Cycle Iran

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days 12 From US$ 2,677

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highlights

Explore Persepolis during a guided tour, learn more about ancient Persia
Visit Shiraz and Isfahan, marvel at their architectural beauty
Explore Abyaneh, one of the oldest villages in Iran
Ride your bicycle through the Zagros Mountains, enjoy stunning sceneries along the way

Join us on this 12-day, guided cycling trip of Iran and get the chance to venture into the unknown and challenge everything you think you know about this country. Completely misrepresented by world media, Iran is home to some of the friendliest and warmest people on the planet and a history that goes all the way back to the dawn of civilization.

Starting from Tehran, this tour will take you to Qom, Kashan, Abyaneh, Isfahan and Shiraz before coming to an end in Tehran. Marvel at the stunning architectural beauty of Shiraz and Isfahan. Visit Fin Garden, the oldest extant garden in the country, and Nasir-ol-molk Mosque, the magnificent mosque in Shiraz that is known for its dazzling glass windows and painted tiles of vivid colors.

Learn more about the legacy of the Persian Empire during a guided tour of Persepolis, the city of Cyrus the Great, and pedal your way through the Zagros mountains. Along with showing you the beauty of Iran, Social Cycles will also help you interact and connect with local non-government organizations (NGOs) and the beneficiaries of a funded project of your choosing.

For more about this trip, please go through the itinerary below.

Itinerary Expand All

Day 1: Tehran

2 Star Hotel

The concrete jungle of Tehran can seem a little daunting at first but it doesn’t take long to get your bearings and feel right at home. We’d recommend you arrive a few days early to have a good look around. You can check out one of the many museums, mosques or markets in the city. Hamed, one of the tour facilitators, will be in the city to greet you and offer some local advice. Our first official activity for the evening is a welcome dinner at a ‘local’s favourite’ restaurant.

Meals

Dinner

Day 2: Tehran - Qom

2 Star Hotel

Start the day by meeting the wonderful people from Omid-e-Mehr Foundation. Learn more about how this incredible non-government organisation empowers disadvantaged young women through three key areas: self empowerment, education and training.

Started in 2004, Omid-e-Mehr was set up to help victims of sexual, physical and mental abuse. Today, it has over 200 young women enrolled in it’s program. Make your way to Qom, the second holiest city in Iran, in the afternoon.

Meals

Breakfast

Day 3: Qom - Kashan

Hotel

Grab the bike today. Drive the van to the foot of the mountains in the morning. The first 30km is a gradual climb that will take you from 1400m to 2800m above sea level. After a bit of an undulating track, you will end your day at 1750 meters above sea level.

Get into the van and head for Kashan. Check into your hotel upon arrival. You are free to explore the city on your own if you want to.

Total cycling distance: 70km

Meals

Breakfast & Lunch

Day 4: Kashan

2 Star Hotel

Visit Fin Garden, located around 10km outside of the city, in the morning. You are free for the rest of the day. Explore Kashan on your own and see some of its most interesting sights. The Agha Bozorg Mosque is an excellent example of 19th century architecture, while the Sultan Amir Ahmad Bathhouse is a 16th century architectural masterpiece.

Done seeing the landmarks? Wander through the Bazaar of Kashan, taking in the sights and sounds of this busy market.

Meals

Breakfast & Dinner

Day 5: Kashan - Abyaneh

2 Star Hotel

Drive out of Kashan's busy traffic and down a quiet to Abyaneh, a village around 87km away from the city. Ride your bike through a 25km uphill track with ample breaks to explore local villages en route.

Don’t be surprised if the locals invite you to their homes for tea. Expect a feast of fruits, dates, home-made sweets and, of course, black tea. The day finishes at 2200m above sea level in the small, historic village of Abyaneh. Make sure you go for a stroll around the village in the evening.

Total cycling distance: 25km

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 6: Abyaneh - Isfahan

2 Star Hotel

You will be pedalling your way through great heights while enjoying incredible mountain views today. A slow, 22km climb from Abyaneh will take you 2800m above sea level into a remote, fascinating land. This is a road less travelled, let alone cycled.

Arrive at the tiny village of Meymeh before being picked up by the van that will take you to Isfahan. It’s important to note that during the 22km ride from Abyaneh, there will be no support van as the terrain is not suitable for vehicles.

Total cycling distance: 22km

Meals

Breakfast & Lunch

Day 7: Isfahan

2 Star Hotel

Isfahan is the number one tourist destination in Iran, and for good reasons. Being one of the oldest cities in Iran, with history going back by 2500 years, Isfahan is famous for it’s tree-lined boulevards, beautiful mosques, bustling bazaars and expansive city squares.

Meet members of Congress 60, another local NGO, and learn a little more about the lives of the people in the city.

Meals

Breakfast & Dinner

Day 8: Zagros Mountains

Homestay

Today you will be cycling more than 100km on a route that is more downhill than uphill. Drive out of the city. Grab the bike and start your journey from an elevation of 2300m above sea level, making your way through remote regions of the country via small villages and towns that are not too far from the protected area of Dena.

The elevation at the final point of your journey today is 1500m above sea level.

Total cycling distance: 100+ km

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 9: Zagros Mountains

Homestay

More mountains, villages and cycling. Continue your journey on the bike through the mountains for a further 60 to 70 kilometers. Travel past local villages enjoying rural sceneries.

Total cycling distance: 60km - 70km

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 10: Shiraz

2 Star Hotel

This is the last cycling day of the trip. Cycling through the Zagros Mountains, you will climb to the altitude of 2500m during the first 60km before descending to 2300m in the next 10km. However, the distance you cycle today also depends upon a group consensus and the time you want to reach Shiraz.

With two support vehicles, you will enjoy greater flexibility today. Check into your hotel upon arrival. You can explore the city of Hafez if you want to.

Meals

Breakfast & Lunch

Day 11: Shiraz

2 Star Hotel

You have a full day to explore the city on your own today. Shiraz is a photographers' haven with highlights such as Eram Garden, Nasir-ol-molk Mosque and Karim Khan Citadel, just to name a few. Spend part of the day visiting the final NGO of the trip after which you are free.

Meals

Breakfast & Dinner

Day 12: Shiraz - Persepolis - Tehran and departure

Visit Persepolis, the ancient city built in 518 BC by Darius the Great as the capital of the mighty Achaemenid Empire. Alexander the Great burnt this city to the ground in 330 BC but many remnants of its former glory remain. This place was officially made a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979. It’s a long day in the van, but we’ll get you to Tehran by early evening to say goodbye.

Meals

Breakfast

what’s included

11 nights' accommodation on a twin-share basis (hotels and local homes)
Meals as per the itinerary
Airport pickup on arrival. Transfer from Shiraz to Tehran
A cycling guide/mechanic as well as a driver and a tour manager. A support van throughout the duration of the trip
Entrance fees & guided tour of Persepolis. Tickets to Fin Garden and Nasir-ol-molk Mosque
Visa application support
Minimum 2 NGO (local charities) engagements

Optional Addons (Available during check-out)

Single supplement

what's excluded

International flight tickets
Visa fees
Travel insurance
Gratuities and tips
Expenses that are personal in nature
USD200 per-person donation to NGO's (optional)

Group Tours Start Private Tour Start Private Tour

06 Sep 2019 from Tehran
17 Sep 2019 to Tehran
3 people booked avg age 41-50
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11 Oct 2019 from Tehran
22 Oct 2019 to Tehran
3 people booked avg age 41-50
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Payment

A deposit of 10% is required when booking this tour. The remaining balance will be charged 45 days prior departure. For any bookings within 45 days of departure, the full tour amount will be charged upon booking.

Travel Insurance

We advise to take out Travel Insurance to cover for any unforeseen circumstances. Bookmundi recommends World Nomads' travel insurance.

Other Practical InformationVisas. Passport holders from most European countries, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and many others can get a visa on arrival. It is recommended that a pre-arrival permit is obtained. We can help you with this. Passport holders from USA, Canada and the UK need a specialist visa. The process is a little longer, but we can also help with this process and sponsor your time in Iran with us.

Cancellation10% Deposit payable upfront. Remaining balance payable 45 days prior to trip departure. Free cancellation up to 45 days prior departure. No refund applicable within 45 days of departure.

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