You cannot speak about Persia (Iran) without talking about their beautiful rugs having the tightest knots unlike any other. Carpet weaving is an essential part of Persian culture and art. Persian carpets, woven by nomadic tribes and by royal court manufacturers, represent different lines of tradition and reflect the history of Persia and its diverse people. On this textile tour you will learn about designs, materials and differences of them. Visit a silk weaving farm. See the knotting of a Qashqayi carpet. Explore the desert and Kalut Canyons along with seeing ancient architecture. Discover Textiles of Persia lets you understand the people and an ancient land through its textiles.
Day 1: Arrive Tabriz
Upon arrival you will be met outside of ground transportation after clearing customs by our representative who will be holding a sing with your name on it and driven to your hotel.
Our tour starts in Tabriz, the Global Hand-Woven Rug City, with a visit to the Azerbaijan Museum and Maqbaratol Shoara. Later we have a short familiarization course about Iran hand-woven textiles – the different categories, designs, materials and the main textile producing cities of Iran with the differences between their products. Overnight in Tabriz
Day 2: Tabriz
Today we visit a silk textile weaving farm to get familiar with the procedures of raising caterpillars, dying silk and weaving silk rugs. We have the chance to learn and practice weaving and basic knots. A traditional lunch is served. At night see Il Goli garden and the Markar clock tower. Overnight in Tabriz
Day 3: Tabriz – Haris
(By surface 1.5 hours)
Explore the rural areas of Haris, one of the most ancient rug producing areas in Iran. Learn about the traditional methods of cutting sheep hair, dying and weaving. You experience living in an Iranian village with an exotic ethnicity (Turks). Overnight in village
Day 4: Haris – Kandovan
(By surface 3.5 hours)
In the morning we drive to Liqvan, a village famous for its cheese. Drive onward to Kandovan for lunch lunch. Later discover the caves used as houses by the locals. Overnight in Kandovan
Day 5: Kandovan – Kashan
(By surface 10 hours)
After breakfast, we will make our way to Kashan. In the afternoon, we explore this historic city seeing amazing historical houses and a hand-woven textile farm to learn more about Kashan textiles. Overnight in Kashan
Day 6: Kashan – Abyane
(By surface 1. hours)
We drive to Abyane, an amazing village with ancient architecture and unique cultural dress. Overnight in Abyane
Day 7: Abyane – Kerman
(By surface 9 hours)
Today we discover Kerman, another textile producing city whose rugs are kept in some of the most famous museums in the world. Kerman textile is famous for the special traditional dying methods. We will also visit Harandi Garden Museum. In the afternoon take a course in a Kashan carpets. Learn about dying materials, equipment and techniques, and also more about Kashan textiles. Overnight in Kashan
Day 9: Kashan – Shiraz
(By surface 7 hours)
After breakfast, we drive to Shiraz. Lunch and then off to see Qavam Narenjestan and Zinatolmolk house. Then it’s top the Fars Textile Museum which is a luxurious Shirazi house for a short course about Fars textiles. There will be a traditional Persian ceremony serving different Persian foods, reading Hafiz poetry and playing Persian music. Overnight in Shiraz
Day 10: Shiraz
In the morning visit a Shirazi rug company. In the afternoon, see Hafiz and Saadi’s tomb and if time allows Shahcheraq shrine. Overnight in Shiraz
Day 8: Kashan
We call this day a “desert day” because we embark on an adventure to the Shahdad desert. We explore the Shahdad ancient site, Kaloot Canyons and Salty River. We have the chance to take photographs of the geo-sites and geo-scenes of this unique desert. Return to Kashan. Overnight in Kashan
Day 9: Kashan – Shiraz
(By surface 7 hours)
After breakfast, we drive to Shiraz. Lunch and then off to see Qavam Narenjestan and Zinatolmolk house. Then it’s top the Fars Textile Museum which is a luxurious Shirazi house for a short course about Fars textiles. There will be a traditional Persian ceremony serving different Persian foods, reading Hafiz poetry and playing Persian music. Overnight in Shiraz
Day 10: Shiraz
In the morning visit a Shirazi rug company. In the afternoon, see Hafiz and Saadi’s tomb and if time allows Shahcheraq shrine. Overnight in Shiraz
Day 11 & 12: Shiraz – Qashqayi
We will set off to Nomadic tents in the country. Visit Qashqayi nomadic tribes and experience nomadic lifestyle – eat Qashqayi food, ride a Qashqayi horse, get familiar with Qashqayi rugs, experience knotting a Qashqayi carpet, bake Qashqayi bread and gather around the fire at night. Overnight in Tent
Day 13: Qashqayi – Shiraz
Return to Shiraz. Visit Persepolis and Pasargadae. Overnight in Shiraz
Day 14: Depart Shiraz
If time permits we visit the Zandie Vakil complex. You have a chance to buy hand-woven textiles in the Vakil Bazaar. After lunch you have free time until you are driven to the airport for your departure flight.
