B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B

Splendors of Persiawith Sheila R. Canby, Patti Cadby Birch Curator in Charge,Department of Islamic Art

Travel withThe Met B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B

October 6–22, 2018

— Discover World Heritage Sites including the less-visited archaeological complex of Takht-i-Sulayman

— See Tehran’s outstanding museums, palaces, and the legendary Peacock Throne

— Admire Isfahan’s splendidly tiled mosques, elegant palaces, and the Maidan-e-Naghsh-e-Jahan, one of the grandsquares of the world

— Experience Shiraz, city of the great poets Hafez and Sa’di

— Visit Persepolis, former ceremonial capital of the Persian Empire, during a full-day excursion

Trip Highlights

ADVANCE

INFORMATION

Shah Mosque, Isfahan

Saturday, October 6 Departure / Istanbul, TurkeyDepart on an early morning flight to Istanbul. Arrive in the late afternoon and connect to the late night flight to Tabriz.

Sunday, October 7 Tabriz, IranFollowing an early morning arrival in Tabriz, transfer to the El-Goli Pars Hotel. After lunch, drive south to the troglodyte village of Kandovan, where rock houses were created in a landscape similar to that of Cappadocia in Turkey. Some of the houses still in use are more than 800 years old. Return to Tabriz for welcome remarks followed by dinner. L, D

Monday, October 8 TabrizThe ancient city of Tabriz is known in modern times as the cornerstone of the Constitutional Revolution of 1906 and considered by many to be the most progressive city in Iran. Our morning visits begin at the Quran & Calligraphy Museum before continuing to the 15th-century Blue Mosque (Masjid-i Muzaffariyya), and nearby Azerbaijan Museum. Then, drive by the ancient fortification of Arg-i-Ali Shah (also called Arg-i-Tabriz). Conclude at the Bazaar of Tabriz, one of Iran’s many UNESCO World Heritage Sites. B, L, D

Tuesday, October 9 Tabriz / Ardabil (250 miles round-trip driving distance)On a full-day excursion to Ardabil, visit the magnificent Mausoleum of the Sufi Sheikh Saffi-al-din Ardabili. The complex, begun in the 16th century and enhanced over time, includes a long prayer hall, a school, kitchens, and cenotaphs. It is renowned for its important collection of Chinese blue-and-white porcelains donated by the Safavids. Return to Tabriz in the late afternoon. B, L, D

Wednesday, October 10 Tabriz / Maragheh / Zanjan (280 miles driving distance) Depart for Zanjan in the early morning, stopping en route in Maragheh to visit the ancient observatory ruins and see the important tombs of Gunbad-i Kabud and Gunbad-i-Sork. Continue to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Takht-i-Sulayman. Situated high up in the mountains on the rim of a volcanic-crater lake, the citadel was home to one of Zoroastrianism’s most important sacred fires during the Sasanian period, and later reoccupied by the Ilkhanid rulers in the 13th century. Arrive in Zanjan in the late afternoon for dinner and an overnight stay. B, L, D

Thursday, October 11 Zanjan / Soltaniyeh / Hamadān(190 miles driving distance)Depart for Hamadān, believed to be among the oldest Iranian cities. En route, stop in Soltaniyeh to see the important mausoleum of Oljaytu (also known as Gonbad-e-Soltaniyeh), the last Ilkhanid ruler of Iran in the 14th century. In Hamadān, visit the 12th-century tomb of Gonbad-e Alaviyan, and the tomb of Esther and Mordecai, a major Jewish pilgrimage site. We will also see the Stone Lion, an intriguing statue, that is believed to date from the Hellenistic Period when Alexander invaded Iran, and the Ganjnameh, rock inscriptions in three ancient languages, ordered by Darius and his son Xerxes. B, L, D

Friday, October 12 Hamadān / Qazvin / Tehran(250 miles driving distance) This morning, explore the museum and extensive archaeological site of Tepe Ecbatana that dates back to 700-500 BC, from the Median and Achaemenid eras. Also visit the Mausoleum of Abu-Ali Ibn Sina (Avicenna), a complex and museum to honor Iran’s philosopher, scientist, and physician. Continue to Qazvin to see the Friday Mosque, also known as Masjid-i-Atiq with its typical Qajari pink and yellow tiles in the courtyard and visit the 19th-century Imamzadeh Shahzadeh Hossein Shrine. Arrive in Tehran in the late afternoon and check in at the Hotel Espinas. B, L

Saturday, October 13 Tehran Today we immerse ourselves in millennia of Persian civilization. At the National Museum, view the collection of pre-historic and ancient artifacts; and at the adjacent Museum of the Islamic Era, admire treasures from the Seljuq, Safavid, and Qajar periods. Following lunch, continue to the Abgineh Museum to see the stunning pre-Islamic and Islamic glass and ceramics displayed in an elegant, early 20th-century mansion. B, L, D

Sunday, October 14 Tehran Tour the Golestan Palace Complex, dating from the 18th to early 20th century. See the Marble Hall and the Hall of Mirrors, used as a coronation room, and stroll the garden to view the ornate tile-covered walls. After lunch, visit the Treasury of National Jewels, housed in the vaults of the Central Bank of Iran, displaying one of the most dazzling collections of jewels and gems in the world. Then discover the Museum of Contemporary Art, with its fine collection of modern Iranian and Western art. B, L, D

Caspian Sea

Persian Gulf

I R A N

Tehran

Isfahan

Shiraz

Persepolis

TabrizArdabil

ZanjanMaragheh

Soltineyah

Hamadān

Qazvin

Monday, October 15 Tehran / Isfahan (280 miles driving distance) Depart for Isfahan, stopping en route in Kashan to see the UNESCO-listed Fin Garden. We will also visit Tabatabai House, a 19th-century merchant residence with a beautiful stucco dome and inlaid mirror work, and some of the best examples of existing badgirs (wind-catchers). Pause in nearby Natanz at the shrine of a Sufi mystic before continuing to Isfahan, arriving by dinner time. Check in at the legendary Abbasi Hotel, a former caravanserai. B, L, D

Tuesday, October 16 Isfahan Today we explore the magnificent Friday Mosque or Masjid-I Jameh of Isfahan, considered a museum of more than a thousand years of Persian religious architecture. Marvel at the sumptuous Safavid Palace of Chehel Sotun. Twenty wooden columns reflected in the surface of the garden pool give the palace its name, “The Palace of Forty Columns.” Following lunch, visit the Armenian Quarter, where Shah Abbas II transplanted a colony of skilled Christian entrepreneurs in 1604, and see the Cathedral of Vank. Continue to the recently opened Music Museum, which houses a fine collection of traditional Persian instruments, and attend a musical performance. Our day concludes with visits to three of the famous eleven bridges of Isfahan. B, L, D

Wednesday, October 17Isfahan Isfahan, the 17th-century capital of the Safavid Dynasty, is referred to as Nasf-e-Jahan, or “Half of the World.” Depart the hotel on foot for the 17th-century Hasht Behesht pavilion, set amongst tree-lined alleys, a reflecting pool, and water rills. Continue to the breathtaking square, Maidan-e-Naghsh-e-Jahan, flanked by the Ali-Qapu Palace and two of the world’s greatest mosques: the Sheikh Lotfollah and the Masjid-I Imam. No visit to Isfahan would be complete without a stop at the historic bazaar, where hundreds of shops sell traditional Persian handicrafts. B, L, D

Thursday, October 18 Isfahan / Shiraz (310 miles driving distance)Retrace the route of centuries of traders as we follow the Silk Road to Shiraz. Along the way, pause at Izadkhast, to see the fascinating ruins of its citadel and caravanserai. At Pasargadae, founded in the sixth century B.C. as the capital of the Persian Empire, visit the majestic tomb of Cyrus the Great, the wise and benevolent ruler who freed the Jews from captivity in Babylon. Arrive in Shiraz this evening and check in at the Homa Hotel. B, D

Friday, October 19 Shiraz Shiraz, the City of Roses and Nightingales, is known for its elegant gardens and shrines. Begin at the Eram Garden; then visit the pink-tiled 19th-century Nasir-al-Mulk Mosque and the Qajar-period Narenjestan Palace. After lunch, see the Arg-e-Karim Khan (18th-century citadel), the elegant Pars Museum, and the Masjid-i-Vakil, famed for its spacious prayer hall of vaulted bays, twisting columns, and stained-glass windows. B, L, D

Saturday, October 20 Shiraz / Persepolis (40 miles driving distance)Persepolis, once the center of the great Persian Empire and one of the most important sites of the ancient world, is the focus of a full-day excursion. Feel the weight of history as we pass through its imposing gateways to the palace of Darius the Great, who founded this vast complex. At nearby Naqsh-e Rustam, marvel at the massive rock-cut tombs of Darius and other Persian kings, and see ancient reliefs from three millennia ago. Continue to Naqsh-e Rajab, an impressive site of four stone reliefs. B, L, D

Golestan Palace

Persepolis

This itinerary is subject to change at the discretion of The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Arrangements Abroad. For complete details, please carefully read the terms and conditions at www.arrangementsabroad.com/terms.

Call and speak with a Travel with The Met consultant at Arrangements Abroad today.844-TRVLMET (844-878-5638)

© 2018 Arrangements Abroad

Program Rate$9,999 per person, double occupancy $11,599 single rate

Rate Includes — Fifteen nights accommodations as per itinerary

— Meals as indicated in the itinerary (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner); bottled water and coffee/tea with all meals

— Enrichment program of lectures and talks

— Escorted sightseeing, transportation and entrance fees for all included visits

— Gratuities to local guides and drivers

— Taxes, service charges, and porterage

Not included in rate International airfare; passport and visa fees; meals not specified; personal items and expenses; trip insurance; any other items not specifically mentioned as included.

Iranian Visa Due to strict guidelines imposed for necessary visas to travel to Iran, the deadline for enrollment in the October program is Monday, June 25, 2018. Arrangements Abroad has safely operated more than a dozen trips to Iran over the last decade and welcomes your participation.

Participants must be in good health and able to keep pace with an active group. They must be able to walk up to one mile a day on uneven terrain; walk and stand for periods of two hours at time; climb stairs at monuments (some without handrails) and other locations not handicapped accessible; and board a motorcoach unassisted. Any condition that may require assistance or special medical attention must be reported at the time of your reservation. Participants are advised to bring “broken-in” walking shoes, a sun hat, and comfortable attire.

A Note About Travel in Iran Iranian people are warm and hospitable towards visitors. They enjoy engaging foreigners in English conversation and are especially curious about life in America. Certain rules of dress and conduct are strictly observed in Iran and all trip participants are expected to adhere to local laws and customs. Women are required to cover their heads with a scarf whenever outside the privacy of their hotel room and to wear loose clothing that covers their arms and legs. Loose trousers with a top that reaches mid-thigh are recommended. Except for shorts, which are discouraged, men may wear the same clothes as when traveling in any western country—although we suggest you leave your ties at home! (Ties are rarely seen and never necessary.) Alcohol is forbidden at all times. Driving is often the most efficient way to access the cities and villages we will visit. Long drives are to be expected during this program; however, the remarkably varied landscapes of Iran will offer a scenic panorama along the way.

Sunday, October 21 Shiraz Focus this morning on two of the most famous Persian poets with visits to the tombs of Hafez and Sa’di, both located in beautiful gardens. Then see the Muzey-e-Sang (Stone Museum). The afternoon is at leisure, and a stop will be made at the lively Vakil Bazaar of Shiraz. Gather this evening for our farewell dinner. Rooms are reserved until the late-night transfer to the airport for the flight to Istanbul. B, L, D

Monday, October 22 Istanbul / Return Arrive in Istanbul in the early morning and connect with the flight home, arriving in the late morning of the same day. B

Nasar al Mulk Mosque, Shiraz

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