Step into Persia

Arrive into Tehran airport where you will be met by the EBT team (if you are arriving within 24 hours of the start of the tour); we’ll ferry you to HQ where you can relax and freshen up. Note: accommodation pre-tour is not included.

Once back at our beautiful boutique hotel, you can freshen up until we head out into the fabled city of Tehran, an ancient city of proud traditions, bustling markets and friendly people.

In the afternoon we will go north to Tajrish to explore a photogenic local bazaar. We’ll also visit Imamzadeh Saleh Mausoleum, one of Tehran’s most attractive shrines and a beautiful spot to people watch at sunset.

We wrap up the days’ activities with a visit to Tabiat Bridge – an iconic green park with nice city views of Tehran.

In the evening, we celebrate our first days’ adventuring in Iran with our first group meal together. Lots of tasty traditional Iranian food will be on the menu!

Today, we take to the streets to properly explore this massive city of +10 million inhabitants.

Tehran is very different across neighborhoods and there is a strong contrast between the North and the South.

First up is the Grand Bazaar – a maze of bustling alleys that stretches for more than 10 km. Later on, we move to Golestan Palace, where we can explore the opulence and excesses of the Qajar Dynasty.

After lunch, we’ll stop to visit the old US Embassy – focal point of the 79′ revolution, where 52 USA diplomatic staff were held hostage for 444 days. These days the US Embassy is a museum with lots of the original embassy and CIA communication equipment still in the building. 

We’ll round off the day with another tasty feast of traditional Iranian cuisine!

Today, we hit the road and drive for six hours to reach Varzaneh. We travel by our comfortable private vehicle.

We stop to have lunch at the house of a local family en route. 

In Varzaneh, we stay in a traditional guesthouse run by a local family and our friend Mohamed.

Varzaneh is a fascinating village surrounded by epic desert dunes, a colorful salt lake, thriving wetlands and ancient caravanserais – the telltale sign of an important hub along the Silk Road.

In the morning we head along an old branch of the ancient Silk Road to watch sunrise whilst enjoying an epic picnic breakfast on top of the roof of a particularly stunning abandoned caravanserai. 

Caravanserais were the inns for camel trains and merchants traveling along the silk road and offer an insightful glimpse into the lives of merchants moving goods moving from east to west along these ancient trading routes. After breakfast, we hike up an epic black mountain volcano where we are greeted with striking views over the Gavkhooni wetlands.

After some hours of rest and free time, we will then head to the famous salt lake and finish off the day by climbing the dunes to watch the sunset. We can arrange sand boarding if you’re keen to ride some sand waves! If the weather is good and there is no sand storm or rain, we will have a tasty dinner on the dunes, star gaze, and watch as the milky way fills the desert sky.  overhead.

Esfahan, the legendary city of incredible Islamic architecture, bustling bazaars and opulent bridges crisscrossing the many rivers along which the city has grown… Esfahan is truly unmatched by any other city in Iran (and perhaps the world) so ready your cameras and prepare to be wowed, Esfahan is an absolute delight. This magical city is a living monument to traditional Persia and you can still see many artisans and traditional craftsmen practicing arts handed down over generations.

The days have have in Esfahan will be a mix of visiting historical sites as a group and plenty of free time on your own to discover the city.  

The main bazaar has an incredible atmosphere – you feel it as soon as you wander it’s twisting, pulsating, lively lanes – if you want a Persian carpet, a camel skin lamp or a shiny dagger, this is the place to do all of your shopping and especially to buy an authentic Persian carpet.

The buildings in Esfahan are a delight to architectural buffs (and photographers) and we’ll learn more about traditional Persian architecture throughout our time here.

We will visit the most famous monuments in the city including Masjed e-Shah, Masjed Lotfollah, and the lively bridges famous for the performers, musicians and artists who entertain the many locals walking across the bridges on their daily commutes.

On the 2nd day in the city, we head to the Armenian Quarter for a coffee/tea in one of the many hip cafes lining an old cobblestone street. There is an option to visit the Vank Cathedral – one of the few opportunities to visit a church in Iran. 

Today, we travel south on our way to Shiraz to check out two major historical sites: Nasqh-e Rostam, where the tombs of the great Persian Kings from the Achaemenid Dynasty have stood carved deep into a high cliff for more than 2500 years.

The other site is the legendary Persepolis, one of the great wonders of the Ancient World. Conceived by Darius the Great, sacked by Alexander the Great, Persepolis is a wonderful place to stroll for a couple of hours and lose yourself amongst this truly ancient city… Afterwards we head to our accommodation in Shiraz where we’ll enjoy dinner and rest up. 

Today, we step off the beaten track and begin a proper Epic-style adventure: trekking in the Zagros Mountains.

We’ll be joined by Mr. Mohamed, our local guide and a good friend, and he will lead us deep into the mountains.

Mohamed will be our leader in the Zagros for the next three days.

Born to a Qasqhai nomad family, he had been a shepherd until his mid 20’s whilst developing his skills as a guide, he knows the region like the back of his hand and is one of our closest friends in Iran. He will be able to provide a unique insight into life within nomadic communities, as well as the history and traditions of these groups, in Iran.

The exact itinerary of our trek will depend on the time of year. The nomad families have two primary camps for the year: summer camp and winter camp. 

For a day by day breakdown of the two different trekking itineraries, check out the trekking information section below. 

In both itinerary scenarios, when we finish the trek, we spend the night in a modern hotel in the center of Shiraz. Learn More

This morning, we’ll head to one the most impressive sights in all of Iran – The multicolored Nasir Al Molk Mosque, which is just around the corner from our comfy accommodation. This is one of the most colorful mosques in the world and a true delight for any photographers in the group. Afterwards, we move to Bagh Narajestan to have a glimpse of the spectacular Persian garden area before exploring its traditional bazaar.

In the afternoon, the group has free time to explore the bazaar, do some final shopping, chill at a local cafe , or stroll the streets for photo opportunities. Lunch is on your own today.

We will have our final group meal together (and plenty of laughs and hugs) and EBT staff will be making preparations for tomorrows departure. 

Sadly our Iranian expedition has come to an end!

Today is departure day with no scheduled activities planned. 

EBT staff will arrange for transfers to the airport for those who are flying out over the next 24 hours. Check out of the hotel is around 11 am and breakfast is included. 

You can choose to stay on at the same hotel if you are not flying home right away, though any additional nights at the hotel are not covered by EBT.

Please note that for Americans, Canadians, and UK nationalities, you can not stay in Iran on your own without prior arrangements and without paying for a guide for each day you remain in the country.