Useful Iran country guide - Adventure Tours & Cultural Holidays

IRAN GUIDE

Overview
Iran Flag From its earliest beginnings Persia (Iran) has played an important role in world history. The Achaemenian Empire founded by Cyrus the Great expanded Persia's control as far as Egypt but eventually fell prey to the armies of Alexander the Great. Greek control soon slipped and subsequent continued warring with Rome and Constantinople left a weakened Persia easy prey for the Arabs. A slow take over by Seljuk Turks was brought to an abrupt end by the Mongol invasions of 1220 AD, but by 1500 AD Persia was once again a powerful nation. It is in this period that much of Iran's surviving Islamic art and architecture was created. Today Iran is a strongly religious Islamic republic and although little visited, it hides a treasure trove of art and architecture which is well worth the effort to see.

Iranian Children Highlights

Esfahan - wonderful concentration of Islamic art and architecturee
Bam - well preserved mediaeval citadel
Persepolis - remains of the Achaemenian capital of Darius I

Geography
Iran consists of a high plateau (1,000-1,500m) bordered to the west by the Zagros mountains and the north by the Alborz mountains from which rises Kuh-é-Damavand (5,500m) West Asia's highest peak and Iran's only volcano. The east of Iran is dominated by large sand and salt deserts. Except for the strip of land bordering the Caspian Sea, Iran is an dry, arid country.

Weather & Climate
Iran's central plateau experiences extreme weather conditions. The size of the country also leads to large variations. Summers are very hot, especially in the desert regions, and winters vary from mild to icy cold. The Persian Gulf is milder in winter but can be just as hot in the summer and is often very humid as well. Conditions can be ideal for winter skiing in some mountain areas. Average temperatures in Tehran are, in summer (April to September) 16-30C (61-86°F), and in winter (November to March) 3-11C (37-52°F).

Bring light clothes during summer and warmer clothes during the winter. Expect rain in most places during the winter and spring.

Security
Iranian Children

We advise you check your local consular advice for up to date security information before you travel. Most areas in Iran are safe for travel. Tensions here can rise suddenly however, following changes in local politics or the situation in the greater Middle Eastern region.

All border areas should be avoided or, if travel is necessary, treated with extreme caution (travel only on main roads, by day and with groups). You may be escorted by armed Iranian police units on some routes, especially on roads in the Kerman and Sistan/Baluchistan regions (towards the Pakistan and Afghanistan borders). Several incidents involving the kidnapping of western tourists have occurred over the past few years in these regions.

There have been some recent cases of robbery by fake police patrols or taxis and by motorcycle bag snatchers. You should take the usual precautions, not carry large amounts of cash, and not show identification documents or money to police before you reach a police station.

For more specific, up-to-date security information and how this may affect your tour, please visit our regional security page.

Flights (from the UK)

With some shopping around you should be able to find a return flight to Tehran for around UK£300 - UK£550. Internal flights in Iran are extensive and very cheap.

Religions
Shi'a Muslim 89%, Sunni Muslim 10%, Zoroastrian, Jewish, Christian, and Baha'i 1%.