Turkomen Steppe Ride - Spring
Itinerary 
Forest Ride - Summer & Autumn
Itinerary
GTS (Ghara Tepe Sheikh) Trek - April
- September
Turkoman Steppe Ride - Summer/Autumn Itinerary:
DAY 1: Depart London Heathrow at 13.00 on Lufthansa via Frankfurt
DAY 2: Arrive Tehran 01.40. Transfer from Tehran by minibus to GTS. Lunch on the way and crossing of the Elborz Mountains. Arrive at the farm, look around the stud and see horses. Turkmen style supper in Turkmen yurt - 'ala chekh'.
DAY 3: Morning ride to match horses to riders, check and adjust tack and to learn about Turkmen horses. Ride to village of GTS and to river. Picnic lunch and siesta. Afternoon ride to 'Alexander's Wall' (actually built at earlier periods to repel attacking steppes tribes) with chance for gallops. Check &and pack guest saddlebags. Kebab
supper.
DAY 4: (40 kms riding, seven hours approx. in the saddle).
Early start, breakfast, saddle up. Our route takes us across the steppes, with gorges and river crossings, from village to village. We start our climb into the hills following woodland tracks. Lunch is a picnic by a stream. The afternoon ride takes us along a high wooded ridge to the villager of Khojeh Saleh. Camp is set up in a field whilst the guests take tea with villagers. Barbecue supper, and first night under canvas.
DAY 5: (0-15 kms depending on individual guest's wishes).
Easy day. After breakfast we ride to a Scythian gravemound on top of hill above village with views into the deep valley, to the north, the haunt of Iranian leopard. We continue through primeval forest - the last remnants of Eurasian broadleaf woodland and extensive enough to hold bear, wild boar, wolves and deer as well as many smaller mammal species. Endless glades, tracks and enormous trees. We have a picnic lunch in the forest and ride back to camp with the chance of gallops and canters on the stubble field. Our second night at the village camp, with a campfire supper.
DAY 6: (30 kms and six hours approx. in the saddle).
Early start. After breakfast we take a very steep woodland descent down into the valley and cross the river gorge where we stop for lunch. A long woodland trail brings us to the village of Zao, which boasts a village store with a fridge and therefore cold drinks. We ride onto the second campsite, a woodland clearing in the shadows of the mountain, next to pooled stream. There is bathing for those tough enough to brave the chill waters. Campfire supper.
DAY 7: (Approx. 15 kms and hours of riding).
Relaxed day. After breakfast we rife up the mountain to the high pastures on the edge of the national park. Excellent bird watching en route. We graze the horses on the rich grass of the plateau whilst having lunch. The area has wild boar, as well as other large mammals and on our return camp we take a small trail in the late afternoon to pass wallow and drinking holes to maximise chances of seeing wildlife. At camp a campfire supper awaits us with bathing for the hardy.
DAY 8: (45 kms and approx. 8 hours of riding).
Early start. We ride back to Zao, and then take a new northerly route through the mountains, climbing to a ridge for a picnic lunch and views not only of our previous four days of travel, but far north to the Turkmenistan border and the Khaled Nebi mountains. In the afternoon we descend to the steppes, crossing the gorges and rivers that bring us back to the plains and finally to the farm at GTS. There we are welcomed by showers, a hearty meal and Turkmen games and music. Also a chance to buy local handcrafts - rugs, carpets, cushion covers, horse gear and riding coats, from the villagers of GTS.
Day 9: A leisurely morning. A chance to see around the Turkmen stud and see endurance and racing horses ridden in traditional Turkmen style. An early lunch and return to Tehran to continue on the rest of the Iranian programme.
Day 10: Depart 02.55 to London, arrive Heathrow via Frankfurt 08.10
Or
Day 10: Day in Tehran, visiting the Archaeological museum, crown jewels, and carpet museum. Flight to Isfahan.
Day 11: In Isfahan visit Royal Square; Imam & Sheikh Lotfollah Mosques, Ali Qapu Palace, Si-o-Se Pol & Khaju Bridges.
Day 12 :In Isfahan. Visit the famous 5 km long Bazaar, Friday Mosque, Chehel Sotoun (Forty columns) Palace.
Evening flight to Shiraz.
Day 13: Excursion to the magnificent ruins of Persepolis and Naghshe Rostam. In shiraz visiting Shah Cheragh mosque, the Bazaar and the mausoleums of Hafez and Sa'adi. Evening flight to Tehran
Day 14: Depart 02.55 to London, arrive Heathrow via Frankfurt 08.10
Cost includes arranging your visa plus the £40 visa stamp fees, airport transfers, transportation to and from the village of Ghara Tappeh Sheikh (GTS) (car and driver), riding and all meals.
Extension cost includes all airport transfers, internal flights, hotel accommodation and breakfast (5*in Isfahan, Shiraz and Tehran) inclusive of local taxes and service charge.
This price does not include return airfare to Tehran (£445), insurance and tips.
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