15 Day Iran Creative Cities tour

     Tehran >  Ramsar >  Rasht  >  Hamedan  >  Golpayegan >  Isfahan > Yazd  > Shiraz

United Nations Educational, Scientific and cultural organization started the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) in 2004 to facilitate international cooperation within creative industries in these seven creative fields: Crafts and Folk Arts, Media Arts, Gastronomy, Film, Design, Literature and Music. Creative Tourism is an engagement in the real cultural life of the city since it includes more access to culture or history, and it is important that the local community is involved in the idea of creative tourism. “CREATIVE CITY” uses its citizens’ innovation and creativities in sustainable urban development. The 116 cities in UCCN network are charming destinations for travelers. Being recognized as a UNESCO Creative City helps the city to highlight and preserve its matchless traditional arts on the world stage.
For the first time, two Iranian cities, Rasht and Isfahan, have made it to the Unesco’s Creative City Network from 2015. Isfahan was announced as creative city in the field of Crafts and Folk Art for producing unique handicrafts such as Mina, Qalam kar and Khaatam. Rasht was added to the list of UCCN network as the creative city of gastronomy for owning about 200 Iranian recipes. During this package tour you’re going to learn more about Iran Creative Cities and also visiting Shiraz the home of great poets and Lalejin the land of pottery, the next Iran creative city nominations.

Tour by detail

Day 1: Arrival in Tehran

After your arrival in Tehran, you will be met at the airport and then taken to your hotel to check in and relax. Overnight stay in Tehran.

Day 2: Tehran

You will spend a full day touring Tehran, the capital of Iran. Visit historic Golestan Palace, a Qajar era palace that combines Persian architecture with Western decorative influences. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this lavish complex of 17 palaces and gardens is both a historic site and museum. You will also experience the lively alleys of the Tehran Bazaar and see The National Archaeological Museum, a showcase for Iran’s rich and ancient history, as well as the glittery Jewelry Museum and Carpet Museum.  Overnight stay in Tehran

Day 3: Tehran– Ramsar

After breakfast, Drive to Ramsar, En-route visiting Namak A’abrood and enjoy Cable Car riding. Overnight stay in Ramsar.

Day 4: Ramsar

Full day city Tour of Javaherdeh Village. Overnight stay in Ramsar.

Day 5: Ramsar -Rasht

Travel to Rasht, city of silver rain, beautiful natures, pleasant weather and delicious food. Everything is different in Rasht, especially in its food diversity and because of being a UNESCO creative city in the field of gastronomy. Full day city tour to visit Gilan rural heritage museum, Bigler Beigi Pavilion that belongs to Qajar era, overnight stay in Rasht.

Day 6: Rasht -Hamedan

Drive in the morning to Hamedan, after a shot rest, half day city tour of Hamedan to visit Esther & Mordekhay mausoleum. Gombad alavian, Hegmatana hill ruins of seven folds civilization O/N Hamadan. Overnight Hamden.

Day 7: Hamedan

Full day excursion to Lalejin, the leading city of pottery and ceramic in Iran; then Ali sadr cave. It is one of the most beautiful caves in Iran that is in the tentative list of UNESCO. Overnight Hamedan.

Day 8: Hamedan -Golpayegan

Drive in the morning to Golpayegan. Visiting Googad citadel which dates back to 4 centuries. overnight Golpayegan.

Day 9: Golpayegan -Isfahan

Drive to another city of Iran that is selected as the creative city by UNESCO of crafts and folk arts. Half day city tour to visit the stunning Chehel Sotoun, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, known as the Palace of Forty Columns. Built during the Safavid era, the pavilion is decorated with beautiful murals and mirror work and is set in the middle of a pretty garden with a reflecting pool. Continue your tour of Isfahan at Naghsh-e Jahan Square, the second largest square in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. At grand Ali Qapu Palace, you will marvel at the gorgeous Music Room and stand on a terrace where Shahs watched polo matches on the field below. Visit two mosques located on the Square: the charming and intimate Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque with its stunning peacock ceiling and Imam Mosque, a masterpiece of Persian Architecture. You will also stop at the Qeysarie Bazaar, where you can see traditional Iranian handicrafts being made in artisan shops. Later you will experience the festive atmosphere at two of the ancient bridges of Isfahan, the Sio-se-Pol and Khaju Bridge. Overnight stay in Isfahan.

Day 10: Isfahan

There are more wonderful things to see in this full day tour of Isfahan. Visit the magnificent 8th century Jame Atiq Mosque, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the oldest mosques of Iran. Tour the Ali Gholi Agha Complex that consists of a mosque, bazaar, public bathhouse, caravanserai, and theological school. The public bathhouse has been restored and now houses a museum. You will also see an eccentric example of Persian architecture when you visit one of the Pigeon Towers that once housed thousands of birds and provided an important source of agricultural fertilizer. Visit Hasht-Behesht, a Safavid palace called Eight Paradises, set in a serene garden in the middle of Isfahan. End your tour of Isfahan with a stop in the Armenian quarter of Jolfa and visit Vank Cathedral. The beautifully painted frescoes illustrate the story of the Bible and cover all of the interior surfaces in an ornate display reminiscent of European churches.

Day 11: Isfahan to Yazd via Naiin

Leaving Isfahan, you will drive to Yazd, stopping in Naiin to visit the Jame Mosque. Built in the 8th century, it is one of the oldest mosques in Iran and is known for the beauty of its brickwork. You will also visit the ethnology museum at Pirnia Traditional House and, if there is time, the Rigareh Water Mill and Aba Bafi man made caves. Overnight stay in Yazd.

Day 12: Yazd

You will spend a whole day discovering Yazd, one of the oldest cities on earth and a stop on the ancient Silk Road. The center of Zoroastrian culture and Persian architecture, Yazd has many interesting and beautiful sites. You will see the Zoroastrian Towers of Silence and Atashkadeh Fire Temple, the Jame Mosque with its towering twin minarets that dominate the surrounding city and the Dowlat-Abad Gardens, one of Iran’s most beautiful gardens and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit the impressive Amir Chakhmagh complex and Lariha House, one of the best-preserved traditional houses from the Qajar era. Marvel at the clever wind towers and water irrigation systems invented by ancient engineers and architects to make living in the hot, arid desert manageable. Overnight stay in Yazd.

Day 13: Yazd to Shiraz

Drive to Abarkooh to visit the 4500 year- old cypress tree. Then move towards Pasargadae to visit the Capital of ancient Persia and the Tomb of Cyrus the great that without doubt is one of the most respected Persian Emperor both in national and international view (It is located in 87 km of Shiraz) since what he has written on his cylinder, had been the oldest symbol of Human rights in the world. Pasargadae was nominated as UNESCO world heritage site in 2004. Continue our way to Persepolis (UNESCO world heritage site form 1979), Naghsh-e-Rostam and Naghsh-e-rajab, three breathtaking attractions in 50 km north of Shiraz. In fact, they are must –see sites for not only history buffs but also everyone who like to know more about the history of Persian Empire., Overnight Shiraz.

Day 14: Shiraz

Shiraz is the birthplace of famous poets like Hafez and Saadi and is known as the city of rose and nightingales; so, has been suggested to UNESCO as the creative city of literature.  Full day city tour of Shiraz to visit Zandieh complex (Karim khan’s citadel, pars museum, Vakil bath, Vakil mosque, Vakil bazaar- the traditional bazaar of Shiraz and Moshir caravanserai) , In the afternoon Hafez and Saadi Tombs and the Jahan- Nama Garden, overnight stay in shiraz.

Day 15: Shiraz

Full day city tour of Shiraz to visit Nasir Almolk & Jame Atiq Mosque, then Eram Garden, Narenjestan Palace, Zinat-al-Molk House. Then transfer to international Airport for departure flight.

Tour highlights

Tour facts

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