We are just back from a one month tour of Iran. Here are our tips.
For women: take 2 large silk scarves to wear as hijabs (silk is lighter in the heat in the south) plus a supply of hairgrips (kirby grips) to keep them on.
For wome, jeans, trainers and a longsleeved tunic top (covering your bottom) is acceprable. You may have to wear a chador when visiting the women's section of somd shrines and mosques. If so the people there will tell you.
When you go to the toilet always take your own supply of loo paper and NEVER flush the loo paper. The plumbing cannot handle it. Always dispose of it in the waste bin nearby. Be prepared for squat toilets. And for the fact womens toilets are ALWAYS the furtherest away. Take antiseptic handcleanser and use it.
If you are a dedicated coffee drinker take your own plunger and a supply of ground coffee. Coffee is really hard to find except for turkish coffee and a dreadful substance which comes in sachets called '3 in 1' a ghastly blend of coffee, sugar and milk powder. Tea is freely available and good.
Try the rocket seed and rosewater drink and the fruit juices - they are very good. Ascis the yoghurt drink called doogh.
The food is delicious especially the traditional food. Portions are enormous. Vegetarians will find slim pickings.
Take earplugs for hotels as many Iranians think nothing of having very loud conversations very late at night in hotels. Ditto with the large tour groups of French and German babyboomers currently pouring into Iran. Do you all REALLY have to talk so loudly day and night???
Take eyemasks as many Iranian traditional hotels leave their courtyard lights on at night so that light streams into hotel rooms.
Most hotels have very poor light for reading. If you want to read at nighttake a reading headtorch.
Iran uses eurpean style power points so take appropriate electrical adapters.
Take lots of postcards of scenes from your own country to give to the dozens of friendly and welcoming Iranians you will meet. These are greatly appreciated. We took lots of tiny kangaroo souveniers from australia to give to people. They were very popular.
If you buy a carpet get the seller to ship it home for you. We thought we'd take it as luggage (as we had a 60 kg allowance between us) but the airline refused to take it as it weighed 36 kgs which is 6 kg more than the weigh limit for each individual piece of baggage. So it had to go as aircargo. Be aware of this limitation.
Handcrafts are beautiful and well worth buying especially in Estafan.
Change your money at money exchange offices for a much better rate than banks.
We used both Lonely Planet and Brandt's guides to Iran. They completed each other nicely.
Hope these tips help.
