Iran vacation advice
Meeting Iranians
Mike Pullman, from our supplier Wild Frontiers, on meeting young people when he was in the university city of Shiraz: “Young Iranians will just come up to you and start talking and practising their English. They’re very outgoing, more the women than the men. The women seem to have brilliant English, and the men will just manage to ask you what football team you support. Iran has one of the highest rates of females in university education in the world, which is surprising.
But their English is excellent, so you get lots of 19, 20, 21-year-old women coming up to you and speaking to you. They all want to take photos of you and they’ll ask you questions like – “what do you think of the BBC’s coverage of the Middle East?” and “what do British people think of Iran and Iranians?” They’re really interested in that. They’ve been quite hurt by the fact they were cast as one of the ‘Axis of Evil’ by George Bush. Iran has had some quite difficult regimes, but the people have never been like that. They’re all very keen to say – please don’t judge us on our regime. And we’re keen to say the same to them!”
Our Iran Vacations
Iran vacation, private departure
A private, tailor-made tour of historic Iran
From
US $2650
8 days
ex flights
Iran vacation, Persian Explorer
A 10 day trip to some of Iran's most fascinating highlights
From
£2295 to £2795
9 days
ex flights
Iran food adventure tour
Experience the taste and flavour of Persia
From
US $2440
10 days
ex flights
Women only tours to Iran
Discover the beauty of Iran and experience its culture.
From
US $2565 to US $2905
12 days
ex flights
Iran cultural vacation
A captivating land dripping with history and culture
From
£2795 to £2995
15 days
ex flights
Iran vacation
Discover the rich culture and famed hospitality of Iran
From
£3695 to £3795
15 days
ex flights
Iran cultural 9 day tour
Discover the incredible cultural heritage of Iran
From
£1699
9 days
ex flights
Iran vacations, small group tours
Trace the magnificent legacies of the Persian Empires
From
US $3199 to US $3290
11 days
ex flights
Iran in depth tour, 2 weeks
Join us, we show you the secrets of this fascinating country
From
£1871
15 days
ex flights
Iran tour, the best of Persia
.Join us to discover Iran's rich culture and history
From
£1051
7 days
ex flights
Oman to Georgia tour, Persian Caravan
Overland from the Arabian Peninsula to the dramatic Caucasus
From
£5975 to £6230
27 days
ex flights
Highlights of Iran tour
Enjoy the highlights of Iran, sure to delight at every turn.
From
£2105 to £2175
13 days
ex flights
Xian to Istanbul overland tour
Expereince the Silk Road and the beautiful Caucasus
From
£8830 to £9085
42 days
ex flights
Vacation in Iran, flavours of Persia
Experience Iranian hospitality, sharing culinary traditions
From
£2820 to £2825
13 days
ex flights
Tashkent to Tehran overland tour
Central Asia overland tour from Tashkent to Tehran
From
£2670 to £2730
29 days
ex flights
Tehran to Tashkent Silk Road tour, private departure
Combine ancient, medieval and modern Silk Road cities
From
£4890
17 days
ex flights
Northern Iran tour
A 15 day group tour to Northern Iran & the Alborz Mountains
From
£2995
14 days
ex flights
Turkmenistan to Turkey overland tour
Epic overland adventure from Ashgabat to Istanbul.
From
£2300
26 days
ex flights
Silk Road 30 day overland tour
Travel through Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan & China
From
£6295
30 days
ex flights
Luxury railway tour of Iran
A five star cultural and historical rail adventure
From
£1770
9 days
ex flights
Western Iran 15 day tour
15 day off-beat adventure - experience Iran's other side
From
£3295
14 days
ex flights
Iran highlights tour
Journey through the mysterious world of Iran
From
US $1625 to US $2079
9 days
ex flights
Georgia Armenia & Iran tour
Unforgettable journey around the three majestic countries.
From
£2616
17 days
ex flights
Xian to Istanbul overland tour, Silk Road
Travel for 8 weeks along the Silk Road and the Caucasus
From
£11615
57 days
inc UK flights
Foodie advice
Marianne Grimshaw, from our supplier Wild Frontiers, shares her Iran travel advice:“Iranian food is generally very good – though I’m vegetarian and in the smaller places it’s always a bit of an issue. Sometimes we were on the road and we’d stop at little truckers’ cafes and I’d just eat rice and salad. In the towns and cities they are big on rice dishes and there are lots of aubergine and vegetable stews, chickpeas… there are a lot of kebabs. There are some nice delicate flavours using the spices. They’re big on their saffron as well. There are 5* hotels that have loads of different options, and even in the restaurants they’ll still have pasta and so on available.”
Tips for dressing respectfully
Linda Maguire, from our supplier Undiscovered Destinations:
“It is surprisingly easy going. Female visitors in particular must adhere to the dress code but at no time was the atmosphere oppressive or threatening and I was thanked on occasion for respecting the local traditions. The people are very warm and welcoming and seemed genuinely pleased to see visitors in their country. As tourists we were not aware of any political tensions or anti-Western sentiment.”
“It is surprisingly easy going. Female visitors in particular must adhere to the dress code but at no time was the atmosphere oppressive or threatening and I was thanked on occasion for respecting the local traditions. The people are very warm and welcoming and seemed genuinely pleased to see visitors in their country. As tourists we were not aware of any political tensions or anti-Western sentiment.”
SPENDING TIME IN THE COUNTRYSIDE
Mike Pullman, from our supplier Wild Frontiers, urges travelers to spend some time away from the cities: “The Bavanat Valley and the Dena Mountains are two spots where we get away from the cities and do walks. It’s kind of Alpine scenery with streams and high mountains and clear air. When you’re visiting the cities you can really feel that Iran is a country on the cusp of change because the women are all pushing the dress code as far as they can get away with, with scarves perched back on their heads and held in place with sunglasses and wearing skinny jeans – not displaying flesh, but wearing pretty Western-looking clothes. And then you go to the countryside and it’s much more traditional, so you see people in the black chadors. It’s good to go to a country and experience both of those sides to get a much more realistic view of what the country’s like.”Tea gardens, rose gardens…
Marianne Grimshaw: “The Iranians are big on their gardens, and in some of the older hotels you can sit out in the gardens and have tea in the courtyards. The Abbasi is the most famous hotel in Iran, and the most sought after. It has a beautiful courtyard with a teashop in it. They’re famous for gardens in Shiraz, and there’s a lovely one in Kashan – but there are gardens all over Iran, even in the desert cities. There are lovely flowers, they are all very well looked after – it’s a nation of people who like poetry and roses, really.”
HEALTH & SAFETY IN IRAN
HEALTH
SAFETY
Our top Iran Vacation
Iran vacation, private departure
A private, tailor-made tour of historic Iran
From
US $2650
8 days
ex flights
Tailor made:
This trip can be tailor made throughout the year to suit your requirements
This trip can be tailor made throughout the year to suit your requirements
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about Iran or need help finding a vacation to suit you we're very happy to help.
Tips from our travelers in Iran
At Responsible Travel, we think the best people to advise our travelers are often... other travelers. They always return from our tours with packing tips, weather reports, ideas about what to do - and opinions about what not to.
We have selected some of the most useful Iran travel advice that our guests have provided over the years to help you make the very most of your vacation - and the space inside your suitcase.
We have selected some of the most useful Iran travel advice that our guests have provided over the years to help you make the very most of your vacation - and the space inside your suitcase.
You need to get used to the different ways in which the Iranian currency is referred to - rials and tomans. It can be a bit confusing at first!
- Danica Trim
“Iran is not as unsafe as sometimes portrayed in the press and media. The people were very friendly and helpful and there was no obvious police presence. Dress for women was not as strict as expected and although the headscarf was a given, many wore fashionable clothes in bright colours without being covered by a black chador. Be prepared for a variable standard of sanitary arrangements. In 3* hotels or higher, the better restaurants and museums they are usually adequate but elsewhere, toilets and washing facilities leave a lot to be desired with fittings missing or broken and smelly/unclean. Definitely pack a universal plug, toilet roll and wet wipes.” – Rosemary Rennie
“Women – make sure you follow the dress code. as it gets hot in the summer months it might be better to do this trip in January when it is cooler. We only had 1.5 days of rain the other times we had lovely blue sky.” – Anne Higgins
“Women – make sure you follow the dress code. as it gets hot in the summer months it might be better to do this trip in January when it is cooler. We only had 1.5 days of rain the other times we had lovely blue sky.” – Anne Higgins
Dress for women was not as strict as expected and although the headscarf was a given, many wore fashionable clothes in bright colours without being covered by a black chador.
- Rosemary Rennie
“Forget any concerns about Iran being dangerous, hostile of unfriendly. Highlights are numerous: Shiraz's blue mosques with amazing mekhana, after which, it being New Years Eve, we had blue cocktails and a blue cake (thanks to our guide, Mark). Dress is more liberal than you might expect. Hair covering is compulsory but hair can show, and a wooley hat or turban covering a reasonable amount of hair is fine. Tight trousers are fine if worn with a top that covers your bottom - mid-thigh length tunics are ideal. Take wet wipes for toilets.” – Julia Turkington
“You need to get used to the different ways in which the Iranian currency is referred to – rials and tomans. It can be a bit confusing at first! Be aware that you need a lot of cash, as credit cards are not accepted in the vast majority of places. Be prepared to be welcomed everywhere! The Iranians are delightful people! I think the main benefit overall was to dispel the many myths propagated by the Western media about Iran and its people. It is not an oppressive and dangerous desert backwater. It is a beautiful country, hugely cultured, and its people were some of the most welcoming I have ever met anywhere.” – Danica Trim
“You need to get used to the different ways in which the Iranian currency is referred to – rials and tomans. It can be a bit confusing at first! Be aware that you need a lot of cash, as credit cards are not accepted in the vast majority of places. Be prepared to be welcomed everywhere! The Iranians are delightful people! I think the main benefit overall was to dispel the many myths propagated by the Western media about Iran and its people. It is not an oppressive and dangerous desert backwater. It is a beautiful country, hugely cultured, and its people were some of the most welcoming I have ever met anywhere.” – Danica Trim
More about Iran
Spring and autumn are undoubtedly the best time to go to Iran, avoiding the Middle Eastern summer and the icy winter, which can see roads blocked with snow.
Exquisitely beautiful, deeply spiritual, and perhaps surprisingly hospitable, Iran is making its way slowly back onto the tourist scene - and it's extremely welcome.
Click on our interactive Iran map and highlights, below, to find out more about where to go in Iran, whether you're seeking spiritual enlightenment, semi-nomadic tribespeople or the ruins of incredible ancient civilisations.
Iran is a vast and ancient land, with several thousand years of history preserved within its borders, meaning there is never any shortage of things to do in Iran.
The Persian Empire once stretched from Europe, across the Middle East and into Asia, while the Silk Road traversed this land, bringing textiles, spices and beliefs from as far away as China.
Cooking and food vacations in Iran take you on a journey to the heart of the country via its delicious cuisine.
The beauty of bike touring is the opportunity it offers for engaging with people wherever you travel, and what better place to experience that than Iran, where the people are some of the warmest in the world.
Shiraz has lived life as the capital of Iran, a major winemaking center, and one of the most important cities in the medieval Islamic world.
One of Iran’s must-sees and contender for the most aesthetically pleasing city, Esfahan is packed full of enough mosques, palaces and museums to keep you busy for days.
More than just a gateway to Iran, Tehran is the country’s beating heart and home to impressive museums and monuments – as well as a barrage of traffic and smog.
Tourism in Iran is in its infancy, and responsible tourism in Iran even more so - traveling responsibly in Iran could help to save its landscapes and endangered species. Find out more below.
protection
Photo credits: [Page banner: DAVID HOLT] [Meeting Iranians: David Stanley]
[Dressing respectfully: Hamed Saber]
[Tea gardens, rose gardens: A.Davey]
[Health & safety: Pete Ofathousandflights]
[Review 1: harveypekar84]
[Review 2: Arian Zwegers]
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