Journey Through Iran - Travel Documentary

Steeped in history and culture, Iran evokes the imagination of many people and is one of the world’s most fascinating and eye-opening travel destinations. Although it’s often associated with conflict and unrest, the country behind the news headlines offers an eclectic mix of beautiful natural landscapes, intriguing traditions, lively cities, friendly villages, and a heartfelt hospitality not found in many other places. From the vibrant streets of capital city Tehran to the narrow alleyways in the old town of Yazd. From ancient monuments in Persepolis and Shiraz to the snowy mountain landscape around Kandovan village. From the overwhelming religious ceremonies around Ashura in Zanjan to the striking mosques and shrines in Qom. From the fishing and farming villages on Qeshm island in the Persian Gulf to the rugged desert scenery in Lut. And from the traditional workshops and Persian gardens in Esfahan to the historic bazaar in Tabriz. In this video (an extended version of the Iran Top 10 film), I take you back to 2013, when I had the chance to travel through Iran for almost 6 weeks. This is, in a way, an historical journey, as many things have changed since then. But I still hope this video gives you some travel inspiration, or at least provides a glimpse into this incredible place. 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After visiting some of the most important historic landmarks, we explore the vibrant bazaar, with its busy marketplaces and traditional workshops. After traversing a landscape of rugged deserts and small villages, we arrive in Shiraz. This city is considered as the epicenter of Persian culture for 2,000 years, with beautiful mosques, ancient bathing houses, and the tombs of Hafez and Sa’di, two famous classical poets. Not far from here is Persepolis, where we discover the ruins of a city at the heart of the Achaemenid empire. We continue our way to Bandar Abbas, and cross the Persian Gulf towards Qeshm island, which has retained much of its traditional atmosphere, visible in the farming and fishing villages. Back on the mainland, we reach Kerman, jumping-off point to the shrines and gardens of Mahan and the mysterious Arg citadel in Rayen. Further East are the Kaluts, one of Iran’s most mesmerizing desert landscapes. The charming desert city of Yazd has one of the oldest centers on Earth, and is our next destination. Getting lost in the mysterious lanes of the old town is a highlight during the day, while in the evening we witness a session of ‘Zurkaneh’, an ancient sport that is still practiced in some parts of Iran. Our next stop is Qom, an important place of worship and education in Shia Islam. Here, we visit intriguing mosques and witness the religious devotion in and around the Shrine of Fatimah. After eating a plate of traditional food called ‘dizi’, we travel to Kashan, famous for its high-quality carpet production. We arrive in capital Tehran, the economic heart of the country, and a good place to learn about Iran’s modern history. We are reminded of the 1979 Revolution that impacted Iranian society, and changed relations with the West. We also visit some of the city’s monuments, a shopping mall, university, and the thriving bazaar. We drive onwards to Zanjan, to witness some intense religious ceremonies around Ashura. These events remember the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, and are some of the most important on the Shia Islam calendar. After exploring the snowy mountain village of Kandovan, we reach our last destination. Although a large city and industrial hub, Tabriz is also known for its welcoming attitude. And meeting the people in the streets and inside the incredible bazaar is a highlight for many travelers. Timestamps / video chapters: 0:00 Introduction 1:56 Esfahan 5:41 Shiraz 7:30 Persepolis 9:06 Bandar Abbas 10:16 Qeshm island 13:31 Kerman 16:00 Kaluts 17:16 Yazd 20:55 Qom 24:17 Kashan 25:31 Tehran 31:37 Zanjan 34:32 Kandovan 36:24 Tabriz 39:46 End #iran #traveldocumentary #travel