Shiraz, The city of love, poetry, history & Irans cultural capital.
Home of the world-renowned poets and philosophers – Hafiz & Saadi.
Shiraz was once the chosen capital of Iran during 1750 until 1800s, during the rule of the Zand dynasty. Shiraz has remained Irans cultural capital; filled with architectural magnificence; incredible food and festivals.
What makes Shiraz a must visit destination?
Continue reading to learn about the top reasons that make Shiraz a must visit destination during your Iran trip.
City of love & poetry
It won’t take long for visitors to understand how Shiraz is known as the city of love and poetry, upon your arrival. Shiraz is the hometown of two of the most influential poets and philosophers in Irans history and the impact they had on the Persian culture and language is still visible all over town. Visit the tombs of Saadi and Hafiz; make sure you take some time to reflect and read their stories and sections of the masterpieces they wrote. We are sure it will be a mini spiritual journey awaiting you upon your arrival.
People
People watching and connecting with the locals is a big part of any travel experience and we have reason to believe people watching in Shiraz could be a lifestyle. We could spend the whole day meeting locals, sharing stories and making friends here.
The food
Trying new dishes in a new city is inevitable and we are excited to tell you the food culture in Shiraz is incredible. Anyone visiting must try Shirazi salad, Masghati and Ranginak upon arrival. Kalam polo is one of our personal favorited; a classic dish cooked all over Iran, but the way it’s done in Shiraz is different and so delicious.
The back-alley adventures
Simply getting lost in the streets and back alleys of Shiraz is a delightful retreat on its own.
Persian Garden galore
Shiraz is home to some of the most beautiful Persian gardens and pavilions dating back to the Safavid and Qajar eras. Witnessing the significant arches, artwork and the detailed architecture of these gardens take our breath away every time. Make sure you visit Narenjestan Garden and Eram Garden during your stay.
Pink Mosque
The Nasir al Mulk Mosque knowns as the Pink Mosque has become one of the most photographed sites in Shiraz and took 12 years to complete during the rule of the Qajar dynasty. Watching the way sunrays dance through the colored mosaics is a mesmerizing experience. Make sure you get there during sunrise hours for the best experience.
Faloudeh Ice cream
Faloudeh is a traditional dessert; originally from Shiraz. It’s mouthwatering mixture of chilled vermicelli rice noodles, rose water and lime juice and although it can be found all over the country; the way it is made in Shiraz is different and an absolute must try.
Persepolis
Standing on the birthplace one of the greatest empires and the ceremonial hub of the first Persian Empire, is without a doubt one of those experiences that will stay with you forever. Make sure you book a qualified guide to ensure you take full advantage of your visit and give yourself enough time to ponder and take it all in.
Art Galleries & Museums
Visiting Adel Yazdis Art Gallery is a must while you are in Shiraz. The artist who took his creations outside of his home to beautify a whole neighborhood. His gallery carries everything from pieces made from natural elements, graffities and pieces that carry so many stories within them. We loved that we were able to meet him in person when we visited.
Another must visit museum is called Gol-O-Morgh Museum and it showcases paintings, woodcarved pieces and delicate tile arts.
Bazaar Strolls
One of the must visit traditional markets in Iran, right around the corner from the Vakil mosque, and the Vakil bath house in the city center. Hidden within the Vakil bazaar; there are courtyards, caravanserais, old square shops and all the spices, antiques, handicrafts and souvenirs one could dream of.
How To get there
Shiraz in located on the southern province of Fars and is accessible by VIP busses, trains and flights; depending on which city you are departing from, your time and budget. The team at the Pasargad Travel Agency will be able to guide you with planning your transport, if you choose to explore on your own.
Best time to visit
Considering the dry climate of Shiraz, fall and spring would be the best time to visit for optimal weather. Keep in mind that Shiraz is one of the most popular cities for locals to visit during the Persian new year holidays and booking in advance is recommended during the holidays which is around mid-march.
Where to stay
one of the trends we’ve been loving is the restoration of traditional houses and converting them to boutique hotels. They are popping up everywhere and Shiraz is the central hub for it.
Oscuru Boutique Hotel: this boutique hotel is a must visit in our opinion. It’s a classic traditional home, located in the old part of town and it was definitely one of our favorite stays.
Explore Shiraz with a team of experts and local guides by booking through Pasargad Travel Agency. Our agents are here to help you customize your dream travel experience. We will visit all the highlights during our 14 day classic tour.
The capital of Sistan & Baluchitsan of Iran is the city of Zahedan.
This province is where the warm-blooded Baluchi people of Iran live. Zahedan is the house of Iran’s famous mountain, Taftan, which is an intermittently active volcano, sitting at 4042 meters (13261 Ft.) above the sea level.
The old bazaar, Jame’ mosque, Nosrat Abad Caravanserai and number of museums are a few sites to mention from this city.
Chabahar, Land of wonders
Chabahar (which literally translates to four springs) is a major city in the gorgeous Sistan & Baluchistan province of Iran and is among the best places in Iran to visit.
Chabar which is one of the main cities of Sistan & Baluchistan is located in the south of this province having one of the most beautiful coastlines of the world.
This tour package covers visiting a variety of landmarks as well as a complete local Persian cuisine experience.
Must sees in Chabahar
Chabahar faces the Gulf of Oman, Chabahar gulf and eventually the open waters of the Indian ocean.
The Martian mountains, the unique pink lagoon, Beris port, the mangrove forest, pristine beaches and extraordinary local food and of course handcrafts specific to the Baluch people are just a few to mention.
The Martian mountains have created such a natural magnificent landmark which is impossible to miss if you’re in the area. These mountains are 50 to 100 meters high and look like extraterrestrial beings. These natural structures feel rock hard when stepping on and have no vegetation on them.
Special camel rides are available at the mountains and there’s also a beach club close to the shore where tourists can enjoy a wide range of water activities.
The extraordinary Pink Lagoon is a complete eco system comprising a range of plankton activity that affect the color of this amazing body of water. This landscape is a once in a lifetime experience and a trip to Iran should definitely include this place. Birdwatching is one of the exciting activities by the lagoon and the endangered Marbled Duck can be seen in the area.
Beris Port is a must see, sitting on top of the cliff and looking down at the sailing ships (Lenjs) makes it one of the most significate piers of the world. Shrimp farming is one great commercial sector of the region and in fact Chabahar is called the paradise of aquaculture of Iran.
Mangroves or Hara forests are spectacular forms of ecosystems amazingly growing on body of waters that enrich the habitat for both sea and land creatures. These forests provide a rich biodiversity and protect both land and sea. Many birds and bees live and feed off of these trees which contribute to the well being of the ecosystem as a whole.
Things you shouldn’t miss in Sistan and baluchistan
The exciting local cuisine of Sistan & Baluchistan consists of a wide range of sea food as well as spicy Baluchi food. A must try in the region.
Handicrafts of Sistan and Baluchistan
One of the most significant handicrafts of Sistan & Baluchistan is their embroidery artifacts which is locally called “Suzan Duzi”. Different variations of embroidery in the region include:
Baluch Duzi, Parivar duzi, Zarif duzi and Sarafi duzi.
In general, the embroidery art is used on chadors (the long covering veil that local women wear), decorating bracelets, trousers and shirts.
Another worthy to mention local artifact is Kalpurgan pottery. Kalpurgan is a village about 400 km’s south east of Zahedan and close to the borderline of Iran and Pakistan. Pottery done in this village are similar to potteries related to the 3rd millennium B.C.
In 2017, Kalpurgan was registered as the living museum of pottery and by the World Council of Handicrafts as been recognized at the first global village of pottery.
This pottery is done all by hand and no machines are used, the specific soil used in this process is excavated from a mountain nearby called “Mash Takuk”. The interesting characteristic of this soil is when it is baked it turnes into a dark red color.
Gando
It is fascinating to know that Sistan & Baluchistan has a certain indigenous species of crocodile which live in the shallow waters of Sarbaz river. Locals call this species “Gando” which means crawling on its belly.
Interesting to know that this type of indigenous crocs that live in Iran are the rarest in the world; these crocodiles are endangered and spotting them in the region can be an extremely exciting activity for tourists.
Sightseeing places of Sistan and Baluchistan
An archeological site which is also located in Sistan & Baluchistan is Shahr-e Sukhteh which translated to the burnt city. This archeological site dates back to the bronze age and is registered in the UNESCO world heritage sites. The reason for naming this ancient village is that research has shown that it has been burned two times before becoming completely abandoned by its inhabitants.
This village dates back to 3200-2350 BCE and provide concrete evidence of prehistoric Persia.
Another amazing region in Sistan & Baluchistan is Gwater Bay. This bay is located at the most south eastern part of Iran and is a natural protected area due to it being very close to the mangrove forests. As soon as you enter the extremely silent and quiet road leading to the bay, a great feeling coupled with surreal scenery accompanies you. Interestingly enough, Gwater Bay hosts 3 different species of migratory birds each year which is also an exciting spot for birdwatchers worldwide.
The famous Lut desert which is also one of Iran’s natural sites registered in the UNESCO natural heritage list is partly in the province of Sistan & Baluchistan. This desert has the highest temperature record on earth at 70.7 degrees Celsius. This desert is the world’s 33rd largest desert which Pasargad Travel plans specific tours for this iconic region of Iran.
Join us
Join us in our 5 star tours around Iran and get to learn and experience this ancient land in the best possible way.
A journey worth telling with Pasargad Travel.
Kerman, the city of an amazing civilization and culture in the middle of the desert, inhabited by warm hearted and hospitable people, with some of the most delicious dishes on earth and stunning historical sites, has turned into one of the most visited places of Iran in the recent years; a tour package we plan here at Pasargad Travel.
Kerman tourist attraction
Bagh-e-Shazdeh or the Prince’s Garden is one of Kerman’s highlights and one of the nine Persian gardens that have been registered as Iran’s natural and cultural heritage in the UNESCO list.
The significance of these gardens is the combination of natural and man-made items as well as perfect choice of flora and their unique location in the garden. This garden consists of two building structures. One at the entrance as the opening to the garden and a two-story building at the end. The distance between the two have been decorated with water fountains that are naturally powered by water pressure taken from the incline of the land.
The two main souvenirs of Kerman are the famous two c’s: copper and cumin. While visiting the old bazar (which is the second oldest bazaar in Iran after the Tabriz bazaar), you will see and smell an abundance of cumin and of course the famous shiny artifacts made with the copper of Kerman. The traditional bazaar extends for 1.5 km’s starting from the Arg square to the Mushtaqieh square. The old bazaar also known as the Vakil bazaar dates back to the 8th century AH.
The Ganjali Khan mosque is close to the old bazaar; this complex includes a bath, coin museum, Ganjali Khan caravanserai and the school. This structure is built with an Isfahani style during the Safavid era and is included in our visit of Kerman.
Natural attractions of Kerman
Kerman being in the margins of Iran’s great Lut Desert; one of the hottest and driest places on earth also a UNESCO registered site, embraces the worldly known Kaluts or Yardangs of the desert. These erosional historic masterpieces are carved by thousands of years by wind and rain which make a must see in your visit to Kerman, the best time to visit Kaluts are early morning or late afternoon by the sunset due to the dramatic changing of colors.
Bam, a city just 2 hours south of Kerman is known for its famous sandcastle city “Arg-e-Bam” built in the Achaemenid period (6th to 4th centuries) which later became one of the main hubs of the silk road. This town is the greatest mud-made medieval city in the world and is absolutely a must see during your visit of Kerman. It got severely damaged due to the Bam earthquake in 2003, but 15 years of restoration brought this city back to life.
Our Kerman tour is an absolute drawcard which we highly recommend, this tour is usually offered during the winter due to the nature of Kerman’s desert climate. Looking forward to having you on board.
