3 Days

Duration

Moderate

Activity Level

Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct, Nov

Best Months

Cultural & Heritage

Activities

Soft Adventure

Travel Styles

A short cultural and historical trip to west Alborz Mountain Heights to visit Masuleh historical village and Alamut Valley

TOUR CODE

002-STN-XPL

START

Tehran

FINISH

Tehran

REGION(S)

Qazvin and Rasht Province

INCLUDED

MEALS: 3 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches, 2 Dinners
ACCOMMODATIONS: Local House: 2 Nights
TRANSPORTATION: Private vehicle
All transportation according to the itinerary Accommodation as mentioned in the itinerary Meals as indicated in the itinerary English speaking tour guide Backpack handling by Mules/Horses (limited to 15kg per person)

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

Photography from Andej canyon ”Red-rock”
Visiting the fabled ruins of the Alamut historic castle “Eagle Nest”
Local Homestay & socialize with locals
Visiting historical Masuleh village
Gilan Rural Heritage Museum (Legacy of Old Houses)
Visiting Roodkhan Castle

This trip is designed for those who have a taste of adventure along with history and culture. Historic wise it is a very special journey through the depth and breadth of Alborz range and through a fascinating slice of Persian history. The history of Alamut Castle and this particular sect of Ismaelies go back to about 1000 years. They lasted till the Mongol invasion of Persia about 300 years later during the 14th century A.D. Their history is long and quite complex, during the trip we will have a chance to give more information and provide the chance to closely examine some of the physical remains of their structures. This trip would be a memorable trip because of its physical beauty and the variety of landscapes encountered.
Cultural wise, in the second part of the trip we will visit Masuleh which is a historical village attracting many tourists because of its architecture and people. Masuleh is surrounded by forest from valley to mountain and fog is the predominate weather feature of Masuleh. In this trip you will also have the chance to visit Roodkhan castle which is a medieval brick and stone castle built on two tips of a mountain.

Day 1: Tehran to Alamut Valley

You will depart at 6:00 A.M driving towards Alamut via the city of Ghazvin which is about 300 km. Half of the road is highway and the other half is curvy mountainous. We will stop every now and then to watch the scenery and take photos. Then we will visit an amazing canyon (Andej canyon), a good place to have a short walking before lunch. The canyon is surrounded by three awesome red-rock, side canyons. After a short stop for photography we will go to a local house for lunch to meet the native people and see their way of life. After lunch we will hit the road to visit the main attraction of the trip the Alamut Castle. On the way to the castle, we will visit Gazorkhan village which has historical significance and then will drive to the Castle. From the main gate it takes around half an hour to climb to the Eagle Nest. We spend some time for visiting & photography from the remains of the castle and get a better idea why it was built in such a place and some of the historical facts related to the Hashashin. Top of the castle will give us a panoramic view of the vast valley. After visiting Alamut Castle we will go back to GazorKhan to drive to Garmarud. In Garmarud, we will stay in a local house. The rest of the day will be spent at the village which has quite pleasant surroundings. We will have time to socialize with locals before a traditional dinner. Overnight stay at a local house. (B, L, D)

Day 2: Heritage Museum & Masuleh village

8.00 A.M wake up and drive to Masuleh village after breakfast. We will have a short stop in Qazvin town to see some sites there and walking around the town. This is an excellent area to rest and take some photos. After lunch, we will continue the road towards Masuleh. En route you will also visit main attractions of Rasht which is Gilan Rural Heritage Museum (Legacy of Old Houses). We will arrive to Masuleh In the late afternoon, walking through the village for a short sightseeing around the village and buy some handicrafts and souvenirs. Then we will drive to a local house. Overnight stay at a local house in Fouman. (B, L, D)

Day 3: Rudkhan Castel, Back to Tehran

After breakfast, we will have some sightseeing and photography in the morning around the village and then we will drive to Rudkhan Castle. We are going to have 3 hours trekking to get to the castle. This castle is a brick and stone medieval castle dating back to 1500 years. Once we reach to the castle and spend some time there, we will drive back to Tehran. We will be in Tehran in the evening (B, L).