10 Days Art Tour – Handicrafts & Culture

Start the day with the historic Sa'dabad Palace Complex in Northern Tehran, a 300 hectare complex built by the Qajar and Pahlavi monarchs, next to the house of the current president. Afterwards, visit the Treasury of National Jewels, one of the world's most famous collections of diamonds and jewelry, showcasing the epitome of Persian fine art. In the evening, visit the Moghadam Museum, the private collection and home of a Qajar-era world explorer, encircled by its modern neighbors, but still resilient.

Head towards Kashan in the morning. Start with the Agha Bozorg Mosque, a multilevel school that served as the center of Kashani life. Visit the Sultan Amir Ahmad Bathhouse for a lesson in classic bathing. You also get to see the fascinating Abbasian House & Tabatabaei House, two examples of opulent homes with exceptional architectural details. Visit an active Pottery Workshop to see Kashan’s traditional earthen handicrafts. After a quick stop in Fin Garden, spend the night in Kashan.

Stop by the pre-Islamic city of Maybod and explore the Sassanid-era Narin Castle. Visit the Maybod Pigeon Tower, the Abbasi Caravansary, and the Maybod Yakhchal, a millenia-old icehouse within the desert. Stop by a Zilu Bafi workshop (local yarn tapestry) to appreciate local handicrafts. Visit the abandoned mud-brick village Kharanaq, a well-preserved example of how Persian cities looked thousands of years ago, and hike up the mountaintop Chak Chak Fire Temple. Spend the night in Yazd.

Start the day off with the Yazd Jameh Mosque, built in the 13th c. over a Sassanid fire temple. Then, hit the narrow, mud-brick streets to visit the Amir Chakhmagh Complex, which contains a caravanserai, a bathhouse, and many confectioneries. Learn how underground water channels kept the city hydrated with a visit to the Yazd Water Museum. Stop in at the Zoroastrian Fire Temple and see the holy fire that has burned since 470 AD. Finish by seeing Tower of Silence to witness the location of sky burials.

Head to Shiraz in the early morning. On the way, visit one of the oldest living organisms in the world, the Cypress of Abarkuh. The cypress tree is an ancient Zoroastrian symbol of life and beauty. Estimated to be between 4,000-5,000 years old, this one is said to have been planted by the prophet Zoroaster himself. Spend some time at the final resting place of Cyrus the Great, the founder of the first Persian Empire, the Achaemenid dynasty, at Pasargadae. Make your way to Shiraz for the night.

Arrive just before sunrise for the best views of the Nasir ol-Molk “Pink” Mosque. Move on to the Vakil Complex, featuring the Vakil Mosque, Vakil Bathhouse, and the historic caravansary. Relax in the World Heritage-listed Eram Garden, before visiting the Citadel of Karim khan. A former prison, the citadel has been converted to a giant garden, complete with local vendors. A quick stop at the Tomb of Hafez, the worldwide-renowned Persian poet, and it’s off to dinner with a local Shirazi family.

Start with the World Heritage-listed Persepolis, once the center of the Persian Empire and one of the great cities of the ancient world. The towering columns, remarkable relief carvings, and massive gateways are still imposing. Visit the Naqsh-e Rostam Necropolis, a royal graveyard of massive tombs, carved straight into the mountainside, from the Achaemenids to the Sassanids. Arriving in Isfahan at night.

Start with the 16th c. Naqsh-e Jahan Square, the seat of Iran’s Safavid dynasty. Explore Qeysarie Bazaar, a local hub filled with handicrafts & spices. Visit the Sheykh Lotfollah Mosque’s mesmerizing dome, the Shah Mosque‘s enchanting courtyard, & Ali Qapu Palace‘s view. Stop by the Chehel-sotun Palace, the royal Safavid reception for foreign dignitaries and ambassadors. Visit the Museum of Contemporary Art and at night, head to the famed Khaju Bridge & Si-o-Se Pol Bridge.

Pack your bags and head towards a local Carpet Workshop to see just how much effort still goes into handmade carpets. Afterwards, visit the intricate and elaborate 8th c. Jameh Mosque of Isfahan, a former Zoroastrian fire temple that was continually built upon over the centuries. Then it’s off to bright frescos of Vank Cathedral and the historic, delicate handicrafts of the Vank Museum, in the Armenian quarter of New Jolfa. In the evening, head towards IKIA.