"Ancient Persia" Iran by Mateosh

Day 1) November 10th: Friday
-Arrive MEHRABAD INTL TEHRAN on 11/10/2006 at 02:05 AM. Transfer to hotel Kosar & rest. After breakfast visit Tehran in private car with driver to bazaar, and the old American Embassy "Den of Spies" as Iranian govt calls it. Evening transfer to the airport for flight to Shiraz, meet and greet in the airport transfer to the hotel & check in. O/N Shiraz AryoBarzan hotel 4*

Day 2) November 11th: Saturday
-Depart Shiraz, to south 5 hours drive to nomad country. Accomodation in nomadic Black Tent. Visit nomads and way of life.

Day 3) November 12th: Sunday -
- Nomads-Black Tent -Early morning we will go to visit the Nomads; they're the most generous people who protect their traditions as old. At night we will stay in a full facilitated camp beside their black tents.

DAY 4) November 13th: Monday
- Visit another family of nomads and return to Shiraz. Along the way stop at a historical sight, climb 2 hours up a mountainside to a cliffside cave where a 30 foor statue stands of an ancient Persian King. Return to Shiraz.

Day 5) November 14th: Tuesday
-Visit Shiraz, Eram and Narenjestan Garden, Nasir-Ol-Molk Mosque, Hafez Tomb, Vakil Bazaar and Koran Gate, inlaid mirror decorating in Shah-Cherag-Holy Shrine. afternoon visit waterfalls 2 hour drive into northern moutains. O/N Shiraz AryoBarzan hotel 4*

Day 6) November 15th: Wednesday Shiraz- Persapolis-After breakfast, excursion to Persepolis & Naqsh- e--Rostam. Then toward Yazd, stopping along the way at various villages and abandones fortresses. O/N Yazd Moshir Garden Hotel 4*

Day 7) November 16th: Thursday
-Morning in Yazd visit of Bazaar ,The fire temple of Zorestrain ,the gardens , water meuseum then in the afternoon to Isfahan O/N Mellal stopping along the way to visit abandones cities and deserts.

Day 8) November 17th: Friday
-Full day city tour Imam Square, a jewel of Persian architecture which includes the Alighapou Palace, Imam & Sheikh Lutfullah Mosques, handicraft factories and Isfahan bazaar with its traditional arcades. In the evening we visit the most beautiful and famous Isfahan bridges along the Zayandeh Rud River. Afternoon Jame Mosque, Vank Church and Shaking Minarets. Evening fly to Tehran then transfer to hotel O/N Tehran Kosar hotel 4*

Day 9) Saturday, November 18th
Depart to Tehran at 1am in morning. - Depart Tehran Intl. airport at 3:20 AM to Minsk, Belarus.

Television show with George Bush and Tony Blair

I loved Iran. I never experienced any hostility from the people, in fact Iran is still one of the most hospitable places I have been. I was required to travel to Iran through an Iranian travel agency with a guide on a pre-approved itinerary because of my nationality, but once I arrived in Iran I was free to alter my itinerary, and wonder on my own. However, I usually travelled with my driver for convenience and because I really enjoyed his narratives and friendship. In most places of Iran I was the lone tourist and people were eager to talk to me and welcome me to their country. There is so much history and culture in Iran that I didn't realize existed until having had been there. I will never forget my trip there.

Students on a field trip at a mosque

Of course do not miss out on Persepolis and many of the other ancient cities and sites along the tourist path, if you can call it a tourist path in Iran. However, one of the highlights of Iran is the people. It is easy to make friends in Iran and if the opportunity presents itself be sure to spend some time visiting someones home or just get off the tourist path and try to experience the average persons lifestyle in Iran, and if possible stay with some nomads in the countryside. The nomads are fascinating people who still live a very traditional lifestyle, doing their best to cling to the old ways despite govt efforts to pusuade them to settle down. Also there are many abandones ancient cities and forts in the mountains and deserts. If you can hire a car these places are not to be missed.

• Pros:Everything but government
• Cons:Government