Isfahan to Yazd via Kuhpayeh and Varzaneh in Dashte-Kavir Desert

3 Days

Duration

Easy

Activity Level

Mar, Apr, May, Oct, Nov

Best Months

Off the Beaten Track

Travel Styles

Short desert trip to Varzaneh desert and staying in Kuhpa caravanserai and visiting the main highlights of the desert

TOUR CODE

079-STN-XPL

START

Esfahan

FINISH

Yazd

REGION(S)

Kavir Varzaneh (Iran Central Desert)

INCLUDED

MEALS: 2 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches, 2 Dinners
ACCOMMODATIONS: Caravanserai: 2 Nights
TRANSPORTATION: Bus, Private vehicle
All transportation according to the itinerary Accommodation as mentioned in the itinerary Meals as indicated in the itinerary English speaking tour guide

NOT INCLUDED

Entry fee for the sites not mentioned in the itinerary
Travel insurance
International airfare
Excess baggage charges
Airport and departure taxes
Any extra hotel costs such as early check in or late checkout
Laundry
Mini bar used in the room
Meals not stipulated in the itinerary
Tips (optional)
Cost of medical immunizations
Bottled water
Phone calls
Any other service not mentioned in the itinerary

One day and a half exploring in Iran Central desert
Visit desert oases and local people
Taste local cuisine
Qehi historic town & Ghurtan Citadel
Walk through flat desert
Visit dry Salt lake
Gavchah & Asiab shotor

This tour is a desert exploring tour for who travel from Esfahan to Yazd and would like to get a taste of Iran central desert (Dasht-e Kavir desert). In this desert detour you will have a short visit of Iranian central Desert “Dasht-e Kavir” on your Iran classic route between Esfahan to Yazd. The journey will start from Esfahan at noon and after two days you will finish your trip in Yazd. The region of the desert was the center of camel breeding industry many years ago. Trading on this route goes back to more than 2000 years as it was a part of the Silk Road. The accommodation is a cozy historical caravanserai which is renovated as a boutique hotel that would give you the feeling of staying at thousand years ago in ancient Silk Road period. In the night in the caravanserai you will have amazing night. This is an opportunity to touch the stars in the clear sky, or watch the mysterious moon in the silence. A chance to watch the astonishing view of sunset without any human made hurdle. Also there will be a couple of interesting villages to see such as: Qehi and Varzaneh. We will try to cover most of attractions of villages according to the season and our daylight. Each of these locations will have something interesting to offer. During this journey we want you to try many different Persian foods and one of the highlights of this journey is tasting the local cuisine. We will travel to a viewpoint for watching sunset and if you wake up in the early morning you will have the chance to watch the desert’s amazing sunrise.

Day 1: Drive to Kuhpayeh- walking tour

The journey will start from Esfahan historical city. You will be picked you up from your hotel at 13:00 and drive to Kuhpayeh town only 80 km east of Isfahan, where you will visit the old caravanserai of the town. This amazing Caravanserai is renovated in a modern style and we will check in this Caravanserai for this night. After check in and short rest, you will have tea and refreshment in the restaurant of the caravanserai. In the afternoon at 16:00 you will have a walking tour around the town and you will visit the underground reservoir water and the old castle of the town back to the Sasanan period (1500 years ago) and the historical mosque of Kuhpayeh. In the evening, you have a locally made dinner. The night time would be a great opportunity to watch the stars of the desert. Overnight stay in Kuhpa Caravanserai hotel. (D)

Day 2: Desert tour, Qehi- Ghurtan Citadel, Varzaneh desert and Salt Lake

For the second day plan, we considered an exploring activity to visit the neighboring villages of Kuhpayeh as well as Qehi’s historical village, which will start at 8:00 after breakfast. You will visit the historic villages of Qehi and beyond. In the village you will visit the remains of an old castle in a picturesque location ideal for taking photos. We will also spend some time for roaming in the village of Qehi. The houses, mosque and its underground water “Qanat “are the highlights of the village. You will be back to the caravanserai by lunch time. You will have traditional lunch in the restaurant of the caravanserai and serving local fresh meals. Afterwards you will have a short rest in your room and by the afternoon you will start your desert tour. Will drive towards the desert. On the route we will visit Ghurtan Citadel, dated back to 1100 years ago, Deylamian era, registered in National heritage. It contains 14 monitoring tower, 3 mosques, 1 local bath, 2 castles and a bazaar. We will continue to visit Guvchah, industrial irrigating system which it uses one or two cows to water the agricultural lands. Asiab Shotor with a background of 300 years is a mechanical system to grind the wheat, which is a must to see. Then we will drive to the dry salt lake and you spend half an hour to visit and taking photo. Then for the sunset we will drive to the viewpoint in the sand dune. Then we will drive back to the caravanserai and you will have dinner there. Overnight you will stay in the private room with the traditional Persian style sleeping arrangement in the caravanserai. (B, L, D).

Day 3: Drive to Yazd

After breakfast, morning time is at your leisure to pack your luggage. We will have lunch in Kuhpa Caravanserai restaurant. After lunch, you will check out and we will arrange a bus ticket and you travel to Yazd takes 3 hours. You will be Yazd around late afternoon. (B, L)