Iran taking its time

The capital of Iran has a series of museums of great interest. Spend a morning visiting the National Museum, which houses one of the country's most beautiful and important archaeological collections. Then go to the Golestan Palace, the admirable gardens and the marble paved courtyards. Spend the evening strolling around the huge Valias'r Avenue, the busiest avenue in the city, to observe the Iranians of today.

Visit of the bazaar and the mosque of the Imam Khomeini. If you're fascinated by diamonds, take a look at the beautiful collection of jewellery and precious stones displayed in the Fortes vault, which houses the Crown Jewel Museum. Another option is the visit of the Reaz Abbassi Museum, with beautiful Neolithic pottery and beautiful bijoux and achémides gold jewels. Also, remember the miniatures, illuminations and calligraphy.

Depending on the season, and your interests, go down the snow-covered Iranian slopes in the ski resort of Dizin, or discover Iranian Kurdistan with a first stop in Tabriz via the ruins of Takht-E Soleiman. On site, visit the superb blue mosque, a masterpiece of enamelled decoration in Iran and an exemplary testimony to the Timurid period (15th century). Also visit the nearby Azerbaijan Museum

From Tabriz, go to the Caspian Sea and lunch at Bandar-e Anzali where you will enjoy the specialties of garlic before entering the rice fields to reach the small mountain village of Masuleh. Night in Masuleh.

Early morning departure for Qom, lunch in one of the most conservative cities in the country, the first Shia theological teaching centre in Iran. Ideal for soaking up the religious fact. Also visit the silk carpet workshops. In the late afternoon, take the road to Kashan and spend the night there.

Visit of the city of Kashan, its beautiful traditional Qadjar houses (Tabatabaei, Khan-é Boroujerdi, Abassin) and the Agha Bozorg mosque. Finish your stay on site with a stroll in the heart of the Bâgh-e Fin, one of the most beautiful Persian gardens in Iran, built in the 17th century. It had to reflect the image of paradise... In the late afternoon, take the road to Esfahan.

Take the time to discover Esfahan and its jewels. Immerse yourself in the heart of Persian history, in the immense and sumptuous Imam Square, to discover the great Imam mosque, the Sheikh Lotfollah mosque and the Ali Qâpu palace. Stroll through the alleys of the bazaar to discover the city's formidable craftsmen, with a small predilection for carpets, miniaturists, marquetry and copper work. Nearby, meet at the Djomeh mosque, now a millennium old mosque. Visit the Armenian quarter, and its beautiful Vank Cathedral...

Departure for Yazd with a stopover in the old town of Nain, located halfway, an important crossroads for centuries and one of the country's references in carpets. Walk in the weavers' quarter and visit the Friday mosque, the oldest part of which dates back to the Abbasid period (10th century). Arrival at mid-afternoon.Yazd

Visit of the magnificent old town in adobe, classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It will also be an opportunity to get to know the amazing wind towers (badgir) and to get to know the Zoroastrian community, its fire temples (Ateshkadeh) and its mysterious funeral towers of silence (Dakmeh-ye Zartoshtiyun)

Visit of bazaar and mosques.

Go to the gates of Pakistan through the city-oasis of Bam, to observe the majestic citadel still undergoing renovation following the earthquake of 2003.

After wandering through the most unusual and exciting bazaar in the country, take the road to Shiraz and spend the night there.

Dedicate the morning to the visit of Persepolis (Takht-e Jamshid), one of the capitals of the Persian Achaemenid Empire and the largest archaeological site in the country. Take the monumental staircase and walk through the Door of the Nations to the vast esplanade, where the ruins of the majestic palaces of Darius the Grand and Xerxes (Apadana and the Throne Room) lie. The beauty of bas-reliefs has nothing to do with the splendour and prestige of the Achaemenid courtyard. 

This city is a perfect introduction to your entry into the Persian Gulf. Scattered with bandari houses, it oscillates between the lethargy of coastal villages and the bubbling Bandaar Abbas, the largest city on the coast.

Many small typical fishing villages dot the road, perfect for a lunch break. Night in Bandar-E-Lageh.

Arrival in the largest Iranian port. Its interest does not lie in its architecture but in its proximity to the Iranian islands of the Gulf. It is also the best way to see a unique cultural mix in Iran, in this place where Persians, Africans and Arabs mix.

Escape to this island of only a few hundred inhabitants to visit the old Portuguese fort, a refreshing break away from the bubbling Bandar Abbas.

Take the boat for the island of Qeshm, the largest Persian Gulf and certainly one of the most preserved. Start exploring the island's north coast with a boat tour in mangrove forests and a visit to the fishing village of Laft.

Relax the southern coast, hemmed with beautiful desert white sand beaches. At the western tip, try the salt caves.

Transfer to Tehran airport and return to initial destination. If you have time, visit the Palatial complex of Saad Abad, the former royal residence of the Pahlavis, now transformed into a museum. This large complex of 18 palaces and residences, built in the 1930 s, is located in the heart of a large private park of 120 hectares. If you have a little time, finish the day by Reza Abbassi Museum.