Iran Travel Guide/advice and tourist/tourism information
Best Time to visit Iran

Travel Insurance for Iran


Iran Travel Guide/ Advice/Tourist and Tourism 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. Please be aware that you will not be able to use ATMs (cash machines) in Iran. 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. Alternatively you can change money at most 5* hotel receptions and banks. Tipping is the order of the day in Iran, so take lots of small notes and be generous! The current exchange rate is approximately $1 = 10,000 Rials, £1=15,500 Rials & €1= 13000 Rials (May 2009)

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. BMI 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.

Top

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 (Azerbaijan 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. The following vaccinations may be necessary, depending upon the time of year and the area you are visiting: Malaria prophylaxis, typhoid, tetanus and hepatitis. Please check with your GP prior to travel. Food in the hotels and upmarket 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 you stick to bottled water. This is widely available and relatively 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

We recommend you take a good pair of walking shoes, at least one warm item of clothing and an umbrella/some waterproof clothing depending on the season and region you are visiting.

Men should wear short- or long-sleeved shirts and long trousers. Jeans are fine; shorts are not. For women, regulations on dress have really eased up recently and as a visitor you will not be expected to follow the dress-code to the letter, however your efforts will be fully appreciated. 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. Silk headscarves have a tendency to slide off and can be impractical. A large cotton scarf is more practical. The perfect outfit would be a loose, long-sleeved shirt worn over jeans/cotton trousers or a full skirt with comfortable shoes or sandals. Open-toed sandals with no socks are fine (even painted toe-nails are acceptable). Many Iranians wear normal western dress with a three-quarter length coat called a 'manteau' whilst in public. 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.

Top

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 around 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 from the group. Here are some guidelines: you can tip the national guide around $5 - 10 per day per person. The local guides around $3 - $5 per day per person, and the drivers about $2-$3 per day per person.

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.

Top

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.

If you are travelling off the beaten track, where the accommodation is very basic, it is a good idea to take a small towel and bed-sheet.

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. Mobile phones and Blackberries can be used in Iran but this will depend upon your network's coverage in the region. Vodafone and T-Mobile work well and we suggest you check any other networks with the relevant provider. Internet access is available at most of the better hotels and it is absolutely fine to take a laptop to Iran. Some of the larger hotels may even have wi-fi in the bedrooms. Alternatively it is very easy to find internet cafes in most cities.

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 hair dryer 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. Your guide or tour leader will inform the group of the day-by-day programme. 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!

About Magic Carpet Travel, Iranian Tour Operator

Iran Travel Guide/ Advice, Tourist and Tourism Information

Links from affiliates:

Site Design: Heather Fitzgerald