Iran Tours For Americans

TOURS ARE SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE!

“This was one of our most remarkable travel experiences in a lifetime of travel. The warmth and love offered by the Iranian people was overwhelming and well beyond expectations. The history and the architecture are amazing, but, for no other reason, GO for the opportunity to spend time with these incredible people.” Marcia and Greg Potvin, Detroit Lakes, Minnesota.

Click to read more travelers testimonials and published reports .

Ready for the adventure of a lifetime? I invite you to join me on a small group trip to Iran. Or if you prefer, I can help you plan your own private tour, with an itinerary customized to your interests. (All American travelers are required to be accompanied by an Iranian guide, with an itinerary approved in advance, but private tours can be arranged for as few as one or two people.)

Iran is a very safe country for tourists to visit, and the Iranian people are very welcoming towards visitors – and especially Americans.

You’ll see some amazing archaeological sites,  like Persepolis; some stunning architecture – like the mosques and palaces of Naqsh-e-Jahan Square in Isfahan; and some magnificent gardens, like the Fin Garden in Kashan. And you’ll enjoy a lot of delicious Persian cuisine. But for most Americans who visit Iran, the most memorable part of their trip is the friendliness of the ordinary Iranians you’ll meet.

If there is sufficient interest, I would like to schedule my next escorted tour for either March or April of 2024.  Lots can happen between now and then, so we are going to take things one step at a time. You’ll have lots of time to monitor events and decide whether the trip is right for you. Most of the cost of the tour isn’t payable until you arrive in Iran, and we won’t book our flights until a month or so before departure. 

Are Americans allowed to visit Iran? 

Americans are allowed to visit Iran, but they must be accompanied by an Iranian guide with an itinerary approved in advance. 

Is Iran safe?

Iran is very safe for tourists to visit. A recent study ranked Iran as “low risk” for travelers, in the same category as the US, Canada, and most of Europe. Even after the recent widespread protests and violence, I have not heard of a single instance of American tourists on a guided tour coming to harm. (Independent travelers who fly drones in restricted military areas are a different story.) 

How big will our group be?

I would like to limit the group to 8-10 people.

How much will the tour cost?

The exact price of the fall 2023 tour will depend on a number of factors, including the size of the group and the exchange rate, but for a group of  8-10, it should be approximately $2500 for a 14 day tour,  including mostly 4* hotels where available (double room occupancy), all transportation in Iran, and all meals. Not included are airfare from Minneapolis ($1200-$1500), travel insurance (optional, price varies) single room occupancy (+$250), visa ($120), entrance fees, gratuities for our driver and guide, and any optional unscheduled opportunities that may present themselves.  It may also be possible to arrange a shorter tour (earlier return) for participants who can’t go for the full 14 days.

How do I get a visa?

American passport holders have to apply for a tourist visa through a travel agency in Iran. I work with a travel agency in Shiraz,  which will submit your application to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  It can take 1-2 months for that visa application to be processed, but you won’t have to pay the visa fee until / unless it’s approved. After you receive your visa authorization grant notice, you’ll mail in your passport and fees ($80 fee + $40 postage and handling) to the Iranian Interests Section at the Embassy of Pakistan in Washington D.C. , which will return your passport with visa within a week or so.

How do we fly to Iran?

Lots of possibilities. Cities with direct service to Tehran include Frankfurt (Lufthansa), Vienna (Austrian Airlines), Istanbul (Turkish Airlines), Doha (Qatar Airways),  and Dubai (Emirates). It’s important that we all arrive in Tehran on the same flight, if at all possible, so once our visas are approved, I’ll try to find the best / most affordable flights on one of those airlines. Most of us will probably originate from Minneapolis-St. Paul, but if you are starting your trip somewhere else, you can rendezvous with us in one of the connecting cities. Fares fluctuate a lot, but it is sometimes possible to schedule a stopover in Europe or Qatar for little more than the roundtrip fare to Iran.