The Iran Rose Harvest Tour

Every year around the villages of Ghamsar and Niasar, five hundred tons of roses are produced, distilled and turned into rosewater and rose oil. Flowers bloom between late April and June, depending on the spring weather. Our Rose Harvest tour departs in May to be sure of catching the roses at their peak.

The entire family, including children and old folk, gather in their rose gardens each day to pick the flowers before sunrise with the first dew still on the petals. This way they ensure none of the fragrance is lost. The roses are picked swiftly, before the sun's heat sets in, and collected in bags made from large pieces of cloth tied around the picker's necks. The bags are then taken to the distillation workshops, where they will be turned into rose water the same day. Eventually, the distilled rose essence will be exported to France and Bulgaria for perfumes, and to Saudi Arabia, to bathe the holy Kaa'ba curtain in Mecca.

Magic Carpet Travel's 11-day tour is organised around the harvest but also takes in Shiraz, Persepolis, Isfahan and Tehran. There is also a 4-day extension to North West Iran, reputed site of the Garden of Eden and home to spectacular mountain scenery, visiting the charming villages close to the Caspian Sea.

Day	City	Details
1	London - Tehran	Depart London Heathrow Terminal 3 on direct Iran Air flight at 17.00.
2	Tehran	Arrive 02.30 and transfer to the hotel. Morning visit to the Sa’ad-abad Palace complex, and a holy shrine in local bazaar of Tajrish. Afternoon a visit to the National Jewels treasury and on to Golestan Palace. Dinner at a traditional Persian restaurant with live music & story telling.
3	Tehran - Shiraz	Iran Air flight IR325 to Shiraz depart 13.15 arrive 14.45. In Shiraz visit the Eram Gardens and Narenjestan Palace. After dinner a night visit the holy shrine of Shah Cheraq (King of the Light).
4	Shiraz - Persepolis	Morning visit to the wind swept ruins of Persepolis & Naghsh-e-Rostam. Drive back to Shiraz after lunch. Visit Nasir Mosque, then on to the Mausoleum of the poets Saadi and Hafez, enjoying tea and ice cream in the garden teahouse.
5	Shiraz – Samirom Isfahan	Leisurely drive to Isfahan via Samirom, driving through stunning scenery including small villages and many nomad tents. Picnic lunch. Arrive Isfahan and transfer to hotel.
6	Isfahan	Explore the Royal Square, Shah & Sheik Lotf-Allah Mosques, Royal Ali-Qapu Palace. Lunch in a traditional Persian restaurant. Visit the beautiful Khaju & Si-o-se Bridges. Tea at the Under-the-Bridge Teahouse. Evening visit to the House of Strength to watch this traditional Iranian sport – a combination of physical and spiritual aerobics.
7	Isfahan	Morning visit to Chehel Sotun (Forty Columns) Palace & the Shaking Minarets. After lunch visit the 4500-year-old Zoroastrian Fire Temple. On to Vank Cathedral. Onto Jame mosque Evening option to visit the bazaar.
8	Isfahan –Nain- Yazd	Drive to Yazd via Nain, where you can visit the Jame Mosque and a traditional textile workshop.
9	Yazd	Full day tour of Yazd including the Atashkadeh (fire temple) where the sacred fire has been burning since 470 AD. On to Jame’h mosque. On to visit to the Towers of Silence, the ancient Zoroastrian burial grounds.
10	Yazd-Kashan via Abyaneh	Early morning drive to Kashan via Abyaneh, a picturesque village dating back 1600 years & UNESCO protected world heritage site. After lunch sightseeing in Kashan including the beautiful Fin Garden, the old houses of Borujerdi (Samovar merchant) and Tabatabaei (carpet merchant).
11	Kashan- Tehran	Early morning visit to the village of Niasar to watch and take part in the rose picking and see the distillation process. After lunch, at leisure to explore the village including the best preserved Sassanian fire temple in Iran dating back 1600 years. Afternoon drive to Tehran. Farewell dinner in a traditional Persian restaurant with live music.
12	Tehran - London	Depart for London 08.45, arriving Heathrow Terminal 3 at 11.45.

Extension: 4 days: Tabriz - Ardebil - Sarein - Rasht - Tehran

Day	City	Details
13	Tehran - Tabriz - Kandovan	Transfer to the airport for morning flight to Tabriz. After tour of Tabriz, including the beautiful Blue Mosque and the Tabriz bazaar famous for its architecture, evening drive to Kandovan village with its fascinating troglodyte architecture, known to have housed people over the last 1600 years. There will be time to explore this unique site on foot. Overnight Kandovan.
14	Kandovan - Tabriz - Sarein	After visiting the village take a stunning drive to Sarein, passing through the Noqdi area – reputed to be the site of the biblical Garden of Eden. On to Sarein to dip in the hot water springs visited by thousands of Iranians each year for its powerful healing properties. overnight Sarein
15	Sarein -Ardebill - tehran	Morning drive to Ardebil to visit the shrine of the great Sufi Sheikh Saffi-ed-din Ardebili, the forefather of the first Safavid King. Transfer to the airport for flight to Tehran.
16	Tehran - London	Depart for London 09.00, arriving Heathrow Terminal 3 at 11.45.

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12 DAY TOUR:
Package tour price per person £1940
Single room supplement £ 340
Visa consular fee £ 73

4 DAY EXTENSION:
Package price per person £445 Single room supplement £ 99

The cost of the tour includes:
Direct return economy flights on Iran Air between London and Tehran*, UK airport tax, arranging tourist visas, accommodation in three/four/five star hotels in twin bedded rooms with private facilities, full board throughout (breakfast, lunch and dinner every day), sightseeing visits and all entrance fees as per the itinerary, English speaking national guide throughout the trip, all transfers, land transport and internal flights including local taxes.

The cost excludes:
All personal extras such as laundry, tips and porterage, all optional excursions, tours and visits, travel insurance - available through Magic Carpet Travel.

*Magic Carpet Travel acts as agents of Facts Travel Ltd ATOL 4109 for the international flight component of this tour at £345 including taxes. Land-only price is £1595, should you wish to join the tour in Tehran, or arrange your own flight.

Direct flight on Iran Air - Heathrow terminal 3 6-hour flight
London/Tehran IR 710 Depart 17.00 Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays arrive 02.10
Tehran /London IR 711 Depart 09.00 Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays arrive 11.45

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