El noroeste de Irán – Shamse & Abrisham

The sacred site of Takht-e Suleyman, in Azerbaijan, from the Sasanian period (3rd-7th century). Photography: ©Patrick Ringgenberg.

Best seasons: April-June, September-October
Hotel categories: good to very good, except Takab (rudimentary hotel) and Maku (ok accommodation)
Particular difficulties: walking (path with difference in altitude and stairs) to access the fortresses of Babak (1 hour) and Alamut (40’)

Europe – Tabriz Day 1

Arrival in Tabriz on the night of day 2. Night in Tabriz.
Tabriz Day 2

In the morning, rest at the hotel. In the afternoon, visit the Blue Mosque, the Grand Bazaar, the Azerbaijan Museum, Elgoli Park. Night in Tabriz.
Tabriz – Ahar – Kaleybar – Tabriz Day 3

Excursion to Kaleybar (170km) to visit the Babak fortress. En route, visit the Sufi mausoleum of Ahar. Night in Tabriz.
Tabriz – Kandovan – Orumiyeh Day 4

Road to Orumiyeh (145km), with a visit to the troglodyte village of Kandovan along the way. Discovery of the salt lake of Orumiyeh (Urmia), and in Orumiyeh, visit to a funerary tower (Seh Gonbad), the Friday mosque, the “Assyrian” church of Naneh Maryam. Night in Orumiyeh.
Orumiyeh – Maku Day 5

Road to Maku (285km). Along the way, visit a Sassanid bas-relief (Khantakhti) in Salmas, the Motaleb Khan mosque and the bazaar in Khoy, and the remains of an Urartian city in Bastam. Night in Maku.
Maku – Saint Thaddeus – Jolfa – Marand Day 6

In Maku, visit the Baghcheh Juq palace. Continuation to the monastery of Saint-Thaddeus (70km), then to the gorges of the Araxes and the church of Saint Stephanos in Jolfa (185km). Night in Marand.
Marand – Sohrul – Tabriz Day 7

In Marand, visit the Friday mosque and a Safavid caravanserai. Road to Tabriz (70km), with a visit to the Sohrul church along the way. Night in Tabriz.
Tabriz – Maragheh – Takab Day 8

Road to Takab (300km). Along the way, visit the mausoleums (from the Seljuk and Mongolian periods) and the site of the old astronomical observatory of Maragheh. Night in Takab.
Takab – Takht-e Suleyman – Soltanyieh – Zanjan Day 9

In the morning, visit the sacred Sasanian site of Takht-e Suleyman. Continuation towards Zanjan for the Mongolian mausoleum of Soltaniyeh (190km). Night in Zanjan.
Zanjan – Ardabil Day 10

In the morning, visit the Friday bazaar and mosque in Zanjan. Continue to Ardabil (260km) and visit the Safavid funerary complex. Night in Ardabil.
Ardabil – Rasht – Qazvin Day 11

Road to Qazvin (460km), via the shores of the Caspian Sea. Along the way, visit the Gilan Rural Heritage Museum. Night in Qazvin.
Qazvin – Alamut – Qazvin Day 12

Excursion north of Qazvin to visit Alamut Castle (107km), eagle’s nest of the Ismaili sect of the “Assassins”. Night in Qazvin.
Qazvin – Tehran Day 13

In the morning, visit Qazvin: the Friday mosque, the Imamzadeh Hossein, the Chehel Sotun pavilion, the Prophet's mosque, the Sa'd ol-Saltaneh bazaar. In the afternoon, drive to Tehran (145km). Night in Tehran.
Tehran Day 14

Excursion to the south of Tehran to see the remains of ancient Rey (the Toghrol tower, the source of Cheshmeh-ye Ali, Imamzadeh Abd ol-Azim), then the Friday mosque of Varamin. Night in Tehran.
Tehran – Europe Day 15

Return flight to Europe.

Price
------ Euros	2 people in a double room
------ Euros	4 people in a double room
------ Euros	6 people in a double room

Included	Not included
Double room accommodation in the best hotel categories available	Single room supplement
Transfer and transportation	International flight (price on request)
English-speaking local guide for the entire duration of the trip	Visa fees
Full board	Cancellation and accident insurance
Entrances to the sites mentioned in the program	Tips
Mineral water bottles	Personal purchases
A SIM card from an Iranian operator
Documentation

North-West Iran

At the crossroads of cultures and civilizations

Tabriz – Orumiyeh – Maku – Maragheh – Takht-e Suleyman – Ardabil – Zanjan – Soltaniyeh – Qazvin – Alamut – Tehran

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