6. Yummy Trip

Iranian food is one delicious surprise after another. Once you’ve tried several varieties of kabab, khoresht (stew), ash (soup), and flatbread, ask for Fesenjun (chicken in walnut and pomegranate sauce) or anything with Bademjan (eggplant), or try Gilan cuisine with its predominantly sour flavors, this city is the only registered UNESCO creative city of food under the name of Iran. Then you can try the Shirini (local sweets), … As exquisite as so many Iranian flavors are, it’s the buzz that surrounds eating, the primacy of food in so many social encounters that makes it truly one of life’s great pleasures.

7. Esfahan, city of the blue-tiled dome

There are moments in travel that will long stay with you, and your first Sight of Esfahan’s majestic Naqsh-e Jahan (Imam) Square is one of them. This Square is home to arguably the most majestic collection of buildings in the Islamic World: the perfectly proportioned blue-tiled dome of the Masjed-e Shah, the supremely elegant Masjed-e Sheikh Lotfollah, and the indulgent and lavishly decorated Ali Qapu Palace. Far from being a static architectural attraction, the square and the nearby traditional tea houses overlooking the river throng with life. The Qeysarieh bazaar which is surrounded by the square won’t let you feel the time passing!

8. Imam Reza Holy shrine

Iran is an Islamic Republic country and while most travelers find Islam is not nearly as all-pervasive as they had expected, the Shiite faith remains an important part of Iranian life. It is at its most obvious in the passionate devotion seen at monuments such as the huge Haram-e Razavi in Mashhad. The main draw here is the Holy Shrine of Imam Reza, the only Shiite imam buried in Iran. The passion and warmth you’ll encounter here lend a powerful sense of Islam as a force for good in the world. The city of Mashad is one of the important stops along the Silk Road.

9. Persian carpets

The Persian carpet is best known and appreciated among all hand-knotted carpets over the world. In the East, the carpet has particularly dated back to the 5^th or 6^th centuries; later the knotted carpet has been introduced in Persia by the Seljuks in the 11^th century. The oldest carpet we received is known as Pazyryk Carpet, from approximately 500 BC. The art of Persian rug reached the highest peaks during the Safavid dynasty or the beginning of the 17^th century. We classify the Persian carpets according to the knotting time: ancient, old, new, and modern Persian carpets; they usually take the name from the city or knotting area so we can divide them out of the areas of origin.

10. Persepolis

The artistic harmony of the monumental staircases, imposing gateways, and exquisite reliefs leaves you in little doubt that in its prime, Persepolis was at the center of the known world. These days it’s Iran’s premier ancient city. Built by kings Darius and Xerxes as the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire, located not far from the great city of Shiraz, is one of the attractions you need to add to your tour like it or not J. And do not miss the monolithic tomb that sat nearby Necropolis or Naqsh-e Rostam.

To be continued…

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1. Friendly People

The first impression after entering the country is “Do they know me?!”

In any competition for the title of the world’s friendliest people, Iranians would be definite finalists.

It’s the people that leave the most lasting impressions from any journey to Iran, their warmth and their hospitality, their willingness to set aside enmities between countries and welcome you with open arms and doors.

Whoever you meet, you will regularly bask what you think of Iran, told ‘You are our guest’ and brought tea, local sweets, and even food. Meeting Iranians is, quite simply, the best experience in Iran. 

 2. Desert

Three different types of deserts including various attractions have made Iran a popular destination for desert lovers. The welcome is rarely warmer than in the vast, empty silence of Iran’s two great deserts. Garmeh is the oasis village of your dreams, with a crumbling castle, swaying date palms, and the sound of spring water. It’s the sort of place you come for one night and stay more. Nearby Farahzad and tiny Toudeshk Cho, between Esfahan and Na’in, also offer memorable desert-style family homestays; think beds on the floor, basic bathrooms, fresh, delicious home-cooked food, and endless horizons just outside your door.

3. Not only sand dunes

In addition to big desert areas in the land of Persia, mountain chains of North and West are the big reasons for a completely different nature in the western and northern parts. Mount. Alborz is located in the north of Iran and Zagros in the west.

You can enjoy unique nature such as mountain parks, Nomadic life, mountain villages, 100 years old jungles, and much more attractions.

4. Nomads of the Zagros

About two million Iranians from several different ethnic groups still live a nomadic existence, traveling with their goats in spring and autumn in search of pasture. Qashqa’i and Bakhtiyari nomads spend the summer months in the Zagros Mountains, before heading down to the coast for the winter. You can get a taste of nomad life on a day trip from Shiraz to Sepidan or Khan Zenyan.

5. Skiing

Think Iran and skiing is hardly the first thing that springs to mind. But Iran has more than 20 ski fields and most of the action is conveniently concentrated around Tehran. The Dizin and Shemshak resorts are the pick, with steep downhills and plenty of untracked Powder to keep skiers of all levels interested. Chalets and ski passes are inexpensive compared with Western countries and the slopes are relatively liberal, beloved as they are by Tehran’s upper-middle class. Pooladkaf ski resort is another one located in the south of the country.

To be continued…

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