Turkmanistan - Iran Combined Tour (16 Days)

Arrive Ashgabat with Turkmenistan Airlines, meet and transfer to hotel. Overnight stay at Ashgabat. Transport time: less than 10 k.m.

Start of visits to Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan: Independence Park, visit to an Ertogrul Gazy mosque, The Arc of Neutrality, The National Museum, Nissa (UNESCO). In the evening the night train at 19.30 to Turkmenbashi Transport: ordinary <100km

Arrive at Turkmenbashi station around 9 a.m. and early departure for a day trip to the canyons of Yangikala via the Balkan mountains. Picnic lunch in the canyons. Return to Turkmenbashi. Having dinner. Night at Yaht club in Awaza Transport: 4 × 4 <340km

Early in the morning after breakfast transfer to Turkmenbashi airport for departure to Ashgabat. (ETD 10:30 am ETA 11:30 am.) After lunch in the local restaurant transfer to Darwaza ~ 280 km in the Karakoum desert, visit to an Erbent village on the road. The barbecue dinner. Night in yurts near crater. Transport: Regular <300 km

In the morning drive to Kunya Urgench (UNESCO) the oldest city in Central Asia, the capital of Khorezm XII-XIV sciècles through the great desert of Karakoum. Lunch. Afternoon site visit. Then transfer to Dashoguz. Transfer to the hotel "Dashoguz" Transport: 4 × 4 <320km

Flights only: Thursday and Sunday 1:40 p.m.

In the morning departure to Merv ~ 32 km for the guided tour of the archaeological site Ancien Merv (UNESCO). Back to Mary. Lunch. Road to Ashgabat. Gala dinner with folklore. Night at the hotel Transport: Regular <80 km

After breakfast at the hotel transfer to the Iranian border around 10am. Transport: Regular <80 km Arrival at the Iranian border and reception by Iranian guide and driver: Transfer to Mashad (230 km) Overnight at hotel in Mashhad. Mashhad is the second most populous city in Iran, located in the northeast of the country, near the borders of Turkmenistan and Afghanistan. The city is particularly known and revered for hosting the tomb of Imam Reza, the eighth Shiite Imam. Every year, millions of pilgrims visit the sanctuary and pay their respects to Imam Reza. The city is the birthplace of some of the most important Iranian literary figures such as Ferdowsi, the Iranian poet of Shahnameh and Mehdi Akhavan-Sales, the famous contemporary poet. Today we will visit the shrine of Imam Reza, a complex that contains the Imam's mausoleum. This sanctuary is a living museum in which you can see a wonderful collection of masterpieces executed by the best specialists in the mirror, stucco work, moqarnas (work of stalactite), marquetry, sculpture on wood, stone sculpture, carpet weaving. Visiting the shrine will give you a real insight into Iranian art and sociology from the most distant past, until today. The museum, library, cemetery, Razavi University of Islamic Sciences, dining room for pilgrims, large prayer halls and other buildings are also located in the complex: Goharshad Mosque, a museum , library. The complex is one of the major tourist centers in Iran, especially for Shia Muslims. Then we will visit the central museum of Astan Quds Razavi, an important complex inaugurated in 1964. Its collections contain works of Islamic art and historical objects, the museum of the Koran and precious objects, the carpet museum, the armaments museum, museum of coins and medals, museum of fine arts, etc. Overnight in Mashhad. Transport: ordinary <230km

Visits: Tomb of Ferdowsi, Harounieh Mashhad is the hometown of some of the most important Iranian literary figures such as Ferdowsi, the Iranian poet author of Shahnameh as well as Mehdi Akhavan-Sales, the famous contemporary poet. After visiting the museum of Astan Quds, we head to Tous, an ancient city near Mashhad, to visit the tomb of Ferdowsi, the great epic poet of the 10th century AD. Ferdowsi wrote the Persian epic Shahnameh (literally "Letter from the King"). This book represents for the Iranians what the Iliad and Homer's Odyssey represent in Western literature. Thereafter, we will visit Harounieh (boqe-ye-Hâruniye). Located almost 600 meters from the tomb of Ferdowsi, Harounieh is the only surviving monument of ancient All or Tus. This magnificent 15th century monument, of Azerbaijani architecture, was probably a mausoleum. The building is entirely made of bricks and has no decorations apart from its baroque stucco reliefs. We take the evening flight to Shiraz , Overnight in Shiraz.

Visits: Persepolis and Necropolis (UNESCO)., Karim Khan Palace, Vakil Bazaar, Saraye Moshir, Nasir Almolk Mosque, the tombs of Hafez and Saadi, Eram Garden Our excursion for today is Persepolis. Founded by Darius I in 518 BC, Persepolis was the capital of the Achaemenid Empire. The city was built on a huge semi-artificial terrace carved into the rock. The “king of kings” created an impressive complex of palaces there inspired by Mesopotamian models. The importance and the quality of the ruins make it a unique archaeological site. It seems that Darius planned these constructions not only as seat of the government but also, and especially, as a place of spectacle and a spectacular center for the receptions and the festivals of the Achaemenid kings and their empire in particular during Noruz. The second visit where we stop is Necropolis. Opposite Mount Rahmat, ten minutes to the north, stands the necropolis proudly, a magnificent burial site for Achaemenid kings. The site also contains seven bas-reliefs dating back to the Elamite and Sassanid periods. Shiraz has a reputation for being an enlightened city that has been at the cultural heartland of Iran for more than 2,000 years. It had once been the country's capital. Shiraz is crowned as the heartland of Persian culture, and this city of sophistication will never fail to conjure up images of roses and nightingales, gardens and poetry. Early in the morning, relish in the highlights of Shiraz when it was the capital of Iran during the Zand Dynasty. Be inspired by the glorious Karim Khan Palace, the splendid Vakil Mosque, Vakil Bazaar and Saraye Moshir with its splendid architecture and interesting ethnic souvenir shops, and the Nasir Almolk Mosque. Next, we will stop for a mouth-watering Iranian lunch at one of the traditional restaurants in Shiraz. This gorgeous city is home to famous poets such as Hafez and Sa'adi, and historical sites from different eras dating back to 6,000 years ago can be found. Hafez is one of the great poets who impressed everyone with his mastery. His poems give us a special feeling and the peace in his tomb is really outstanding. Saadi is a poet, philosopher and mystic who is known as the father of tourism. He travelled to different countries and cities about seven centuries ago. Then he collected all his experiences in verse and rhyme prose in two books named Boustan and Golestan. These two books give you lots of inspiration and information. We will get a chance to pay homage to the tombs of these great poets. we will visit the Eram Garden, a complete sample of Persian garden registered by UNESCO as a world heritage. Overnight in Shiraz.

Visits: Pasargade (UNESCO)., Si-o-seh pol In the morning, we leave the hotel for Isfahan at 8 am. On the way, we will visit Pasargade which was once the capital of the Achaemenid Empire under Cyrus The Great (559-530 BC); It was also the location of his grave. Today it is an archaeological site and one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites in Iran. Then we continue to Isfahan. In the evening we will visit Sio-se Pol. Our day will end with a visit to the Allahverdi Khan Bridge known as Si-o-seh pol; The thirty-three span bridge. It is one of the most famous examples of the design of the Safavid bridges and the longest bridge over the Zayandeh River with a total length of 297.76 meters. Overnight in Isfahan. Transport: ordinary <480km

Visits: Chehel Sotoun, Imam Square (UNESCO)., Ali Qapu, Imam Mosque, Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque Isfahan, the legendary city that never fails to enchant its visitors, is the pearl of traditional Islamic archeology. This city is not asleep, however, and remains a place of inspiration for the works of contemporary artists. Isfahan prides itself on having fascinating palaces and gardens. According to legend, the city was founded in the time of Tahmoures and was named "Half the World". Our day includes a visit to the Chehel Sotoun palace; A pavilion in the middle of a park at the end of a long pool built by Shah Abbas II to be used for entertainment and receptions. The name meaning "forty columns" in Persian, counting twenty columns of thin wood supporting the entrance pavilion, and becoming 40 reflected in the water of the fountain. Visit the famous Imam Square (Naqsh-e-Jahan) (UNESCO) .; the second largest square in the world after Tiananmen Square in Beijing. Visit the Ali Qapu palace; The Persian name "Ālī" (meaning "imperial" or "large"), and Azerbaijani Qapū (meaning "door"), was given here because it was right at the entrance to the Safavid palaces which stretched from Naqsh e Jahan square to Chahar Baq boulevard. Finally, we head to the Imam Mosque and the Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque and appreciate their architectural wonders. Free evening on the square. Overnight in Isfahan.

Visits: Jame Mosque (UNESCO), Vank Cathedral, Menar Jonban, Si-o-seh pol Today we continue our tour of the city with a visit to the Jame 'mosque in Isfahan (UNESCO) .; which in itself holds the passage of several centuries of Islamic historical evolution. This mosque is a gallery of Islamic architecture in which the progress of architecture from the beginning of Islam to recent times is evident. Then we will visit Vank Cathedral, which is one of the most beautiful Armenian churches in the world and will undoubtedly attract the attention of all Christians. Then we will stop at Menar Jonban; the tomb of a Sufi with its trembling minarets and some historic bridges. Our day will end with a visit to the Allahverdi Khan Bridge popularly known as Si-o-seh pol; the thirty-three span bridge. It is one of the most famous examples of Safavid bridge design and the longest bridge over the Zayanderud (the largest river on the Iranian plateau in central Iran) with a total length of 297.76 meters. Overnight in Isfahan.

Visits: historic houses of Borujerdiha and Tabatabaeiha, the Fin garden, Qom, the sanctuary of Fatema Masumeh We start our day by visiting the historic houses of Borujerdiha and Tabatabaeiha in Kashan which respect the canons of architecture of the previous century, under the Qajar era. Next, we stop at the Jardin Fin, a popular Persian garden containing the baths where Amir Kabir, the chancellor of Qajarid, was assassinated by an envoy of King Nasereddin Shah in 1852. Completed in 1590, the Jardin Fin is the most ancient garden existing in Iran. Then we will have lunch and leave Kashan for Tehran Airport. On the way, we visit Qom and the Fatema Masumeh shrine. Qom is considered by Shia Muslims as the second holiest city in Iran after Mashhad (by choice, one can visit Dasht-e Kavir and the safari instead). Overnight in Tehran. Isfahan-Kashan transport: ordinary <220km Isfahan-Kashan transport: ordinary <250km

Visits: Carpet Museum, Sa'ad Abad Complex, Reza Abbasi Museum, Milad Tower. Today we will start early to visit the Carpet Museum which houses more than 100 spectacular pieces from all over Iran. Here we will have the opportunity to see a wide variety of hand woven Persian rugs. We will also be told the story of these rugs. Then we visit the Sa'ad Abad Complex with a huge area of 1,100,000 square meters and we will visit 2 of the most emblematic palaces of the complex. The complex was first built and inhabited by Qajar monarchs in the 19th century. The Pahlavi dynasty lived there in the 1920s, and Mohammad Reza Pahlavi settled there in the 1970s. After the 1979 revolution, the complex became a museum. Sa'ad Abad will undoubtedly leave a lasting impression on us. Then comes lunch time, organized in an exquisite and traditional restaurant. Then we stop at the Reza Abbasi museum located in Seyed Khandan. The museum took the name of one of the artists of the Safavid period. It houses a unique collection of Persian art dating from the second millennium BC. AD, from the pre-Islamic era and later centuries. Finally, we visit the Milad Tower, the sixth tallest tower in the world located 435 meters from the base to the tip of the antenna (if open). Overnight in Tehran.

Depart from Iran, the land of history, culture, nature, beauty and hospitality, of which you will have fond memories forever.