Tehran and beauties of the Persian West

Free time; we will drop you off in the Grand Bazaar area, with its many covered streets, alleys and hundreds of shops.

We will visit the blue mosque , built in the 15th century but badly damaged in an earthquake; we will visit the Azerbaijan museum where we will learn about its collections from different periods. We will also pass in front of the mausoleum of the poets, where we learn about the rich cultural heritage in poetry that Iran and Arg-e-Alishah have - remains of the great fortress and walls that the city had. At the end of the morning we will leave the city, a little less than an hour away KANDOVAN , a very picturesque mountain town, for more than 800 years its inhabitants have resided in troglodyte homes, it reminds us of the Cappadocia region in Turkey. Lunch included. In the afternoon we return to TABRIZ, you will have plenty of free time to visit the BAZAAR , declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the largest covered bazaar in the world , important for centuries because it is located on the Silk Road (cited by Marco Polo and Ibn Batuta), the carpet area stands out.

We will visit the SAINT STEPANOS MONASTERY, an Armenian monastery declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, built in the 9th century (rebuilt after an earthquake in the 17th century). We also visit the Choopan chapel, walled under ocher mountains, and also a world heritage site, the Khaje Nazar Caravanserai, lunch included. A time for a walk next to the very pleasant Ruined Mill waterfalls. Free time.

This city inhabited over 4000 years ago, legend says that Zoroaster was born here and that one of the wise men was buried here. The city located near the largest lake in Iran, with salt water and presenting vivid contrasts in its colors. We visit Urmia, a city known for its religious and ethnic diversity, home to a significant population of Christians, Orthodox, Chaldeans and the Assyrian community. We will visit some of its churches: Naneh Maryam Church was built in the 3rd century, being the oldest Christian temple in Asia. We also visit Maserkis church and Seh Gombad , a cylindrical tower from the 12th century and the Friday mosque.

The remains of this ancient citadel date back to 7000 BC. The fabulous gold vase with reliefs of chariots and soldiers, dating back almost 3000 years, which is in a museum in Tehran, comes from this town.

With a climate, usually cooler than in other regions, we start our visit in GANJNAMEH , a historical place five kilometers from Hamadan, at the foot of a large mountain, in a beautiful landscape between trees where we can see the ancient cuneiform inscriptions of the fifth century BC engraved in the rock. Time for a walk next to the waterfall. We include (sometimes closed due to weather conditions or other reasons) the cable car that takes us up the mountain, where we have a magnificent view, in winter, it is often snowy. Lunch included. After lunch, we visit the museum of the war with Iraq , a monumental and magnificent museum that exhibits the Iranian vision of the war with Iraq that took place in the 80s and that makes us reflect and wish for peace on our planet. After that, we visit the archaeological site of Hegmataneh, and the museum about the city that existed at this point 2800 years ago. In the center of the city, we visit the Mausoleum-Museum of Avicenna, Persian genius, doctor, philosopher, astronomer and scientist who wrote almost 300 books. We will also pass by the place where the tomb of Baba Taher (poet of the 11th century) is located and the garden square where there is a large statue of a lion made in the time of Alexander the Great. During the visit, if possible, we will visit one of the places where Pahlevani/zoorkhaneh rituals are celebrated, a tradition of martial arts and athletics with which Persian warriors trained physically and spiritually. These rituals have been declared intangible world heritage, many of the instruments that appear are similar to those existing in today´s gymnasiums. Free time to stroll around the bazaar.

Tens of thousands of pilgrims visit Qom every year. Qom is known for being a major center of Shia Islamic studies and is home to numerous religious schools and seminaries, as well as Al-Mustafa Islamic University, which attracts students from all over the world. Accompanied by an Islamic scholar we will visit the sacred mausoleum (courtyards and outdoor areas) and he will introduce us to Islam in its Shiite branch, enveloping us in the atmosphere of this holy place. After that, we´ll visit Imam Khomeini´s house . Free time in the city´s bazaar, with its many shops specializing in prayer and religious objects. Lunch included.

The immense complex of more than 20 square kilometers is a cultural and tourist center that also houses a seminary and a university of Islamic studies.