere (we would categorise them as good tourist class).
- 7 breakfasts, 7 lunches and 7 dinners
- Average group size 12 passengers
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Day 1
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 Day 1
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Depart London Heathrow in the late evening by BMI non-stop flight to the Iranian capital, Tehran
(5 hours 40 minutes).
Meals:
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Day 2
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 Day 2
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On arrival this morning you will be transferred to the Laleh Hotel (rooms available for immediate occupancy). Following a leisurely morning we visit the Glass and Ceramics Museum and the remarkable Jewel Museum, where we have an opportunity to view the fabulous Crown Jewels of the Persian Shahs. Considered one of the finest collections in the world, this impressive display includes the legendary Darya-e Noor, said to rival our very own Kohinoor
Meals: L, D
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Day 3
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 Day 3
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This morning we fly to beautiful Shiraz (1 hour 25 minutes), considered one of the greatest cities in the Islamic world in the 13th and 14th century. On arrival we transfer to the Homa Hotel and later visit the beautiful Eram Gardens and the tombs of the celebrated Persian poets Hafez and Sa’adi.
Meals: B, L, D
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Day 4
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 Day 4
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An hour northwest of Shiraz, at the foot of the Rahmat Mountains, we find the evocative ruins of Persepolis, built by Darius the Great in 512 BC and destroyed by Alexander nearly 200 years later. After a visit to these haunting ruins, we explore the Achaemenid rock-cut tombs at Naqsh-I-Rustam, where Darius I and his successors lie buried.
Meals: B, L, D
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Day 5
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 Day 5
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Today we drive via the ancient city of Pasargadae to Isfahan (499 KM/full day with stops), the vision of Shah Abbas and the jewel of ancient Persia. We are based at the historic Abbasi Hotel, without doubt the most famous hotel in Iran.
Meals: B, L, D
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Day 6
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 Day 6
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Isfahan boasts what is probably the world’s most dramatic central square, the imposing Maidan-I-Shah. Certainly one of the largest, it was the symbolic centre of the Safavid Dynasty and is surrounded on all four sides by exquisite palaces and mosques, including the Lotfullah Mosque, the Seose Bridge and Ali Qapu Palace. We spend today sightseeing in and around the square.
Meals: B, L, D
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Day 7
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 Day 7
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Further sightseeing in Isfahan this morning includes the domed splendour of the Friday Mosque and the magnificent Armenian Cathedral, the most important historical church in Iran. After taking lunch in the square the rest of the afternoon is free for further exploration or a leisurely walk back to the hotel.
Meals: B, L, D
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Day 8
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 Day 8
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This morning we fly to Tehran (1 hour) for an overnight stay at the Laleh Hotel. Our day is taken up visiting the Archaeological Museum.
Meals: B, L, D
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Day 9
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 Day 9
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Early morning transfer to the airport for BMI non-stop flight to London Heathrow, arriving in the early afternoon.
Meals: B
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