EPSOMDFAS
ESCORTEDTOURTOIRAN
15days/14nights
TOURITINERARY
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TEL–01425480600▪EMAIL–[email protected]
EPSOMDFASESCORTEDTOURTOIRAN
14Nights–15Days
Iranisabeguilingcountryandhometouniquehistoricalandarchaeologicalsiteswithancientruins,
colourfulmosques,stunninglandscapesandthemostwelcomingpeopleyoucouldhopetomeet.
Tourismisrelativelylimitedandlowkey,howeverwiththerecentpoliticalchangesandrelaxationof
theforeignofficeadvicethisissuretochangeveryquickly.WehaveoperatedtourstoIranforover
15years,takingsmallinquisitivegroupstosafelyexperiencethewondersofthiscaptivatingcountry.
DepartureDate:
27thApril–11thMay2017
ProvisionalPrice:
£3200perperson
BasedonTwin/DoubleShare
£3650perperson
BasedonSingleOccupancy
VisaFee:
Currently£140plus£60procurementfee
***Pleasenotepricesandschedulearesubjecttochangeduetooperationalreasonsbutyouwill
benotifiedofthisatthetimeofbookingifthisisthecase***
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TourItinerary
Thursday27April
WeflywithTurkishAirlinesorQatarAirlinesfromLondonHeathrowviaIstanbulorDoha,arrivingin
ShirazearlyonFridaymorning.
OvernightattheHomaHotelorsimilarinShiraz
Friday28AprilandSaturday29April
Afteramorning’srest,webeginoursightseeinginShiraz.
Duringthisafternoonandthewholeofthefollowingday-Saturday29April-weshallvisitthreeof
thelovelygardensforwhichShirazisfamous,thetombsofSaadiandHafezandtheBagh-e-Eram,
andalsothedowntownarea,whichincludesthecolourfulbazaar,andthefineNasir-ol-Molk
mosque.
OvernightattheHomaHotelorsimilarinShiraz
Sunday30April
WedriveoutforafulldayvisittothegreatpalacesiteofthePersiankingsatPersepolisandtheir
royaltombsatNaqsh-e-Rustam,EnroutewestoptoseetheSassanianreliefsatNaqsh-e-Rajab.
OvernightattheHomaHotelorsimilarinShiraz
Monday01May
Afullday’sdriveacrossdesertandmountainstoYazd,stoppingatCyrustheGreat’stombat
Pasargadaeandforlunchenroute.
OvernightattheDadHotelorsimilarinYazd
Tuesday02May
AfulldayinYazd,includingafascinatingwalkthroughthelanesoftheoldcitycentretovisitthe
lovelyFridayMosqueandtheso-called‘Alexander’sPrison’.WealsovisittheZoroastriantempleand
their‘TowersofSilence’,ahennahfactory,andtheWaterMuseum.
OvernightattheDadHotelorsimilarinYazd
Wednesday03May
WedriveashortdistanceouttothesmalltownofMeybod,wherewevisitapotteryfactory,theold
citadel,andatraditionalpigeontower.
OvernightattheDadHotelorsimilarinYazd
Thursday04May
Awholeday’sdrivetoIsfahan,viaNain,wherewevisittheearlyFridayMosqueandthetraditional
PirniaHouseenroute.InIsfahanwespendfournightsat(eg)thecentrallysituatedPiroozHotel.
OvernightatthePiroozHotelorsimilarinIsfahan
Friday05andSaturday06May
Wehavetwofulldays’sightseeinginthegreatcityofIsfahan,visitingthewonderfulFridayMosque,
theArmenianCathedralandMuseum,andanarrayofwonderful17thc.buildingsfromtheperiodof
theSavafidmonarchy:thebridges,thepalaceoftheChehelSitunandAliKapu,theImamandSheikh
LotfullahMosquesandthegreatbazaar.
OvernightatthePiroozHotelorsimilarinIsfahan
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Sunday07May
WeenjoyafreedayinIsfahanandthemanyopportunitiesforindependentexploration.
OvernightatthePiroozHotelorsimilarinIsfahan
Monday08May
WedrivetothemountainvillageofAbyaneh,stoppingenrouteatNatanz,wherewevisitthe
beautifulmosquecomplex.WespendonenightinthemountainvillageofAbyaneh,wherewehave
timetoappreciatetheverydistinctiveinhabitantsandthequalityofitsarchitecture.
OvernightintheMountainVillageofAbyaneh
Tuesday09May
WecontinuetoTehran,stoppinginKashan,wherewevisitalovelygarden,theBagh-e-Fin,andone
ofthestylish19thc.townhouses.
OvernightattheLalehHotelorsimilarinTehran
Wednesday10May
OursightseeinginthecityincludestheveryspecialRezaAbbasiMuseum,theGolestanPalaceand
theCarpetMuseum.
OvernightattheLalehHotelorsimilarinTehran
Thursday11May
OurreturnflightfromTehranwithTurkishAirlinesorQatarAirlines,viaIstanbulorDoha,toLondon
Heathrow.
TourInclusions
•
•
•
•
•
Returneconomyclassairtransportation
14nightsaccommodationasdetailedonfullboard(allmeals)basis
Alltransportationasdetailedbyprivatecoach
Allentrancefees
TheservicesofanEnglishspeakingIranianescort/guidethroughoutthetrip
TourExclusions
•
•
•
Visafee
Insurance
Itemsofapersonalnatureietelephonecalls,laundryetc
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Iranwhattoexpect
LocalCustom:
Thecourtesyandinterestthatwewillcustomarilybeshownasvisitorswillbedifferentfromour
impressionsofIranfromthemedia.Nevertheless,IranisastrictIslamiccountryandvisitorsmust
conformtothiscode:
• dressforwomenincludescoveringthehead,armsandlegsatalltimesinpublicplaces(see
below).
• mendonotwearshortsorshort-sleevedshirts;socksshouldbewornwithsandals.
• alcoholicdrinksareforbidden,evenifimportedforprivateconsumptiononly.
WeshouldanticipateacustomsinspectionwhenwearriveattheairportinTehran,andso,please,
noalcoholandnobooksormagazineswithluridcovers.
Dressforwomen:
Youshouldweareithertrousersorfull-lengthskirt,withalong-sleeved,loose-fittingtoporthighlength/knee-lengthovergarment,likealongshirt.Alongheadscarftocoverthehairandneckisa
must.Legsandfeetmustbecovered,andsosocksshouldbewornwithsandals.Lightandloose
cottonsarerecommended.Neutralshades,egcream,beigeandblue,orblackaregoodcoloursto
wear.AllwhiteisZoroastrianmourninggarb.
Thiscodeappliesinallpublicplaces,includinghotelsandrestaurants.ItappliesonarrivalinIran;
youshouldhaveyourlocalgarbreadytowearontheoutwardflightsothatyoustepofftheplanein
ShirazalamodeIranienne.
Journeysbybusaresometimeslong,butaremorethancompensatedbytherichevidence
everywhereofIran’shistoryandculture,andbycomfortablehotels.Youshouldbefitenoughfora
fairamountofwalkingincitycentresandonarchaeologicalsites.
Climate
Wearegenerallyatanaltitudeof1,000m–1,750mandtheatmosphereisremarkablydry,clearand
bright.Theweatherwillbewarmbyday,butcoolerintheevenings,especiallyinAbyaneh;
light/mediumweightclothes,plusasweaterorfleece,arerecommended.Thereisagoodchanceof
somerain;bringalightwaterproofand/orumbrella,whichcandoubleasaparasol.
Equipment
Pleaselimityourbaggagetoonemainbagandadaysack.Itisagoodideatobringa(collapsible)
walkingstickorshootingstick,asunhat,waterbottle,sunglasses,suncream,moisturizer,lipsalve,
insectrepellent,reservesupplyoflavatorypaper,torch,sparefilm/battery/chargerforyour
camera,aplugforwashbasins,andatwo-pinadaptorforanyelectricalequipment.Ifyourcamerais
new,itisagoodideatopractisewithitbeforethetour.MobilephonesoperateerraticallyinIranor
notatall;checkwithyourproviderbeforehand.
Accommodation
Weaimtouse4*and5*hotels,orthebestavailablelocally,withdoubleortwin-beddedroomsand
ensuitefacilities.NBWeshallbetravellingatapeakperiodinthetouristseasonandmaynotget
ourfirstchoiceofhoteleverywhere.
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FoodandDrink
Localcuisineincludesalotofrice.Kebabsandstewsareubiquitous.Fruitsinseasonandherbsadd
somevariety.Localwaterissafe.Bottledwaterisgenerallyavailable,alongwithtea,non-alcoholic
beer,andfizzysoftdrinks.Noalcohol.
Health
Therearenoparticularhealthproblemsforthevisitor,apart,maybe,fromtheoccasionalstomach
upset.Novaccinationsarerequired,butitisagoodideatoensurethattetanusinoculationsareupto-dateandtocarryasmallfirstaidkit,plusanymedicationyouaretaking.
Money
USDollars(1USD=approx30,000Rials)arethemainmediumofexchange.GBPandEURarealso
usuallyacceptedinexchangebureaux.Thetourisfullboardandsoyouneedbudgetonlyforitems
ofpersonalexpenditure,egsouvenirs,postcards,teasandsnacks.TheRialhascollapsedagainstthe
USD,buttherehasbeenconsiderableinflationlocally.Thingsmaystillbecomparativelyinexpensive
inIran,unlessyouareshoppingforrugsofgoodqualityorforjewellery.Opportunitiestousecredit
cardsareverylimited,unlessyouarebuyingthatrug,inwhichcase,“Wearehappytoacceptyour
creditcardpaymentthroughourDubaibranch.”Bargainingisvital.
Travellerschequesarenotrecommended.USDollars(orSterlingorEuros)inundamagednotes
shouldbebrought,toexchangeforlocalcashinourhotelsoratlocalchangeshops.Amoneybeltis
recommended.
Weproposetorunakittyforgrouptipstopeoplewhodousasmallservice.Itisalsocustomaryto
tipthelocalguideanddriver(s)attheendofthetour;USD60permemberofthegroupisthe
recommendedamountforlocaltips,whichthetourleaderwillcollectattheendofthetour.
VisasandPassports
Passportsshouldbevalidforatleastsixmonthsbeyondthedateofourvisit.Ouragents,Prestige
HolidaysandPersianVoyages,submitapplicationsforvisasforourgroupenmasse.Prestigewillfirst
askforpreliminarydetails.ThenPrestigewillcollectandsendourpassportsviacourierforstamping
attheIranianConsulateinLondon,ifithasre-opened,orattheIranianEmbassyinFrankfurt.
Sometimesinthepastwehavebeenrequiredtosupplyourfingerprints,butbyusingFrankfurtwe
seemtoavoidthis.
Flights
Youwillreceiveconfirmationofourflights,withtickets,timesandcheck-indetailsfromPrestige
Holidays.
EmergencyContact
PrestigeHolidays(tel01425480600).DavidNashwillbeinformingtheBritishEmbassyinTehran,,
ofournamesandpassportnumbersandourdatesoftravelinIran.
Time
Iranisthree-and-a-halfhoursaheadofGMT.
ReadingMaterialandLanguage
Seebelow
Pleasegetintouchwithusifthereisanythingyouwouldliketoaskbeforethetour.KarenandIvery
muchlookforwardtotravellingwithyou
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ReadingMaterialandLanguage:
GuidebooksandPhrasebookespeciallyrecommendedare:
PatriciaBaker:‘Iran’(Bradt)
HelenLovedayandothers:‘lran'(Odyssey)
Farsi(LonelyPlanetPhrasebooks)
History:
JohnCurtis:‘AncientPersia’(BritishMuseum)
Curtis&Tallis:‘ForgottenEmpires’(BritishMuseum))
MichaelAxworthy:‘Iran:EmpireoftheMind’(Penguin)
ArtandArchitecture:
BarbaraBrend:‘IslamicArt’(BritishMuseum)
RobertHillenbrand:‘IslamicArtandArchitecture’(ThamesandHudson)
WilfredBlunt:‘Isfahan:PearlofPersia‘(PallasAthene)
SheilaCanby:‘ShahAbbas:theRemakingoflran’(BritishMuseum)
PenelopeHobhouse:‘GardensofPersian’(Cassell)
Porter&Thevenart:‘PalacesandGardensofPersia’(Flammarion)
Poetry:
JohnBowen:‘PoemsfromthePersian’(Scorpion,o/p)
ModernHistory:
NikkiKeddie:‘ModernIran’(Yale)
ErvandAbrahamian:‘AHistoryofModernIran’(CUP)
TravelandCulture:
RobertByron:‘TheRoadtoOxiana’
TerenceO’Donnnell:‘GardenoftheBraveinWar’(Ticknor&Fields,o/p)
JasonElliot:‘MirrorsoftheUnseen’(Picador)
ContemporaryMemoirs:
SattarehFarmanFarmaian:‘DaughterofPersia’(Corgi)
AzarNafisi:‘ReadingLolitainTeheran‘(FourthEstate)
ChristopherdeBellaigue:‘InTheRoseGardenoftheMartyrs’(HarperPerennial).
ShirinEbadi:‘IranAwakening'(Rider)
Novel:
KaderAbdolah:‘TheHouseoftheMosque’(Canongate)
Cuisine:
SallyButcher:‘PersiainPeckham‘(Prospect)
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AFewPhrasesinFarsi...Haveago.They’llgodownwell.
Salaam
Hello
Sobh-be-kheir/Shab-be-kheir Goodmorning/Goodevening
Haleshomachetore? Howareyou?(Lit=healthyourhowis?)
Bale/Na/Boshe
Yes/No/OK
Kheilikhoub/Kheiligashang Verygood/Verybeautiful
Khoub-am
I’mfine
Esmeshomachie?
What’syourname?(Lit=nameyourwhatis?)
Esm-amSarahe
MynameisSarah
Befarmayid
Helpyourself/Afteryou
Lotfan Please
Motashakkeram/Mersi
Thankyou
Kheilimanmoun
Thankyouverymuch
Khaheshmikonam
Don’tmentionit
Khod’afez
Goodbye
Bebakhshid Excuseme
Inglisihastam/hastim I’m/We’reEnglish
Amrikayinistam/nistim
I’mnot/we’renotAmerican
Ingilisibaladid?
CanyouspeakEnglish?
Mikhaham/na-mikhaham
Iwant/don’twant(it)
Na-mifahmam Idon’tunderstand
Misheaksbegiram? MayItakeapicture?
HotelHoma/bank/muzekoja-st?
WhereistheHomaHotel/bank/museum?
Dast-e-rost/Dast-e-chap/Mostaghim Right/Left/Straighton
In/Unchie? Whatisthis/that?
In/Unfarshcheghadre?
Howmuchisthis/thatrug..?
Kheiligerune It’sveryexpensive
Pulna-doram I’venomoney
Chizearzuntar/kamtar/behtardorid? Haveyousomethingcheaper/smaller/better?
Yek/Do/Se/Char/Panj/Shish/Haft/Hasht/Noh/Dah
1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8/9/10
1Toman-10Rials
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