Tour Cancelled for 2016
- Co-Tour Coordinator: Richard Mathias:richard.mathias@ubc.ca H 778 277-4735 C 238 999- 1850 or 778 580-5804 Richard Mathias, 4327 232 St, Langley BC V2Z 2H7 Co-Tour Coordinator: Barbara Mathias:barbmathias@telus.net
- Tour Contractor: Mehrdad “Mike” Eskenasi, Manager Caravan Kooch Adventure Travel Unit 5, No. 38, Varavini St., Soleiman khater St., Motahari Ave. Tehran, 1575763465 Iran Tel: +98 (21) 88342103 Fax: +98 (21) 88847683 Hello@adventureiran.com http://www.adventureiran.com
- Tour Dates: April 23 to May 22
- Tour Rating: Intermediate
- Tour Fee: $4500 USD Tour Numbers: Minimum 8 /Maximum 15
- Tour Registration Opening: November 2nd at 1700h (5:00 PM)
Tour Description: A composite four week tour, starting in Shiraz Iran, and consisting of: vehicle touring to historic sites; cycling on backroads and tracks in the deserts of southern Iran; and, biking and trekking in the mountains of north-western Iran. Four of the major cities of Iran will be visited, Shiraz, Esfahan, Tabriz and Tehran. There will be time to visit some of the local historic sites via city and area motor vehicle tours. There will be cycling in the deserts of southern Iran with visits to historic sites and over-nights in villages and oases in the deserts. All cycling days will have support vehicles and cycling leaders. This section will give the rider a chance to interact with local nomadic people and visit ancient caravan routes.
In North-west Iran by the Caspian sea, we will visit castles, villages and caves by cycling in this mountainous terrain including; staying by the Caspian Sea, climbing a mountain and staying overnight in a cave before going to Tehran where the tour will finish. There will be time in Tehran to visit local markets and sites.
Cycling conditions: The daily cycling distances will vary, but will be maximum 100 km/day, however more usually 80km/day. There are portions of this tour in the desert on unpaved roads, and there will be some mountain bike (hybrid bike will suffice) routes ridden in the mountains in Iran’s North-West. Neither of the sections would be “advanced” according to the information given. However riders should be experienced.
Please Note the following: While cycling, our usual dress is acceptable (spandex shorts on both men and women). While not cycling, usual western-style clothes are fine, however, modesty is the key especially in rural areas. Bathing suits are just fine while swimming in the Caspian Sea, but post-swim coverings are highly recommended. There are hikes involved, thus good hiking footwear is needed. Sun protection application and the maintenance of adequate hydration are musts. There are no other health issues e.g. malaria is low risk, but hepatitis A and typhoid vaccines are recommended by CDC Atlanta, USA. There is no Canadian Embassy but both the US and UK are re-establishing embassies.
The Tour Fee is all inclusive of local travel including, transfers, transportation by van or bicycle, accommodation, and food.
The Tour Fee is exclusive of personal costs, tips, alcohol (available but not through the company), souvenirs, etc. Payments can be made in Vancouver to R&B Mathias and then they will be forwarded through the Iranian community contacts directly to Adventure Tours Iran.
Registration/Participant Selection will begin on November 2nd at 5:00 p.m. PST. A two dollar non-refundable registration fee is required at sign up, which is done online at http://tinyurl.com/m9dw6g. Applicants will be selected first, on the basis of date and time of receipt-of-registration; secondly, on fitness and health in relation to the physical requirements of the Tour; and thirdly, on the availability of suitable roommates for single registrants (double room occupancy assumed). Once participants have been determined each will pay one of the Tour Coordinators 25% of the Tour Fee upon accepting the Tour, 50% on arrival in Iran, and 25% on conclusion of the Tour. A registrant cancelling for any reason will incur all costs made or committed on their behalf unless the vacancy is filled. Please note: Both cancellation and medical insurance is strongly advised, including medi-vac coverage.
Please Note: CCCTS and the Tour Coordinator are merely assisting CCCTS members with registration and facilitating tour arrangements. All financial commitments and responsibilities are between Tour registrants/participants and the Tour Contractor (see above).
| Day | Activity | Place | Night | km / day | Note |
| 1 | Arrival | Shiraz | Shiraz | ||
| 2 | Touring | Shiraz | Shiraz | ||
| 3 | Touring | Persepolis & Pasargad | Pasargad | ||
| 4 | Touring | Yazd | Yazd | ||
| 5 | Touring | Yazd ot Maybod | Maybod | ||
| 6 | Biking | Iraj to Garmeh | Karanagh | 90 km | |
| 7 | T & B | Karanagh to Bayazeh-Iraj | Iraj | 80 km | |
| 8 | Biking | Iraj to Garmeh | Germeh | 100 km | Backroad and off road |
| 9 | Off | Garmeh | Garmeh | local hiking/walking | |
| 10 | T & B | Garmeh to Salt Lake Khur | Camping | 80 km | oasis |
| 11 | B & 4×4 | Oasis (not named) | oasis | 80 km | 4×4 tour |
| 12 | B & T | Jandaq then Anarak | Anarak | 80 km | |
| 13 | Biking | Anarak to oasis | oasis | 70 km | |
| 14 | B & T | Oasis then to Kouh Payeh village | Caravanseri | local biking and walking | |
| 15 | T | Esfahan | Esfahan | 70 km | drive & city tour |
| 16 | T | Qazvin then Alamut Valley | Alamut Valley | 3rd part of touring NW | |
| 17 | MB | castles in Alamut Valley | Alamut Valley | ||
| 18 | MB | Alamut to Alborz | Alborz | towards Caspian Sea | |
| 19 | MB | Alborz | Alborz | ||
| 20 | MB | Alborz to Caspian Sea location | |||
| 21 | Off & T | Caspain Sea villages cyce tour to Masuleh | Masuleh | 50 km | |
| 22 | C&H | Cycle to Rudkhan Castle, Hike to Top, tour to Rasht | Rasht | 35 km | |
| 23 | T&C | Tour Rasht cycle to Anzali Lagoon | Rasht | 80 km | |
| 24 | T&C | to Khalkhai then rural biking to villages | Khalkhai | 50 km | staying with tribe |
| 25 | C&T | 2 hrs downhill then drive to Ardabil | Ardabil | 40 km | city tour |
| 26 | Touring | Arbabil to Tabriz | Tabriz | Shourabil Lake & Sarein Spa | |
| 27 | Touring | Tabriz to Kandovan hiking | Kandovan Cave | ||
| 28 | Touring | Kandovan, tour area back to Tabriz | Overnight train to Tehran | ||
| 29 | Touring | Tehran City Tour | |||
| 30 | Touring | Tehran City Tour | |||
| 31 | Departure from Tehran |
Cycling distances in the North-west are approximate at this time, and include mountain biking sections.
T&B and C&T are Tour and Biking and Cycling and Touring, each with a different emphasis.