Follow the Nomad Trail | Iran Tribal Tour | Pyala Travel - Travel Program
Travel into the footsteps of Bakhtiari and Ghasga'i nomads in the Zagors mountains of Iran. You travel from Shiraz to Isfahan and will discover the other side of Iran. Ask our local Pyala travel specialist for a free offer.
Iran The Nomad Trail
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Shiraz - Isfahan - tour along nomads
This is a beautiful and varied Iran tour, visiting the two most famous cities Shiraz and Isfahan, combined with a journey through the mountains You will see nomads, beautiful scenery and can take mountain walks. Of course you visit Persepolis as well.
from 1575,-
12 days
Tabs
Day 1 arrival Shiraz
You arrive at the airport of Shiraz and will be met by our local representative who will take you to your hotel.Shiraz is the city of poets, poetry (and once of wine) and one of the nicest cities in Iran to visit. Centrally located in the town is the Arg (citadel) from the 18th century at the time of the Sassanian dynasty. It now is a museum and has a nice 'hammam' under one of the towers. The citadel is located on the Sand Boulevard near the Pars Museum and the bustling Vakil bazaar. Enter one of the entrance gates and get lost in the labyrinth of alleys and streets. See copper smiths working on their platters, carpet sellers lazily waiting for a customer, Ghasga'I women in their colorful skirts in search of rags, old men who meet in the tea house and, already sucking the hookah, discussing everyday life.
This city is most famous for its poets and gardens. The most famous poets are Saadi and Hafiz. Hafiz' grave is in a small, quiet park. In the rear is a traditional tea house where you can enjoy sitting on cushions and drink sweet black tea or smoke a water pipe. In the evening the tomb is nicely lit.
Day 2 Shiraz
Visit (preferably in the early morning) the Nasir–ol-Molk mosque where the morning sun shining through the stained glass windows creates a fantastic, colorful panorama on the floor of the main hall. Close to the mosque there is the Narenjestan Garden. This is a 19th-century garden that belonged to a wealthy family in the Qajar period. In the famous tomb of the King of the Lamp, Shah-e-Cheragh, lie the remains of Sayyed Mir Ahmad, son of the seventh Imam (Imam Mussa). Woman are required to wear a chador here, which you can borrow at the entrance. The mausoleum has become an important pilgrimage site. You can see families pray, talk, and eat, and you can sit inside and experience it among them. Non-Muslims are sometimes admitted to the main shrine.
Day 3 Shiraz / EXCURSION PERSEPOLIS, NAQHS e Rostam AND Pasargadae
Today you will visit various sights of the ancient Acheamenid Persian Empire. One hour outside of Shiraz is Persepolis located; the remains of the palace city at the foot of the Mount of Mercy. During the annual New Year festival ( Nowruz, on March 21), the representatives of the people of Persia, gave their tribute to the shahs here. Especially the reliefs in this palace complex are well preserved. Specifically, the 'stairway of Nations "where you can see images of all the living nations in the Persian Empire who brought their tribute to the Persian king. Darius the First let built a terrace here, from which you have a magnificent view over the entire complex. Not far from Persepolis are four royal tombs that have been carved into the 65 meters high mountain, including those of Darius the Great and Xerxes I. Among the tombs are some impressive reliefs from the Sassanid period.Also you can visit the tomb of Cyrus the Great in Pasargadae.
DAY 4 SHIRAZ / EXCURSION Firuzabad, Bishapur AND KAZERUN
Today you are looking for the remains of the Sassanid Empire. At Firuzabad you will find the Palace of Ardashir, the founder of the kingdom of Sasanian (3rd century BC). You will also find the fortress Qal-e Dokhtar here. Another important Sassanid city can be found at Bishapur, an extensive complex of excavations. At Kazerun are some bas-reliefs from the period of the Sassanian.Additionally, this is also the region where the Qhasga'i nomads trek. Your first encounter with these nomads.
Note: this is a very long day. your can also choose to make a choice between visit Firuazabad and surroundings or visit Bishapur and Kazerun.
DAY 5 SHIRAZ - YASUJ VIA QHASGA'I NOMADS
From Shiraz you begin your journey through the Zagros Mountains.Depending on the time of year, you head towards Firuzabad or Sepidan to seek the Qhasga'i nomads who have pitched their tents here. The Qhasga'i families all live quite spread apart, and you will never see more than 2-4 tents together. Some families still live in the traditional black tents of goat hair, but more and more families opt for more modern canvas tents. Once invited into a tent, you will quickly be a part of the daily life of the nomads; sheep and goat herding, milking, and sometimes shave or slaughter. They will make dough (a yogurt drink) the traditional way (by shaking vigorously by a bag of sheep skin, or a milk can). There will be cooked in a simple way, perhaps a carpet or klim will be made, and of course, endlessly drink tea. Most nomads are extremely hospitable and warmly welcome you in their tent.
Through a wonderful trip you drive through the mountains. You can specify where and if you want to stop occasionally to visit more nomads, or just to stretch your legs. At the end of the day you arrive in the city of Yasuj, not a special city, but the only city in the surrounding area with few hotels.
Day 6 YASUJ / HIKING MT. DENA Conservation Area
Not far from Yasuj is the Mt. Dena Conservation Area. This is a beautiful area, around Mt. Dena, with its 4409 meters which is one of the highest mountains of Iran and popular by climbers. You will drive to Sisakht, a small town on the edge of the mountains and from here you drive into the park. Once you arrive at a mountain stream with a spring, you can stretch your legs. Here you can have some beautiful walks and in the summer you will also find tents of Qhasga’I who let their herds graze here.There are some restaurants where you can eat, for example freshly caught fish.
Day 7 YASUJ - KHOORANG
You leave Yasuj and through a scenic route (especially when it’s spring) ,you drive towards Semirom. Here you will find many Qhasga'i nomads. Then you will arrive at the lake of Chogsakor. Here you will find the first Bakhtiari. Especially in the spring, it is a beautiful sight; an ideal place for a picnic. The Bakhtiari often live together with more families. The men are recognizable by their clothes with black and white stripes. Many Bakhtiari still walk over land the traditional way, on foot with their herds, between winter and summer stays.After Chogsakor the landscape is even more beautiful and you will drive slowly in the Khoorang region. Here you will not only find an Iranian ski resort at the town Chelgerd, but most importantly the area where most Bakhtiari pitch their tents in summer. A beautiful alpine area to take walks.
You will sleep in a tent camp (simple, but beautiful views), but can also choose to sleep in a hotel in Chelgerd.
Day 8 Khoorang
You will have a whole day in this area. You can make a nice trip to a glacier. Along the way you will encounter many Bakhtiari nomads. You can climb to the glacier (but hard climb and a very steep descent), but you can also go hiking in the valleys. Rather horse riding? That is also one of the possibilities!
Day 9 Khoorang - Isfahan via Shahr-e Kord
Through Shahr-e Kord, the capital of Chahar Mahal-e Bakhtiari (the most scenic province of Iran),you will travel to Isfahan. It is definitely worth to make a stop in Shahr-e Kord to drive to the Ferdowsi tea house, one of the oldest tea houses in Iran. From Shahr-e Kord it is still an hour drive to Isfahan, the most beautiful city in the county and the wonderful ending to this amazing journey. This beautiful city is the culmination of the Persian culture, with its many mosques, palaces, gardens, madrasa and bazaars. You will have at least enough time to see everything, to strike up a conversation with a curious 'local' and looking for some souvenirs at the bazaar. Maybe you will take a Persian carpet home.
Day 10 Isfahan
In the center of the city is the 160 x 500 m Naqsh-e Jahan Square, also known as Imam Square. On either side are the Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque, the six-story Ali Qapo Palace and the Imam Mosque (Masjed-e-Emam). This last mosque you should visit at sunrise and sunset. You will be amazed how different it looks every time.If you are looking for a moment of tranquillity you will find it in a tea house near the bazaar. Here you can take a break from the sometimes overwhelming sites of the square, and regroup before exploring the bazaar. The immense bazaar is divided into sections, each offering their own products. Rugs, antiques, gold jewelry, clothing, pots and pans, books, water pipes, everything is sold here.
Note: The program is composed so that you make an excursion toady, with your car driver. you can explore the city on your own in the remaining time.
Day 11 Isfahan
There is still much more to do in this wonderful city. Do not forget to visit the Jame Mosque, the Christian and Armenian quarter of Jolfa, the impressive Golestan-e-Shohada Cemetary where the victims of the Iran-Iraq war are buried, and the “moving” minarets of Menar Jomban.One of the nicest neighborhoods to go in the evening is Jolfa, the Armenian quarter. Around the Vank cathedral you will find many nice restaurants and cozy coffee tents. Many students walk here around at night.
Day 12 depart Isfahan
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Hi, I am Maryam Osanloo, your local travel agent.
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Hi, I am Maryam Osanloo, your local travel agent.
Discover iran with me!
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