A Reflection of Persia is a 9 days – 8 nights private journey through Iran, tracing a route from Tehran to Tehran: Tehran, Kashan, Yazd, Shiraz, Isfahan, Tehran. Eight days through Iran’s most photographed cities — the mirrored dome of Isfahan, Persepolis at golden hour in Shiraz, the sand-coloured lanes of Yazd’s old town, and Kashan’s restored merchant houses — closing back in Tehran. Privately guided, paced for lingering rather than rushing between sites.
What A Reflection of Persia covers
Travelling at a private pace with a dedicated driver and guide, this itinerary moves through 6 stops, each chosen for what it adds to the journey rather than simply to fill the schedule. Nothing here is generic sightseeing — every stop on this list was chosen because it tells a specific part of the story this route is built around, and the order they come in is deliberate, not just geographically convenient. Along the way, the itinerary includes:
- Golestan Palace and the Grand Bazaar in Tehran on the first day, before the historic cities ahead
- Kashan’s Qajar-era mansions, Tabatabaei House and Boroujerdi House, with their wind-catchers and painted courtyards
- Fin Garden in Kashan, one of the nine gardens on the UNESCO Persian Garden list
- The mudbrick old town of Yazd, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities on earth
- Dowlat Abad Garden in Yazd, another of the nine UNESCO-listed Persian gardens
- Pasargadae, the tomb of Cyrus the Great and the first capital of the Achaemenid Empire
- Persepolis and Naqsh-e Rostam, the ceremonial capital and rock-cut tombs of Persia’s ancient kings
- Nasir al-Mulk Mosque in Shiraz, best seen in the morning light through its stained glass
- Naqsh-e Jahan Square in Isfahan, flanked by Imam Mosque, Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque and Ali Qapu Palace
- Si-o-se-pol and Khaju, Isfahan’s historic bridges over the Zayandeh River
- Abyaneh, one of Iran’s oldest living villages, its red-mud houses little changed in centuries
These are not simply a list of famous names to check off. Seeing them in this order, at this pace, and with the context a private guide provides is what separates a trip built around A Reflection of Persia from a standard group itinerary covering the same cities.
A Reflection of Persia — route and pace
The route runs Tehran, Kashan, Yazd, Shiraz, Isfahan, Tehran, starting in Tehran and finishing in Tehran. Travel is by private air-conditioned car with driver, which keeps the days flexible — stops can run long where a place deserves it and move on quickly where it doesn’t, without the constraints of a group itinerary. Because the car, driver and guide are private to your group for the full 9 days – 8 nights, the schedule can also shift in response to weather, opening hours, or simply how a particular city is striking you, something a fixed-departure group tour cannot offer.
What’s included on A Reflection of Persia
Accommodation is in 4★ hotels throughout, with breakfast daily included. Free WiFi is available along the route, and the trip is rated easy in difficulty, suitable for most travellers without special preparation or a particular level of fitness. Airport transfers, all transport between cities, and a private English-speaking guide throughout are part of the package, so the logistics of moving between destinations are handled and don’t take time away from the parts of the trip that matter.
Good to know before booking A Reflection of Persia
Pricing is available on request and depends on group size, season and hotel grade (per person · 2 pax · 4★ hotels). As with all our private tours, the itinerary above is a starting point rather than a fixed script — stops, pacing, and hotel grade can all be adjusted to suit your dates, interests, and group size before the trip is confirmed. Travellers who want an extra day in one city, a different starting point, or additional stops along the route are welcome to request changes; the itinerary is built around your priorities, not a fixed template.
Is A Reflection of Persia right for you?
A Reflection of Persia suits travellers who want to see Iran’s essential sites without the compromises of a scheduled group tour — private transport, a guide who adapts to your pace, and a route built around what you actually want to see rather than a fixed coach schedule shared with strangers. If the stops above match what you’re looking for, this is a strong starting point for planning your trip to Iran. If you’d like a different balance of cities, more time in one region, or a different overall pace, we can adjust the itinerary before booking so the final route reflects what you actually want from the trip, not just a standard package.
