with Dr. Ruth Young
April 25 – May 11, 2010
To many Westerners the word “Persia” evokes a distant land remote in time, the home of ancient monuments and striking works of art: carpets, tiles, fine ceramics, miniatures and metal work. Indeed, Iran is a world both ancient and contemporary, linking the heartland of Asia and the cradle of Western civilization, a bridge between East and West.
The prehistoric past of Iran is far older than the earliest Iranian dynasty, the Achaemenid. There is evidence of settled human habitation in Iran as long ago as the ninth millennium B.C. During the third and second millennia B.C., western Iran was ruled by the Elamite dynasties from the great capital cities of Susa and Anshan. It was the kings of the Achaemenid dynasty, founded by Cyrus the Great, who brought all of Iran under a single ruler for the first time. Following the Achaemenids, the Parthians and Sassanians ruled over the Iranian plateau until the conquest by Arabs, who brought Islam in the seventh century.
Waves of invaders throughout the country's long history – the Greeks accompanying Alexander, Arab armies, the Turkish tribes that forced their way westward from Central Asia, and finally the Mongols – all left their mark upon the people of Persia, creating a vibrant tapestry that at its core, however, is indelibly Persian. As you will find, Iran's history remains visible in the country's many intriguing and important archaeological sites, its ancient and historical monuments, and its cities, which possess some of the world's most magnificent examples of Islamic art and architecture.
Join Far Horizons for an exciting 18-day tour of Iran, with an emphasis on the archaeology, architecture, and art of this fascinating country.
(B) breakfast, (L) lunch, (D) dinner
Day 1: Depart New York’s JFK Airport on your flight to Tehran.
Day 2: Arrive in Tehran. Transfer to Laleh Hotel our home for three nights.
Day 3: After a free morning, meet for lunch followed by an excursion to Dr. Ruth Young's, archaeological project, the Landlord Villages of the Tehran Plain where will have a private tour and exploration of one of the villages. Time pemitting, we will also visit a Sassanian Hunting Lodge. Enjoy a welcome dinner this evening. (B/L/D)
Day 4: Meet after breakfast to begin our sightseeing with a visit to the National Museum, or the Museum of Ancient Iran, the country’s archaeological museum. After lunch we will view the collection at the Abguineh Glass and Ceramics Museum, impressive not only for its exhibits but for the building itself, which was built as a private residence for a prominent Persian family and later housed the Egyptian Embassy. Gather this evening for our welcome dinner party. (B/L/D)
Day 5: Today's drive takes us to Hamadan, a major stop on the ancient royal road to Baghdad. View the Alavyan Tomb Tower, a twelfth-century structure regarded as the finest example of Seljuq art in Iran. Explore the remains of the ancient city of Ecbatana and see the latest excavations at Tappé-yé-Mosalla and Tappé-é-Hekmatané. Visit the Tomb of Esther and Mordechai of Biblical fame as well as the Tomb of Avicenna or Ibn Sina, a world-renowned astronomer and physician of the tenth century. Overnight in the Hotel Buali in Hamadan for two nights. (B/L/D)
Day 6: This morning, we travel to Ganjnamé, where the area's oldest Achaemenid rock carving is located. Engraved on two stone panels, the inscriptions record the achievements of Darius I and his son Xerxes and the extent of their empires. Drive 30 miles south of the city to Nush-é Jan to see the remains of a Median fire temple built 28 centuries ago. Time permitting, stop at the purported tomb of the Biblical prophet Habakkuk. (B/L/D)
Day 7: An early departure to Kermanshah takes us, en route, to the ruins of the 2000-year-old Parthian city of Kangavar, where the remains of a temple dedicated to Anahita, the water goddess, are to be found. We then view the incredible Achaemenid bas-reliefs at Bisotun, or Behistan, one of the most famous Near Eastern archaeological sites. The trilingual inscriptions found here, carved in 522 B.C. in Old Persian, Elamite, and Akkadian, served as the key to the decipherment of the cuneiform script in the mid-nineteenth century. The relief above the inscription shows Darius the Great facing nine rebel kings — the rulers suppressed by Darius when he came to power. Ahuramazda floats above them in a feathered winged disk that advertises his celestial character. Then on to the sensational site the Sassanian kings chose for their rock reliefs at Tagh-é Bostan, where a sacred spring emerges from a mountain cliff and empties into a large reflecting pool. Here, in what was once a royal hunting park, see spectacular carvings, including a gigantic equestrian statue of King Khosrow II mounted on his favorite charger, Shabdiz. Both horse and rider are arrayed in full battle armor. Two cosmic celestial gods—Ahuramazda and Mithra—also are portrayed at this site. Mithra is haloed with the rays of the sun as we see him depicted at Nemrut Dag in southeastern Turkey. He offers a bundle of sacred twigs to King
Ardashir II as part of the rites of royal investiture. Overnight in the Azadegan Hotel in Kermanshah. (B/L/D)
Day 8: Today’s all-day journey takes us to Ahvaz, the base from which we visit the glorious ziggurat of Chogha Zambil as well as the ancient city of Shush. En route to Ahvaz we visit the rock-cut Achaemenid tomb at Dokan-e-Davoud. We enjoy a picnic lunch and in the later afternoon view the remains of Pol-é-Dokhtar, a Sassanian bridge which crosses the river Kashkak. Overnight in the Fajr Hotel for two nights. (B/L/D)
Day 9: Begin with a visit to Haft Tappé, built 4,000 years ago and believed to be the oldest Elamite temple ever discovered in Iran. Here, view the elaborate vaulted graves of the Elamite royalty. Continue to Shush (Shushan, the setting of the Biblical Book of Esther), or Susa. Dating back to before 6000 BC, it is one of the great cities of ancient Iran. It was an important Elamite center from the middle of the third millennium BC until it was destroyed by the Assyrians in the seventh century B.C. Darius I made it his winter capital. Explore the Royal Town, once the royal residence of the Achaemenid court officials, and the Apadana, the location of the imperial palaces. Also visit the Tomb of Daniel, built for a Jewish prophet and still a place of pilgrimage. In the afternoon at Chogha Zanbil see the largest man-made structure in Iran, the well-preserved Elamite ziggurat. This is one of the few remaining examples of ziggurats in the Middle East. We consider the distinctive construction techniques and the elaborate glass-based materials that were used for this great structure. See several of the small temples surrounding the ziggurat in which rich temple offerings were found by the excavators. Finally , drive to the ancient fortress city of Shustar to see the watermills dating from the Sassanian period. (B/L/D)
Day 10: Today’s long drive to Shiraz takes us through the oil-rich province of Khuzestan and the tribal areas of Mamasani and Boyer-Ahmadi and into the upland Province of Fars. En route, visit the glorious Elamite rock relief at Kurangun where, with a small amount of climbing, you can not only admire the detail of the relief but also enjoy the vista provided of the valley below. Explore the remains of the city of King Shapur I, and six important rock carvings at Tang-é Chogan, located near Bishapur. The temple at Shapur’s palace has been identified by one investigator as sacred to Mithra, the god associated with cosmic light. Time permitting, we will visit the Sassanian rock carving at Sarab-é Bahram. Overnight at the Homa Hotel in Shiraz for three nights. (B/L/D)
Day 11: An early morning drive takes us to Achaemenid sites north of Shiraz. At Nagsh-é Rostam, we gaze upon the immense memorial carved for King Ardashir after conquering the Parthian lands so that his name and victory should never be forgotten. The frieze still remains fresh, glowing in the sunlight and three times larger than life, on the great vertical bluff of tawny rock. While here, we also view the four elaborate tombs hewn out of the cliff belonging to the great Achaemenid rulers Darius I, Artaxerxes, Xerxes I, and Darius II. Just below these tombs are eight monumental reliefs from later in the Sassanian dynasty. They depict imperial conquests and royal investitures. On one of them, the Roman Emperor Valerian is shown kneeling in respect before the renowned Persian king, Shapur. Then on to Pasargadae where we see the impressive six-tiered Tomb of Cyrus, Qabr-é Madar-é Solieman, and walk through the different sections of the ancient city: the Residential Palace, the Audience Hall, the gatehouse, Zendan-é Soleiman, and Takht-é Madar-é Soleiman. Drive a short distance to view the fire plinths behind Pasargadae. (B/L/D)
Day 12: An early start takes us to Persepolis (Takht-é Jamshid), the heart of the Persian Empire. Here, we see a complex of palaces and temples that is said to be the most beautiful in the world. Massive winged bulls, derived from Assyria but given a characteristic Persian stateliness, greet us at the head of the stairway wide enough for five horses to ride abreast. The stairway leads up to the gigantic platform on which the entire site is built. In the Apadana, the palace of King Darius, walk up another imposing staircase to see the hundreds of figures carved in low relief exactly as Darius and Xerxes saw them. They look so fresh they might have been carved yesterday. The small museum at Persepolis has been created from the ruins of a building that is called the harem of Xerxes I. Nearby, visit Nagsh-é Rajab, where magnificent Sassanian reliefs are hidden inside a rocky recess. Late this afternoon, spend some time in the famous Shiraz bazaar. (B/L/D)
Day 13: Today’s visit takes us to important sites in Shiraz, the City of Roses and Nightingales. Visit the Eram Garden, with its beautiful cypress-lined avenues leading to an elegant summer palace. Continue to the pink-tiled nineteenth-century Masjed-é Nasir-ol-Molk Mosque and the Narenjestan Gardens, with their richly decorated pavilion featuring a mirrored porch set among graceful trees. This afternoon visit the tomb of Hafez, Iran's greatest lyric poet. Time permitting, visit the tomb of Sa’di, a poet and one of the greatest figures in classical Persian literature, en route to the airport for our flight to Isfahan. The mother of the last Safavid ruler built a madrassah, or Islamic school, and caravanserai, or inn for caravans, both of which have been restored and are now the luxurious Abbasi Hotel, a masterpiece of Iranian art and architecture, and our home for three nights. (B/L/D)
Day 14: The Persians say that their beautiful city of Isfahan is “half the world.” The 17th-century capital of the Safavids, Isfahan is said to have the most beautiful bridges in the world and we will view two of them. Today we visit a myriad of sites including one of the world's biggest squares, Naghsh-é Jahan, created in the seventeenth century to be the center of the city. The huge, open plaza is framed by a wall of arches and surrounded by two of the Islamic world's greatest mosques, the seventeenth-century Masjed-é Sheikh Lotfollah and the Masjed-é Emam, or Shah, one of the most stunning buildings in Iran. Both houses of worship contain magnificent architecture and tile-work. Walk through the Ali Ghapu Palace with its enchanting music room and balcony overlooking the Maidan where the Safavid kings sat to watch polo tournaments. And finish our tour in the Qeisarieh Bazaar, also located on the Maidan, where hundreds of shops offer a rich variety of carpets, tiles, and miniature paintings. (B/L/D)
Day 15: Today's further exploration of Isfahan takes us to the magnificent Friday Mosque with its famous Uljaitu Mihrab of the Il-Khanid Period, to the Armenian Quarter to visit Vank Cathedral, built in the imperial style, and to the Zoroastrian Fire Temple of Ateshkadé-yé Isfahan. We shall also visit Chehel Sotun Palace, constructed as a pleasure pavilion and audience hall by Shah Abbas I. (B/L/D)
Day 15: The morning is free for last-minute shopping in the Bazaar or further sightseeing. This afternoon we drive back to Tehran stopping to sightsee along the way if time permits. Overnight in the Hotel Laleh. (B/L/D)
Day 17: Today explore the capital city of Tehran. Begin in the Golestan Palace, part of a complex of royal buildings that were once enclosed within the mud-thatched walls of Tehran’s historic arg, or citadel. The oldest of the historical monuments in Tehran, it dates back to the Qajar Dynasty. Then walk through the Sa’ad Abad, or Shah’s Palace, the summer residence of Reza Shah. (B/L/D)
Day 18: Transfer to the airport for our early morning flight back to the United States.
Ruth Young received her PhD from the University of Bradford and is currently a Lecturer in Archaeology in the School of Archaeology & Ancient History at the University of Leicester. She is a published author in several books, magazines, and other journals, and is finalizing “The Archaeology of South Asia: from the Indus to Asoka.” Dr. Young has done archaeological work in Nepal and Sri Lanka, and is the director of projects in both Pakistan and Iran. She is a member of the British Institute of Persian Studies. Her enthusiasm for Iran and her love of teaching makes traveling with her a memorable experience.
April 24 – May 11, 2010
$9,995.00 (per person, double occupancy) includes roundtrip international airfare from New York to Tehran, all hotels, most meals (as noted), land and air transportation within Iran.
Cost Does Not Include: Separate check written to the University of Pennsylvania; airport transfers for flights other than designated group flights; meals other than those listed in the itinerary; food, and beverages not on set menus; passport and visa fees; airport fees and taxes; excess baggage charges; gratuities to guides and drivers; email, telephone, and fax charges; laundry; or other items of a personal nature.
Single Supplement: $995.00. Should a roommate be requested and one not be available, the single supplement must be charged.
Fuel Surcharges: Far Horizons must pass on price increases when additional fuel charges are levied.
Donation Checks: The cost of the trip does not include the separate check for $150.00 (per person) to the University of Pennsylvania (with the following in the subject line: History of Art/Jiroft archaeological project). As a tour company that benefits from the historical, cultural and natural riches of our destinations, we have a policy of donating to scholars, archaeological and cultural projects and museums in each of our destinations. This has created a bond with the academic community that allows you to gain an ‘insider’s view' of work being done in each country.
A deposit of $500.00 to Far Horizons and a non-refundable, separate check for $150.00 written to the University of Pennsylvania is required upon making your reservation, along with a completed and signed registration form. Final payment is due 75 days prior to departure. Upon receipt of your deposit and completed registration form, you will be sent a reading list and a tour bulletin containing travel information. Prior to the trip, we will send links to various websites of pertinent interest to the trip. Click here to download our Registration Form.
Cancellations received in writing at least 75 days before departure will receive a refund less a $250.00 per person administrative fee. Cancellations received less than 75 days before the departure date will not receive a refund. If for any reason you are unable to complete the trip, Far Horizons will not reimburse any fees. Registrants are strongly advised to buy travel insurance that includes trip cancellation.
If you do not fly on the group flight, you are responsible for all flight arrangements and transportation (including airport transfers) to join the group. If Far Horizons must change the trip dates or cancel the trip for any reason, Far Horizons is not responsible for any air ticket you may have purchased.
The private tours of archaeological sites and talks by specialists are scheduled in advance and include a donation to each. Specialists working at these sites are excited about showing their work to interested enthusiasts. However, please be aware that there may be times when the director or a member of the staff may not be on-site when our groups arrive due to other commitments.
Travel in IranPlease bear in mind that though Iran receives more and more tourists every year, their tourist infrastructure, particularly their hotels, have not been well-maintained and do not meet Western standards. The food offered in restaurants though good and plentiful is not always diverse. However, in spite of some inconveniences, travel in Iran is an extremely rewarding experience.
Changes in our itinerary, accommodations, and transportation schedules may occur. A good book to read as well as a flexible attitude and a sense of humor are essential.
Limited to 17 Participants
