An Explore holiday to Iran is full of surprises. The people of Iran are the country's biggest attraction. Everywhere you go you’ll find warm welcomes and people intrigued to find out where you have come from, and happy to show you their own country at its best. This is a hospitality culture unlike any other. On Explore's three week grand tour of Iran you will meet the people of North-West Iran, little visited by the outside world and even more friendly than their big city counterparts.
Straddling the border between East and West, Iran is home of one of the oldest civilisations in the world. Formerly known as Persia until the 1930s, it became an Islamic republic in the late 1970s following a revolution. It was this event that caused political problems with the West but in recent years relations have thawed.
What this has meant is that when you visit Iran, you find a country that has remained relatively untouched by tourism, providing travellers with an opportunity to experience a culture in its purest sense. Now, as part of an Explore group tour it is simple to travel to Iran and discover this highlight of the Middle East. Melissa Garland, Sales Consultant at Explore discusses her travels to Iran and talks about the key highlights of this intriguing destination.
The capital Tehran is an ancient city, bustling with marketplaces and cultural highlights. Stroll around ancient sites and take a tour of Persepolis and Naqah-I Rustam on the outskirts of beautiful Shiraz. Explore Isfahan, the centre of Iranian architecture and known locally as ‘half the world’. Travel to Naghsh-e Jahan Square, one of the largest squares in the world and a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, filled with world famous mosques, many of which have been standing since the days of Genghis Khan and even Alexander the Great.