Going to Iran - some questions

Hi,

I'm going to Iran at the end of April with Persian Voyages, a UK tour company, for 8 days and am so incredibly excited.

I am half Persian but have never been there before and unfortunately do not speak Farsi. I know that I need to cover up with a head scarf and manteau, which is fine I just have a few queries.

1) What is the deal regarding footwear, is it unwise to show feet? Can I wear flip-flops, ballet pumps or sandals?

2) Can I buy a thin'ish manteau in the UK or can I get one in Tehran? Also does it matter if I don't have one when I get there if I buy one as soon as I can?

If anyone is going to be in Tehran around the end of April and beginning of May let me know, I want to make the most of my trip!

Thanks!

Rebeccah

If you can get the (10-CD) Pimsleur Farsi course, even between now and the end of April, you can pick up enough familiarity with Farsi to understand some of what's going on. That would be good. I highly recommend the "Pimsleur Method" CDs.

As for the Manteau, I presume that simply wearing long sleeve clothes (with headscarf) would "cover the basic requirements" -- until you could have fun shopping there.

Someof your questions depend on what social groups you'll be in. You'll also have some immunity for weirdness or error, as a foreigner.

Hello my dear friend

welcome to Iran, the question you asked about mantue you can where a shirt with long sleeve about the feet you can it is no must to cover your feet so fell free to wear any kind of shoes or sandals, I can be in Tehran the time you said just tell me the exact date

I know when I went with a tour we were told to voer our feet. And I didn't see any women with bare feet/sandels.

A long sleeved loose top will be fine until you can shop.

Hi; trousers have to be long up to toe.
Socks are optional without any doubts. Wearing flip-flops, ballet pumps or sandals are all ok.
A long sleeved loose shirt at least to mid thigh is ok.
Have good time.

Thank you all so much for your help, I'm getting really excited! Just wish some more people were going on my tour :(

Ballet pumps will be OK, as will trainers. Get a longsleeve shirt in H&M or Topshop and that should be fine for when you get there. Once you're in Iran/Tehran, get yourself up Vali Nasr Avenue and do some shopping. There are clusters of clothing shops selling the latest manteaus and fashionable headscarves. Expect to pay up to £12 for a knock-off Versace manteau.

You'll have an awesome time in Iran. It's really well set up for tourism but sadly doesn't get many visitors.

Also -- remember that Tehran is fashionable and trendy. If you go down to somewhere like Shiraz or Yazd and you're dressed like a Tehrani fashion victim, you'll stick out like a saw thumb. Black mantaeu, dull headscarf are the order of the day down there!

Its fine with the loose long sleeved shirt covering your bum for a start together with a scarf. The dresscode is from when you land with the plane. plenty of shoppingareas with fancy manteaux. or get the pakistan style shalwar kameez. I have been wearing bare feet in sandals in esfahan with no problems. used trainers in thran, bam and most of the time in Shiraz. depends on the city and where your going.

Just go, it's such a nice country. You only have to wear a headscarf.
Their hospitality is incredible.

Enjoy
calin

Even it may be okay to wear the Pakistan style shalwar-chameez from an official dress-code type of view, most Iranians on the street will consider it strange. Most of them, in particular Tehranis, strongly disassociate from Pakistan and their (in their opinion) weired kind of customs. As it was said before, get a loose long shirt and buy the latest fashion in Tehran the next day. You will feel much more comfortable.

Hi there. I'm going to be in Iran between 1st & 9th of May, starting in Shiraz and ending in Tehran. I'm not going to be on an organised tour though, just doing it independently. I'm from the UK.

we (2 women) will be in iran on 27.04-10.05 on our own. Our itinerary is not finalised. we are ready for co-travel as we plan to rent a car with driver for part of it.

Anyone going to be in Tehran the same time as me, 1 - 4 May, send me a private message and maybe we can all hook up :)