Paradise Gardens

• Age Range: 18 – 60 years old
• Min Group: 4 Pax
• Max Group: 16 Pax
• Accommodation: Hotel & Eco-lodge
• Transportation: Van or Minibus or Bus
• Travel Style: Family, Private, Group, Fully Guided, Easy, Historical, Cultural, Seasonal, Discovery, Adventure
• Duration: 14 Nights & 15 Days
• Destinations : Shiraz – Kerman – Mahan – Birjand – Tabas – Yazd – Isfahan – Kashan – Tehran

Day 1: Arrival at Shiraz. City & garden tour.

We start our tour at Shiraz, the Mecca for Iran’s gardening culture. For acclimatization, we spent the first day in the city’s lush gardens. We learn how gardens influenced Persian lyric at the tombs of Hafez and Saadi. In the afternoon, we visit the atmospheric bazar with its colorful hustle and bustle.
– Eram Garen (UNESCO World Heritage)
– Tombs of Hafez and Saadi (UNESCO World Heritage)
– Naranjestan Garden & Qavam house
– Vakil-Bazar (UNESCO World Heritage)

Day 2: Pasargadae & Persepolis.

Today, we visit Pasargadae, the place where in 6th century BC the story of the Persian Gardens all begun when Cyrus the Great materialized the first Chahar Bagh for his palace. Furthermore, with Persepolis, the capital of the Achaemenid Empire and necropolis of the ancient kings at Naqshe Rostam, two more highlights of this tour are awaiting us.
– Pasargadae (UNESCO World Heritage)
– Persepolis (UNESCO World Heritage)
– Naqshe Rostam (UNESCO World Heritage)

Day 3: Drive to Kerman.

We are heading for a long trip to Kerman. Lean back and enjoy the open range of the Iranian Plateau. On the way, we visit Sarvestan a Sasanian hunting lodge and pass by Bakhtegan Salt Lake. Before reaching Kerman, we lift the secret of Sirjan’s stone garden.
– Sarvestan
– Bakhtegan lake
– Stone garden in Sirjan

Day 4: Kerman, Mahan.

Kerman and its surroundings is the perfect place to get a feeling for the natural contrasts that shaped the idea behind the classical Persian Garden. Near Kerman, in the middle of vast land we visit the beautiful Shahzadeh Garden and learn about the meaning of gardens in Islamic mysticism at the Shrine of Sufi leader Shah Nematollah Valiin Mahan. Later that day, we visit Rayen Castle, a well-preserved desert citadel. The late afternoon, we spent at the historic bazar in Kerman.
– Shahzadeh Garden (UNESCO World Heritage)
– Shah Nematollah Vali Shrine
– Rayen Historical Castle
– Kerman Historic Bazar

Day 5: Drive to Birjand.

We leave Kerman for Birjand. On the way, we pass Shahdad, which lies at the heart of Lut desert and is known as the hottest place on earth. Also on our way, the marvelous mountain landscape of Tapeha-ye Marikhi.

– Lut desert at Shahdad (UNESCO World Nature Heritage)

– Tapeha-ye Merikhi

Day 6: Birjand, Tabas.

In Birjand, we won’t miss Akbariye Garden and the residency garden of Emarat-e Rahimabad. Afterwards, we enjoy a picnic at ruin village of Esfahaq before reaching Tabas, the green pearl in Kavir desert. Later that day, we see the canyon Kal-Jeniand visit the oasis village Ezmeyghan.
– Akbariye Garden (UNESCO World Heritage)
– Emarat-e Rahimabad
– Arg-e Birjand (from outside)
– Picnic at Esfahaq
– Canyon of Kal-Jeni
– Oasis village Ezmeyghan
– Overnight stay in local Eco Lodge

Day 7: Drive to Yazd. (5h)

We start into the day visiting small but marvelous Golshan Garden in Tabas. Afterwards, we cross Kavir desert to reach our today’s destination Yazd. The biggest and most famous of Iran’s desert towns is also a center of Zoroastrianism, and thus offers good opportunity to learn about the conceptualization of celestial garden in this ancient Iranian religion.
– Golshan Garden
– Tower of Silence
– Fire temple

Day 8: Yazd.

With its extensive system of qanat-canals, Yazd is also the ideal place to get insights into the water management system of traditional Iranian cities and gardens. What is more, Dowlatabad Garden hosts the tallest wind tower in Iran and the city’s old district welcomes us to tarry around in its narrow alleys.
– Water museum
– Dowlatabad Garden (UNESCO World Heritage)
– Friday Mosque (UNESCO World Heritage)
– Yazd Historic district (UNESCO World Heritage)

Day 9: Drive to Esfahan.

Leaving Yazd, we have opportunity to enter one of the oldest known water canals (called qanat) of the world. Afterwards, we pass by the southern end of Kavir desert and see a traditional Caravanserai with its icehouse as well as one of Iran’s oldest mosques. Today’s destination is Esfahan, the capital of the Safavid Empire.
– Zarach Qanat (UNESCO World Heritage)
– Caravanserai Meybod
– Friday Mosque Nain
– Walk at Zayandeh Rudin Esfahan

Day 10: Esfahan.

In Esfahan, the Safavid Kings materialized inimitable splendor in form of palaces, mosques, public spaces and royal gardens. Today we focus on how the lifestyle on the royal court and its lush gardens shaped the image of Persian savoire de vivre. The afternoon, we spent at Esfahans famous bazar.
– Imam Square (UNESCO World Heritage)
– Sheikh Lotfallah & Imam Mosque (UNESCO World Heritage)
– Ali Qapu (UNESCO World Heritage)
– Chehel Sotun (UNESCO World Heritage)
– Esfahan Historic Bazar (UNESCO World Heritage)

Day 11: Esfahan.

We start visiting Esfahan’s ancient Friday Mosque that offers a unique opportunity to talk about architectural development of mosques in Iran. Afterwards, we have a walk through the Armenian quarter with its Mediterranean flair and talk about Persian garden’s influence on the concept of Garden of Eden. In the afternoon, we enjoy a tea (or coffee 🙂 in the garden of famous Caravanserai-hotel Abbasi.
– Friday mosque (UNESCO World Heritage)
– Armenian Quarterand Vank Cathedral (UNESCO World Heritage)
– Music museum
– Abbasi Hotel / Garden

Day 12: Drive to Tehran. Kashan.

Heading to Tehran, we visit Fin Garden in Kashan, one of the oldest Persian gardens still in use. Here we hear the story this garden has to tell about Iran’s younger political history and how gardens found their way into broader society through wealthy merchants. Afterwards we head to our final destination, Tehran.
– Fin Garden (UNESCO World Heritage)
– Tabatabai House

Day 13: Tehran.

Iran’s pulsing capital is the ideal place to understand the meaning of gardens in nowadays Iran. Our last day’s program is composed in a manner that reflects the evolution of Iran’s gardens. Golestan palace garden represents the days of classical royal gardens, whereas Niavaran Palace Garden and Abo Atash Park show how the idea of garden changed during the last one and a half century. Sky-high Milad tower offers us a spectacular view over Iran’s never sleeping capital.
– Golestan (UNESCO World Heritage)
– Niavaran
– Milad Tower
– Abo Atash park &Tabiyat-bridge

Day 14: Flight back.

Service Includes

Private airport transfer (ARR.&DEP.)
14 Nights Hotel accommodation as mentioned below
Full-time Dedicated Vehicle for all transports
All mentioned sightseeing
Meals (F/B )
Full-time Experienced Local professional guide
Visa support & reference code

Service Excludes

International airfare
Personal insurance
Visa stamp fee
Expenses of personal nature
Tips & Portages

Accommodation

3 nights – Hotel in Shiraz / Karimkhan or similar
2 nights – Hotel in Kerman / INN or similar
1 nights – Hotel in Birjand / Inn similar
1 nights – Hotel in Tabas / Narenjestan or similar
2 nights – Hotel in Yazd / Garden moshir or similar
3 nights – Hotel in Isfahan / Safir or similar
1 nights – Hotel in Kashan / Morshedi or similar
2 nights – Hotel in Tehran / Mashhad or similar

Transport