fly at c.7.00pm from London Heathrow on a direct flight to Tehran arriving c.4.30am the following morning—early check-in at the hotel.

Tehran, Shiraz—visits include the Sa'ad Abad Palace complex and the Carpet Museum, a comprehensive collection dating from the 16th century to the present day—afternoon flight to Shiraz, a former capital of Persia—first of three nights in Shiraz.

Maybod, Mohammediye, Na’in, Isfahan—visit the citadel in the traditional pottery-making centre of Maybod—stop at Mohammediye to see traditional wool-weaving—in Na’in, the geographical heart of Iran, visit the mosque which retains 10th-cent. features—drive to Isfahan, where four nights are spent.

Natanz, Kashan, Tehran—drive via Natanz to see the Friday mosque and the Shrine of Sheikh Abdul-Samad—in Kashan visit Bagh-e-Fin, perhaps the most beautiful of classical Persian gardens—first of two nights in Tehran.

Isfahan—three full days in Isfahan to experience the sights of the monumental capital of Safavid Persia (17th and 18th cent.), one of the wonders of the world—opportunity to visit all the main monuments—the great rambling Friday Mosque, a classic work of Persian art and a veritable textbook of Islamic architecture, incorporating most periods and styles—the great works of the royal city laid out by Shah Abbas include the tiled bridges and the palace pavilions of Chehel Sutun and Hasht Behesht—surrounding the vast Imam Square (formerly Royal Square) are the Ali Qapu pavilion, the Shaikh Lutfollah Mosque with near perfect dome, the monumental entrance to the grand bazaar and the immense tiled bulk of the Imam Mosque (formerly Royal Mosque)—some free time in Isfahan, to shop in the famous bazaars or relax in a teahouse.

See day 10.

See day 10.