Are you in Isfahan? Discover the magic of the Iranian desert on this unforgettable trip to Meybod, Kharanaq and Chak Chak, where we'll visit some of Iran's most historic sites. We'll end the tour in Yazd.
Day Trip Details
At the indicated time, we'll pick you up from your hotel in Isfahan, and we'll head to Meybod, a thousand-year-old city with a history dating back more than 1800 years. Ready to discover it?
Once we arrive in Meybod, we'll explore the impressive Naryn Castle, a mud-brick fortress towering over the desert that is believed to date back to Achaemenid times. From the top, you can enjoy breathtaking panoramic views.
Later, we'll visit the Pigeon Tower, a 16th-century masterpiece designed to house pigeons, and the Yakhchāl Ice House, an ancient cooling building, an example of early Persian engineering.
Our route will continue into the heart of the desert, arriving at Chak Chak, the most important Zoroastrian shrine in Iran. This spiritual enclave, located on the side of a mountain, is a very important pilgrimage site. Did you know that, according to legend, it was here that Nikbanou, daughter of the last Sassanid king, found refuge from the Arab advance?
Before continuing on, we'll take a break where you can get lunch at a local restaurant, where you'll have the opportunity to sample the authentic flavours of Persian cuisine and refuel for the next leg of the journey.
The last stop of the day will be in Kharanaq, an ancient mud-brick village that seems to have stood still in time. There, we'll stroll through its narrow alleys and centuries-old structures and visit the famous swinging minaret, a mysterious 14th-century tower. Do you know why it's so curiously named? We'll also cross the Old Bridge of Kharanaq, a Sassanid-era structure that spans a dry riverbed—a postcard-worthy sight!
After these visits, we'll finally travel to Yazd, the city of the wind towers and Zoroastrian traditions. Arrival is scheduled for 8 to 10 hours later.