Routing
1. Day: Take-off
The adventure shall begin. You board your plane, and a few hours later, you will land in Isfahan.
2. Day: One day in Isfahan
Your first day in Persia. After a few hours of sleep and a good breakfast, we get on the road for a sightseeing tour in Isfahan. The Naqsch-e-Dschahan Place ("mirror of the world") is our goal. Another more current name is Imam Place. It is one of the largest city places of the world. We visit some of the mosques and palaces around it and afterwards enter the bazar with its busy life. In the afternoon we get acquainted with the bikes.
Later on we take a walk at the banks of the Zayandeh River. Then dinner in one of the most famous restaurants of the town.
3. Day: From Isfahan to Khorramabad / ca. 380 km
Today we get moving in the direction of the Zagros mountains. The further we proceed, the more mountains and curves are on our way. Pure pleasure for bikers!
4. Day: From Khorramabad to Kermanshah / ca. 180 km
We stay in the Zagros mountains. It is a short trip today. We don't need to hurry and may fully enjoy the pleasures of a curvy beautiful ride across this landscape. In Kermanshah, we visit Taq-e Bostan. Here we find a group of rocky paintings from the time of the Sassanids Empire. They are considered among the most beautiful and well-kept examples of Sassanidic art.
In the direct neighbourhood of the paintings, fresh water comes out of the mountains and forms a tiny lake. Under the shadow of the trees it is nice to relax for a while.
5. Day: Ride from Kermanshah to Hamadan / ca. 185 km
Our last day in the Zagros mountains. Hamedan is one of the oldest, if not the oldest town in Iran. Under the name of "Ekbatana" it was the capital of the Meder Empire many centuries ago, and later on the capital of the Achämides Empire. Unfortunately there is nothing left from this glorious period in the history of the town.
Ibn Sina, one of the most important philosophers and medical doctors of his time(980-1037) spent the last years of his life in Hamedan.
6. Day: Excursion to Ali Sadr and Lalejin
Today the bikes don't work. We take the bus to the flowstone caves in Ali Sadr and to the pottery town Lalejin. The excursion ends with a visit of the Hemataneh Park near Hamedan with the impressive waterfalls.
7. Day: Ride to Qazvin / ca. 225 km
We could take the direct road to Qazvin, but we'll take a detour, which takes us to the edges of the Elborz mountains, including a lake where the wind blows to strong that you think you'll fly off your bike. But don't worry, so far everybody enjoyed the tour without any injuries.
8. Day: Daytrip to the fort of Alamut / ca. 200 km
For today's tour, the saying "The road is the goal" wholeheartedly shows its validity. There are hardly any left-overs of the the Alamut fort, and the attempts to reconstruct it ended somewhere in the beginning. But the road is fabulous, and without exaggeration, I can say that it is the most beautiful part of the whole journey, for bikers as well as other friends of spectacular landscapes.
9. Day: Daily trip to Teheran
Once more our bikes will have a day of rest, and we'll take a bus ride to Teheran.
10. Day: Drive from Qazvin to Kashan / ca. 375 km
On our way to Kashan, we come across small villages, where our appearance will cause an uproar, and when we'll take a break, we'll be surrounded within a few minutes by a curious mass of people. These encounters often end in interesting discussions and many many selfies.
11. Day: A day in Kashan
Kashan is famous for its beautiful rich merchant houses, but also for its mosques and a precious bath house. During our half-day, guided tour across the city, we will study these highlights more carefully.
12. Day: Ride from Kashan to Yazd / ca. 390 km
We will mainly be driving today. On the way we can visit a brick factory and whatever come to our sight in the villages and towns we are crossing.
13. Day: A Day in the city of Yazd
In my opinion, Yazd is one of the most beautiful cities of Iran, besides Isfahan of course. If you like, you might get to know the city during a sightseeing tour with a local guide. Otherwise you can spend the day as you like.
14. Day: Ride from Yazd to Shiraz / ca. 400 km
Now we reach the most Southern point of our journey, Shiraz. Shiraz is the city of poets and writers, in whose memory they built some very beautiful monuments.
15. Day: Daytrip to Persepolis
One last time, we leave the bikes and take the bus to Persepolis, where we will enjoy a guided tour through this ancient seat of the monarchs.
16. Day: Ride from Shiraz to Yasuj / ca. 175 km
In Yasuj , we made about half of the distance to Isfahan, and we only stop here, because the complete ride would have taken too long.
On the first Grand-Iran-Cruise we found a nice spot near a small waterfall for a typical Iranian picknick, with bread, cheese, water melon and non alcohol beer.
17. Day: Ride from Yasuj to Isfahan / ca. 315 km
Now we are in Isfahan again. The circle closes.
18. Day: One day in Isfahan
Today you have the chance to once more explore Isfahan. The relaxed atmosphere literally invites the visitor to enjoy the town without any stress.
19. Day: Flight back.
That is the end of this Iran Cruise. Early in the morning, the plane will take you back home. We hope, no, we are certain that you will leave for home with a completely new impression of this beautiful country and its people. Tell other people about it! Tell them, how friendly and open the Iranian people are, and convince your relatives and friends, to also pay a visit to this country!
