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Itinerary
for Iran (Persia), Armenia,
Georgia and Turkey Tour
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Included
meals are indicated as B =
Breakfast, L =Lunch, D = Dinner |
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19.09.12
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Australia - Dubai
Brisbane passengers
depart at 8.45pm on EK 435, arriving
in Dubai at 5.25am the next morning (20.09.12).
Sydney passengers depart at 9.10pm on EK 413, arriving in Dubai at
5.45am the next morning (20.09.12).
Melbourne passengers depart at 9.25pm on EK 407, arriving in Dubai at
5.25am the next morning (20.09.12). |
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| 20.09.12 |
Dubai - Tehran
All passengers depart
Dubai at 7.45am on EK 971, arriving
in Tehran at 10.25am. Upon arrival in Tehran you will be transferred to
your
hotel for overnight stay.
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21.09.12
(B/D) |
Tehran - Shiraz
After breakfast we will
visit Iran National Museum with
artifacts indicating Iran's 7000 year old civilization, Royal Jewellery
Museum, (its treasury is the richest and the most dazzling collection
of jewels in the world) and Sad Abad Palace. This evening you will fly
to Shiraz.
Overnight at your hotel in Shiraz. |
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22.09.12
(B/D) |
Shiraz
Today we will visit
Eram and Naranjestan Gardens, Zand
Complex (lofty citadel, Vakil Mosque, the traditional Bazaar),
Nasir-ol-Molk mosques, the 2 poets' mausoleums Hafez & Sadi and
the
most astonishing mirror decoration of Aliebnehamze holy shrine.
Overnight at your hotel in Shiraz. |
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23.09.12
(B/D) |
Shiraz - Persepolis -
Necropolis -
Isfahan
After breakfast drive
to Isfahan. En route we
will visit
Qoran Gate, Persepolis, the ceremonial capital of Persia in 500 BC
built by the hands of free artists and workers and the Necropolis which
was the
Achamenian king's necropolis, cut out of a mountain where Darius the
Great rests in his Tomb and watches us after 7000 years of Iranian
history.
Overnight at your hotel in Isfahan. |
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24.09.12
(B/D) |
Isfahan
In the morning we will
visit Imam Square the jewel of
Persian architecture with 4 monuments at 4 sides including Alighapou
Palace, Imam and Sheikh Lutfullah Mosques and Isfahan Bazaar with its
traditional arcades. In the evening we will visit Si-o-Se-Pol (Thirty
Three Bridges) and Khajoo Bridges over Zayandeh Rud River. Overnight is
at your hotel in Isfahan. |
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25.09.12
(B/D) |
Isfahan
Today we will visit the
Armenian quarter of Jolfa, Vank
Cathedral, Friday Mosque, Shaking Minarets and Chehel Sotoun known as
Forty-Column Palace. This evening is at leisure.
Overnight is at your hotel in Isfahan. |
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26.09.12
(B/D) |
Isfahan - Tehran
After breakfast we will
drive toward Tehran. En route we
will visit Fin Complex and Agha Bozorg theological school in Kashan, a
city known for nice old traditional houses and carpet. Continue toward
Tehran.
Overnight is at your hotel in Tehran. |
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27.09.12
(B/D) |
Tehran - Zanjan - Tabriz
In the morning we leave
Tehran toward Tabriz, en route
after 3 hours we will visit Sultanate Dome, the largest brick dome in
the world and the Royal Arg of Sultanate. Continue to Zanjan, where we
will visit Zolfaghari Mansion and Bazaar. Drive to Tabriz.
Overnight is at your hotel in Tabriz. |
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28.09.12
(B/D) |
Tabriz - Jolfa (Iran -
Armenia border)
Meghri - Goris
Today we will cross the
border to enter Armenia. Start
exploring Armenia from the south, then continue to the town of Goris
which is one of the main cities of Syunik region. Nestled in a bowl of
green hills and mountains, with interesting formations and many
previously inhabited caves, Goris has some of the nicest overall
Armenian architecture in Armenia. This park-city, despite the natural
cuts, has a well-organised ground plan. Overnight in the hotel in
Goris. |
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29.09.12
(B/D) |
Goris - Tatev - Noravanq -
Areni - Yerevan
After breakfast, start
the tour to the monastic complex of
Tatev (Cultural Heritage Site by UNESCO), which is an architectural
masterpiece dating from the 10th century and is often called a
monastery built on the edge of nothing. Drive to Noravank Canyon with
the monumental monastery - the medieval cultural and spiritual centre
of Vayots Dzor region. Continue the tour to Areni Village and Areni
wine factory to taste some local wine made from special sorts of vines.
Then onto Yerevan.
Overnight at your hotel in Yerevan. |
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30.09.12
(B/D) |
Yerevan
After breakfast start a
city tour of Yerevan, including a
visit to Matenadaran, the depository of ancient manuscripts and the
first bible translated into Armenian. Then depart for Garni Temple. The
citadel and pagan temple of Garni is a picturesque monument of the
Hellenistic period and an impressive piece of ancient Armenian
architecture. It was built in the first century A.D. by the Armenian
King Tiridates and it is dedicated to a heathen god, Mithra - the god
of the sun. After proclaiming Christianity as a state religion in
Armenia in 301, the temple was used as the summer residence of kings.
Lunch is at a local house where you will have the opportunity to watch
Armenian national bread 'lavash' baking process in the underground clay
oven called 'tonir'. Northeast of Garni, higher up the gorge of Azat
River, there is a magnificent monument of medieval Armenian
architecture - Geghard Monastery, which has been inscribed in the
UNESCO World Heritage List. Geghard is an incredible ancient Armenian
monastery, partly carved out of a mountain. The meaning 'The Monastery
of the Spear', originates from the spear, which had wounded Jesus
during his crucifixion. Return to Yerevan and overnight at your hotel. |
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01.10.12
(B/D) |
Yerevan - Tbilisi
Arrive at
the Georgia-Armenia border Sadakhlo. After
border
formalities, we will be in Georgia. Drive to Tbilisi for a half day
sightseeing tour. Known as a capital of Georgia from the 5th century,
the
city is extraordinary for its turbulent history, elegant and remarkable
architecture destroyed and restored through centuries but keeping the
entire style of Georgian orthodox religion and traditions. Walk through
the old city. Visit Metekhi Church dated 13th century, Sulfur Bathes,
Narikala fortress of 4th century, Sioni Cathedral known from the 7th
century, Anchiskhati Basilica dated from the 6th century. Welcome
dinner at
a traditional Georgian city restaurant with a folk performance.
Overnight
at your hotel in Tbilisi. |
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02.10.12
(B/D) |
Tbilisi - Kutasi
After breakfast we will
drive to Gori. The city was
founded by one of the greatest kings of Georgia, David the Builder
(1089 - 1125). On the way visit Samtavisi, an 11th century Georgian
Orthodox cathedral. The first monastery on this place was founded by
the Assyrian missionary Isidore in 572 and later rebuilt in the 10th
century. Visit the Joseph Stalin Museum in Gori. Afterwards visit
Uplistsikhe "the lord's fortress", which is an ancient rock hewn town
in eastern Georgia. Built on a high rocky left bank of Mtkvari River,
it contains various structures dating from the 2nd ML BC to the Late
Middle Ages and is notable for the unique combination of various styles
of rock-cut cultures. Then drive to Kutaisi and visit Gelati Monastery
and walk in Kutaisi city.
Overnight at your hotel in Kutaisi. |
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03.10.12
(B/D) |
Kutasi - Batumi
Breakfast at hotel.
Today visit Bagrati Cathedral dated
11th century and built in Kutaisi. Continue to Batumi, the centre of
Adjaria
province. On the way visit Batumi Botanical Gardens which
has landscape zones co-existing side by side. Enjoy a
sightseeing
tour
of Batumi and dinner at a local restaurant in Batumi.
Overnight at your hotel in Batumi. |
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04.10.12
(B/D) |
Batumi - Artvin
Today drive to the
Georgia-Turkey border of Sarpi. En
route visit
the Gonio Roman fortress of 1st millennium. After border
formalities, change bus and driver and continue to Turkey.
Overnight at your hotel in Artvin. |
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05.10.12
(B/D) |
Artvin - Savsat
Artvin is perched
spectacularly above a bend in the Coruh
River on an east facing slope. The town is also known for its annual
Kafkasor Festival, one of the last genuine folk fairs in Turkey to
which wrestlers, dancers and musicians come from all over Turkey and
Georgia. We spend the afternoon exploring the beautiful Yayla region
around Artvin and Savsat. This area is adorned with ornate wooden
houses and churches, characteristic of the Caucasus. We stop to see the
10th century Georgian churches at Dolishane and Tbeti.
Overnight at you hotel in Savsat region. |
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06.10.12
(B/D) |
Savsat - The Georgian
Valleys - Erzurum
We spend the day today
exploring the Southern Georgian
Valleys where the Georgians have lived since the Bronze Age. We follow
the Coruh River to the village of Ishan, spectacularly sited on a
mountainside surrounded by apple, walnut and mulberry groves. We visit
the church of the Mother of God, which was built in stages between the
8th and 11th centuries, making it one of the oldest Georgian churches
in Turkey. We pass by Tortum Lake and stop to see the Tortum
Waterfalls. We continue to Osk Vank to see the 10th century cathedral
whose frescoes are the best preserved examples in Turkey. Beyond is
the Monastery complex at Haho; the first of several institutions built
by King David the Great. We proceed to Erzurum where we spend the night. |
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07.10.12
(B/D) |
Erzurum - Istanbul
This morning we fly to Istanbul. This afternoon is at leisure to
explore this fascinating city. |
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08.10.12
(B) |
Istanbul - Dubai
This morning is at
leisure. In the afternoon you are
transferred to the airport for your flight to Dubai. Depart Istanbul at
7.25pm on EK 122, arriving in Dubai at 12.40am.
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09.10.12
(B) |
Dubai
Upon arrival in Dubai
you are met and transferred to the
Holiday Inn Al Barsha, where you will be able to immediately check
into your
rooms. The rest of the day is at leisure. |
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10.10.12
(B/D) |
Dubai
This morning there is
a sightseeing tour, where we
view the Burj Al Arab, which is considered by many to be the
most
famous building in Dubai. Burj Al Arab is a luxury hotel
which stands on an artificial island. The shape of the
building is
designed to mimic the sail of a ship. Also view the Jumeirah Mosque,
which is located within a coastal residential area of
Dubai. There
is also a visit to the Gold Souk, which is a traditional market in
Dubai, located in the heart of Dubai's commercial business district.
The souk consists of over 300 retailers that trade almost exclusively
in jewellery. By some estimates, approximately 10 tons of gold are
present at any given time in the souk.
In the afternoon there is a four wheel drive 'Desert Safari' excursion
including dune driving, camel ride, henna painting and Arabic costumes
for photographs. For dinner there is a dune safari meal, including
barbeque meats and salads, as well as fresh fruits and local Arabic
sweets. Afterwards you are returned to the hotel. |
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11.10.12
(B) |
Dubai - Australia
This morning there is
an early breakfast before you are
transferred to the airport for your flight home.
Melbourne passengers depart Dubai at 10.10am on EK 406, arriving in
Melbourne at 6.35am the next morning (12.10.12).
Sydney passengers depart Dubai at 10.15am on EK 412, arriving in Sydney
at 7.00am the next morning (12.10.12).
Brisbane passengers depart Dubai at 10.25am on EK 434, arriving in
Brisbane at 6.40am the next morning (12.10.12). |
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Note:
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Some of the countries
visited on this tour often receive
adverse (and exaggerated) media attention. If this is a major concern
to you than it is recommended that you do not book on this
tour.
Macleay Valley Travel intends to run this tour as per the current
program. However if the Australian Department of
Foreign
Affairs states 'do not travel' to a particular country on this tour
shortly prior to its commencement, than either an alternative program
will be arranged or passengers will be provided a full refund for the
tour. |
