Any helpfull information, two weeks in Iran

Wow only two weeks for all this!!! Since I do not have my travel notes on me I cannot really advise you on hotels apart from Kerman where the Omin (i believe) metioned in lp is really cheap and fun, a courtyard with rooms all around where you are certain to meet locals and socialise. I would definately encourage you despite the lack of time to try go to the Kalut desert while in Kerman and spend the night there so as to see the dawn, its trully magnificent. I did it with the Vatani guy, who is really helpfull, cordian and professional, and good fun too. Also I beleive Kashan is realy worth a stop of a day or more, as its bazaar is far more intimate and enjoyable that esfahans which is too big and busy. Try to get on the top of the bazaar complex through the small stone stairs in the passages near the big mosque, maybe a local can help you if the doors are locked. You can also find good dizi and a good smoke of nargyle with locals in the bazzar there. Oh and the bus from Shiraz to Esfahan is long and tiresome, but the trains are a beauty. Sorry I know I am not being too helpful...good luck anyways.

First, get the LP guide. It's pretty useful.

Second, you can fly internally in Iran for as little as $10 on Iran Air. It's easier than you'd think, and better than spending 7 hours on a bus.

Not much to see in Yazd, you can probably do most of it in day. In Shiraz be sure to take a tour of all the gardens, Hafez and Ferdosi's tomb, etc. Persepolis, with a good guide, can be done in half a day, along with Naqsh-e Rajab and Naqsh-e Rostam. Be sure to find out more about Kartir (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kartir) to fully appreciate his presence in the reliefs.

Shiraz has a lot of freaky mannequins on the streets.

Hi!
Accomodation in Shiraz: don't miss Hotel Park Saadi, situated on the Hafez street, close to a wonderful garden, I paid 35 dollars, they have 4-star comfort, very nice people, absolutely wonderful.
If you are on a budget, here is the way to go to Persepolis very cheaply: go to terminal-e kavendish(shared taxi are 200 toomans), take a bus to Marvdasht(300 toomans) and then take a taxi to Persepolis(2000 toomans). After visiting Persepolis, take a taxi for Naqsh-e Rostam and Pasargade which costs 6000 tooman. They will show you all the things.
People are very nice in Shiraz, somebody will surely invite you home.There are a lot of students at Hafez tomb and Saadi tomb who wants to practice their English or wants to talk with the foreigners.
There are lots of buses from Shiraz to Esfahan, just ask somebody, people will help you for sure.
Acoomodation in Esfahan: you can go to the Hotel Tourist(it's close to the "meidan-e enqelab-e eslami"/Place of the Islamic Revolution). Is full with locals, I paid 30 dollars for a single.Nice rooms.
People have given me a lift(like always!) from the airport to the terminal-e Kaveh. Taxi is 6000 toomans from the airport in Esfahan to the terminal-e Kaveh.
If you go from Esfahan to Yazd, there is a bus at 5 o'clock but it will probably be delayed. Make sure that you have booked a room in advance in Yazd, as there are a lot of travellers there. If you arrive late in the night, you can go to the Atlas Hotel, rooms are very big. Tell them to give you a room which is not situated on the street side. ( e-mail is info@yazdatlashotel.com).Yazd is really a wonderful city. It is also very big so will need two days to visit ALL the things. Bus terminal is situated very far from the center, a taxi from the center to the bus terminal will be 2000 tooman. People are very nice at the terminal, they will take care of your luggage. Buses from Yazd to Kerman run frequently.
Kerman: don't miss the baths. An Azeri guy, has showed me the whole city, without asking for anything.
Enjoy Iran!
rgds, calin

Hi

I agree with the above poster, Yazd does need a couple of days. There are quite a few things to see there: the Amir Chakmakh complex and the Amir Chaqmakh mosque across the road, the nearby Shish Badgir (wind tower) building, the Zurkhaneh, the Jameh Mosque, the Mausoleum of Seyyed Roknaddin, the Tomb of the 12 Emams, the traditional house called Khaneye Agha Zadeh (I haven't actually been there, but I saw it on TV – I think it's just been restored), the Ateshkadeh (Zoroastrian temple), the bazaar, Bagh-e (Garden) Doulat Abad and the Hamum-e Khan. If you want to buy Yazd sweets, then the best place to go is the Hajj Ali Khalifeh shop, which is in Amir Chakmakh Square. I recommend the ghottab (spelling?).

We stayed at the Hotel Kohan Kashane in Yazd last May and paid about US$25 for a double room with bathroom. It has a lovely courtyard and the people running it are very friendly and helpful.

Just to correct poster 2, Ferdosi's tomb is in Tus, near Mashhad, it's Saadi's tomb that is in Shiraz!

HI Pete,

Wellcom to Iran and Kerman province that you can spend 2 or 3 dayes here to get information as follow,
Just found out about the LP Thorn Tree Forum. I am Hossein Vatani from Kerman, Iran. If you are interested in any of the following, please don't hesitate to contact me!

• Historical places around Kerman, Mahan, Bam, Maymand (Rock village) etc, as well as arranging excursions to other cities such as Esfahanm Shiraz, Yazd, etc.

• Cultural tours to mosques, bathhouses, teahouses, bazars & see traditional Iranian sport (zurkhaneh, see LP Iran page 45)

• Overnight desert trips to Dasht-e-Lut to see the kaluts (great natural sand castles), the possibility to meet nomads and stay with them in their tents.

• Ride on camels and horseback through the majestic desert of Kerman & sport tours for mountain climbing.

Furthermore, I can arrange almost everytthing, ranging from accomodation for all budgets, transport, help with extending your visa, etc. etc.

You can contact me via email or private message. Also, I am listed in the Lonely Planet of Iran on page 284.

Kind regards,

Hossein Vatani

Thanks to all the posters have some helpful stuff.
Thanks
Pete