Luxury Travel to Iran
| Iran Luxury Travel and Tours
From the
heartbreaking idealism of the Islamic Revolution-
one whose beginnings enchanted Foucault enough to
ponder the concept of a 'political spirituality'(
I can already hear the French laughing but I know
that they are wrong.- What are the Iranians Dreaming
About) to its quick disillusionment, the denial
of its pre-Islamic civilizations to its place in the
troika of rogue nations, to say that Iran has an
interesting historical and geopolitical relevance
would be an understatement.
Along with
Afghanistan, Syria and Iraq- countries with a rich
civilization and history, Iran is, today, one of the
more challenging places to visit. A tour around
Tehran feels like being caught in a time warp.
Tehran's top 'luxury' hotels are incarnations of the big
hotel chains, the Sheratons, the Intercontinentals,
albeit with a new Iranian name. Stepping into them
is like stepping back to 1979, however, when all
modern development ostensibly stood still.
In a country where
the sexes are technically segregated, a day on the
slopes of Dizin or one of the cafes in the uptown
malls is a modern day reenactment of James C Scott's
model of everyday resistance- where courting couples
mingle freely and boundaries on the ideas of
acceptable women's dress are continually being
tested.
Urbane Nomads brings
you through Iran- journeying through modern-day
Tehran and exploring its Modern Art Museum, a
spot of skiing in Dizin or traveling through its
pre-Islamic civilizations in Esfahan and Yazd. For
the more adventurous, take a ride on Turkomen
horses- the progenitor of all hot-blooded horses in
north- western Iran, venturing into an area that
coincides with the
Book of Genesis' Garden of Eden.
Whilst Iran isn't
geared for luxury travel yet, not having much in the
way of tourist infrastructure,
we are certain that
the wealth of its history and culture will make up
for the lack of luxury tourism options.
Iran is a country
where a stay in the available luxury hotels in the
capital city of Tehran is akin to entering a time
warp as most of its five-star luxury chains had been
appropriated by the government post-Islamic
revolution and had had its names changed (Laleh,
Esteghlal and Azadi Hotels being one-time Hyatt,
Sheraton and Hiltons).
Urbane Nomads' idea
of luxury travel to Iran isn't so much characterized
by luxury hotels as it is by insider access. Where
possible, Urbane Nomads supplies expert guides to
our clients travelling to Iran, serving as a conduit
to interaction with the friendly and warm people of
Iran- cited by many as reason enough to warrant a
return!
Venturing into the
old architecture of Yazd, the splendors of Esfahan,
the enchanting Persepolis- wonders of a civilisation
that our contemporaries can only manage a glimpse
of, has enticed travelers bent on discovering the
rich history and culture of Iran. Whilst
independent, private travel of Iran has been the
mode of travel by many an adventurous backpacker,
Urbane Nomads now offers private tours of Iran in as
much luxury as possible, combining boutique hotels
with meeetings with interesting personalities and
intellectuals (the latter subject to availability
and travel schedules of our contacts).
