Be Iran Khosh-amadid!

(Welcome to Iran!)

A guided tour of Kerman province, Iran.

Kerman, the historical home of Iran!

Aseman Samangan and

Mahan Air present a seven
day tour of Kerman, Iran.
Your trip begins in Tehran from where you catch a
flight to Kerman city. Youll spend 2 days here
visiting sites such as the Kerman Bazaar famous for
its copper artefacts and spices.
You can refresh yourself with tea and pistachio
sweets at the historic chai-kaneh in the centre of
the old city and later enjoy a meal with local dishes
like Ghatogh Goosht and Haleem Bademjan.
Among other places of interest are the Ganjali Khan
building complex, located in the old center. Built in
1631 this complex is composed of a school, a
square, a caravanserai, a bathhouse, an Ab Anbar
(water reservoir), a mint, a mosque and a bazaar.
Of particular beauty are the frescoed ceilings of the
bath.
You can also visit the Shahzade (Princes) Garden
which dates back to the Qajar era in the early
1890s; a rectangular green oasis surrounded by
desert.

Day 3 is with the pastoral nomads who live

encamped at the foot of the Koh Panj
Bardsir mountains amidst freezing springs.
These noamds are well known for rearing
goats, sheep, cattle as well as producing
cashmere.
You will also be visiting the famous Bagh e
Sangi (stone garden) in Balvard village.
This garden was built by Darvish Khan
Esfandiarpour who lost most of his lands
during the Land Reforms of the early 1960s
during the Pahlavi era. He lost his remaining
garden to drought. Being both deaf and
mute he created this work of art in protest
against the injustices he suffered.

Days 4-7 are in the town of Sirjan, where you

get the opportunity to work on a pistachio farm
and help bring in the harvest from plucking to
processing.
You will also be visiting a carpet and kilim
workshop. Carpets are also available for sale if
you wish to buy any.
Another speciality of Sirjan is the furniture made
here which are upholstered with carpets. These
can be shipped to your home by the citys
enterprising merchants.
The economy is mostly agriculture based and
pistachio is an important source of revenue
with the province being the biggest producer
of pistachio in Iran. Carpet weaving is a very
old tradition and the carpets of Kerman are
renowned internationally. The oldest carpet
discovered here dates from around 1500 AD.
The area around Sirjan is also known for its iron
and copper mines.

Some antiquities of
Kerman province

Wind tunnels to ventilate houses,

a yakhchal or icehouse first built
by the Persians in 400 BC,
Sassanid era monuments, forts,
mysterious rocks in the desert,
Safavid hammams with
frescoed ceilings, and a
thousand year old cedar tree.
Kerman has it all!

Mother Nature at her

best
Kerman has plenty of natural
attractions as well. There are
thermal and mineral springs,
high mountains, and animal
sanctuaries. Some amazing
sights are the Kafeh Namak or
Salt Lake and the wind eroded
Kalout mountains.

The first tour is from the 4th to 11th September 2016.

Your package includes flights from Tehran-Kerman-SirjanTehran, visa fees, hotel stay, all meals, local transport,
visits to the nomad camp, and the pistachio farm and
processing facility. Mahan Air will also make your travel
booking from your home city to Tehran if you so wish.

For bookings, write to bahar.hpr@gmail.com

Behetoun khosh begzare!

(wish you a pleasant stay!)

(note: all photographs from the internet)