Iran: Architecture, Gardens & Design
Shiraz, Persepolis, Isfahan, Kashan & Tehran Arrangements Abroad September 12–22, 2019
Shiraz, Persepolis, Isfahan, Kashan & Tehran
Arrangements Abroad
September 12–22, 2019
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<strong>Iran</strong>: <strong>Architecture</strong>, <strong>Gardens</strong> & <strong>Design</strong><br />
Shiraz, Persepolis, Isfahan, Kashan & Tehran<br />
September 12–22, 2019
Dear Architects, <strong>Design</strong>ers, Landscape <strong>Design</strong>ers, Travelers, and Friends,<br />
If you have always been intrigued by the ancient culture and great civilizations of <strong>Iran</strong>, then 2019 could be the<br />
year to experience this fascinating land yourself.<br />
We're pleased to offer a new <strong>Iran</strong> tour, “<strong>Iran</strong>: <strong>Architecture</strong>, <strong>Gardens</strong> & <strong>Design</strong>,” September 12–22, 2019.<br />
Travelers on this exclusive journey will discover the country’s most spectacular museums, ancient sites, mosques,<br />
palaces, and public centers. They will also enjoy <strong>Iran</strong>’s contemporary culture, with opportunities to attend a live<br />
performance of traditional Persian music, dine at local restaurants, see contemporary art, meet artists, and shop at<br />
lively bazaars.<br />
Begin in Shiraz, where you will admire tombs of mystical Persian poets, as well as elegant architecture and<br />
fine handicrafts. In Persepolis, wander vast ruins that have remained nearly unchanged since the city was destroyed by<br />
Alexander the Great. Continue to Isfahan, stroll the magnificent square, (the Maidan-e-Naghsh-e-Jahan,) and explore<br />
a sumptuous palace, a music museum, the city’s Armenian Quarter, and a historic bazaar known for its handicrafts and<br />
kilim rugs. Our journey concludes in the capital, Tehran. Explore collections of art, artifacts, and jewelry at several of<br />
the city’s finest museums, and visit the UNESCO-listed Golestan Palace complex. There will also be opportunities to<br />
see some of <strong>Iran</strong>’s famous gardens in Shiraz, Isfahan, and Kashan.<br />
Arrangements Abroad has taken travelers to <strong>Iran</strong> for many years. The local tour operator has been a trusted<br />
partner on all these trips, and we’ll have one of the top guides in the country in addition to popular tour director<br />
Chas Miller. I had the opportunity to travel to <strong>Iran</strong> in 2017 with my wife Liz. We found the <strong>Iran</strong>ian people to be<br />
extremely gracious and welcoming towards Americans and the sights inspiring—far beyond our expectations. From<br />
the haunting caravanserais along the old trade routes to the splendidly tiled city mosques, the country’s elegant<br />
2,500-year-old heritage exists alongside a new creative energy.<br />
With the endless array of cultural splendors that awaits, this journey to <strong>Iran</strong> promises to be a trip of a lifetime.<br />
We hope you will join us.<br />
Sincerely,<br />
Jim Friedlander<br />
President, Arrangements Abroad<br />
HIGHLIGHTS<br />
DISCOVER UNESCO World Heritage Sites, from<br />
ancient ruins to medieval mosques to lush gardens.<br />
This includes visits to ten palaces and houses, eight<br />
museums and collections, seven mosques, six gardens,<br />
three ruins, two bazaars, and one vault filled with<br />
gems and jewels.<br />
BROWSE age-old bazaars in Shiraz and Isfahan.<br />
MARVEL at the 2,500-year-old ruins of<br />
Persepolis, once the center of the great Persian<br />
Empire and one of the most important sites of the<br />
Ancient World.<br />
MEET contemporary artists during private gallery<br />
visits, and learn about the creation of beautiful<br />
Persian carpets.
<strong>Iran</strong>: <strong>Architecture</strong>, <strong>Gardens</strong> & <strong>Design</strong><br />
Shiraz, Persepolis, Isfahan, Kashan & Tehran<br />
September 12–22, 2019<br />
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 12: ISTANBUL AIRPORT<br />
Arrive independently to Istanbul Airport by late<br />
afternoon. We will meet there to connect to our late-night<br />
flight to Shiraz.<br />
Narenjestan Palace, Shiraz<br />
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13: SHIRAZ<br />
Arrive in Shiraz in the early hours and transfer to the Homa<br />
Hotel for time to rest. Rooms have been reserved from the<br />
night before, so they will be ready for us. In the afternoon,<br />
depart to visit the Qajar-period Narenjestan Palace and<br />
Garden and the elegant Pars Museum. We will also see the<br />
tomb of the poet Saadi and the Masjid-i-Vakil, a mosque<br />
famed for its spacious prayer hall of vaulted bays, twisting<br />
columns, and stained-glass windows. This evening stop at a<br />
carpet merchant before dinner.<br />
B,L,D<br />
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14: SHIRAZ<br />
After breakfast, depart for the pink-tiled 19th-century<br />
Nasir-al-Mulk (Pink Mosque) to see its beautiful stainedglass<br />
windows in the morning light. Continue to the Khan<br />
Madrasa (school) to see a restoration workshop, and<br />
stop at the Vakil Bazaar. This afternoon, visit the Stone<br />
Museum and see the tomb of Hafez (time permitting). In<br />
the evening, explore the Naranj Art Gallery before dinner,<br />
where we hope to be joined by some artists. B,L,D<br />
Abstract Calligraphy by Amin Ashrafian, Naranj Art Gallery, Shiraz<br />
Nasir-al-Mulk (Pink Mosque), Shiraz
Entry doors and windows of the Great Palace of Xerxes, Persepolis<br />
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 15: PERSEPOLIS / ISFAHAN<br />
Today drive to Isfahan, stopping en route in Persepolis.<br />
Once the center of the Persian Empire, Persepolis was<br />
one of the most important sites of the ancient world. At<br />
the fascinating necropolis of Naghsh-é-Rostam, see the<br />
Royal Tombs and the Ka’bé-Zardosht “fire temple.” After<br />
lunch, we continue northwards, stopping to see the 17thcentury<br />
Safavid caravanserai. On the ancient Silk Road,<br />
a caravanserai (roadside inn) served travelers to rest and<br />
recover during journeys. We will also see the hilltop remains<br />
of the ancient castle at the Izad-Khast. The complex is<br />
under consideration to join World Heritage List. Arrive in<br />
Isfahan for check-in and dinner at the elegant Hotel Abbasi,<br />
where we'll stay for three nights.<br />
B,L,D<br />
Caravanserai, Izad-Khast<br />
The necropolis of Naghsh-é-Rostam, Persepolis<br />
NEAR PERSEPOLIS: The necropolis of Naghsh-é-Rostam<br />
House-Studio Museum of Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo
Copper wares in the bazaar, Isfahan<br />
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16: ISFAHAN<br />
Isfahan, the 17th-century capital of the Safavid Dynasty,<br />
is referred to as Nesf-e-Jahan, or “Half of the World.”<br />
Admire the domes and walls surrounding the UNESCOlisted<br />
square, Maidan-e-Naghsh-e-Jahan. The square is<br />
flanked by the Ali-Qapu Palace and two of the world’s<br />
greatest mosques: the Sheikh Lotfollah and the Masjid-i<br />
Iman, both featuring splendid tile work. No visit to<br />
Isfahan would be complete without a stop at the historic<br />
bazaar, where hundreds of shops sell traditional Persian<br />
handicrafts. After lunch, we will also see the Hasht Behesht<br />
Pavilion, set amongst tree-lined alleys, a reflecting pool,<br />
and water rills. End the afternoon with a visit to the Khaiu<br />
Bridge, one of Isfahan’s famous eleven bridges. Enjoy an<br />
optional visit to a carpet weaver, followed by dinner<br />
at a restaurant.<br />
B,L,D<br />
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17: ISFAHAN<br />
This morning, marvel at the sumptuous Palace of Chehel<br />
Sotoun, whose twenty columns reflected in the garden<br />
pool give the palace its name of “Forty Columns.” Tour the<br />
Decorative Arts Museum before continuing to the Music<br />
Museum to admire its collection of traditional Persian<br />
instruments and attend a performance. Before lunch, we<br />
will also see the Armenian Quarter, where Shah Abbas I<br />
transplanted a colony of skilled Christian entrepreneurs in<br />
1604. In the afternoon, visit the magnificent Friday Mosque<br />
or Masjid-I Jameh, considered to be a museum of more<br />
than a thousand years of religious architecture. Explore a<br />
local art gallery before dinner.<br />
B,L,D<br />
Masjid-i Iman, formerly known as the Shah Mosque, Isfahan
Tabatabaee House, Kashan<br />
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18: ISFAHAN /<br />
KASHAN / TEHRAN<br />
Drive north to Kashan, known as the City of Roses, to find<br />
shops selling rose water, fragrances, soaps, lotions, and<br />
even rose candies. We'll discover the UNESCO-listed Fin<br />
Garden, or Bagh-e Fin, a 19th-century merchant residence,<br />
and Sultan Amir Ahmad Bathhouse. If time allows, we'll<br />
visit the Tabatabaee House, once a merchant's home. This<br />
evening, we arrive in Tehran and check in at the centrally<br />
located Espinas Hotel.<br />
B,L,D<br />
Bagh-e-Fin Garden, Kashan<br />
Bagh-e-Fin Garden, Kasha, Kashan,<br />
photo by Erwin Bolwidt<br />
Rose distillery, inset of roses,<br />
Kashan
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19: TEHRAN<br />
We start our day at the Golestan Palace Complex, a<br />
UNESCO World Heritage Site dating from the 18th to<br />
early 20th century. See the Marble Throne Hall and the<br />
Hall of Mirrors, used as a coronation room, and stroll the<br />
garden to view the ornate tile-covered walls. After lunch,<br />
visit the Malek National Museum and Library, <strong>Iran</strong>’s first<br />
private museum, to admire the manuscripts collection.<br />
An optional guided walk takes us to the nearby Laleh<br />
Park and past the Tehran Museum of Contemporary<br />
Art, currently closed for renovation. Dine at a local<br />
restaurant tonight.<br />
B,L,D<br />
Fragment of a stone column from<br />
Persepolis, National Museum<br />
of <strong>Iran</strong>, Tehran<br />
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20: TEHRAN<br />
In the morning, discover the National Museum of <strong>Iran</strong><br />
and the adjacent Islamic Era Museum. Enjoy lunch at the<br />
Ferdowsi Hotel with a special ice cream dessert and tea/<br />
coffee in the 1960s lobby lounge. This afternoon, tour the<br />
Abgineh Museum’s collection of pre-Islamic and Islamic<br />
glass and ceramics, displayed in an elegant early 20thcentury<br />
mansion. There will also be time for visiting a few<br />
art galleries.<br />
B,L,D<br />
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21: TEHRAN<br />
Today we go to the fashionable northern part of Tehran<br />
for a visit to the Niavaran Palace complex, set among the<br />
foothills of the Alborz Mountains. See the former Pahlavi<br />
residences and tour the museum of paintings and artifacts<br />
collected by Farah Diba, the last Empress of <strong>Iran</strong>. We will<br />
also see the Green Palace before lunch. In the afternoon,<br />
explore the Jewels Museum, housed in the vaults of the<br />
Central Bank of <strong>Iran</strong>. The museum displays one of the most<br />
dazzling collections in the world, including the legendary<br />
Peacock Throne. Then, admire a fine array of carpets from<br />
ancient to contemporary at the Carpet Museum. Dinner<br />
tonight is at the hotel.<br />
B,L,D<br />
SPECIAL NOTE: On September 21, hotel rooms are reserved for late<br />
check-out. Thus following dinner, we will transfer to the airport for our<br />
late-night flight to Istanbul.<br />
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 22: ARRIVE TO ISTANBUL /<br />
CONNECT TO RETURN FLIGHTS HOME<br />
Our flight will arrive in Istanbul in the very early morning.<br />
Onward connections will depart today.<br />
DISCLAIMER: The itinerary is subject to change at the<br />
discretion of Arrangements Abroad. For complete details,<br />
please carefully read the terms and conditions at<br />
www.arrangementsabroad.com/terms.<br />
Mirrored hall, Golestan Palace, Tehran<br />
Main hall of the Islamic Era Museum, Tehran
ACCOMMODATIONS<br />
All hotels are equipped with Wi-Fi in the rooms and lobby,<br />
flat-screen TVs, desks, in-room mini-bars; and in-room personal<br />
safes. The hotels offer laundry and dry-cleaning services.<br />
Homa Hotel, Shiraz<br />
PROGRAM RATE<br />
$6,999 per person, double occupancy<br />
$7,999 single rate<br />
RATE INCLUDES<br />
n Ten nights accommodations as per itinerary<br />
n Meals as indicated in the itinerary (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch,<br />
D=Dinner); bottled water, sodas, and coffee/tea with all<br />
meals (alcohol is forbidden at all times in <strong>Iran</strong>)<br />
n Airport/hotel/airport group transfers for all participants on<br />
suggested flights<br />
n Escorted sightseeing, transportation, and entrance fees for<br />
all included visits<br />
n Taxes, service, and porterage charges<br />
n Gratuities to local guides and drivers<br />
HOMA HOTEL, SHIRAZ<br />
The hotel offers the facilities of a first-class business hotel,<br />
along with the peace of a relaxing atmosphere and with<br />
beautiful gardens. The hotel has a beautiful shopping<br />
arcade and indoor swimming pool. Homa, a mythical bird of<br />
<strong>Iran</strong>ian legends and fables, is featured in the stone column<br />
sculptures at Persepolis.<br />
NOT INCLUDED IN RATE International airfare; passport/visa fees;<br />
airport transfers other than for those on suggested flights; baggage<br />
in excess of one suitcase; trip insurance; personal items and<br />
expenses; any other items not specifically mentioned as included.<br />
Golestan Palace, Tehran<br />
Abbasi Hotel, Isfahan<br />
ABBASI HOTEL, ISFAHAN<br />
This hotel comprises an original 300-year old caravanserai<br />
structure and a modern wing. The courtyard is a magnificent<br />
oasis within the city with pools of water and gardens. There<br />
are a variety of restaurants and there is a pool, sauna, gym,<br />
jacuzzi, massage service, barber shop and shopping arcade.<br />
Espinas Persian Gulf Hotel, Tehran,<br />
photo © Espinas Persian Gulf Hotel<br />
ESPINAS PERSIAN GULF HOTEL, TEHRAN<br />
Experience one of the most refined hotels downtown, which<br />
blends modern design elements with rich natural materials.<br />
The hotel features two restaurants, swimming pool, and a<br />
wellness center with weight room and cardio equipment.<br />
A NOTE ABOUT TRAVEL TO IRAN<br />
Participants must be in good health and able to keep pace<br />
with an active group. They must be able to walk up to one<br />
mile a day on uneven terrain; walk and stand for periods<br />
of two hours at time; climb stairs (some without handrails)<br />
at monuments and other locations not handicapped<br />
accessible; and board a motorcoach unassisted. Any<br />
condition that may require assistance or special medical<br />
attention must be reported at the time of your reservation.<br />
Participants are advised to bring “broken-in” walking shoes,<br />
a sun hat, and comfortable attire.<br />
<strong>Iran</strong>ian people are warm and hospitable towards visitors.<br />
Certain rules of dress and conduct are strictly observed<br />
in <strong>Iran</strong> and all trip participants are expected to adhere to<br />
local laws and customs. Alcohol is forbidden at all times,<br />
and details about appropriate attire will be shared with<br />
participants prior to departure. Long drives are to be<br />
expected during this program; however, the remarkably<br />
varied landscapes of <strong>Iran</strong> will offer a scenic panorama<br />
along the way. Review the U.S. State Department’s Travel<br />
Advisory for <strong>Iran</strong> at travel.state.gov.
Ceiling Dome at the Kahn Madrasa, Shiraz<br />
ARRANGEMENTS ABROAD<br />
IRAN: ARCHITECTURE, GARDENS & DESIGN n SEPTEMBER 12–22, 2019<br />
RESERVATION FORM<br />
To reserve a place, please call Arrangements Abroad at phone: 212-514-8921 or 800-221-1944, fax: 212-344-7493; or complete and return this form with your<br />
deposit of $1,000 per person (of which $500 is non-refundable for administrative fees) payable to Arrangements Abroad. Mail to: Arrangements Abroad, 1040<br />
Avenue of the Americas, 23rd floor, New York, NY 10018-3721.<br />
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On the front cover: Masjid-i Imam, formerly known as the Shah Mosque, Isfahan<br />
Photography by Chas A. Miller III<br />
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