Iran in the skin of an archaeologist

Join Ciraz by internal flight from Isfahan. Take the time to discover the city and familiarize yourself with what you're going to visit by visiting the Pars Museum and the ol-Molk house, where the country's history is presented in detail. You will thus have the necessary benchmarks for your journey.

Just over 100 km south of Shiraz is one of eight great palaces founded by Ardeshir. Many remains allow us to understand the organization of the ancient city. On the way, you can also stop in Sarvestan, another smaller Sassanian palace. Return to Shiraz in the evening.

A big day awaits you with a visit to Persepolis, then Necropolis and finally Pasargadae. These splendid ruins of ancient cities offer frescoes that are second to none, extraordinarily well preserved, especially in Persepolis. Enjoy the low lights by visiting this site early in the morning or late in the day, if you go first to Pasargadae. Return to Shiraz in the evening.

135 km west of Shiraz is this other magical relic left by the Sassanian dynasty. Along the river that flows below the site, the kings of this dynasty had their reign immortalized by a series of bas-reliefs. The visit of the ancient city will also take a good part of the day. Overnight on site.

Choqa Zambil's ziggurat, a religious emanation of the Zoroastrians, was the link between men and the gods. A unique opportunity to immerse yourself in ancient religious practices and admire the architecture to which they gave birth.

In the morning discover the charming site of Izeh (no public transport). An ancient city is nestled in the hollow of the mountains whose walls are covered with rock paintings. There are many sculptures from the Parthian period. Then head west, pass Choq e Zambil and continue to Susa, where the remains of the former Achaemenid capital are located.

Drive in the morning to Kermanshah. In the afternoon, visit the Taq e Bostan site and its splendid 4th century bas-reliefs. Two iwans caves, with walls also covered with bas-reliefs evoking Sassanian history but also paradise, complete the visit. Return to Kermanshah in the evening

Discovery in the morning of the rock face on which Darius I had the various scenes sculpted illustrating his accession to the throne more than 60 metres above the ground. Other scenes were added later, but are unfortunately in an advanced state of degradation. Travel to Tehran at the end of the day.