The Perfect Road Trip through Iran in 7 Days

Duration

7 Days 6 Nights

Tour Type

Cultural Tours, Ecotourism, Open Jaw, Special Interest

Start Point

Bazargan Border

End Point

Bajgiran Border

Overview

Road Trip in the Middle East has lately inspired classic car drivers and motorcyclists! The usual path is arriving in Iran from Turkey, Azerbaijan or Armenia border and driving out from Bajgiran (Iran-Turkmenistan border). Since most of the Convoy passing through North Iran has a limit of time, we’ve written the main itinerary in only 7 days! You can add days to visit more of Iran and have extra excursions to other cities.

HIGHLIGHTS

Well-designed itinerary with standard driving hours, the great choice to drive from Turkey to Turkmenistan.
Visiting famous sightseeing and attractions on road.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arriving at Iran border with Turkey/Armenia or Azerbaijan

Arriving at the Bazargan border and keep driving to Tabriz. It takes about 3.5 hours from Bazargan to Tabriz by car. Based on the time you can visit St. Stephanos Monastery and Aras River, it will take about 2 hours. St. Stephanos Monastery is one of the three Monastery ensembles listed in UNESCO world heritage, and beside the beautiful area and architecture, it’s an important gathering spot for Christian-Iranians and has played a key role in Christians lives in an Islamic country.
If you don’t have much time to drive to Jolfa, you can visit Dzor Dzor Monastery and Karah Kelisa (Monastery of Saint Thaddeus), which are the other two parts of Monastery Ensembles of UNESCO. Chapel of Dzordzor with a cross-building plan and Karah Kelisa is famous for its distinctive conical-shaped roofs.

Keep driving toward Tabriz, Overnight in Tabriz.

Day 2: Tabriz City Sightseeing and visiting Kandovan

Early in the morning visiting Tabriz Grand Bazaar, the greatest integrated Bazaar in the world. In the great Bazaar of Tabriz, you can see the popular hand-made carpets and witness the traditional business by local sellers.
Afterward driving to the south to Kandovan village. It’s a hand cliff dwelling village, one of the first human habitation spots in Iran. And then drive toward Maragheh. Overnight in Maragheh (3 hours takes from Tabriz to Takab with a stop in Kandovan).

Day 3: From Sassani remaining by the lake to the Mongol King Mausoleum

In the morning we visit the archeological remaining of the Sassani empire and the beautiful lake at Takhte Soleiman. Then drive toward Zanjan (6 hrs drive), visiting the Mausoleum of Uljaitu, the Ilkhanid King at Soltaniyeh. Overnight in Zanjan

Drive to Tehran (4 hours’ drive) after a short rest, have a City tour of Tehran, visiting the Tabiat Bridge (the largest pedestrian bridge in the Middle East), and Milad Tower. Overnight in Tehran

Day 5: Chalus Road connects you to the Caspian Sea!

Driving from Tehran through Chalus road to Sari (4.5 hrs ) enjoying the seaside view and walking in beach side of Babolsar, enjoy resting at the small Tea shops on way, and taste the delicious Akbar Jujeh (Chicken Kebab)! Overnight in Sari

Drive to Gonbad Kavus, visiting Abas Abad Lake on way close to Behshahr. Then you can either chose the Bandar Torkaman way, visiting the Port and Torkaman traditional Bazaar Or drive through Gorgan visit the Alangdareh Park in Hyrcanian forests or the Waterfall of Ali Abad Katul. (Both takes 3- 3.5 hours)
Overnight in Gonbad Kavus

Day 7: Last day drive in Iran, arriving at Bajgiran

From Gonbad Kavus to Bajgiran takes 5.5 hours drive. Visiting Qabus Tower (Gonbade Qabus), which is a cylindrical tomb Ziyarid king and is architecturally a masterpiece! Then you will pass through the Golestan National park and enjoy the road trip. After 3 hours’ drive, you will arrive in Bojnurd. There you can have some rest, overnight or keep driving to Bajgiran.