10 Days Wildlife Tour – Nature & Hiking

The day will start with trekking in Tehran’s northern mountains. Explore the winding paths and restaurant-lined canals of Darakeh. Surrounded by thick trees, amazing food, and wild organic fruit, Darakeh will make you slow down to smell the aromas. After lunch, go on a 3-hr hike 6 Km deep within the Alborz mountains, arriving at the Palangchal Camp, situated 2550 m AMSL. Enjoy the breathtaking views, crisp air, and fresh spring water. Upon returning to Tehran, pack your bags for a night drive to Kashan.

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 that showcase a mastery over the harsh elements. Visit an active Pottery Workshop to see Kashan’s traditional earthen handicrafts. After a quick stop in the charming Fin Garden, spend the night in Naein.

Start the day off by visiting the historic Naein Jame mosque before venturing off to see the Pirnia Traditional House and Museum. After visiting the nearby Mohamadie Castle, walk through the still-occupied yet desolate streets of Anarak & Esmaliyan Village. Head towards Chupanan village and visit the nearby desert for some birdwatching. Stop by the Ashtiyan Oasis and Farmland before visiting the sand dunes of Rig-e Jinn Desert to watch the sunset. Spend the night in a local eco-lodge.

After a traditional Iranian breakfast, explore the ancient Chupanan Village. Go out on a morning animal-discovery expedition for native birds & bovidae. Head towards the 2,000 year-old ruins of Khonj Village before finally making our way to Bayazeh Village. Visit the Bayazeh Castle, a Sassanid-era mud-brick fortress with over 700 well preserved rooms. In the afternoon, hike throughout the Bayazeh mountains, on the lookout for Jebir Gazelle and Wild Sheep. Spend the night in a Bayazeh eco-lodge.

Stop by the pre-Islamic city of Maybod to explore the Sassanid-era Narin Castle. Visit the Maybod Pigeon Tower, an important invention in message sending and fertilization. Stop by the Maybod Yakhchal, a millennia-old icehouse within the desert, and the Abbasi Caravansary. Get lost within the abandoned mud-brick Kharanaq Village, a well-preserved example of how Persian cities looked thousands of years ago, before hiking up the mountaintop Chak Chak Fire Temple. Stay in Yazd overnight.

Start off with the Yazd Jameh Mosque, built in the 13th c. over a Sassanid fire temple. Walk the narrow, mud-brick streets to visit the Amir Chakhmagh Complex, which contains a caravanserai and a historic bathhouse. 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 mysteries of sky burials. Stay in Yazd overnight.

Drive to the desert city of Varzaneh before noon, where you’ll experience the unique towering dunes of the Varzaneh Desert. Take time to explore the vast landscape. For those that want a more local feel, you can opt for a camelback ride, which would take deep within the sands. After that, it’s off to the prismatically mesmerizing Varzaneh Salt Lake. Visit the Water Temple of Hassanabad to see how ancient people maintained their sacred resources. Drive overnight to Isfahan.

Start the morning with the elaborate Sofeh Mountain Park for a morning hike towards the peak. Enjoy the views of the city with a cup of tea and a light snack. After coming down, visit the 16th c. Naqsh-e Jahan Square, the seat of Iran’s Safavid dynasty. One of its biggest features is the Qeysarie Bazaar, a local hub filled with handicrafts & spices. Visit the Sheykh Lotfollah Mosque, Shah Mosque Ali Qapu Palace. At night, walk along the Zayandeh Rud river and visit the famed Khaju Bridge & Si-o-Se Pol Bridge.

On the last day, drive towards the vibrantly red Abyaneh village, one of the oldest villages in Iran. Nestled within inaccessible mountain folds, its residents still speak Middle Persian, the language of 5th c. Sassanid Persia. Afterwards, drive to Tehran for IKIA.