Persian Explorer 2018

PERSIAN EXPLORER

Iran by Private Train Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Iran by Private Train

ITINERARY TEHRAN—TEHRAN ROUND TRIP DAY 1. TEHRAN Meeting with your tour guide at the airport, transfer and hotel

check-in. Overnight: Hotel Laleh (or similar).

DAY 2. ALBORZ MOUNTAINS Boarding of your private train in the morning.

Scenic ride through the Alborz Mountains on Iran’s first national railroad. Overnight on board. Meals: breakfast (B), lunch (L) and dinner (D).

DAY 3. MASHHAD Visit to the famous mausoleum of the eighth Shiite Imam, featuring one of Iran’s most comprehensive art collections, and visit to the carpet museum. Overnight on board. (BLD) DAY 4. MAHAN Sightseeing at the oasis of Mahan with mausoleum of sufi monk

Nureddin Meatollah and Princess Garden. Overnight: Hotel Pars (or similar). (BLD)

DAY 5. LUT DESERT AND KERMAN Enjoy beautiful scenery in the Lut Desert.

City tour of Kerman with Friday Mosque, Mosque Ganj Ali Khan and bazaar.

Overnight on board. (BLD)

DAY 6. YAZD Zoroastrian Fire Temples, Towers of Silence and Water Museum.

Departure for Isfahan in the afternoon. Dinner in the courtyard of a caravansary.

Overnight: Hotel Kowsar (or similar). (BLD)

DAYS 7 AND 8. ISFAHAN City tour of Isfahan with Imam Square, Ali-qapu Palace,

Lotfullah and Jameh Mosques and Armenian Quarters. Visit to a typical zurkhaneh (traditional Iranian gym). Overnights: Hotel Kowsar (or similar) and on board. (BLD)

DAY 9. PASARGADAE AND PERSEPOLIS Guided tour of Pasargadae including tomb of Cyrus and Persepolis with palace, Gate of Nations, Apadana Palace and Naqsh-e-Rostam necropolis. Bus ride to Shiraz. Overnight: Chamran Grand Hotel (or similar). (BLD) DAY 10. SHIRAZ City tour of Shiraz with Persian Paradise Gardens, Old Town

bazaar, Nasir-al-Molk Mosque and Shah Cheragh Monument. Overnight on board.

(BLD)

DAY 11. TEHRAN City tour of Tehran with Golestan Palace, gem collection with Naderi Throne and Archaeological Museum. Farewell dinner with caviar tasting.

Overnight: Hotel Laleh (or similar). (BLD) DAY 12. TEHRAN Transfer to the airport.

NEW Itinerary TASHKENT—TEHRAN This journey is a unique combination of two exclusively chartered private trains.

The Orient Silk Road Express and Persian Explorer will take you to three extraordinary countries: Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Iran. Ancient cultures boasting exceptional UNESCO World Heritage sites are waiting to be explored on this spectacular trip across legendary realms.

DAY 1. Tashkent DAY 2. Tashkent (BLD) DAY 3. Samarqand (BLD) DAY 4.

Samarqand (BLD) DAY 5. Bukhara (BLD) DAY 6. Merv (BLD) DAY 7. Nisa and Ashgabat (BLD) DAY 8. Mashhad (BLD) DAY 9. Enroute to Yazd (BLD) DAY 10.

Yazd (BLD) DAY 11. Isfahan (BLD) DAY 12. Isfahan (BLD) DAY 13. Shiraz (BLD) DAY 14. Pasargadae and Persepolis (BLD) DAY 15. Tehran (BLD) DAY 16. Tehran

ITINERARY TEHRAN—TEHRAN Mashhad

Sari Teheran IRAN Esfahan

Yazd Kerman

Shiraz

CLASSIC HIGHLIGHTS →Y azd—City of fire worshippers →P asargadae—Residence of the Persian King Cyrus

OUR UNIQUE HIGHLIGHTS → 2,200 miles of tracks, 1,500 miles altitude difference, 3,000 years of history →P anoramic rail journey through the Alborz Mountains → 8 UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Lut Desert, Imam Square and Friday Mosque in Isfahan, Persian Paradise Gardens, Pasargadae and Persepolis, Golestan Palace in Tehran and the Persian Qanat system → Traditional sports in a zurkaneh

→P ersepolis—Ancient center of the Achaemenid Empire

YOUR ADVANTAGES

→ S hiraz—Strolling around the city of Hafiz the poet

→ Four different compartment categories to choose from, catering to every need and budget

→ Iran’s old and new capital: Tehran → Sparkling splendor in Tehran—One of the most prestigious gem collections in the world → Oriental life—Colorful bazaars, Persian poems, fairy tales and music

→ Six overnights in first class hotels— Large luggage can safely be left on board → Culinary highlights—Tasting of regional delicacies, all freshly prepared by our chefs on board → Porter service at train stations → Doctor on board → Guidebook and information brochures

HOTELS EN ROUTE: TEHRAN—TEHRAN City

Overnights · Hotel*

Rating

Tehran Kerman Isfahan Shiraz

2 · Hotel Laleh 1 · Hotel Pars 2 · Hotel Kowsar 1 · Chamran Grand Hotel

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HOTELS EN ROUTE: TASHKENT—TEHRAN City

Overnights · Hotel*

Rating

Tashkent Samarqand Ashgabat Mashhad Isfahan Shiraz Tehran

1 · Hotel Grand Mir 1 · Hotel Registan Plaza 2 · Ak Altyn 1 · Homa Hotel 2 · Hotel Kowsar 1 · Chamran Grand Hotel 1 · Hotel Laleh

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* These hotels are examples. Other hotels of equal standard could be used.

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THE PERSIAN EXPLORER PRIVATE TRAIN Your private train features modern sleeping cars from national Iran Railways offering four different compartment categories and one restaurant car used as a bar serving nonalcoholic drinks in the evening.

Pictures: Lernidee Trains & Cruises, fotolia.com (Aleksandar Todorovic, ko.yo), Frank Niggemann, Johannes Gloeckner

HABIBI

ALI BABA

In this category, three or four passengers share one compartment with bunk beds measuring 24 x 71 in./60 x 180 cm (lower bed) and 25 x 69 in./64 x 175 cm (upper bed). During the day, beds are transformed into armchairs with a table in between. Each car has ten compartments.

Combined toilet and washing facilities are located at both ends of a car.

The Ali Baba compartment comes with two comfortable lower beds measuring 23.5 x 71 in./60 x 180 cm. There is a table, two mirrors, individual air-conditioning (while the train is moving) and various possibilities to stow luggage. Each car in the Ali Baba category has ten compartments. Combined toilet and washing facilities are located at both ends of a car.

ALADDIN

KALIF

The Aladdin compartment has two comfortable lower beds measuring 23.5 x 71 in./60 x 180 cm. There is a table, two mirrors, individual air-conditioning (while the train is moving) and various possibilities to stow luggage. Every compartment is equipped with one bathrobe. Each car in this category has ten compartments plus a shower facility. Combined toilet and washing facilities are located at both ends of a car.

This category has two beds, with the upper berth measuring 31.5 x 68.5 in./ 80 x 174 cm and the lower one a more generous 44 x 72.5 in./112 x 184 cm. The compartment also offers comfortable seating, a larger table, and a cupboard.

Each compartment comes with its own lavatory complete with toilet, washbasin and shower. Each car of this category contains only six compartments.

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