Ancient Persia Tour

This short trip introduces you to modern Iran as well as taking you back into the exciting and adventurous world of ancient Persia. For more than three millennia Persia has been the centre for Greek, Arab, Mongol and Turkish invasions, developing the nations culture through philosophical, artistic, scientific and religious influences. We tread in the footsteps of historys great leaders such as Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan and Tamerlane. As we walk round the ancient sites we can only wonder at the architectural skills of these ... (more)

Tehran - Mt Tochal
Overview of Tehran from Mt Tochal

Tehran - Holy Shrine of Imam Khomeini
His name was Ruhollah ibn Mustafa Musawi Khomeini Hindi (1902- 1989) studied...

Tehran - Iran Iraq War Graves
Behesht-E Zahrā this is the main military cemetery for the dead of the...

Kashan
Overview of Kashan as seen from its ancient Ziggurat temple.

Kashan - Ziggurat Temple
This site is an ancient Ziggurat temple (Tappeh-ye Sialk) dating back...

Kashan - Ziggurat Skeletons
Remains of a small family who, it's believed, died when their roof...

Kashan - Fin Gardens #1
Fin Gardens (Bagh-e Fin) on the outskirts of Kāshān was...

Kashan - Fin Gardens #2
Buildings from the Safafid and Qajar periods have ornate ceilings made of...

Kashan - Fin Gardens #3
The watercourses take the form of long narrow shallow trenches. The...

Kashan - Merchants House
Borujerdi House which was built in the early 19th century by a merchant named...

Kashan - Ice House
This is where water is stored in the winter months, which froze to become a...

Castle
On the winding mountain road from Kashan to Abyaneh you come across an...

Castle - View
The winding road to Abyaneh and the mountains in the background that dominate...

Abyaneh Street
Abyaneh village has ochre coloured mud & straw walled houses going...

Abyaneh - Woman
An old woman of Abyaneh requesting money for photographs.

Abyaneh - Backdrop
If you pay the women she'll show you to her roof for this spectacular view.

Abyaneh - Mosque
The mosque at Abyaneh has interesting photographs of Khomeini, Rafsanjani and...

Abyaneh - Children
Abeyaneh has no children and the school is now closed. These children...

Naeen - Jame Mosque
The impressive minaret of Naeen's Jame mosque with its dome to the...

Naeen - Mosque's Ceiling
Off the courtyard you can find buildings with an interesting ceiling from the...

Naeen - Castle
Naeen's 40m high castle (Naareen Ghal'eh) built in the...

Yazd - Zoroastrian Towers of Silence
The followers of the Zoroastrian faith wrapped their dead in white cloth and...

Yazd - Tower of Silence Buildings
Nearby Yazd is a Zoroastrian "Towers of Silence" and these adjacent...

Yazd - Old City Street
The old city of Yazd, reported by UNESCO as one of the oldest towns in the...

Yazd - Alexander's Prison
In the heart of the old city of Yazd lies Alexander's Prison with its...

Yazd - Alexander's Prison Circular Saw
Just off the courtyard of Alexander's Prison you can see a sight that...

Yazd - Zoroastrian Fire Temple
Zoroastrian Fire Temple (Atashkadeh). The sacred flame, contained within the...

Yazd - School Outing
Schoolgirls on an outing at Yazd's Zoroastrian Fire Temple. The...

Yazd - Jameh Mosque Entrance
The superb entrance portal and minarets of Yazd's 14th century...

Yazd - Jameh Mosque Ceiling
Mosaics abound on the impressive ceiling of Yazd's Jameh Mosque.

Yazd - Jame Mosque Mehrab
The intricate detail of Yazd Jame mosque mehrab is stunning.

Yazd - Jame Mosque
Looking towards the mehrab of the Jameh mosque from its courtyard.

Yazd - Restaurant
A 200-year-old merchant's home buried deep within the bazaar down a long...

Yazd - Bakers
The effects of a hard days labour in the bakery can be arduous.

Yazd - Table Tennis Court
Table tennis Yazd style.

Yazd - Amir Chakhmaq
The Amir Chakhmaq at sunset was the entrance for the old bazzar. It is...

Yazd - Amir Chakhmaq Square
View of Amir Chakhmaq Square from its facade.

Yazd - Amir Chakhmaq View
View from the second floor of the Amir Chakhmaq facade shows numerous mosques.

Yazd - View
From the third floor of the Amir Chakhmaq facade you get a superb view...

Yazd - Shiraz
On the journey from Yazd to Shiraz you pass through some striking...

Caravanserais
This caravanserais lies just off the main road to Shiraz from Yazd. As...

Pasargadae - Tomb of Cyrus
Pasargadae (camping ground) were Cyrus the Great (c. 600-529 BC) who...

Pasargadae - Cyrus Palace #1
A view across Pasargadae towards the entrance hall of Cyrus the Great's...

Pasargadae - Cyrus Palace #2
Not a lot remains of Cyrus the Greats 2,500 year old palace.

Pasargadae - Palace Doorjamb
The remaining doorjamb of Cyrus the Great's Entrance Palace has an...

Naghsh-e Rostam - Royal Tombs
This is the impressive site of the tombs of Darius II, Xerxes I, Darius I and...

Naghsh-e Rostam - Darius II Tomb
This is the impressive site of the tombs of Darius I, Artaxerxes,...

Naghsh-e Rostam - Coronation of Nerses
Engraving shows the coronation of Nerses (293-303), who receives the kingdom...

Naghsh-e Rostam - Engravings
Right hand engraving is of Bahram II (276-293AD) which is engraved on...

Persepolis - Gate of All Nations #1
Gate of all Nations is the impressive gateway into Darius 1 palace...

Persepolis - Gate of All Nations #2
Rear view of the Gate of All Nations that shows it to consist of three...

Persepolis - Hall of 100 Columns
The Throne Hall, better known as the Hall of 100 Columns, is the...

Persepolis - DoorJamb
This doorjamb belongs to the north door of the Hall of 100 Columns. The...

Persepolis - Apadana Eastern Staircase
Engravings on the eastern stairway leading to the Apadana. Showing the...

Persepolis - Ahuramazda
Engraving on north jamb of eastern doorway of Xerxes' Hall of...

Persepolis - Palace of Darius I
Overview of the Palace of Darius I also known as the Hall of Mirrors....

Persepolis - Apadana Palace #1
Looking through a window from the Palace of Darius I onto part of the Central...

Persepolis - Apadana Palace #2
The impressive Central Hall of Apadana Palace is still impressive and...

Persepolis - Double Headed Eagle
A double-headed eagle that once sat on top of the tall columns on the site.

Persepolis - Double Headed Horse
A double-headed horse that once sat on top of the tall columns on the...

Persepolis - Overview
Overview of Persepolis from Rahmat Mountain with Marvdasht Flat in the...

Shiraz - Citadel
In the centre of Shiraz is its well preserved citadel - arg-e Karim Khan.

Shiraz - Vakil Bazaar
A spice seller in Shiraz' Vakil Bazaar. It is easy to get lost in the...

Shiraz - Bathhouse
The restored Hammam Vakil was once Shiraz' bathhouse and is now a...

Shiraz - Nasir-al Molk Mosque
The impressive tilework of the mehrab in Nasir-al Molk Mosque built...

Shiraz - Regent's Mosque
The Regent's Mosque (Masjed-ye Shohada) tiled porch. The mosque...

Shiraz - Vakil Mosque #2
Vakil (Regent's) Mosque is famous for its large prayer hall (75...

Shiraz - Serai Mushi
Situated inside the Vakil Bazaar is the Serai Mushi, a courtyard of...

Isfahan - Khomeini Square #1
Khomeini Square (Meidun-e Naghsh-e Jahan) in Isfahan (Esfahan) with...

Isfahan - Khomeini Square #2
Khomeini Square from Gheysareih Teashop near the Borzog Gateway...

Isfahan - Khomeini Square #3
The setting sun shows the Imam Mosque and Ali Qapu Palace silhouetted against...

Isfahan - Imam Mosque
Shah Abbas I Imam Mosque completed in 1636. It has a 54m high double layered...

Isfahan - Imam Mosque Detail
Showing the intricate detail of the blue and yellow mosaics on the...

Isfahan - Imam Mosque
The Imam Mosque's 42m high twin minarets dominate Khomeini Square. The...

Isfahan - Imam Mosque
Imam Mosque with the Zagros mountains in the background.

Isfahan - Lotfollah Mosque
Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque (Women's Mosque) built by Shah Abbas I in...

Isfahan - Lotfollah Mosque Ceiling
The ceiling of Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque.

Isfahan - Lotfollah Mosque Interior
The mosaic walls of the Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque has to be seen to be believed.

Isfahan - Vank Cathedral
In the Armenian quarter of Isfahan is the 17th century domed Vank...

Isfahan - Si-o-Se Bridge
Si-o-Se Bridge (33 arches) was built by Shah Abbas II in 1602 and crosses the...

Isfahan - Chehel Sotun Palace
Chehel Sotun (40 columns) Palace in the snow. Constructed as a...

article published 01/18/2005

Comments

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thanks!
great pics!! thanks for sharing and for all the great bylines on eac pic. very informative and thought provoking!
— cricket, July 8, 2008

Enjoyed your photos once again, really Great!! Could you ask Paul Sanford to contact me, Sanford is my mom's maiden name, and I'd like to ask a few "family questions" - thanks!! erobb I think you have my email address..?
— Eleanor Robb, June 18, 2005

Thanks, Nick! As a person who's visited Iran twice (1970 and 1976) without a guide, I learned a LOT from your explanations! It is a real thrill to be able to 'visit' this way!! I was surprised, recently, on viewing some ancient persian wine vessels, to learn that wine was invented in Persia! It's ironic, as I dont think wine is allowed there NOW!!
— Eleanor Robb, April 7, 2005

hi Nick, every time I send you an email it gets returned! have tried three times now. Hope you are well, your pics look good.
— christine, February 10, 2005

HiNick (& Flavia !!), Glad you enoyed (YET ANOTHER) Explore! Trip. Looks like a place with fascinating history - thanks for letting us all be "armchair tourists". Regards, Andrew & Gilly.
— Andrew, February 8, 2005

Hi Nick, thanks for putting the photos with all the captions on the web, one day when I have time, I need to add captions to my photographs of the same trip, as I didn't take very good notes and things get a bit confused after a bit - All the best Paul
— Paul Sanford, February 6, 2005

HALSTEAD
fantastic photos nick looks like you had a wonderfull time awesome scenery
— susan o,neill, February 3, 2005

Bloomin' 'eck Nick that's a lot of photos! Really good though. Persepolis looks fantastic. I'll send the link to my bro...see if he recognises anywhere!
— Jenny Grayson, January 19, 2005

Marvellous pictures and many thanks: almost like being there (as indeed I was). Happy New Year, Nick
— Richard, January 19, 2005

Amazing photos. I feel like I've been on a trip to Persia. Thanks for sharing, and thanks for the detailed descriptions.
— Connie, January 18, 2005

Fab pictures, Nick! Many thanks.
— Barbara Ward, January 18, 2005

Wonderful!
Fantastic pictures and commentary of a country I would love to visit. Persepolis looks stunning. Many thanks indeed, Nick!
— Phil Amey, January 18, 2005

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