Tehran Inn
Hotel
Day 1
Iran — 9 days (Tehran, Isfahan, Naqsh-e Jahan, Yazd & Persepolis)
Nine days down the classical route, with a night train. Nine days with a licensed guide throughout, the night train booked and courtyard hotels in Isfahan and Yazd.
Meridian Overland
Runs this trip
Walking / cultural tour
Nine days down the classical route, with a night train
Group Tour
Join a fixed-date departure with other travellers
Top Highlights
Golestan PalaceNine days down the classical route. National MuseumIranian sleepers are clean, punctual and cheap, and the four-berth compartments are sold by gender. Naqsh-e JahanBuilt as one composition in the seventeenth century, and the Sheikh Lotfollah dome is the finest tilework in the country by common… Wind towersYazd is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities on earth and is cooled by badgirs — wind towers that predate air conditioning by… AtashkadehThe flame in the fire temple is said to have burned continuously since the fifth century. ApadanaThe Apadana staircase reliefs show delegations from twenty-three subject nations bringing tribute, each carved in its own dress.
Itinerary
Nine days down the classical route. The first briefing is about money, because no foreign card works anywhere in the country.
TehranHow the day runs
- 1 hrsTransfer into the city
- MealsDinner
- AccommodationTehran Inn
Included Activities
- Airport transfer
- Hotel night
- Cash briefing
LANDMARKS Golestan Palace National Museum Grand Bazaar Start point Tehran, Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKA), Tehran 00:00 - 23:59Iranian sleepers are clean, punctual and cheap, and the four-berth compartments are sold by gender.
Tehran, IsfahanHow the day runs
- 9:00 AM — Golestan and the National Museum
- 7 hrs8:00 PM — the overnight train to Isfahan
- MealsBreakfast
- AccommodationIsfahan Courtyard
Included Activities
- Entries
- Four-berth sleeper compartment
LANDMARKS Golestan Palace National Museum Iranian railways Built as one composition in the seventeenth century, and the Sheikh Lotfollah dome is the finest tilework in the country by common agreement.
Isfahan, Naqsh-e JahanHow the day runs
- 9:00 AM — the Shah and Sheikh Lotfollah mosques
- 4:00 PM — the Ali Qapu terrace and the bazaar arcades
- MealsBreakfast, Dinner
- AccommodationIsfahan Courtyard
Included Activities
- All square entries
- Hotel night
LANDMARKS Naqsh-e Jahan Shah Mosque Sheikh Lotfollah Ali Qapu Shah Abbas moved an entire Armenian town here in 1606; the cathedral is the result. People still gather to sing under the Khaju arches.
IsfahanHow the day runs
- 9:00 AM — Vank Cathedral in New Julfa
- 3 hrs5:00 PM — Si-o-se-pol and Khaju at dusk
- MealsBreakfast
- AccommodationIsfahan Courtyard
Included Activities
- Cathedral entry
- Hotel night
LANDMARKS Vank Cathedral Si-o-se-pol Khaju Bridge New Julfa Yazd is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities on earth and is cooled by badgirs — wind towers that predate air conditioning by a thousand years.
Isfahan, YazdHow the day runs
- 5 hrs8:00 AM — south-east across the desert
- 2 hrs4:00 PM — the old town and the wind towers
- MealsBreakfast, Dinner
- AccommodationYazd Lodge
Included Activities
- Transport
- Traditional courtyard hotel
LANDMARKS Wind towers Jameh Mosque Old city The flame in the fire temple is said to have burned continuously since the fifth century. The Towers of Silence outside town were in use until the 1960s.
YazdHow the day runs
- 9:00 AM — the Atashkadeh and the Towers of Silence
- 4:00 PM — the Amir Chakhmaq and the bazaar
- MealsBreakfast
- AccommodationYazd Lodge
Included Activities
- All entries
- Hotel night
LANDMARKS Atashkadeh Towers of Silence Amir Chakhmaq The Apadana staircase reliefs show delegations from twenty-three subject nations bringing tribute, each carved in its own dress.
Yazd, Persepolis, ShirazHow the day runs
- 5 hrs7:00 AM — south-west to the terrace
- 1 hrs3:00 PM — on to Shiraz
- MealsBreakfast, Dinner
- AccommodationShiraz Courtyard
Included Activities
- Persepolis and Naqsh-e Rustam entries
- Hotel night in Shiraz
LANDMARKS Apadana Gate of All Nations Naqsh-e Rustam Go to the pink mosque before nine — the stained glass only throws colour across the floor for about an hour after opening.
ShirazHow the day runs
- 8:00 AM — Nasir al-Mulk at opening, then Eram garden
- 5:00 PM — the tombs of Hafez and Saadi
- MealsBreakfast
- AccommodationShiraz Courtyard
Included Activities
- All entries
- Hotel night
LANDMARKS Nasir al-Mulk Eram Garden Tomb of Hafez Vakil Bazaar Most international routes connect through Tehran, Istanbul or Doha.
ShirazHow the day runs
- 2 hrsDomestic connection to Tehran
- MealsBreakfast
- AccommodationNot included — onward travel
Included Activities
- Domestic flight
- Airport transfer
- Day 1Airport transfer
- Day 1Hotel night
- Day 1Cash briefing
- Day 2Entries
- Day 2Four-berth sleeper compartment
- Day 3All square entries
- Day 4Cathedral entry
- Day 5Transport
- Day 5Traditional courtyard hotel
- Day 6All entries
- Day 7Persepolis and Naqsh-e Rustam entries
- Day 7Hotel night in Shiraz
- Day 9Domestic flight
- Day 1 · 1 nightTehran Inn
- Day 2 · 3 nightsIsfahan Courtyard
- Day 5 · 2 nightsYazd Lodge
- Day 7 · 2 nightsShiraz Courtyard
- Day 1Tehran to TehranTransfer into the city
- Day 2Tehran to Isfahan8:00 PM — the overnight train to Isfahan
- Day 5Isfahan to Yazd8:00 AM — south-east across the desert
- Day 7Yazd to Persepolis7:00 AM — south-west to the terrace
- Day 7Persepolis to Shiraz3:00 PM — on to Shiraz
- Day 9Shiraz to TehranDomestic connection to Tehran
Where you'll stay
All accommodations are subject to change
Isfahan Courtyard
Hotel
Days 2–4
Yazd Lodge
Lodge
Days 5, 6
Shiraz Courtyard
Hotel
Days 7, 8
What you'll eat
8 breakfasts and 4 dinners across 9 days, at the lodges you sleep in. It opens with dinner on day 1 and closes with breakfast on day 9.
- DinnerServed on days 1, 3, 5, 7
- BreakfastServed on days 2–9
12 meal services named in the itinerary. Vegetarian and vegan covered; Jain, gluten-free and allergies on notice at booking
You might also like
Customer reviews
Overall rating
4.4/5
Based on 82 reviews
Review summary
Food4.2/5
Guide4.2/5
Itinerary4.3/5
Transport4.2/5
Accommodation4.2/5
Tour operator4.1/5
Sort by:Recommended
5
A
Arjun Pillai – Lucknow2026-06-15 · Verified booking
Central Iran done well. The itinerary had room to breathe. Rooms were comfortable and the locations meant we could walk most evenings. Never went hungry, and the tea appeared exactly when it was needed. Would send friends their way.
Was this helpful?
5
H
Hannah Lindqvist – Singapore2026-06-15 · Verified booking
Everything was arranged properly — transfers, entries, all of it. Rooms were comfortable and the locations meant we could walk most evenings. The lead was calm and knew when to slow the group down. Recommended.
Was this helpful?
5
I
Ishita Ghosh – Lucknow2026-06-15 · Verified booking
Well paced over 9 days with enough free time to not feel herded.
Was this helpful?
5
K
Karan Shah – Indore2026-06-15 · Verified booking
Good mix of the obvious things and a few places we'd never have found. Meals were good throughout and the vegetarian options weren't an afterthought. Worth every rupee.
Was this helpful?
5
A
Arjun Pillai – Bengaluru2026-05-30 · Verified booking
Everything was arranged properly — transfers, entries, all of it. Hotels were clean and central, which saved a lot of time. Meals were good throughout and the vegetarian options weren't an afterthought. Good value for what's included.
Was this helpful?
1
A
Ananya Gupta – Delhi2026-05-30 · Verified booking
Too much time on the coach and not enough at the places we'd come for.
Reply from Meridian Overland
Glad you enjoyed it. Hope to see you on another trip.
Was this helpful?
5
I
Ishita Ghosh – Nagpur2026-05-30 · Verified booking
Good mix of the obvious things and a few places we'd never have found. Hotels were clean and central, which saved a lot of time. Guides answered every question, including the daft ones. Good value for what's included.
Was this helpful?
4
T
Tom Bergman – Amsterdam2026-05-30 · Verified booking
Good mix of the obvious things and a few places we'd never have found. Worth every rupee.
Was this helpful?
Questions people ask
One other operator runs this trip. See all 2 side by side →