General Information
The Iranian people are naturally kind, hospitable and generous.
Despite any preconceptions built up by the Western media, Iran is also
a very safe country to visit. Tourism is now a well-accepted and welcome
industry in Iran and, provided you stick to the local customs and show
respect when visiting holy places, you will never be made to feel unwelcome.
Although more and more travelers are visiting Iran each year, foreigners
are still a novelty: you'll find that the Iranians are surprisingly interested
in you. No cause for alarm - it's only because they genuinely want to
talk to you, or practice their English on you. In rural areas non-English
speakers will still take a hearty interest in you. Fortunately your guide
can always interpret, which makes conversation with the locals possible
- and sometimes hilarious. Here it's not unusual for locals to invite
you into their homes where you'll suddenly find yourself reclining on
a Persian carpet with your smiling hosts, drinking tea and sharing fresh
fruit and pistachio nuts - to the intense amusement of their children.
Not to be taken lightly are the three absolute rules regarding
alcohol, respect in mosques and 'decency'. Namely:
 Emphatically
don't take any alcohol into the country nor ask for any when you are there.
Don't forget
to remove your shoes before entering mosques (and private houses).
Don't take
any magazines or books with pictures of scantily clad women, which, even
if you judge otherwise, could be considered offensive.
Time: GMT +3.5 hours
Money
The currency in Iran is Rials. Ten Rials equals one Touman.
You cannot obtain Rials outside of Iran so you will have to change your
money on arrival at the airport. Although some places will accept a Master
Card (subject to an additional 4% charge) we recommend that you use cash
during your visit as it is the most convenient and widely accepted form
of payment. If you want to obtain a good exchange rate take clean & new
US dollar bills and ask your tour guide to change the money for you. Tipping
is the order of the day in Iran so take lots of single $1 notes and be
generous! The current exchange rate is approximately $1 = 9,700 Rials
(Jan 2006)
How to get there
Iran Air flies direct from London to Tehran 3 times a
week on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. Flight time is 6 hours. British
Airways flies to Tehran daily. Lufthansa, Austrian, KLM, Turkish Air and
Gulf Air also fly from London to Tehran with one stopover. Fares range
from £400 to £600.
Visas
A visa is required for all non-Iranian citizens. Please
see our visa section for details.
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When to go
You can visit Iran at any time of the year, but the best
times to go are spring and autumn. South Western Iran is always hotter
than Central Iran. North West Iran (Azarbaijan province) is about 10 -
15C cooler than the rest of Iran. If you would like to go skiing then
you should plan your visit sometime between November and March. If you
are planning to take break on the island of Kish then the best time would
also be between November and March when the average temperature is 25C.
The rose harvest takes place between April and June but if you want to
be sure of catching the roses at their best then we suggest you travel
during the middle two weeks of May. December - March 10-15C, April 18-25C,
May - June 25-30C, July - Sept. 30-45C, Oct. & Nov. 25 -30 C.
Health
Iran is a fairly safe country to travel in as far as health
issues are concerned. However the following vaccinations are recommended:
Malaria prophylaxis, typhoid, tetanus and hepatitis A. Food in the hotels
and up market restaurants is delicious and well cooked. However, we recommend
that you exercise caution when buying food, especially fruit and salads,
from street sellers or more basic restaurants. Just use your common sense
and you will be fine. Many people have found that if they eat yoghurt
with their meals, and this is nearly always available, that this helps
keep their digestive system working efficiently. Although the tap water
is filtered and drunk by the majority of Iranians, we recommend that travelers
from abroad visiting for only a short period should probably stick to
bottled water. This is widely available and very cheap. Remember to take
insect repellant and a high factor sunscreen.
Guide books
Lonely Planet at £13.99 & Bradt Travel Guide book at £12.95.
  What
to wear
Men should wear short- or long-sleeved shirts and long
trousers. Jeans are fine; shorts are not. For women the aim is not to
draw attention to the shape of your body nor to have any flesh showing
except your face and hands. A headscarf is compulsory - take lots, the
more colourful and cheerful the better. The perfect outfit would be a
loose, long-sleeved shirt worn over jeans/cotton trousers or a full skirt
with knee-high socks and comfortable shoes or sandals. Alternatively you
could wear a thin robe - called a 'roupush' - over the top. (Think maternity
wear meets the queen out on a windy day and you've got the general idea.)
The whole look is a far cry from haute couture but you'll be surprised
at how glamorous many of the Iranian women manage to look within the dress
code.
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What to buy
Because Iran is not touristy yet, there are no tacky souvenir
stalls. The best place to shop is the bazaar where you can buy authentic,
locally produced goods. Your local guide will help you negotiate. Carpets
or kilims are a must as prices are half the price you'd pay in Europe
or the US (see below more details). Gold is also a good buy. Those interested
in natural remedies, local spices such as saffron, and perfumed oils can
have a field day. And don't forget to buy the caviar and the pistachios.
Carpets
If you are planning to buy a carpet please contact us
for specific advice on your budget, special designs, etc. Each person
is allowed to leave Iran with one hand woven Persian carpet, up to 12
square meters. There is no duty or tax payable on this (even on entering
the UK, as this is a handmade item). You can spend anything from $100
to $2000 on a 6'x 4' carpet - it depends on your budget and taste. We
will be happy to give you further detailed advice.
Tipping
It is customary to tip the guides and drivers in Iran.
If you are on a group tour, this is best dealt with by a joint kitty,
organized by a volunteer form the group. Here are some guide lines: you
can tip the national guide around $5 - 10 per day per person. The local
guides around $2 - 5 per day per person, and the drivers about the same.
$1 will go a long way so take lots of single notes and be generous!
Food & drink
Iranian food is superbly cooked fresh to order for you.
The fresh fruit, herbs and vegetables are particularly delicious and much
more flavorsome than our pale imitations. Although each province has its
local speciality dishes a typical meal might include freshly baked bread,
rice served with barbecued lamb, beef or chicken, wonderful fresh yoghurt
and bowls of crisp, sweet salad. Dessert might include fresh or dried
fruit, nuts, specialty sweets such as sohan - butter, saffron, sugar,
wheat sprouts, or gaz - Iranian nougat, and fantastic orange blossom,
rose water or cardamom ice cream. If you are a coffee drinker, we suggest
you take a jar along with you.
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Children
Iran is a very safe country in which to travel and therefore
children are very welcome. In fact, you will find that they will be the
source of much curiosity and amusement. Nappies and basic medication are
available in the large cities although you may wish to bring your own
supplies for babies and young children. Girls under the age of nine years
need not wear a headscarf.
Accommodation
We use a variety of hotels ranging from five star in the
main cities, to clean, comfortable guesthouses in smaller towns. You will
be staying in twin-bedded rooms, unless a single room supplement has been
paid, with a bath or shower and toilet en suite. Experienced travelers
will acknowledge that the standard of a five star hotel in Iran is not
the same as in Europe or the US. However, all the hotels we use have been
carefully selected by Magic Carpet Travel and are clean, safe and reliable.
It is worth mentioning that, as tourism is only just getting back on its
feet in Iran, many of the hotel staff are relatively inexperienced and
do not speak much English, so please be patient with them. You may not
be able to order room service at 3am but we are confident that the friendliness
and kindness of the staff in our chosen hotels will more than compensate
for any lack of creature comforts you may desire.
Telephone
All hotels offer facilities for international calls either
in the lobby or directly from your room. International call charges are
very reasonable. Telephone charge cards will not be of any use in Iran.
Electricity
The voltage is generally 220 V, 50 cycles. Power sockets
have two circular holes. An international adapter is recommended. You
are also advised to take your own hairdryer and electric razor.
Finally...
If you do occasionally want to wander around on
your own don't forget your hotel name and address. Please inform either
the guide or the tour leader when and where you are going. This will avoid
the group waiting unnecessarily. Your guide or tour leader will inform
the group of the day-by-day programme. Everyone is asked to be ready to
leave for a visit 10 minutes early. Arriving on time will also allow you
to gain the most from your visit. If the leader specifies a time for meeting,
it is irritating for the rest of the party and discourteous to our hosts
if we are prevented from leaving on time. You should expect, and be prepared
for changes and delays in any programme in Iran.
As long as you approach the tour with an open mind and a willingness
to be flexible, we are sure you will have a wonderful time!
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