Trip Highlights:

5 days desert trekking around 120 km
Passing through many villages and oases
An epic passage through Iran’s Central Desert following part of the historic (silk road)
Visiting Na’in and Anarak towns
Explore elegant historical villages such as, Garmeh, Mesr and Iraj
Passing many typical oases on the trek like Farahzad, Aroosan, Koreh gaz and Garmeh
Visiting main touristic highlights of two ancient cities of Iran, Esfahan and Yazd
Two UNESCO world heritage sites of Esfahan, Masjed-e Jame (‘Friday mosque’) and Meidan Emam

TOUR CODE

067-STN-TRK

START

Esfahan

FINISH

Esfahan

REGION(S)

Dashte Kavir (Iran Central Desert)

INCLUDED

MEALS: 9 Breakfasts, 5 Lunches, 5 Dinners
ACCOMMODATIONS: Hotel: 1 Night, Camp: 3 Nights, Guesthouse: 2 Nights, Caravanserai: 3 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

In this tour you will walk more or less on the same route that Sven Anders Hedin, the Swedish geographer, topographer, explorer, photographer and travel writer travelled by paddle steamer in 1886. He travelled to Persia twice in 1886 and 1890. In 1887, Hedin published a book about these travels entitled Through Persia, Mesopotamia and the Caucasus. This itinerary has been designed taking into account the travels of Sven Hedin in Iran. Keeping his book (Through Persia, Mesopotamia and the Caucasus) in mind guided us through the routes he had taken while travelling in the desert. For those who are in love with books and adventures, we advise reading his book before starting the journey. This book can be so inspirational. You will experience a route travelled by a European adventurist and scientist and will probably see the sites seen by him more than a hundred years ago.

The focus of this adventure journey is trekking inside Iran Central Desert (Dashte Kavir) with a short visit of two main cities, Isfahan and Yazd. There are two UNESCO world heritage sites in Isfahan, a lot of interesting places in Yazd and on the road as well. The planned itinerary will start and end in Isfahan. You will visit main touristic attractions of Isfahan and Yazd along with some old towns and villages such as Qehi, Na’iin, Anarak, Garmeh, Mesr, Farahzad and Kharanagh. The route would be loop from Isfahan to the desert continued to Yazd and back to Isfahan from a different road.
The total travelled by car in 10 days will add up to 1200 Km. This package is suitable for real trekkers who wish to have a long trekking desert journey. The tour is a combination of different types of landscapes in Dashte Kavir desert. Our crew of professional desert drivers with 4×4 vehicles will support us during the trek and an expert English speaking desert guide would be with the group.
The operational season for this tour is from September to May, but the best time is from October to December and March to April.

Day 1: Arrival to Isfahan Airport – transfer to caravanserai

Upon arrival you will be met by our representative and transferred to a caravanserai.

Day 2: Esfahan city tour

Full day visit of Isfahan and meeting your desert guide in a briefing session in the evening. (B)

Day 3: Desert trekking (1st trekking day)

Early morning drive to starting point of trek. Trekking time would be about 6-8 hours (20 Km). We will make our camp at a suitable place for overnight stay. (B, L, D)

Day 4: Trekking continues to an oasis (2nd trekking day)

Early morning rise up for breakfast and off into the sand dunes. Today we will walk for 35 kilometers to reach a traditional guest house to stay overnight. (B, L, D)

Day 5: Sand dunes & mountain formations (3rd trekking day)

Resume trekking after breakfast to a stunning area where mountains meet desert. Overnight stay at camp. (B, L, D)

Day 6: Aroosan oasis (4th trekking day)

Another hiking day towards the small and beautiful oasis of Aroosan. Arriving in the afternoon will give us some time walking in the oasis and meeting local people. (B, L, D)

Day 7: Salt Lake – Garmeh & Bayazeh (5th trekking day)

Last trekking day. Half day walking towards the last oasis (12 km) followed by off-road driving to Salt lake. We will continue the journey towards Garmeh and Bayazeh villages. Overnight stay at a traditional guest house. (B, L, D)

Day 8: Drive to Yazd

Driver to Yazd and visiting attractions on the way such as Chak Chak Zoroastrian fire temple and historic village of Kharanaq. Overnight stay in a traditional hotel. (B)

Day 9: Drive to Isfahan - Meybod & Nain

Checking-out from hotel we will drive about 250 Kilometers to Isfahan (Kuhpa caravanserai). Visiting attractions on our way we will stay overnight in the caravanserai. (B)