top of page

TEHRAN  |  QOM  |  KASHAN  |  ISFAHAN  | NA'IN |  YAZD  |  PERSEPOLIS | SHIRAZ 

Join Dr. Hadi Qazwini and Dr. Jihad Turk on a rare journey to some of the most significant and stunning sites in Islamic and world history.  Register now!

EXPLORE IRAN

With Deposit

MAy 23  -  JUNE 4, 2025

11 Nights • 12 Days

Iran is the heartland of one of the world's oldest continuous major civilizations. Historically known as Persia (named for the region of Fars), Iran is a modern nation self-described as an Islamic Republic. Prior to the spread of Islam to this region, the ancient Achaemenid and Parthian dynasties challenged the Greeks and established a flourishing culture. Zoroastrianism emerged as the dominant religious tradition by the time of the Sasanid dynasty, which was overthrown during the 630s by Muslim forces. The area of Iran and Iraq became a central and dynamic nexus for the integration of various intellectual and cultural traditions into a rich new Islamic environment. Under the Abbasid and regional empires that ensued, trade, material culture, literature, and poetry thrived. Arabic and Persian expression set cultural standards for surrounding areas, such as Central Asia and Indian Subcontinent, and beyond. Whereas the inhabitants in the medieval period were predominantly Sunni in their orientation, in the 16th century, the rise of the Safavid dynasty led to a large-scale shift to Shi’ism, which continues to be the basis for Iranian government and society today. All who visit Iran remark on the warm hospitality and utter beauty of the country, challenging stereotypes and geopolitical characterizations. We will learn about the country’s rich history, appreciate unrivaled architectural marvels, savor delicious foods and gain an authentic understanding of the Iranian people.

faculty guideS

Anchor 1

Dr. Seyed Hadi Qazwini 

The first day of the tour is Friday, February 23. In order to arrive by this date, travelers from North American gateways will most likely need to begin their journey on Wednesday, February 21, accounting for the crossing of the international date line. Travelers from other origin points should book travel to arrive by the early afternoon on Friday, February 23.

Screenshot 2024-01-07 at 3.54.01 PM.png

Dr. Seyed Hadi Qazwini is a Bayan faculty member and trustee, international scholar, educator, religious leader, and public speaker. He serves as the Muslim Chaplain at the Claremont Colleges in southern California. For over 15 years, he has educated diverse audiences across the United States and other parts of the world on topics related to Islam and Muslims in a variety of settings, including academic conferences, college and university campuses, schools, places of worship, and media outlets. Dr. Qazwini completed advanced traditional Islamic studies at the Seminary of Qum under the guidance of prominent scholars. He holds a B.A. in Sociology from the University of California - Irvine, an M.A. in Islamic Studies and Leadership from Claremont School of Theology and Bayan Islamic Graduate School, and a Ph.D. in Religion with a concentration on Global Islam from the University of Southern California. Dr. Qazwini's scholarly interests encompass Islamic intellectual history, with a focus on theology, law, and Imami Shiʿism. His publications have appeared in leading academic venues, such as Islamic Studies, The Encyclopaedia of Islam III, Shii Studies Review, and Edinburgh University Press.

Dr. Jihad Turk 

jihad_04.jpg

Bayan’s President, Dr. Jihad Turk will co-lead the tour. He has extensive experience as an imam and faith leader in Los Angeles, the city with the largest Iranian population outside of Tehran. During his graduate studies in Islamic law and society, he spent an academic year in Iran studying the Persian language. Dr. Turk has traveled to various countries in the Persian Gulf region for high-level meetings and conferences and will offer his perspective on contemporary challenges and opportunities. He holds a B.A. in History from the University of California - Berkeley, an M.A. from the University of Texas at  Austin, and an Ed.D. from the University of Southern California in Global Educational Leadership.

ITINERARY IN IRAN

The tour program officially begins at noon on Sunday, May 25. In order to arrive in Tehran before this time, participants from North America should depart from their origin city on or before Friday, May 23 (Participants from other origins may be able to depart on Saturday, May 24 and arrive in Tehran in the evening of the same day or early on May 25).

                      friday,  may 23                              depart from us gateways                       

day 1           saturday, may 24               arrive in tehran (evening)

day 2           sunday, may 25                   Tehran - golestan complex / park-e shahr / tabi' at bridge

day 3           monday, may 26                  Tehran - milad tower / grand bazaar 

day 4           tuesday, may 27                 qom - hawzah 'ilmiyyah / SHRINE OF Fatima masumeh; kashan: borujerdi                                                                                                   house / bagh-e fin

day 5           wednesday, may 28           ABYAneh / isfahan: armenian quarter / jame masjid

day 6           thursday, may 29               isfahan sites: naqsh-e jahan square / gheysarieh bazaar / chehel sotun
                                                                        palace / si-o-se pol

day 7           friday, may 30                     na'in - jame masjid / pirnia house; yazd: old city

day 8           saturday, may 31               yazd - amir chakhmagh complex / atashkadeh zoroastrian temple /                                                                                                        jame masjid

day 9           sunday, june 1                     persepolis - takht-e jamshid & necropolis / shiraz

day 10        monday, june 2                    shiraz - bagh-e eram / nasir al-mulk masjid / vakil bazaar / citadel

day 11        tuesday, june 3                   shiraz - / tombs of hafez & saadi / MAHARLOO SALT LAKE / farewell dinner /  
                                                                       LATE NIGHT DEPARTURE

day 12        wednesday, june 4             final check-out and additional departures

BAYAN TOURS .png

Bayan has been offering faculty-led tours to world heritage destinations since 2017, with previous tours to Southern Spain, Malaysia, Uzbekistan, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Jerusalem & Jordan, Turkey, Egypt, Iran, and Senegal/Gambia, with exciting new destinations being planned in the coming years.

 

WHY JOIN A BAYAN TOUR?

​

Tours offered by Bayan cater to the diverse interests and needs of families, while offering an exceptional educational and cultural program. Each tour is led by one or more faculty members who provide daily background lectures and insights about the historical and contemporary contexts. Local guides are utilized as well at various points in time. The itinerary is crafted by experienced personnel to maximize your enjoyment and satisfaction. While the scheduled program is robust, ample time is provided to explore on your own, shop for local handicrafts and souvenirs, and enjoy some leisure activities. Bayan’s tour group size is typically between 20-30 participants.

TOUR pricing

LAND PACKAGES ONLY

All pricing is double occupancy and per person.  International airfare is not included.

 

A partial deposit of $2,000 per traveler is required upon booking.  This deposit is refundable through 12/31/2024, however, a $ 250 per traveler cancellation charge will apply to any refunds processed between 6/25/2024 and 12/31/2024.

 

                                                              Early Bird (Reserve by 8/31/24)                         After 8/31/24

 

Adult                                      $3,695                                                                           $4,095​

​

Minors (8-17)                      $3,495                                                                           $3,995

​

Single Supplement           $1,000                                                                            $1,000

​

​

  • Reservations will be taken until March 1.

  • Entry point into Iran: Tehran Imam Khomeini Airport (IKA).

  • Departure point from Iran: Shiraz Shahid Dastgheib Airport (SYZ).

  • We recommend your baggage only be comprised of only one checked suitcase, one carry-on, and one personal item.

  • Most nationalities require a visa to enter Iran.  Although visa fees are not included, we will provide the necessary support to acquire the visa approval document (also known as a grant notice)

​

​

land PACKAGE INCLUSIONS

  • Airport transfers in Tehran on May 24 evening and May 25 morning (based on your arrival time), and in Shiraz on June 3 evening (for late night departure) & June 4 morning

  • 11 nights hotel (4*)

  • Ground transportation by private A/C coach

  • All entrance fees for scheduled sites

  • Daily breakfasts plus two dinners

  • English-speaking local guide(s)

  • Local taxes

​

​

EXCLUSIONS

  • ​​International airfare to Iran (budget $1,500-2,000 round-trip per person from US gateways), baggage fees, seat selection fees

  • Tourist visa and associated fees

  • Additional meals/beverages

  • Gratuities for local guides, drivers, hotel porters, servers, activities

  • Personal items

  • Hotel incidental charges and other individualized services

  • Covid-19 testing, treatment and/or quarantine costs (if applicable)

  • Urgent care, medical treatment, and testing, related expenses

  • Travel insurance (recommended)

tour highlights

The below highlights were from our 2024 excursion and will be updated for our 2025 tour.

Tehran

  • Golestan Complex

  • Park-e Shahr

  • Azadi Square

  • Milad Tower

  • National Jewelry Museum

  • Tabi'at Bridge

  • Darband neighborhood

  • Grand Bazaar

 

Qom

  • Shrine of Fatima Masumeh

  • Astaneh Museum

  • Old Bazar

  • Hoz-e Soltan salt lake

 

Kashan

  • Borujerdi House

  • Bagh-e Fin Garden

  • Abyaneh Village

 

Isfahan

  • Jame Masjid

  • Vank Cathedral and Museum

  • Jolfa Armenian Quarter

  • Masjid-e Shah 

  • Sheikh Lotfullah Mosque

  • Ali Qapu Palace

  • Gheysarieh Bazaar

  • Chehel Sotun Palace

  • Si-o-Se Pol Bridge

​

Na'in

  • Jame Mosque

  • Pirnia House

  • Meybod Shah Abbasi Caravanserai

Yazd

  • Ancient Fahadan district

  • Amir Chakhmagh Complex

  • Atashkadeh Zoroastrian Temple

  • Jame Mosque​

Persopolis

  • Ancient ruins

  • Takht-e Jamshid

  • Naqsh-e Rostam Necropolis

Shiraz

  • Bagh-e Eram Garden

  • Nasir al-Mulk Masjid (Pink Mosque)

  • Vakil Bazaar

  • Karim Khan Citadel

  • Tombs of Hafez and Saadi

With Deposit

Bayan Tours-3.png
  • Who is leading the tour?
    Bayan’s vice president and professor Munir Shaikh will be the faculty escort for the tour. He holds an M.A. in Islamic Studies from the University of California, Los Angeles, with a specialization in the history of Islamic Iberia (Al-Andalus), and certificates from academic programs in Morocco, Egypt and Spain. He has taught undergraduate and graduate courses on Middle Eastern history, Islam, and world history, and led world heritage tours in various countries, including eight previous programs in Southern Spain.
  • What is the expected group size?
    Bayan’s tours are focused on providing a well-rounded experience featuring academic knowledge, historical site visits, cultural exposure, recreational activities, and free time. The itinerary includes visits to mosques and other sites of prayer. By participating in a tour, you are helping sustain and advance Bayan’s mission as a non-profit educational institution. Our group size tends to be in the range of 20-30 participants. This enables participants to get to know one another and develop bonds of friendship and camaraderie that can last a lifetime.
  • When is the registration deadline?
    We are accepting registrations for the tour until February 28, in order to book desired hotel rooms, obtain entrance tickets to monuments, and finalize other details. You must pay a refundable deposit of $750 per traveler. Deposits are partially refundable through January 31, 2025, however, a cancellation charge of $ 100 per traveler will apply for any cancellation requested 24 hours after time of booking. For other important terms and conditions, please click here. Deposits after this date are non-refundable but can be applied to a different tour within a one-year time frame. After payment of your deposit, you will receive an invoice for the remaining balance for your party, reflecting any applicable discounts. The balance payment is due no later than January 31, 2025.
  • Is a visa required for U.S. citizens to enter Spain?
    Bayan’s tours are open to participants who wish to join from anywhere in the world. However, the majority of participants tend to be from the United States. US passport holders do not need to obtain a visa to enter Spain for tourism. This is true for nationals of many other countries as well. However, non-US passport holders are encouraged to check requirements for their nationality and obtain a visa if required. We are unable to assist in obtaining visas.
  • How physically demanding is the tour?
    Our group will be transported from city to city in a luxury air-conditioned tourist bus. However, in each city, since we will be in the historical centers where buses can't go, we will mainly be walking from site to site. In Madrid we will use the metro (subway) at times, as well as taxis. In any case, there will be a significant amount of walking on most days, on slight inclines and steps. The streets at times will have cobblestones. participants should expect to walk roughly 12,000 steps each day (about 6 miles in aggregate) during the first few days of the program, and perhaps 8,000 steps per day during the latter portion of the itinerary. At any given time, we will cover 1/4 to 1/2 mile between rest points. We will take into account the differing abilities and health conditions of group members and regulate the pace and intensity of the tour accordingly. Even so, this tour may not be suitable for those with knee, hip or foot pain that could be aggravated by the amount of walking involved, and a private tour might be preferable. Ideally, all participants should prepare for the tour by walking at least 5,000 steps per day in the weeks leading up to the tour.
  • What type of food will we have on the tour?
    Spain’s food is a mix of Mediterranean and local traditions. Some dishes, such as paella, reveal their roots in Arab/Muslim cuisines. While the types of vegetarian options have grown in recent years in Spain, most local meat dishes feature pork. During the tour, we will dine at restaurants that serve zabiha halal foods, or at places that offer seafood and vegetarian options. We will be sure to avoid any foods prepared with pork or alcohol. You can expect meals to include Middle Eastern, Turkish and Moroccan dishes at restaurants run by local Muslims, and Italian and other types of dishes more generally. You’ll have the option of sampling various suitable tapas, small dishes with beverages.
  • Will you provide more information about the daily schedule and other details?
    Yes, all participants who have completed their full payment will receive a detailed information packet that includes descriptions of the cities and sites to be visited, the daily schedule, currency exchange, local prayer times, electrical adapters, weather, what to pack, and more.
  • What precautions are you taking with regard to COVID-19?
    We encourage participants to be fully vaccinated with at least one booster shot for all who are eligible to receive these shots. U.S. citizens can travel to Spain if they show that they are vaccinated against COVID-19, or have a recovery certificate, or show a negative diagnostic test result performed either within 72 hours prior to departure to Spain for a PCR test or within 24 hours prior to departure for a rapid antigen test. We do not expect to mandate masking during the tour, but we encourage masking whenever possible and according to each individual’s comfort level. For example, when shopping in crowded areas, it would be best to wear a mask. General sanitary practices should be maintained at all times, such as washing hands with soap, using sanitizing gels and wipes, and maintaining a reasonable distance between individuals.
bottom of page