Iran Tours

Many tourists are worried about the safety in Iran. Iran is one of the safest countries in the Middle East. Iranian people love visitors from other countries. Also, they are very self-conscious about treating the tourists well. The national security services have been keeping the country safe. Actually, Iran as safe as other countries in Europe such as Denmark and UK. The safety in the borders is as strong as possible. Still, we would only not recommend you to travel along the borders with Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. This recommendation is just to make sure that you are completely safe.

Also, the political relations between Iran and some other countries like US might not be warm. But tourists from US should not be worried. All the tourists are welcome in Iran.

The tourists visiting Iran should adhere to the dress code. In other words, women in Iran should wear Hijab (wearing a shawl and covering legs and arms). The tourists should be aware of “no photos” signs. No one is allowed to take photos of government buildings, police and military zones. Anyway, the tourists should be careful about their money and passports. Iran tours highly recommend keeping your valuables safe when using public transportation. You should also be aware of the pickpockets when visiting Grand Bazaar or crowded places.

One of the important things you need to know about Iran is driving. You must have heard that Iranians do not drive safely. Actually, some people might even call it crazy. But is it really that bad? Recently, the police have stricter supervision over driving offences. Also, the police have increased the price of driving fines. Therefore, Iranians are driving safer than before. So, you should be careful but not worried. Also, you could rent a car yourself. We recommend you to go on Iran tours that have car drivers. Our Iran tours also offer cars with drivers. Our drivers always drive safe. We use very experienced and competent drivers to provide safety for our clients.

Also, you shouldn’t be worried when you are on foot. By using the sidewalks, footbridges and, crosswalks you will be safe. Of course, you should be careful when you are crossing the streets. Always be aware of the motorbikes to avoid any problem.

The guides in our Iran tours will explain the things you should do to have a safe travel. By listening to them, there will not be any problem.

It is very important to be aware of water and food safety of the country you are traveling to. If you are traveling to Iran, you can be sure that the food and water are safe. Restaurants and fast food places are normally very clean. The related authorities have strict supervision over food safety. However, it is probably safer to avoid the restaurants that do not seem clean. Of course, every person has personal food habits. So, you can judge better than anyone if the appropriate for you.

Tap water is drinkable in almost every region of Iran. Only you should be more careful about drinking tap water in some of the deprived regions. Anyhow, you can find mineral water in almost every supermarket. In every region of Iran big and small sizes of mineral water are available. Fortunately, the mineral water is very cheap in Iran. You can also find public water stations in the streets and by public transportation. So, you can also have a bottle with you and fill it in public water stations.

Obviously, in our Iran tours we will take you to the restaurants which are definitely trusted. Also, hotels provide mineral water for their guests. So, you shouldn’t worry about food and water when you are traveling with an Iran tour.

Most of the toilets you find in Iran are squat toilets. People from other countries might not be used to it, but it is actually more hygienic. You can also find throne toilets in some hotels and public restrooms. Normally, Iranians use water pumps and toilet paper. Toilet papers are available in all the supermarkets. Although, if a restroom doesn’t have toilet paper you can always ask for it. It is forbidden to throw anything in the toilets. You can always find bins in the restrooms.

Iranians care about cleanness so most of the public toilets have a toilet attendant. Normally, the public restrooms are free to use. You can find free restrooms in the airport, train station, petrol stations, parks, and mosques. Also, if you are traveling on the road you shouldn’t be about finding toilets. There are always restaurants on the road with clean toilets.

Traveling to Iran can be very cheap for the tourists. The national currency is called Rial. One dollar used to be equal to 30000 Rials. After the sanctions, due to inflation the value of Rial has been decreasing. At one point one dollar was equal to 200000 Rials. In conclusion, the economy in Iran is highly volatile. So, visiting Iran is a really good chance for the tourists. You won’t have to spend a lot of money for visiting Iran.  For example, a bottle of water is almost 0.20$.

The most important thing you should know is that Iran is not connected to the world banking system. As a result, your credit card in Iran will be useless. So, the tourists should estimate how much money they are going to need. There are no limits on how much money you can bring with. You can exchange your money to Rial in currency exchange centers. Of course, you can get help from Iran tours you are traveling with to exchange money. You can also ask the Iran tour you are joining for how much money is you are going to need.

Alibabatrek has bank accounts in Switzerland, UK and Azerbaijan. So, the payments for booking our tours can be done easily. Please do not hesitate to contact us for more information.

Fast Internet is available in most of the places in Iran. You can have access to Wi-Fi in your hotel rooms. We have a portable internet modem service in our Iran tours. So, you can always have access to the internet even when you are on tours.

Unfortunately, many websites and applications such as Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube are filtered. Normally, Iranians have VPNs on their phones. By using a VPN, you can have access to all the websites and applications that are filtered. Tour guides of our Iran tours can guide you about the VPNs that work the best. Also, we can help you with installing VPN on your phone. You can always ask the guides in our Iran tours to help you with the internet. Remember there is always a way to circumvent the limitations!

Having a phone is essential and important. Your phone is your tool for keeping in touch with your tour guide. Of course, it will be very helpful during emergency times as well. On our Iran tours we will give you Iranian sim cards during your stay in Iran. We also can provide cell phones for the tourists of our Iran tours.

Emergency telephone numbers in Iran might be different than other countries.

• 110 for calling the police
• 115 for medical helps and ambulance
• 125 for fire brigade

Also, there are applications like Snapp (Iranian Uber) that could be useful for you. Snapp taxis are trustable and very cheap.

Iran is an Islamic country. Therefore, Iranian restaurants do not offer alcoholic drinks. Also, you cannot find alcoholic drinks in stores. Drinking alcohol in Iran is a taboo. So, tourists cannot find it easily. Anyhow, Iran tours still can provide alcoholic drinks for the tourists. If the tourists would like to have alcoholic drinks they can ask their tour guides for it. We can provide alcoholic drinks in our Iran tours for the tourists who are interested.

Smoking is free in outdoor areas and most of the cafes. Also, some of the cafes have smoking zones. Buying and using any kind of drugs is illegal in Iran.

Unfortunately, Iran is not connected to the world bank system. So, tourists can’t use non-Iranian credit cards in Iran. Tourists can bring money for their trip only in cash. But, Alibabatrek has services to make it easier for you. In our Iran tours, we will change your money into Iranian currency. Then, we will give you an Iranian debit card. So, you don’t have to take cash with you everywhere you go. You can do all your purchases with your Iranian debit card.

Also, you can always withdraw cash at cash machines (ATMs). Every bank has at least one ATM in front of it. Different banks in Iran are connected. So, you can withdraw cash at any bank’s ATM. You can select the language on the ATM. Therefore, tourists won’t get confused with it. You can do other financial actions such as transferring funds with ATMs.

All the countries have specific traditions and behavioral codes. Iran is no exception. Of course, Iranians are really friendly and they will not take it hard on the tourists. But, it’s better to know some acts of politeness as well as illegal things you shouldn’t do. Here are some points about ethical codes in Iran:

Iranian people like the tourists very much. So, it is normal to hear people saying hello to you and want to chat with you. The Persian word for Hello is “Salaam”. It is polite to say Salaam when you enter shops. Normally, people of the same gender can shake hands when greeting. But, that doesn’t usually happen when greeting someone of the opposite gender. In addition, Iranians kiss each other’s chicks when greeting (three times!).

Normally, Iranians take off their shoes before entering their houses. So, when you are invited to someone’s house you probably should take off your shoes. Also, you should remove your shoes when entering the mosques.

Iranians respect elders the most. So, if you are on a bus it’s better to give your seat to the elders. You should let the elders enter a place first. Furthermore, when greeting, you should start by greeting the elder ones.

In addition, some of the behaviors are not legal. For instance, do not try to bring any alcohol or drugs into Iran. Using and carrying drugs is illegal in Iran. Also, take the “No Photos” signs seriously. If a police officer comes to you and asks you to delete the photos you have taken, just do it. The guides of the Iran tours mention all the necessary things the tourists should know about behaving. Therefore, there will be no need to worry about them.

Ta’arof

One of the most confusing politeness etiquettes in Iran is called “Ta’arof”. When a salesman is offering you to take what you are buying as a gift, he doesn’t really mean it. It’s just an act of politeness. And you shouldn’t accept it. Another example for Ta’arof is when a strangers invite you to their homes. They don’t necessarily mean it. They are just trying to be polite.

Iran is an Islamic country with Islamic rules. Therefore, women should cover their hair, arms and legs when going outside. Of course, it might seem hard for some the tourists to wear Hijab. But, female tourists should know that they do not need to wear Hijab strictly. Just wearing a scarf /shawl, and a manteau or coat is enough. This dress code might seem uncomfortable, but most of the tourists get used to Iran dress code easily. The tour guides of the Iran tour you are traveling with can help you find more comfortable clothes.

• A scarf and a manteau for women: women should start wearing their hijab since getting off the plane. So, make sure your scarf and coat are accessible in the plane. Also, if you are traveling Iran in summer, try to pick lousy and light manteaus.
• Photocopy of your passport and your visa page: police officers might request to check your passport and visa. So, have a photocopy of your passport and visa page. This way you won’t need to have your passport everywhere you go.
• An Electrical Adaptor: The power plugs in Iran are types C, F and E. Therefore, we recommend you to bring an adaptor.
• Comfortable shoes: Walking is a part of sightseeing and trekking. So, make sure to bring comfortable shoes for long distance walks.
• Sunglasses and hat: Summers in Iran can be very hot. Wearing sunglasses and a hat might be necessary.
• Warm clothes: winters can be very cold in Iran.
• The tools you are going to need in our trekking tours is mentioned in their tour pages. For example, the necessary equipment for climbing Damavand mount, is mentioned in our Damavand tour page

Tipping is common in Iran but it is a little different than other places. For example, it is not very common to tip the waiters in restaurants and cafes in Iran. Anyhow, you can tip them if you want. Also, some of the cafes and restaurants have tip boxes beside the cash. Furthermore, you are expected to tip in some other places. For example, if someone is carrying your luggage for you, you should tip them. In the hotels, it is good to tip the hotel maids as well.

Also, if a traffic warden is helping you to park your car, you should tip them. Some of the traffic wardens wear uniforms and some don’t. It might be an obligatory to pay the parking wardens with uniforms. Remember it’s better to pay more than 10000 Toman if you are tipping. Less than 10000 Toman is not much valuable and some might take it as offensive.

There are some restrictions about bringing some special types of medicines. If you have specific medical needs, make sure to talk to your doctor before traveling. Remember to have your prescriptions with you. Also, try to bring the medicines you need in the original packaging. It is possible not to find the equivalent drugs you are using. Therefore, we highly recommend you to bring your medications with yourself. Don’t forget to bring extra medicine in case of experiencing travel delays. You need to make sure that your medicines are not in the Opium act list. If it is so, you will need a medical certificate. We also recommend you to bring diarrhea medicines and medicines for pain and fever with you.

Most of the hospitals in Iran have reasonable medical facilities. Also, the doctors are very well-trained. You can find international hospitals in big cities like Tehran, Isfahan, and Shiraz. In case any emergency happens, you will be taken to the nearest hospital. Your travel insurance might be covering the costs for health emergencies. Furthermore, health services are affordable in Iran. Normally, the doctors can speak English. Also, some vaccinations are recommended by the World Health organization to avoid illnesses such as hepatitis.

Normally, offices and banks work from 8 a.m. to 16 p.m. in Iran. Most of the museums are open from 9 a.m. to 17 p.m. The majority of our Iran tours begin at 9 a.m. Depending on the program, it may start even sooner (6 a.m.). Also, cultural and adventure tours have different timings. You can find the accurate timings in the detailed itinerary section of our Iran tour page.

Unlike many of the other countries, the stores are normally open till 10 p.m. Nightlife is an important feature of Iranian life. Therefore, you can still see many people in the streets and shops at nights.  the restaurants are open till 11 p.m. Also, some of the cinemas stay open till after midnight. Therefore, there are even more places you can visit at nights.

Like any other country, Iran has public holidays and ceremonies. It’s better to consider these celebrations before setting the date for joining an Iran tour. Here are some of the most important ceremonies and holidays in Iran.

Iranians celebrate Nowruz, the Persian new year every March. New year holiday in Iran is 13 days. Normally, Iranians go on a trip to other cities or countries during this holiday. Therefore, touristic cities like Isfahan and Shiraz can be very crowded. Also, many Iranians travel to the northern regions of Iran during this holiday.

The anniversary of the Islamic revolution in Iran is on the 11^th of February. Islamic republic day is a political celebration and holiday in Iran.

Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar. Hussein son of Ali, prophet Mohammad’s grandson was killed in this month. A mourning ceremonial is held during this month. Tasu’a and Ashura are the most important days in this month. Muharram mourning ceremonies can be a great chance for the tourists to know about the traditions in Iran. Cities like Yazd hold very magnificent ceremonies during this month. Therefore, we recommend our tourists to visit Iran during this ceremony. Muharram is in September.

Iran is an Islamic country and celebrates Ramadan like other Muslim countries. In this month, people fast from dawn till sunset. During this month, you cannot eat and drink in public places. Therefore, restaurants are closed during the days. Of course, there is no obligation for the tourists to fast. But, because of the restrictions for eating and drinking it’s better not to visit Iran during this month. Ramadan begins on the 5^th of May and ends on the 4^th of June.

Use Public Transportation During Your Iran Travel

Big cities of Iran have developed wide transportation networks. Taxi and buses are available in every province. Also, Subway is available in most of the big cities of Iran. Tehran, Isfahan, Mashhad, and Tabriz are among them. Our transportation services include private cars or middle buses depending on the number of tourists. Anyway, our tour guides will give you the necessary information about transportation systems in Iran just in case.

Taxis Are Available Everywhere

Different types of taxis are available in Iran. They include private taxis, shared/shuffle taxis, telephone taxis, and Snapp. You can have a taxi anywhere you are.

Many cars in Iran are private cars. They are unofficial taxis. By just hailing beside a street, you can hire one. Of course, we recommend you to travel with official taxis for your safety. But, these taxis might sometimes be a good help! You should have cash with yourself to pay for these taxis. Also, know that these taxis can pick up other passengers as well. So, if you want to hire a taxi just for yourself, you should tell the driver. The world used for hiring an unofficial taxi just for yourself is “Darbast”. Of course, the price you have to pay for hiring a private taxi is more expensive. We recommend you to ask the driver about the price before getting on. Perhaps, some haggling could be useful!

Shuffle Taxis

Shuffle taxi cars are usually colored in yellow and green. These taxis go to designated destinations. There are taxi stations in different parts of the cities where you can find these taxis. Sometimes, you should get on two different taxis for getting to your destination. Anyway, the price for shuffle taxis is very cheap and specified. So, there is no need to haggle. Again, you should pay these taxis by cash. Recently, you can pay them by specified applications such as PhonePay and Toman as well.

Private Taxis

One of the other ways of hiring a taxi is by telephoning taxi agencies. You can telephone them, tell them where you are and where you want to go. You can also ask the attendants in cafes and restaurants to hire a taxi for you. These taxis are the most expensive ones. But, they are much more trustable than unofficial cars.

Snapp is an application for hiring cars. We don’t have Uber in Iran but Snapp is very similar to it. You just have to confirm the beginning and the destination of your trip on the map. Using Snapp is relatively cheap. Also, it is normally very trusted. These taxis can be paid by cash or online. Normally, tourists cannot pay online because they don’t have an account in Iran. Our Iran tours include providing transportation for our clients. But, if you are interested in commuting by yourself, our tour guides will offer you the best ways.

Use the Buses to Avoid Traffic

BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) are fast buses with designated paths. They are a great help for ditching the traffic. Also they are very cheap. For using them you should have a metro card. Normally, BRTs are crowded. So, you should be aware of the pickpockets in them. Information about the stations are available in English. You can also find your destination on BRT station map in the buses. The color of BRTs is red.

Also, other types of buses are available in the big cities of Iran. Tourists might have a problem with the limited information in English on the buses. So, you should definitely ask for help from other passengers. They can tell you which station is the one you are looking for. You can pay for the ride on these buses by cash or a metro card.

Furthermore, women and men have separated zones on the buses. So, you should pay attention to the signs. Normally, the front part of the BRTs is for women. On normal buses, women usually sit in the back part of the bus. For paying the driver, women should get off the bus and pay at the front door.

In addition, you can travel by bus between different cities. The buses that can take you to other cities are found at specific bus stations. If you are interested in traveling with a bus, make sure to tell use when booking the tours.

Subway; Fast and Easy

Biggest and most crowded cities of Tehran have subway lines. For getting on the subway, you need to buy a ticket or have a metro card. The map of the subway stations is normally available in every station and wagon. You can also ask the attendants or passengers for help if you are confused. Also, in the women and men have different sections in the subway. Some the wagons are for both men and women. You can find you section by paying attention to the signs. Sometimes, you need to change your train for getting to your destination. Travelling with the subway is a fast and cheap way of getting to your destination. At specific days and times, the subway gets too crowded. You should be careful about the pickpockets. Especially at the rush hours in the subway.

Having a Memorable Trip with Trains

rains are among the best vehicles for transportation between the cities. The trains normally have cabins and beds. The cabins can contain 4-6 people. Also, women who are traveling alone can use the female only cabins. There are different types of trains that can take you to your destination. Trains that have cabins with 6 beds are normally cheaper. Also, 5-star trains are available as well. Normally, trains have a restaurant/cafe where you can have food. But, free dinner and breakfast are normally brought to your cabin on the train. Traveling by trains can be so much fun. Especially, because they have beds you can rest whenever you want. They are good places for socializing with other passengers as well.

Iran tours that include traveling by train, are available. One of our Iran train tours is a one day tour to Northern regions of Iran with a train. So, when you are traveling with an Iran tour, you can choose trains to be part of your trip.

Traveling Faster with Planes

Using domestic flights for traveling to other cities is the fastest choice. Of course, traveling by train can be more joyful and fun. But, if you are short in time, using domestic flights is the best choice for you. Unfortunately, domestic flights still cannot be booked online. But, you don’t need to be worried if you are traveling with an Iran tour. Agencies that offer Iran tours, will do all the bookings. Depending on which Iran tour you have chosen, you can decide whether you want to travel by plane or train.

Comfortable Accommodation in Fascinating Hotels

There are various types of hotels and hostels in Iran. Depending on your budget, you can find suitable hotels. Also, you can find luxurious and family-friendly hotels as well. Some of the hotels have traditional buildings which can be very interesting for the tourists. Normally, the hotels and hostels are at city centers where you can have access to all main streets and public transportation stations.

The price of the Tehran hotels is ranged between 65 to 790 Euros. Hotels in other big cities such as Isfahan, Yazd, and Kashan are cheaper. You can find hotel rooms with prices ranged between 15 to 240 Euros per night.

Your travel agency makes the arrangements for your accommodation in Iran tours. You can find more information about the hotels and their prices at Alibabtrek Iran hotel page. Also, you can make reservations on this page.