Iran

Iran is one of the world's oldest civilisations, home to the ancient Persian Empire that once stretched from the Mediterranean to India! Iran's history spans 7,000 years and it has produced some of humanity's greatest art, poetry, science, and architecture. The ancient ruins of Persepolis - the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire built by Darius the Great - are breathtaking and UNESCO-listed.

Isfahan is considered one of the most beautiful cities in the world, with its magnificent Imam Square (among the world's largest squares), the Ali Qapu Palace, and stunning turquoise-tiled mosques that seem to glow in the sunlight. Shiraz is the city of poets, gardens, and roses - the great Persian poets Hafez and Saadi are buried here and their tombs are visited by thousands daily. Iran's landscape is extraordinarily diverse - the Alborz mountain range with Mount Damavand (the highest volcano in Asia), vast salt deserts, lush forests on the Caspian coast, and ancient trade routes. Persian cuisine is fragrant and delicious - stews (khoresht) with pomegranate, walnut, and saffron; fluffy herb-filled rice; and the world's finest pistachios. Iranians are famously warm and hospitable - the concept of "taarof" (elaborate courtesy) means guests are treated like royalty.