Xavi in Iran

Iran Passport Stamp, the Reason for Xavi’s Absence in Barcelona’s America Tour

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Xavi cannot accompany his team on the trip to Miami due to his passport problem, the Iran passport stamp. His club has informed Xavi that America did not give him a visa due to his numerous trips to Iran. As a player or a coach, Xavi traveled to Iran many times in the past years. He was last in Iran on May 19, 2019. According to the laws of the United States, those who have entered Iran need a special permit to enter the United States.

 

In order to avoid such inconvenience when traveling to the United States, you have two options. Firstly, you can simply ask for your Iran visa to be issued on paper. Secondly, you can skip your Iran passport stamp. Foreigners’ passports will not be stamped in Iran to ease entry rules and to counter the United States’ bilateral sanctions against Iran. The resumption of sanctions against Iran began in May when the US withdrew from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action known as the Iran nuclear agreement. One of the consequences of Trump’s sanctions against Iran is that those who travel to Iran might face some difficulties afterward. To reduce tourists’ concerns about US sanctions, the Iranian vice president announced that foreigners’ passports would not be stamped in Iran.

Therefore, foreign tourists will have the opportunity to travel to Iran, enjoy the company of its hospitable people, visit its ancient cultural attractions, and have no problem traveling to the United States. As an Iranian tour operator with 30 years of experience operating incoming tours to Iran, we have been honored to welcome many tourists to Iran in the past years. We like to shed light on the issue in this article so that you can make your call to travel to Iran and other countries unafraid.

Rose water festival

Rose water festival in Iran; an unforgettable experience

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Spring in Iran accompanies many fascinating sceneries. One of these sceneries is the fields and gardens full of pink roses that can captivate visitors with their magical fragrance and beauty. As the roses are fully opened, it’s time to pick the flowers and prepare them to make rose water. It usually happens around May in spring and continues to the end of spring. Rose water festival in Iran is among the most popular Iranian festivals that attract many international and domestic travelers every year.

Here is how the whole process takes place; every morning, as the sun begins to shine, the locals go to the gardens to pick the flowers. Then they weigh the roses, put them in large pots along with water, and heat them to extract the rose water. The quality of the rose water is mainly dependent on how much rose they put in the pot; the more roses they use, the stronger the rosewater will be. High-quality rose water usually consists of 30 Kg of roses and 60 liters of water which is called double distilled extract. When they want to make it even stronger, they use rosewater instead of water in the pot! This is the best quality rose water that can be made; very bitter in taste and not very fragrant when you smell it. Actually, the real fragrance can be smelled when you use a little of this extract while cooking. So, make sure you do not buy rose water based on its smell only!

During spring, farms in the village have verdant fields filled with Damask roses. This time of year is ideal for extracting rose water from these scented flowers. There are several cities in Iran well-known for making high-quality rose water including Kashan, Ghamsar, and Niasar. The local people warmly welcome the visitors to watch the festival and they honestly explain how to make rose water and how to recognize the quality when shopping. During this time, you will be able to experience the process of creating rose water extract by hand at the Matinabad eco-camp. This is an amazing experience you should not miss when traveling to Iran in Spring.

Are you planning to travel to Iran? Check out our Iran tours.

Ali Vaghefi interview on international tourists in Iran

International tourists in Iran are turning to experimental and eco-tourism

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Iran Doostan tour CEO, Mohammad Ali Ashraf Vaghefi, had an interview with ILNA News recently about the state of tourism and incoming tours to Iran. In his interview Mr. Vaghefi said; fortunately, we have witnessed a noticeable demand from international tourists in Iran since Iran has started to grant visa to international tourists. However, there has been a decline in requests due to the spread of the Omicron variant and the negative news in this regard.

He continued: “A number of tourists have canceled their trip to Iran and postponed it to another time.” He added, there have been groups of tourists who wanted to come, but had to cancel their trip because of the positive COVID test of some members of the group. Therefore, the arrival of international tourists to Iran has slowed down to some extent and most of them have postponed their travel to mid-April. Fortunately, there are a good number of tour reservations for May and June.
Mr. Vaghefi emphasized that although it is said that we expect more tours after Nowruz, there is still a long way to reach the number of tourists we had before the Covid 19 outbreak. There will be no large group of tourists in Iran, like 20 to 30. Instead, we expect smaller groups of 5 to 15 people.

Mr. Vaghefi stated that most of the tourists who intend to travel to Iran are from European countries, and there is a higher demand in the European market. In the meanwhile, the requests are mainly targeting classic cultural tours in Iran. However, there seems to be a change in the demands, in a way that more international tourists are seeking experimental tourism and eco-tourism in Iran. He highlighted that middle-aged tourists are still the dominant group traveling to Iran, yet with a different taste regarding their favorite destinations and type of experience. As mentioned before, we are witnessing more tourists with a preference towards experimental and nature tourism.

Regarding the recent changes in the price of tours in Iran, Mr. Vaghefi said: “Considering the inflation in Iran’s economy, we are witnessing an increase in prices in various sectors, including accommodation and food, and the exchange rate has also increased significantly. Therefore, tour operators are allowed to increase their package prices up to 4-5 per cent, which is quite common around the world. Considering the unreasonable increase in prices in the past years which was mostly objected by our international partners, this is considered a positive change.

Nowruz 1401

Persian life will get exciting soon with the scent of Nowruz 1401

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As early sprouts appear in nature, and there is a floral scent spread in the atmosphere, life gets surprisingly lively in Iran. Persian New Year starts exactly with the coming of spring, which makes it quite special and inspiring. Around two weeks prior to Nowruz, Iranians welcome the New Year with outstanding cultural rituals and traditions. There is an extraordinary hustle and bustle in the streets, and you will find everyone shopping around. The bazaars offer an amazing atmosphere during this time that people barely would like to miss, even if they intend to do no shopping!
Nowruz is considered the best time to travel to Iran, as travelers will be lucky enough to enjoy the beauty of nature in spring, the positive atmosphere of the society, and cultural traditions all at the same time. So. you may like to consider traveling to Iran for Nowruz 1401.
There are many beautiful traditions connected with Nowruz, including cleaning the house to bring more positivity in oneself, shopping, setting a Haft-sin table (a table with seven main elements each symbolizing something), and visiting friends and relatives. The first two weeks are considered holidays providing a good opportunity for having more get-togethers; a ritual that was mostly forgotten during the past two years due to the pandemic, and we hope to revitalize it with caution this year.
This year, Nowruz 1401 coincides with another event, the beginning of the century! We all hope the new century brings more peace to the whole world. Happy Persian New Year 1401!
In this video about Nowruz, we have tried to share some of our rituals.

 

Happy World Tourism Day 2021

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2021 theme of the World Tourism Day has put forward a fundamental aim of the industry, which is “Tourism for Inclusive Growth”. Tourism industry offers an unlimited potential for every country, business, and individual to be engaged with the industry and benefit from the positive impacts. As COVID-19 pandemic has affected all countries, this year UNWTO aims to encourage all to raise awareness and get involved in the tourism industry more than ever before.
Tourism can contribute to healing the post-pandemic world economically and socially. Inclusive growth of tourism would lead to fair the distribution of wealth around the world. By this way, the world can achieve the aims of eradicating poverty and a sustainable peace through tourism.

Let us hope for flourishing of the tourism industry and inclusive growth as we recover from the pandemic. May we all benefit from sustainable tourism in near future.
Happy World Tourism Day 2021.

If you love traveling and adventure, we encourage you to watch this video of traveling to Iran, Isfahan, the gorgeous city no tourist would like to miss!

Are you planning to travel to Iran? Check out our Iran tours.

Uraman Takht - Iran UNESCO-Listed Heritage

UNESCO inscribed Uraman on the list of world heritage sites

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Uraman Takht, the undercover gem in the heart of Iranian Kurdistan embraces a unique history, architecture, culture, and people. UNESCO has added this outstanding village to the list of world cultural heritage sites. The number of Iranian cultural word-heritage sites has now reached 26 and we hope to have much more sites of such a culturally rich country on the UNESCO list.
This gorgeous village is a historical one which was formed over forty thousand years ago. In addition to the long history of the village, stone tools of the primitive cavemen and the bones of the hunted animals, that are thousands of years old, have been found around in this region. There are loads of stories and myths among the local people representing that the area was once one of the significant regions of the country during history.
As a stepped village, Uraman’s construction is inspired by nature, the houses have been built on a steep mountain in a way that come to amaze many visitors. The roof of one house is the upper house yard! The architectural design of Uraman represents one of the best practices of ecologically-friendly, nature-connected design.
And finally, surrounded by high mountains and never-ending greenery landscapes the region offers a fascinating scenery. However, as you walk into the village what you will be impressed by Kurdish people kindness and hospitality. Kurdish people with their colorful special costume will invite you to a super tasty local food, a tea, and a friendly gap. This is most probably what you are going to remember from your trip. we would welcome any inquiry you may have about traveling to Iran, please do not hesitate to contact us at info@idt.ir.

Congratulations on this achievement to the local people of Uraman who are the guardians of this legacy. We believe this cultural heritage would never exist without you.

Are you planning to travel to Iran? Check out our Iran Heritage Tour.

Trans-Iranian-Railway

Trans-Iranian Railway Inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage

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The Trans-Iranian railway was inscribed as UNESCO world heritage in July, 2021. This is the longest railway on the list of UNESCO, and Iran’s first industrial heritage that has been recognized for its “outstanding universal value”. The number of Iran’s UNESCO-listed tangible cultural heritage has now reached 25.

The construction of the railway dates back to 1927, connecting Tehran to Bandar Torkaman Port on the Caspian Sea in the north of Iran and Imam-Khomeini Port on the Persian Gulf in the south of Iran. The length of this north-south railway is 1394 kilometers. However, the prominence of this railway in Iran is more than connecting north of this vast land to the south! It is considered a turning point in Iran’s history, since its construction is regarded as the start of modernism and development in Iran during the past century. Outstanding technical features and quality of this railway, and the fascinating landscapes it passes through has made it a unique cultural heritage. we would welcome any inquiry you may have about traveling to Iran, check out Iran heritage tour and please do not hesitate to contact us at info@idt.ir.

 

Travel to Iran in 2021 and 2022?

Travel to Iran in 2021 and 2022?

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By the end of May 2021, about 2 billion people have been vaccinated, it is the best time to start planning your trips for fall 2021 or later in 2022. International traveling may be riskier than domestic traveling. If you are fully vaccinated then it would be the best time to travel internationally taking travel advice during COVID-19 into consideration. Some tourists are contacting to book travel to Iran in 2021 and 2022 while many others prefer overland tours. In either case, you may be looking for some information, you can get right here on this page.

Travel to Iran in 2021 and 2022

Iran has started vaccination since a few months ago, about 116 million doze of vaccination has been given so far and 61% of the population have been fully vaccinated while it is progressing every day. If you have been fully vaccinated, then there seem to be no concerns to plan your trip to Iran. As the situation seems to get improved, we have received a large number of requests for traveling to Iran in 2021 and 2022 Over the last few weeks.

In September 2021, National Headquarters for Covid-19 pandemic approved that group tours and independent travelers may now enter and exit the country provided that they have a vaccine card, a negative PCR test and following the protocols and instructions imposed by the Ministry of Health in Iran. President Raeisi gave a speech on the occasion of World Tourism Day highlighting the importance of supporting the tourism industry and he emphasized on to the resumption of visas.

Iran Doostan Tours has developed safety protocols to ensure that travelers are safe regarding using masks, alcohol-based stuff, and keeping social distances. Iran Doostan operates tours to Iran in smaller groups to make sure that tourists will have a safe journey to Iran in 2021 and 2022.

Tips for canceling and rescheduling

Hotels in Iran have been quite flexible regarding cancellation and rescheduling due to the COVID pandemic situation. The cancellation regulation is largely dependent on the number of tours (group or individual), but they are all included in recent regulations.
As a tour operator or individual looking for planning a tour to Iran in 2021 or 2022, you are recommended to contact us via info@idt.ir . Our professional staff would be more than happy to provide you with detailed information and help you plan your trip to Iran.

Overland Traveling

Overlanding, or traveling by road has become a trend since it is quite safe. Travelers prefer to be as self-sufficient as possible. Overland trips provide a great opportunity to enjoy outdoor scenery and adventure. If you are targeting Iran as a destination with amazing natural attractions, Overlanding would completely satisfy your taste!

we would welcome any inquiry you may have about traveling to Iran, please do not hesitate to contact us at info@idt.ir. We will come back to you soon. Iran Doosan tour offers experienced tour guides and provides travelers with accommodation to enjoy a memorable overland trip to Iran. We have been planning and operating this type of tour for many years, watch this video of the Overlanding tour to Iran by Iran Doosan.

world wildlife day - Iranian Cheetah

World Wildlife Day 2021: Forests and livelihoods

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World Wildlife Day is celebrated annually on March 3rd; the United Nation has announced “Forest and livelihoods: sustaining people and planet” as 2021 theme to celebrate the day by focusing on the livelihoods of the communities which are highly dependent on the forests and also the significance of these precious ecosystems for the endurance of animals and human beings on Earth.
Covering an area of one-third of the land surface on the Earth, forests play a remarkable role in human livelihoods and well-being. It has been proved that where there is forest, there is also a concentration of tribal people or rural populations relying on these forests. Besides that, it is not only local peoples’ livelihood that relies on forests, these rich ecosystems are home to a variety of flora and fauna species, they are considered a pre-requirement to the survival of biodiversity on the Earth.
As it appears, forests have been prone to many threats during past decades due to the drastic change of climatic conditions, global warming, bush fire as a result of the rise in the temperature, and changing rainfall patterns. Our planet Earth has also been suffered from deforestation accompanying economic development in many countries. Given that forests are vital to animals’ and humans’ life and well-being, particular attention should be paid to the preservation of these natural sources and the first step toward mitigating forests is turning to green growth strategies. As the 2021 theme suggests, making use of the local knowledge would be a possible remedy toward sustaining forests and saving all lives on the Planet.
On world wildlife day, we believe the travel and tourism industry could best contribute through developing sustainable tourism in the rural areas making use of the local communities, making tourists learn rural living standards, and apply them as far as possible. On this special day, you may be surprised to know that Iran owns forests as old as dinosaurs! and we do our best to keep these amazing ecosystems of the Mother Nature. we would welcome any inquiry you may have about traveling to Iran, please check out our Iran tours & do not hesitate to contact us at info@idt.ir. We will come back to you soon.

vaccination against COVID-19

Iran started vaccination against COVID-19

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We are happy to announce that, just like many other countries, Iran started vaccination against COVID-19 last week. Medical staffs are the first groups to receive the Covid-19 vaccine, and the vaccination process will continue for senior citizens over 65 and then vulnerable patients in the next stages.
According to the Iran Ministry of Health and Medical Education, the vaccination program would be executed in four stages to cover 70% of the target population.
We all hope the vaccination development would be the ultimate healing solution for the tourism industry and tourism companies around the world to witness the growth and flourishing once again.

You may now put Iran on your travel bucket list for 2021! If you have a call for traveling to Iran in 2021, get in touch with us through info@idt.ir, we would be more than happy to help you.