City rankings

Soon i will post the cities you must visit in Iran and i will rank them.

Tourism hopes for Iran

Tour operators hope the election of Hassan Rouhani as president will encourage Britons to visit – and the Foreign Office to lift its travel ban.

Naqsh-e Jahan Square in Isfahan, Iran Photo: AP

By Adrian Bridge

3:50PM BST 18 Jun 2013

Adventure travel companies in Britain hope the election of the more moderately-inclined Hassan Rouhani as president of Iran will lead to a resurgence of travel to the country – and a lifting of the current Foreign Office advice not to go there.

Companies such as Wild Frontiers, which continues to offer tours to Iran, despite the Foreign Office’s stance, and World Expeditions, which has previous done so, have taken heart in the fact that Mr Rouhani seems to want to build bridges with the West. They say his election last weekend could trigger renewed interest in the country – and inspire confidence to visit it.

“It is clear that the overwhelming majority of people in Iran want reform,” said Jonny Bealby, the Managing Director of Wild Frontiers. “It is very early days and we do not yet know what this guy is going to be like or whether what he wants will be cleared with the country’s supreme leader [Ayatollah Ali Khamenei]. But we can only hope that this will lead to a more tourist-friendly environment.”

Iran is home to one of the oldest civilisations in the world and its tourist attractions include Persepolis, the capital of the ancient Persian Empire, which dates back to the 6th century BC; Isfahan, home to some of the finest Islamic architecture in the Muslim world; and Shiraz, a city of poets, roses and nightingales.

The country’s capital, Tehran, was briefly one of the more exotic destinations to which what was then BOAC flew to in the Sixties. For a whole generation of adventurous British backpackers, Iran was one of the key countries en route to India along the “Hippy Trail”.

British visitors to Iran fell dramatically following the Islamic Revolution of 1979 and since then many have been deterred by long periods of political tension, most recently during the presidency of Mr Rouhani’s predecessor, the more hardline Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

The Foreign Office currently advises against all travel there. “British nationals have been arbitrarily detained in Iran in 2010 and 2011, and there is a continued risk of this occurring again,” it says. “During a demonstration on November 29, 2011 the British Embassy in Tehran was attacked and set on fire. The Embassy is now closed.”

But Mr Bealby said the situation on the ground was now a lot calmer and that it was unfair to include the whole country under the same blanket ban. He said his company was urging the Foreign Office to consider a partial lifting of it.

Gordon Steer, manager of the UK branch of World Expeditions, an Australia-based company that suspended its tours to Iran when the Foreign Office advised against travel there, expressed similar hopes for change.

“We can only hope that this election will bring about an improvement in the situation,” he said. “If the Foreign Office does change its advice we shall certainly be resuming our tours. All those who have been with us to Iran have been struck by how welcoming and friendly the people there are – and what a dramatically beautiful and culturally interesting country it is.”

Source:http://www.telegraph.co.uk

Iran Travel Warnings: What Americans and Canadians Need to Know

The sanctions on Iran are getting tighter, but this has one oft-dismissed dimension, in that Iranians who live abroad, especially in the United States and Canada, find it nearly impossible to travel to their homeland. This reality affects their family and friends still residing in Iran, and makes it even harder for foreigners to visit the country. In this piece, I am going to outline what Canada and the United States have recommended when it comes to traveling to Iran.

The Canadian government’s travel website provides updates on all countries for anyone looking to go abroad, and in respect to Iran, the heightened political tensions were recently stretched further when Ottawa unexpectedly announced the severing of diplomatic relations with Tehran. A primary problem here then becomes that any Canadians of Iranian descent or otherwise, will find it very hard to locate support in Iran, should they find themselves in difficulty. Particularly notable is that anyone with dual citizenship, one being Iranian, would be under intense scrutiny over the time they stay in the country. Canada continues to advise would-be travelers of the conservative society and culture of conduct in Iran, alongside the harsh penalties violating the established rules might carry. Should travel be unavoidable, or desirable in light of the realities in place, there are visa requirements one must meet, depending on the nature of the trip — tourism, business, school, pilgrimage, press, or transit. Passports are naturally required to enter the country. Women are particularly vulnerable, because dual citizenships may be confiscated, and they are subject to sensitive restrictions and corresponding punishments for them, in line with the Islamic character of Iran’s legal system.

The state department also maintains a comprehensive page on Iran with information on current conditions, requirements, and travel advisories. As Washington does not maintain embassy or consular services in Iran, the Swiss embassy is charged with the communication of U.S. correspondence with the country. In Washington, the embassy of Pakistan can handle entry inquiries for Iran, and like Canada, any would-be American travelers are subjected to visa requirements. A seven-day tourist visa may be issued, but it requires a passport, valid for at least six months beyond the date of entry. However, Iranian authorities are known to deny entry to Americans, even if they hold a valid visa. Again, Iran does not recognize dual citizenship and will treat Iranians with dual passports as Iranian citizens only. Another problem arises with the intentional and unreasonable detainment of American nationals in Iran, preventing their exit on grounds of alleged espionage or criminal charges.

The same aforementioned provisions for women visiting Iran would apply, but the recommendations go further in avoiding border areas with Pakistan and Afghanistan, as well as Iraq. Avoiding public gatherings is also important, as is venturing in areas known to host criminal gangs, engaged in weapons, drug or human trafficking. A provision all travelers should take is to issue a visa for a third country, possibly in the Schengen area, to provide an exit option if all other alternatives are exhausted.

Males of at least 17 years of age would be required to complete compulsory military service in Iran, if they have not done so already.

Medical insurance is important to have for all parties considering travel to Iran.

As mentioned prior, American nationals can expect close surveillance of their movements and communications, and the American state is not well-positioned to render assistance because of the lack of diplomatic relations.

Overall, the picture that emerges is that Iran is a difficult and dangerous destination for the average North American. The visa process still works, but it can be slow and arduous, and the best possible intent to go is to apply for a tourist visa. Any other reasons for travel are simply too high-risk.

source:http://www.policymic.com

Iran Visa and Passport Requirements

Passports: 

To enter Iran, a passport valid for six months beyond the length of stay, and with two blank pages, is required by the nationals referred to in the chart above.

Passport note: 

If your passport contains an Israeli stamp or stamps from other countries' border crossing points with Israel, you may be refused entry to Iran.

Women judged to be dressed immodestly will also be refused entry.

Visas: 

Visas for Iran are required in advance by all nationals referred to in the chart above, except:

• Travellers visiting Kish Island, who can stay visa-free for up to 14 days.

Note: Nationals of some countries can theoretically obtain a 15-day on arrival at international airports, but it is advised to obtain your visa in advance.

Be aware that visa requirements for visitors of all nations can change at short notice. Contact the embassy to check the latest situation. Nationals not referred to in the chart above are also advised to contact their local embassy to check visa requirements.

Women and girls over nine years old should wear a headscarf in their visa application photo in accordance with Islamic custom.

There are fines for overstaying your visa.

Types and cost: 

Transit visa: €120; tourist visa: €150; business visa: €180; double-entry visa: €225; three-month multiple-entry visa: €400; six-month multiple-entry visa: €700; one-year multiple-entry visa: €1,200.

The above prices are for UK nationals; visa fees for Iran vary according to the nationality of applicant. 

Validity: 

Transit visas: 48 hours if travelling by air and seven days if travelling overland; tourist, business and pilgrimage visas: 30 days; multiple-entry visas: three months to one year.

Application to: 

Consulate (or consular section at embassy). The Iranian consulate in the UK closed in 2011; UK residents should apply to another embassy in the EU.

Working days: 

Visas usually take around 15 days to process, but allow more time if you need to apply to an overseas consulate/embassy.

Source: http://www.worldtravelguide.net

More updates will come soon.

Problems visiting Iran

There are some problems people have when they visit foreign countries for example they do not know the rules and traditions of that country this blog will help you to know Iran's rules, traditions and especially taboos.
Soon I will put important rules when you visit Iran.

Welcome

Hello all:
This is a touring guide blog to Iran if you have any trouble visiting Iran or you don't know where to go this blog will help you.
Updates will come soon.