As seen on
Castles of the Assassins
Iran
This trip supports
- Overview
- Itinerary
- Essential info
- Packing list
Grade:
Intermediate
Type:
Cultural
Transfers
Duration:
8 Nights
4 - 12
Group size
Leaders
Tour Highlights
- Tours of Tehran, Ardabil & Tabriz
- Explore ancient castles of Alamut, Roodkahn & Babak
- Bathe in the natural Hot Springs of Sareyn
- Hike in the Sabalan Mountains
- Visit the largest covered bazaar in the world
Explore the best castles Iran has to offer in this small group tour
During this Iran castle holiday, you will get to tour Tehran and Tabriz. As well as exploring the ancient castles of Alamut, Roodkahn and Babak.
The Alborz mountains of Iran boast a fascinating and complex history; their castles have protected Zoroastrian worshipers against the Muslim invaders of Saudi Arabia in the 7th Century, and 500 years later, housed the infamous 11th Century Order of ‘Assassins’.
The Assassins, whose reputation was made famous by the writings of Marco Polo and Crusaders, amongst others, were part of a religious sect of Ismailis Muslims, led by the much feared Hassan-i Sabbah. They found themselves fighting for power against both other Muslim groups in the region, but also invading Christian Crusaders. Using Alamut castle as a base, Sabbah expanded his influence to nearby towns and districts capturing and inhabiting mountain fortresses as he went.
(Available as a small group tour or tailor-made holiday)
Assassins were known for the psychological warfare methods they used to draw their opponents into submission as well as for their ‘fida’, warriors who carried out espionage and assassinations of the key enemy figures of the day. This tour takes us through this beautiful and remote region of NW Iran; giving us the opportunity to bathe in history, in natural hot springs, and in the stunning views for which this part of the country is famous.
Please note
The UK Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) currently advise against travel to Iran. As such, the dates showing for this adventure are dependent on a change to the situation and Iran being assessed as safe to visit. We are happy to keep you updated on when this is the case so please do let us know if you are interested in this wonderful itinerary.
Day 1: Arrival in Tehran
Transfer
Dinner
4 star hotel
On arrival, you will be greeted at Imam Khomeini International Airport by both your YellowWood and local guides, to be transferred to your 4* hotel in Tehran to relax and freshen up. We will take a tour of the capital including its breathtaking palaces such as the Ahmad Shahi Pavilion situated in the great wooded Niavaran complex in the north of the city, home to the last Shah of Iran Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.
We will also visit the Golestan Palace and other royal buildings in the gardens of royal Qajar complex of the preceding dynasty before heading to the Grand Bazaar.
Day 2: Drive & Hike to Alamut Castle
Transfer
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
3 star hotel
Alamut Castle, (built 865 AD), around 100km from Tehran, is without doubt the most famous of all the assassins’ castles and is synonymous with Hassan Sabbāh who, in the late 11th Century, seized the fortress and there founded his group of Shia Ismaili fedayeen. These were known as the Hashshashin or “assassins” because of the hashish he made them smoke in his legendary garden before sending them off to murder members of the Sunni Seljuq ruling class...(or so says Marco Polo!). What is not disputed, however, is that his followers were trained to become deadly assassins, also known as ‘self-sacrificing agents’, which says it all. Much of Sabbah’s time was spent in Alamut writing religious works and developing doctrines for his Order. The walk to the fortress is not long, but it is on a narrow, steep & winding path.
Qazvin, where we stay tonight, is known as the calligraphy capital of Iran, also famous for its carpet patterns and delicious baghlava!
Day 3: Drive & Hike to Rudkhan Castle
Transfer
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
3 star hotel
Rudkhan Castle, a brick and stone medieval fortress in Gilan province, is the most mysterious of all Persia’s castles because although it is one of the best preserved, its history has been lost to the mists of time. Perched atop two unbelievably beautiful forested mountain peaks, in a geographical region which has sat in the badlands throughout history between the rise and fall of many warring empires, who built and lived here may never be known, but its magic remains undeniable. Its 42 towers, amazingly, still stand intact. To get to the castle, we climb several hundred steps with sufficient stops to admire the stunning views.
We spend tonight in the bustling mountain village of Masule, nestled in the slopes, and with a history dating back to 1006AD. The architecture is unique - roofs of the lower houses connect to, and in some cases form part of, the streets of the houses higher up the slopes!
Day 4: Drive to Ardabil & hot springs of Sareyn
Transfer
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
3 star hotel
After what is the longest drive of the trip (approx 220km / 4hrs 20) we will arrive in Ardabil, an ancient city in north-west Iran, renowned for producing some of the best carpets in all of Persia. It is also known for the Ardabil Shrine, a World Heritage Site, and the tomb of Shaikh safi ad-Din, founder of the Safavid dynasty.
Today and/or tomorrow we can visit neighbouring Sareyn to take a relaxing dip in the famous nine hot spa springs, warmed by the inactive volcano of Sabalan Mountain. The waters contain sulphur particles that are reputed to be good for bone and joint pains, and are at the very least, incredibly relaxing!
We stay in Ardabil tonight and tomorrow.
Day 5: Hike in the Sabalan Mountains
Transfer
Breakfast
Packed Lunch
Dinner
3 star hotel
At 4811m, Mt.Sabalan is the third highest mountain in Iran after Damavand and Alam-Kuh, with a permanent crater lake formed at its summit. We will go hiking around it’s slopes, that abound in natural mineral water springs. The nomadic people of the area live in small villages comprised of their round yurt tents – a nice touch in an absolutely stunning landscape.
According to some beliefs, Mt Sabalan was the place where Zoroaster meditated for some years, so it is one of the important sacred places in Zoroastrianism. Based on nomadic beliefs, when all the snow of Sabalan melts, the end of time will come!
Day 6: Drive & Hike to Babak Castle & visit Kaleybar village
Transfer
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
This morning we drive around 3hrs 30 mins to Babak Castle, also known as the Immortal Castle, stands at 2600m and is surrounded by 600m gorges: casting an awe-inspiring view across the surrounding mountain plains. The castle, believed to belong to the Parthian dynasty and modified under the Sasanid dynasty, is named after Bābak Khorramdin, the famous warlord and leader of the Khurramites, who fought and resisted the Arab armies of the Abbassid Islamic caliphate until 839 AD. We access the ruins via a long series of broken steps and a dirt track with the last stretch leading us through a 200m corridor-shaped temple.
Day 7: Drive & Hike to St Stephanos Monastery, Jolfa
Transfer
Breakfast
Packed Lunch
Dinner
3 star hotel
Situated in a deep canyon, and reached by a steep gravel road, St.Stepanos is an Armenian monastery built in the 9th Century and rebuilt in the Safavid era after several earthquakes damaged it. Saint Bartholomew first founded a church on the site around 62AD, with the first monastery built in the 7th Century, although this was later damaged during the wars between the Seljuks and the Byzantine Empire in the 11th and 12th Centuries. Here we will literally be walking through ancient history.
The monastery was restored in the 2nd half of the 13th Century and was completely rebuilt in 1330. By the 15th Century it was at the height of it’s cultural and intellectual influence, producing paintings and illuminated manuscripts in religion, history and philosophy. Abandoned by the end of the 16th Century, it deteriorated but has been periodically restored during the last 300 years and is visited by Armenians from around the world each year.
We travel on to Tabriz for our night's accommodation; one of the most populated cities in northwest Iran, and the capital of East Azerbaijan Province.
Day 8: Tour of Tabriz Bazaar & Blue Mosque. Fly to Tehran
Transfer
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
3 star hotel
Tabriz contains many historical monuments, representing Iran’s architectural transition throughout its deep history. It was once a major Silk Road market and today it hosts the Grand Bazaar of Tabriz, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the largest covered bazaar in the world.
We will take a tour of both the city and the bazaar to see what treasures they hold before an evening flight back to the capital for our last group dinner together in the city. (NB, National flight from Tabriz to Tehran is not included in the package cost).
Day 9: Fly out from Tehran
Transfer
Breakfast
After breakfast, we will transfer you to the airport for your homeward flights.
If you would like to extend your visit with an additional night or more in Tehran then we will be happy to arrange this for you, but sadly your adventure has come to an end... it must be time to plan your next escape!
Adventure Optional Extras
Single Room Supplement
Single rooms are available on a first come, first served basis. We will charge on a pro-rata basis if a single room is only available for part of the trip.
Plant an additional 15 trees for your adventure
Carbon Compensation is not the perfect solution, and it is important to first reduce our carbon emissions as much as we can, yet trees remain an excellent natural technology to sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to slow global warming.
For every client and guide who attends a YellowWood Adventure, we donate £30 to our partner charity WeForest to plant 15 trees to (over) compensate for the carbon footprint of the tour.
We also invite our clients to match this with an optional additional £30 for another 15 trees to be planted to help compensate for the carbon footprint of their international flights.
WeForest run many tree planting and tree maintenance projects such as this seedling nursery in the Amhara region of Ethiopia, the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil and many other projects in other countries including Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania & India.
Click Here to find out more about their amazing projects around the world.
Not Included
- International Flights & airport taxes
- Comprehensive insurance
- Visas
- Tipping (about $100)
Contents
Accommodation
We fully believe in, and practice Responsible Tourism, using hotels run by locals. We put time and effort into building our relationship with them to ensure you have a a great trip. We choose hotels based on cleanliness, comfort, safety, proximity to our route (to avoid unnecessary extra travel), and a warm client welcome, as well as reliability in their service to us. Wherever we can, we will choose smaller more characterful, individual hotels, but in areas where tourism is still developing, this may not be available.
Day 1 & 8: Tehran: Aramis Hotel, No. 1752 VAli Asr St. Vali Asr Square, Tehran, Iran. +21 889334012. Ensuite rooms, Wifi, Aircon, Restaurant & coffee shop.
To spread the benefits of our group visiting, we use a range of hotels in Qazvin (Day 2), Masule (Day 3), Ardabil (Day 4&5), Anza (Day 6) & Tabriz (Day 7), which are of a consistently high quality (3 & 4*). You can expect ensuite rooms, air conditioning and wifi.
We understand that it is useful to leave details of all your accommodation with friends/family whilst you are away, so before your trip we will email you a full list of the accommodation.
Facilities
The temperature ranges that you may experience on this trip are significant and so in spite of air conditioning at hotels, and warm bedclothes as required, we recommend that you bring layers of clothing that can be worn separately to remain cool, or together, to warm up.
Unless you have booked a single room (where they are available) and paid the single room supplement for those nights, you will be sharing a twin room with another client (of the same gender).
Guiding & Your Group
Supporting you on your holiday will be an experienced, approachable and knowledgeable English speaking, Persian guide as well as one of our YellowWood leaders. This ensures you access to the right cultural information and support on your trip, with your Persian guide offering insight into local history, life and customs and the YellowWood guide managing the hiking side of the holiday and ensuring the smooth running of your adventure.
Your Group
Your group will be any number from our minimum group size of 4, up to a maximum of 12 clients. This number works really well with the ratio of guides, and ensures the optimum level of service to you during your adventure.
We get clients booking alone, as couples and in small groups of friends. If you have a group of friends or family who are interested in having their own customised trip, then please let us know and we can cost it for you.
Am I fit enough?
Many of our adventures involve an element of hiking or trekking. The focus for this adventure is exploring the highly perched fortresses of the Alborz mountains. You need to be in good health and be happy to walk up some steep gradients at a steady pace, plus have an open mind to adventure travel, and experiencing different cultures to your own, first hand.
Walking distances are not extensive, nor will you be walking for more than around 4 hours a day, but terrain will be steep and uneven to access the fortesses, on narrow pathways without rails. There will not be any scrambling on this holiday. The pace will be down to the natural speed of the group, and there will be plenty of pauses for photography etc. You will only be carrying a daypack.
Travel & Arrival
Your YellowWood adventure starts in Imam Khomeini International Airport. We understand that arriving into an unfamiliar airport can be very daunting, so we aim to give you as much information here as possible, to help you prepare.
Finding flights
Flights are not included in the cost of your holiday and whilst we are happy to help advise you, responsibility for booking the correct flights rests with you. We recommend that you use a comparison tool such as www.momondo.co.uk or www.skyscanner.net when searching for flights. We will send you a Flight Information Sheet with further pointers on which flights to book for your adventure. As well as international flights, there is also a domestic flight required from Tabriz to Tehran, on Day 8 of the itinerary.
Foreign Travel Advice
For the latest travel advice from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office including security and local laws, plus passport and visa information, check www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice. We also receive notifications direct from the FCDO so we are always aware of the ‘status’ in our destination countries.
Airport & Arrival Info
Imam Khomeini Airport is fully functioning and modern airport with the facilities that you would expect from an International Airport. You will not have to fill out a visa form on the plane, but ladies will need to put on their head scarves before disembarking. All tourists will need to purchase a visa at the airport on landing. Please ensure you read our Visa Section thoroughly and ask if you aren’t sure of anything.
So, before you are met by your guide &/ driver, who will have a sign with your name on, as well as the YellowWood logo, you have a couple of jobs to do!
- On disembarking, your first job, before going through Customs and Immigration, is to purchase your visa. If you are not sure where the ‘window’ for this is, do ask a member of Airport staff as many will speak English.. The cost will vary depending on the type of passport you hold, so please ensure you check this with your embassy before your holiday so you can ensure you have the right amount of currency with you.
- At Immigration, they will request to see your passport with visa stamp, as well as a hard copy of your insurance policy. Do not rely on a copy on your phone as there may not be internet coverage.
- Collect your baggage and then head through to meet your Guide and driver.
- Exchange Currency: The easiest may be to use the ATM in the arrivals lounge, however you will also be able to get currency during the afternoon when we enjoy our city tour in Tehran.
Toilets can be found in the arrivals lounge.
Hotel Arrival
On arrival at the your hotel, you will be welcome to settle into your room.
NB: Members of the group may land at different times if they are from diverse destinations. We all meet up at the hotel and have time to refresh before heading to a local restaurant for lunch (if timings work out that way) and a trip briefing before our City Tour.
Domestic Flights
We use domestic flights with an Iranian National Airline to fly from Tabriz to Tehran on Day 8 of the holiday. Domestic flight baggage allowance is 30kg so has an impact on how much you bring with you on your international flights. You may be able to leave some items in Tehran to collect on our return to the Hotel Aramis on the evening of Day 8, before you fly home on Day 9.
Insurance
Holiday insurance is essential for all Yellow Wood Adventures. Unfortunately anyone without insurance is not able to take part in the holiday, so please make sure you arrange cover. We recommend sorting your insurance when you book so that if you have problems during the run up to your holiday, and need to cancel, you are covered, particularly in the light of effects that the pandemic has had on travel.
Prior to the holiday, we will ask you to send us details of your insurer, policy number, 24 hr emergency assistance contact details and the name, address, and telephone numbers of your NOK or persons to be notified in the event of an emergency.
Your insurance needs to cover you for moderate hiking with the following fairly standard inclusions:
- Medical Expenses
- Coronavirus linked expenses (these may be country specific, so please ensure you know what the requirements are relating to the country you are visiting)
- Repatriation
- Helicopter rescue & Air ambulance
We would also recommend that you have cover for the following optional items:
- Cancellation
- Loss or damage to property
General information on Iran
For information on Iran, such as climate, weather, language, social norms, food & drink etc, please have a read of our Country specificinformation.
Compulsory
- Passport & Insurance Documents
- US$ or £GB to exchange for local currency
- Credit / debit card for use with ATMs
- Phone & charging cables / plug
- Plug adaptor
- Prescription medication
- First aid kit: paracetamol, anti-diarrhoea tables, rehydration sachets, antihistamine cream, ibuprofen cream, thermometer & blister kit (eg plasters & zinc oxide tape).
- Washbag & usual contents - small travel bottles please! Biodegradable multi purpose soap can be used for washing clothes & self.
- Flannel & Towel (ideally quick drying travel towel)
- Reusable filtration water bottle (approx 2 litres) eg Aqua Pure Traveller water bottle
- Insect repellent
- Hand sanitiser (70% alcohol) & min of 2 reusable
- Day rucksack for sightseeing & hiking
- Torch with batteries or charging cable
- Sunglasses & high factor sun cream
- Sun hat or baseball cap
Clothing (men & Women)
- Waterproof jacket
- Comfortable walking shoes / worn in boots
- Sandals
- Warm jacket / upper layer
- Warm hat & gloves (it can be cool at night)
Clothing - Women
- Long sleeved tops (lightweight)
- Light, full length trousers or full length skirts
- Hat & light head scarf (can be purchased in Tehran but please bring a scarf / hat to wear to enter the country with).
Clothing - Men only
- Short & long sleeved tops (lightweight for layer
- Light, full length trousers
Optional
- Money belt
- Camera & charging cables / plug
- Trainers
This trip supports
Need a little help?
All adventures can be tailored as private bespoke trips.
Please contact us for more information:
+44 207 846 0197
Related Adventures
Booking Process
Select dates & add any extras or 'Add on' adventures. Complete our Booking Form
Check out our Covid-19 friendly booking conditions & check the box to agree to our Terms & Conditions.
'Make Booking': You will be redirected to secure WorldPay to make your deposit (£300/$400/person) payment (receipted), if booking >56 days before your adventure or full payment if 56 or <56 days before your adventure. Your monies are held securely by the Travel Trust Association.
Your booking will show as 'pending' in your YellowWood online account.
Enter booking information for all guests in your party.
We will be in touch as soon as we are able, to confirm your booking or discuss any availability limitations. Do not book transport/flights until we have emailed you to confirm your booking (receipt of your booking form is not confirmation). We will change the status of your final invoice from 'Pending Approval' to 'Outstanding', when it becomes payable online.
This payment is due 56 days before departure date (we send reminders).
Contact us with any questions about your adventure or booking.
Grading
To help you choose the right adventure for you, we have given each itinerary a grading that relates to the level of Walking / Trekking you will experience during the trip. This grading can be found on the Yellow map on the adventure page of the website.
All of our trips involve a level of general activity so are designed for people who are in good health, enjoy the outdoors, and have a taste for adventure and some level of fitness. As will be clear from our destinations, the climate (and altitude) may be different to that which you are used to, so please take this into consideration when choosing the most suitable holiday.
Please read our Adventure Itinerary & Essential Information for more information and don't hesitate to contact us if you would like to chat through whether you have found a suitable adventure for you.
Grade 1-3: Entry Level
You need to be in good physical health to enjoy your active holiday, but you don’t need to be an experienced hiker. These itineraries offer a mix of sightseeing and easier walking for around 2-4hrs a day, with the emphasis on sights and cultural experiences.
Walks will be well marked or on defined pathways, and often around sites of interest. The expected amount of descent/ascent will depend on the landscapes of the destination, but will not exceed 400m/day, and will often be much less. Walks are at low altitude (below 3000m).
You will not be required to carry more than a day sack with water and essentials. Ensure you are aware of the weather conditions likely in the destination you are visiting and have a pair of comfortable and worn in walking shoes/boots.
Grades 4-6: Intermediate
You need to have a good level of fitness and be a regular walker for these adventures, with ideally some trekking experience. You can expect to be walking for 3-6 hours per day, not including rest stops, normally on good trail paths but with some uneven surfaces at times.
You will not be required to carry more than a day sack. You may be walking in more challenging temperatures. You will generally be walking at low altitude (below 3000m) but may walk at altitudes up to 4000m. The amount of ascent could be up to 800m in a day but will frequently be less. You may walk on consecutive days.
Ensure you are aware of the weather conditions likely in the destination you are visiting and have suitable clothing for this adventure.
Grades 7-9: Challenging
You need to have a good level of fitness with previous experience of trekking. Extra training before your trip will ensure that you get the most out of your adventure. Areas will be remote and terrain uneven.
Expect to walk for 5 – 8 hours a day, not including breaks, with some very steep ascents and descents. You will be walking at altitude (over 3000m but not higher than 5000m).
Ensure you are aware of the weather conditions likely in the destination you are visiting and have suitable equipment/clothing for this adventure (see the packing list for your adventure).
Please check individual itineraries for details of what you will need to be carrying with you.
Enquiry Process
Get in touch via our Enquiry form to check our availability, discuss the adventure and check we can meet your needs.
Complete our Enquiry Form; contact details, additional requirements (eg diet or health requirements) & questions you may have. Include as much information as you are able to, so we can help you with the detail you are looking for
Click on 'Send Enquiry' (receipted).
We will be in touch as soon as we are able, to answer your questions and help you plan your adventure.