13 Day The Persian Silk Road: Tehran, Qazvin, Semnan, Mashhad & Kerman

The National Museum of Iran and the Carpet Museum the threads, trade goods and routes of the Silk Road with time in the Grand Bazaar (about 5 hours). Overnight: Tehran.

Drive west to Qazvin (~2 h), a former Safavid capital; its great caravanserai bazaar, the Chehel Sotoun pavilion and the Jameh Mosque in the afternoon. Your guide tells the story of the Alamut valley in the mountains north of the city, where Hassan-e Sabbah's Nizari Ismailis held their castles from 1090 until the Mongols took them in 1256; the legends about his followers gave Europe the word 'assassin'. Alamut castle itself is not visited on this tour. Overnight: Qazvin.

East along the old road to the desert-edge city of Semnan (~4.5 h); the Jameh Mosque, the Pahneh bazaar and the historic city gate. Overnight: Semnan.

A long road day east along the old Khorasan highway to Mashhad (~6.5 h, ~570 km), stopping at Damghan's Tarikhaneh, one of the oldest mosques in Iran. Arrive in time for an evening at the Imam Reza shrine precinct. Overnight: Mashhad.

The vast Imam Reza shrine complex, its courtyards and museums, and an excursion to the tomb of Ferdowsi at Tus (about 6 hours). Overnight: Mashhad.

South across the desert plateau to the palm oasis of Tabas (~6 h, ~480 km) on the edge of the Dasht-e Kavir; the Golshan Garden at dusk. Overnight: Tabas.

On south via Ravar to the desert trading city of Kerman (~6 h, ~430 km); the Ganjali Khan square, bathhouse and bazaar in the late afternoon. Overnight: Kerman.

East via Mahan's Shazdeh Garden (UNESCO) to the sculpted kaluts of the Lut desert (UNESCO) for sunset, with a picnic lunch on the way; back in Kerman after dark (full day). Overnight: Kerman.

North-west to Yazd (~4.5 h, ~370 km) through Rafsanjan's pistachio country, arriving by mid-afternoon for an evening walk among the windcatchers of the adobe old city (UNESCO). Overnight: Yazd.

Windcatchers and the old-city lanes, the Jameh Mosque, the Zoroastrian Fire Temple and the Towers of Silence (about 6 hours). Overnight: Yazd.

The caravanserai road west to Isfahan (~4.5 h) via Nain. Afternoon on Naqsh-e Jahan Square (UNESCO) with the Imam and Sheikh Lotfollah mosques and Ali Qapu, then an evening by the river bridges. Overnight: Isfahan.

A morning at the Jameh Mosque and the bazaar, then drive to Tehran (~4.5 h) and on to Imam Khomeini Airport for your departure, or continue on an optional extension. Departure day.