Brit wanting independent tour of Iran in 2016
Oct 28, 2015, 7:25 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold, VS Gold, HH Diamond, SPG Gold
Posts: 516
Brit wanting independent tour of Iran in 2016
Hi all,
Looking for some assistance and advice with regards to planning a visit to Iran (ideally Tehran & Shiraz/Persepolis).
As a Brit I understand I can no longer go without a tour operator. I'm the type of person who doesnt do tours. I'm happy to have a guide for certain things like at major sites such as Persepolis but I want to be able to largely roam around freely in Tehran. I can get mysekf to the Bazaar and Mosque, etc.
Is this in any way possible? I'm happy to book through a group and have hotels and transfers arranged, but I do not want a guided tour day in day out.
Any recommendations for tour groups who could do this please?
Looking for some assistance and advice with regards to planning a visit to Iran (ideally Tehran & Shiraz/Persepolis).
As a Brit I understand I can no longer go without a tour operator. I'm the type of person who doesnt do tours. I'm happy to have a guide for certain things like at major sites such as Persepolis but I want to be able to largely roam around freely in Tehran. I can get mysekf to the Bazaar and Mosque, etc.
Is this in any way possible? I'm happy to book through a group and have hotels and transfers arranged, but I do not want a guided tour day in day out.
Any recommendations for tour groups who could do this please?
Oct 28, 2015, 2:49 pm
#2
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: TPA
Programs: AA PLT, HH Gold, FM Prem, SPG gold
Posts: 581
Good Luck!
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trip-...n-ey-ek-f.html
That was my trip report as an American. I was VERY lucky and got a solo tour since no one else booked my desired dates. Even so I was still with my guide about 75% of the time. He didn't have a problem with me roaming sites on my own. He didn't know about my going back out after dinner many evenings.
Short of spending big bucks for a very specialized tour privately and getting lucky with a flexible guide, I wouldn't count on it. I too hate formal tours, but didn't really feel having a guide really prevented me from seeing Iran. I wouldn't let it stop you from going.
They may have just reopened the British Embassy, and Rouhani has done wonders for tourism over the last two years, but folks like Jack Straw and the Leader's general animosity toward the West won't change things too quickly.
Best of luck in your planning and don't hesitate to ask for further advice.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trip-...n-ey-ek-f.html
That was my trip report as an American. I was VERY lucky and got a solo tour since no one else booked my desired dates. Even so I was still with my guide about 75% of the time. He didn't have a problem with me roaming sites on my own. He didn't know about my going back out after dinner many evenings.
Short of spending big bucks for a very specialized tour privately and getting lucky with a flexible guide, I wouldn't count on it. I too hate formal tours, but didn't really feel having a guide really prevented me from seeing Iran. I wouldn't let it stop you from going.
They may have just reopened the British Embassy, and Rouhani has done wonders for tourism over the last two years, but folks like Jack Straw and the Leader's general animosity toward the West won't change things too quickly.
Best of luck in your planning and don't hesitate to ask for further advice.
Oct 31, 2015, 6:48 pm
#3
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Northern Nevada
Programs: DL,EK
Posts: 1,652
I have been to Iran twice (American passport)... in 1998 and again in 2011. Both times I had to have a guide but it was just me on the tour in the guide's car. It made getting to out-of-the-way places easy and I would do it again. For the first trip I used Caravan Sarah and for the second Araz Travel. Both worked out well.
Jan 22, 2016, 2:45 pm
#5
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: TPA
Programs: AA PLT, HH Gold, FM Prem, SPG gold
Posts: 581
I had a trip report with more details on the planning and visa process.