Iran Women Only Tour

Day 2: Our full-day tour in Tehran starts at the National Museum, where we will be given an anthropologist’s explanation of the history of women in the ancient world.  Tehran is a city of museums and we visit the first of many attractions that women appreciate the most – the famous Jewels Museum. Here we see the jewels of the Persian imperial families of the 16th century. We culminate the day at the lavish Golestan Palace (UNESCO World Heritage Site), a masterpiece of the Qajar era built within the beautiful Persian Gardens featuring pools with orange groves, palms, planes, and cypress trees.   Welcome dinner (Persian food, Persian style)(B, D).  O/N Tehran

Day 3: An early morning flight to the city of Rose and Nightingale – Shiraz. Today’s exploration begins at the Arg or the citadel of Karim Khan Zand. We go through Vakil Bazaar with its courtyards, caravanserais and old shops. Move towards a private house and meeting with a group of local women.  After lunch we visit the famous Nasīr al-Mulk Mosque known as the “pink mosque”. We visit Narenjestan, a traditional house with its exquisite buildings and garden.  In the end we visit another Persian Garden Bagh-e Eram Garden (UNESCO World Heritage Site). In the evening is picnic time at the garden and we get the opportunity to meet many Iranian families and ladies only groups who are always very keen to talk to the tourists. (B, L) O/N Shiraz

Day 4: We visit Persepolis (UNESCO World Heritage Site) the greatest and best-preserved monument of the Achaemenid Empire. We visit the Palace of Xerxes, the Gate of All Nations and the 100-Column Hall.  Next we visit the famous Naqsh-e-Rustam containing the rock-tombs of Darius, his successor, Xerxes, and 2 other kings. We return to Shiraz and there we have yet another experience of Iranian home culture as we attend a cooking class with a local family, specialized in Shirazi cuisine which is amongst the most popular ones in Iran. (B, D) O/N Shiraz

Day 5: First stop today will be Pasargadae (UNESCO World Heritage Site), founded by Cyrus the Great in 6th century BCE.  Then we go to Sarv-e Abar-Kuh (cypress of Abarkuh) reputed to be over 4000 years old.  We continue to Yazd (441.8 km from Shiraz and Enlisted as a UNESCO World Heritage Site) – An important city for the Zoroastrian religion. (B, D) O/N Yazd

Day 6: With its winding towers, and mud-brick old structure, Yazd is one of the highlights of any trip to Iran. We start our exploration with a visit to the Bagh-e Dolat Abad Garden (UNESCO World Heritage Site), with its renowned pavilion.  The next stop is the Zoroastrian Tower of Silence followed by visiting the Fire Temple. Then we visit the Water Museum where we gain an understanding of Qanat, an underground water system which was vital to the city due to its arid climate. We walk through the old city of Yazd known for its unique mud-brick buildings and quality handicrafts and visit the acclaimed 14th century Jame Mosque of Yazd. We will also visit Haj Khalifa confectionary – Iran’s oldest confectionery maker. (B, D) O/N Yazd

Day 7: Today we head toward the beautiful and enchanting city of Isfahan (322.9 km), known as “half of the world”.  En route we visit a carpet weaving workshop, where we have a chance to meet the weavers – many of whom are women. (B, D) O/N Isfahan

Day 8: Our full-day tour includes visiting Imam/Naqsh-e Jahan Square and visit Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque, Imam Mosque, Ali Qapu Palace and Qeysarieh Bazaar with hundreds of shops displaying local handicrafts. Yet we have another opportunity to wine and dine with an Iranian family and actually experience the culture of Persian families. (B, D) O/N Isfahan

Day 9: On this day we continue touring in the beautiful city of Isfahan starting with Jame Mosque. Then we visit Chehel Sotun Palace and later we go to Hasht Behesht Palace, a Persian garden now tuned into a public park.  We end the day at Khaju Bridge, one of the beautiful bridges in Isfahan and a popular place for families and friends who gather every evening. Depending on the time we may visit Vank Cathedral. (B, D) O/N Isfahan

Day 10: Driving towards Tehran, as eyes see there are desert conditions till we reach the oasis of Kashan (215.2 km from Isfahan), which is set within an area known for rose cultivation and the distillation of rosewater.  We visit two 19th century mansions Borujerdi and Tabatabai houses, with their courtyard gardens and wind towers – an architectural masterpiece.  Later we visit the famous Bagh-e-Fin Garden (UNESCO World Heritage Site). (B, D) O/N Kashan

Day 11: We head to Qamsar Village. Here we will join the local rural ladies and do some Rose picking.  Not known to foreign tourists the rose water collection is a very popular local festival. We will also learn how Rose water is produced – and Iran certainly has its own styles and variations that have made the Persian Rose Water popular throughout the world. Outside of the Rose Petal season we visit the beautiful Fin Garden. After this incredible experience we drive to the Imam Khomeini Mausoleum. It is the place he rested in peace as the leader of the Iranian revolution and as a father to the other authorities and his own family members. The mausoleum stretched over 5000 acres, is a site not to be missed. We continue our journey toward Tehran (243.3 km). (B, D) O/N Tehran

Day 12 & 13: During these two days will be visiting a very unique park – Mothers’ Paradise Park, which is Tehran’s first women-only park, where women can be seen jogging in spaghetti-strapped tops and lycra shorts. Later we will meet a fashion designer or a jewelry designer. Then we will visit an educational music institute to meet female singers and hopefully also watch a dance performance.  A visit to a beauty salon will also be included as Iranian women, with or without the chador are known to love makeup and hair dos. This would be a salon catering and running by women only.   Lastly, we will meet the women’s national football team or any other female-only sports teams.  As we gather for our farewell dinner we will go to a traditional restaurant with live music, and then we will be seeing the illuminated view of the 2016 Aga Khan Architecture Award recipient, Tabiat Pedestrian Bridge. The female architect of this bridge, Leila Araghian conceived the initial plans at the age of 26. (B, D) O/N Tehran

Day 14: After an interesting insight into the lives of the Iranian women, we are transferred to the airport for our departure flight. Check out time is by 11:00.(B)