Travel to Iran would probably be like none of your previous trips, it is certainly a unique destination you never expect. There are loads of unique experiences waiting for you here, including cultural attractions, natural beauty, warm-hearted hospitable people, and tasty local foods.
Well, the next issue might be your safety. While you are searching is it safe to travel to Iran, it is never easy to distinguish between propaganda and genuine information. The two risk assessment institutions “International SOS” and “Risk control” evaluate Iran’s risk to travelers to be comparable to that of most European countries’.
Iran Doostan Tours Co. is a reliable Iran travel agency for incoming tours to Iran. No difference whether you are aiming to travel to Iran from Canada or travel to Iran from India, or any other country, we are honored to offer high-quality services in terms of diverse package tours. As a tour operator and travel agency in Iran, we provide all travel services including itineraries, visa, tour guides, transportation, accommodation, and whatever our tourists may need while traveling to Iran. If you are looking for some self-drive tours like travel to Iran by car, we are also ready to provide you with all you may need.
It is good to know that the Iran visa process is quite fast and convenient and the tourists can also apply for a visa online. However, if you intend to travel to Iran from the UK or US, your visa may take a bit longer to be issued.
If you have a call for an independent traveling to Iran, we wholeheartedly respect your decision; then all you may need to have except an Iran travel guide book and a map would be reading some tips for traveling to Iran in our Iran travel blog. For any travel to Iran experience, you are recommended to visit our guest blog and also our trip advisor page, it may be helpful. You may also like to spare some time watching interesting Iran tourism videos to whet your appetite for traveling to Iran.
Our professional colleagues are ready to help you if you have planned to travel to our country. Contact us via info@idt.ir. We will be back to you soon.

Posts

Christmas in Iran

Christmas in Iran: How Do Iranians Celebrate Christmas?

With the arrival of the joyful Christmas season, Iranian Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ in the same way. What is Christmas like in Iran?
Iran is where the Three Wise men are believed to have lived when Jesus was born. Today Iranian Christians start the “Little Fast” in December, during which they abstain from eating animal products. And the “Big Fast” occurs during Lent, six weeks before Easter.

The Christian population in Iran is less than 1%, consisting of Armenians, Assyrians, Catholics, Protestants, and Evangelical Christians. Armenian Christians celebrate Christmas on the same day as Epiphany on January 6, while the rest celebrate this day on December 25. The celebration takes place in the church and at home. After Church service, everyone enjoys the Christmas dinner, which they call “Little Feast.”

Christians of Iran are not familiar with Santa Claus, so gifts are not generally exchanged, but children get new clothes that they wear proudly on Christmas Day.
When the cheerful spirit of the season comes around, it hits every soul despite their beliefs or religions. Christmas decorations take place throughout the country, specifically in major cities such as Tehran, Isfahan, Shiraz, Tabriz, and even religious cities such as Mashhad.
Decorated Christmas trees, decorations, and gifts are all over the stores, which are very popular among the young generation of Iranian Muslims.

Iran christmas

Christmas decorations take place throughout the country, specifically in major cities.

Christmas celebration in Tehran
Iranian Christians hold Christmas parties that sometimes might involve a high entrance fee. Ararat Club in Tehran is one of these centers holding special Christmas parties each year. There is also a Charity Bazaar with a wide variety of delicious food and live performances that visitors can enjoy. Armenian families often prepare “Kukupolo” for dinner on Christmas night. Then they go to the churchyard to meet friends and families. Priests pray in the light of the candles in the church. The church bell rings right at midnight while everyone stops chatting, looking at the sky, and praying at this particular moment.

Christmas celebration in Isfahan
The Christmas atmosphere is fascinating in the Jolfa district of Isfahan in Iran since this is where the Armenian emigrants live. All through the Jolfa district is decorated with string lights and ornamented pine trees, and there is a special ceremony at Vank Cathedral, the most significant Armenian church in Iran. The shops are crowded, and people are busy shopping, walking around, and taking photos. Walking through Jolfa is exceptionally fascinating for those interested in cross-cultural differences.

Christmas in Iran

Christmas night at Vank Cathedral

The minority religions in Iran, Christians, Jews, and Zoroastrians, are officially recognized and are represented in parliament and can enjoy the freedom of practicing their religion and performing their religious rituals.
Jesus Christ is recognized as one of the holy messengers by Muslims. According to Iranian authorities, the day of his birth is recognized. They send out messages on this occasion to Christians in Iran and all over the world.
Peace on Earth,
Good Will to All!
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

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

Iran, Iran tour, Tour to Iran, Iran Tours, Iran travel, Iranian Desert, traveling to Iran, Visiting Persia

Iran; Power to her People!

You are going where?!?” “Are you crazy?” “Why would want to go there?” “Is it safe?” “Iran – are you joking?” “Don’t you need to be fully covered up as a woman?

Classic questions I got when I proudly told people I was going to Iran. Strangely very few people said:

Aren’t you lucky?” “The people are absolutely lovely” “Oh I’ve always wanted to go there” “How wonderful to wear colourful tunics and a headscarf on holiday!

Iran, Iran tour, Tour to Iran, Iran Tours, Iran travel, Iranian Desert, traveling to Iran, Visiting Persia

For me, Iran had been a distant dream for my whole life. As a child, I ordered biryani in a local Indian restaurant and was proudly told “Good choice. However, biryani isn’t traditionally Indian but more of a wedding dish from Ancient Persia.” From that moment I was hooked. Where was Ancient Persia? To me, it conjured up childhood images of flying carpets, tempting food, amazing architecture, snow-capped mountains, colorful gardens and beautiful people wearing exotic clothes! They may have been childhood images – but the reality is – this is Iran today. The good news is all of the above including every delicious meal is included in the holiday but flying carpets are an optional extra!

Iran, Iran tour, Tour to Iran, Iran Tours, Iran travel, Iranian Desert, traveling to Iran, Visiting Persia

I was joining KE’s first departure to Mount Damavand and the Pearls of Persia and thankfully I didn’t have to choose whether I preferred to trek in the Albroz Mountains, climb Mount Damavand, explore Shiraz, Persepolis, and Isfahan or spend the night at a desert EcoResort, because we’ve cleverly included everything in a fantastic two week adventure.

Iran, Iran tour, Tour to Iran, Iran Tours, Iran travel, Iranian Desert, traveling to Iran, Visiting Persia

I always find the true beauty of group travel is the people you meet along the way and luckily I was travelling with a group of fellow experienced travelers who were all open-minded and easygoing plus more than ready and waiting to welcome what surprises Iran may have in store. Yes, we were all wildly excited about climbing Damavand and seeing Iran’s incredible cities, but mostly we were curious about the people. The first time we heard “Where are you from?” we said “Denmark, Scotland, England and America!” Due to the negative publicity Iran receives from the U.K and U.S we thought we should play is safe by listing each nationality in a “low-risk” order. We quickly received a warm “welcome to Iran” before been “kidnapped” for a selfie…the first of many.

It is impossible to put into a few words the hospitality we received in Iran. I lost count the number of times I sat in a Persian garden and within seconds was surrounded by wonderful families and their polite children asking for photos. Or the 11 year-old Chess Grand Master who asked if she could join me because she was wearing a blue decorated headscarf and I was too. The charming young Iranian boys in the Albroz Mountains climbing Alam Kuh who sneakily gave us ladies sweets without the guys knowing. The smiling waiter who delivered complimentary Turkish coffee because I asked “How do you prepare it?” Or the charismatic cleric who granted us a “questions and answer” session on Islam after handing round sweets. However one of my favorite “people” moments was the wonderful elderly man in Isfahan who despite my strong Yorkshire accent proudly announced “how lovely you speak the Queen’s English.”

Iran, Iran tour, Tour to Iran, Iran Tours, Iran travel, Iranian Desert, traveling to Iran, Visiting Persia

I’ve never traveled to a country where with each moment I thought… this just cannot get any better. Every day was pure Persian magical, from the excitement on looking across to Damavand whilst standing on the summit of Lashgarak to the sunny panorama from the top of Alam Kuh, Iran’s second highest peak. I’ll never forget the sheer determination needed to trek to the top of Damavand or the feeling of achievement when we proudly stood at 5671m with our token Iranian flag. The sheer size of UNESCO Persepolis and her amazing architecture blew us all away and that was after a couple of the group bravely read Persian poetry out loud in Shiraz. Isfahan charmed us with her bridges, beautiful mosques and overwhelming main-square before we watched the sunset from our EcoCamp in the desert.

Iran, Iran tour, Tour to Iran, Iran Tours, Iran travel, Iranian Desert, traveling to Iran, Visiting Persia

Iran gets under your skin because of the welcoming people and for any ladies who feel “you need to be fully clothed” The “hijab” or simple headscarf is a colourful part of Iranian culture and you can’t help feeling like “one of the girls” when it’s teamed with a colourful tunic, large sunglasses, trousers or jeans and a pair of sandals! Life in the mountains whilst trekking is more relaxed so KE’s itinerary offers the perfect way to go from high-altitude hiking clothes to a spot of city chic!

Will I return to Iran? Without a doubt as the country and its friendly population offers the warmest welcome on the planet. Plus it’s not every day a Yorkshire lass is told she speaks like royalty!

Lisa Spratling is a Product Manager for KE Adventure Travel, a UK samll group tour operator who offer the 15 day trekking holiday Mount Damavand and the Pearls of Persia

Originally published on https://www.keadventure.com/blog/item/346-iran-power-to-her-people.”

Haftsin-Nowruz

Which Countries Celebrate Nowruz?

Nowruz is the first day of spring and the beginning of the new year in a huge geographical area including the Black Sea region, central and western Asia. Persian New Year was originally determined by astronomical calculations and it marks March 21. In 2009 this amazing cultural ritual was registered on the list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as the new year celebrated by seven countries Azerbaijan, India, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Turkey, and Uzbekistan.

Haftsin-Nowruz

Haftsin tabletop setting is among the most prominent rituals of Nowruz in Iran.

On November 30, 2016, during the 11th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, in Ethiopia, five more countries were added to the list of the multinational cases of Nowruz making it a total of twelve internationality that celebrate their New Year on the spring equinox every year.
Nowruz celebration is observed by Iran, Albania, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, China (by Turkic peoples and Tajiks), Georgia, India (by Parsis), Iraq (by Kurds and Turkmens), Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Syria (by Kurds), Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
There are many rites, local traditions, and games that go with this festival and they vary in every region. It has been more than 3000 years that people are celebrating Nowruz. Nowruz meaning new day represents reconciliation, friendship, and peace among all people and communities.

If you’re interested in learning more about this fascinating Persian festival, here’s a video to provide you with full information about Nowruz and its unique traditions. Learn how to set Haft Seen table and learn what each of the seven elements means in this tradition and celebrate the Persian New Year.

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