Iran Travel Forum

Hello,

I am going on a business trip to Iran very soon.
I will need to use a wireless internet connection for my laptop.

Will I have problems locating WiFi hotspots in Iran? Is that common there?


Thank you,
JL.

I have a question about local customs, what should one bring to an iranian family when invited for lunch or dinner?

Hallo, I will drive from Bandar Abbas to Theran in End of Ocotober or beginning November. Which is the best and fastest route?
Thank You

WolfgangK

I want to make a two days trip to Shiraz from Tehran.

Can anyone guide me which will be the best option to make my tour? Should I go for a package tour? If so, can you please guide me to a good tour operator? If I have to go alone, which is the best way (Air / Road?) & good hotels to stay? Which places should I cover in these two days?

You can mail me at my mail address sohan_miyawala@yahoo.com too.

Your guidance is important for me.

Sohan

I am flying from Sweden to Iran soon and I cannot reach my friend who i am staying with during the vacation time.

i am trying to SMS her but she does not get my messages.
I tried calling her but she doesn't get any of my calls either.

The one time I did manage to call her we could only speak for 5 minutes (the conversation was cut off afterwards), she said that she didn't receive any SMS messages from me..

Do you know of any problems in the cellular network in Iran? I called my cellular provider here in Sweden and they say the problem is not in the Swedish operator..

Thank you!

I understand this may be a way into Iran that does not require a visa in advance. I am from the UK but where I live there is no Iranian embassy. Therefore applying in Kish may be the only way to get in.

Has anyone done this? Is it still allowed or have regulations been tightened?

Many thanks for your advice.

Hi, Is there any night train between Tehran and Isfahan on Tuesdays after 19:30?

Hi Everyone

I am going to the Middle East in October and I want to visit Iran, I've seen that you can do tours through Iran where it includes a couple of nights with the Nomads.

Does anyone know approximately how much it costs? I cant seem to see any prices any where! Also if you've done the tour is it worth doing?

cheers
d*

Well, I am a US-born American passportholder, (whose mother was born in Israel)and am travelling to Iran from USA tomorrow. I got my visa already and my flight tomorrow. But I am getting last minute jitters and concerns. I have asked about this issue before on the forum, but I need some reassurance maybe.

I am really travelling to Iran for the history, culture, sites and beauty. I am just afraid of being accused of any wrongdoing (I guess the Iranian-American woman who came to Iran and was put in jail scares me).

My main fear is that I have three wonderful young children whom I do not want to ever hurt....they and my wife need me.

Maybe I am worrying about nothing...and that is why I am asking all your advice...I am travelling by myself through an Iranian tour company in Iran with a private driver/guide.

Would you advise me to go ahead or cancel the trip given the tensions between the USA and Iran and the fact that I am Jewish and that my mother was born in Israel?

I really want no problems. Hopefully I am just worrying over nothing.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Hi, did anyone take the bus from Ankara to Tehran? Do you know when do they and how long they take to reach Tehran?

Hi, I'm Spanish citizen. I'd like to know if anyone travelled to Moldova, Belarus, Ukraine, Russia or the USA after travelling to Iran and if there was any problem in the border because of that issue, my passport is brand new and I'm going to travel to Iran but I'd like to travel in the future and I guess that normally in those countries they don't expect western tourist who travelled to Iran.

The consulate in Lahore (where I currently live) told me US nationals need special permission for a visa and must go on an organized/approved tour. This seems to jive with what I've found in the Lonely Planet--so far, so good. I called the number they gave me for the Touranzamin tourist agency and was given a four-city, seven-day itenerary, inlcuding a guide, that will cost 1400 dollars (without flight into the country). Included with the itinerary is a bank account number under the name of the travel agent, bank phone numbers, and routing number, with a request to depost $700 to get the visa permission process rolling. This seems both excessively expensive and rather shady. Do any other US nationals have experience entering the country through set tours?

Dear Friends,

I am from Kashan. I am ready to answer your questions about my city. Feel free to ask any question about traveling to Kashan. I am also ready to answer your questions about University of Kashan.

Hi, touring Iran very soon, part of my trip I'm staying with different nomad tribes, and in local houses etc. What gifts would be appreciated? Need to be easy to carry etc. Also to give to children, and my (male)guide -(as well as a tip, I wanted to bring a gift.)

I understand chocolates or flowers are the usual gift if visiting for a meal (which I would buy locally)

Another question - I'm really confused about acceptable clothing when visiting a family home for a meal. I understand that the hijab is discarded, but what is allowed/ acceptable in 'normal' clothing - short sleeves/ to the elbow, neckline?
Any advise welcomed!
Best Wishes,
Sue x

I saw the posting about taking "traveller's checks" to Iran from the UAE. I'm coming from Pakistan, though (Lahore). Can I get such checks here? Any other advice about how to access money in Tehran?

How far Mubaraka from Esfahan?

Hallo!

Has anyone reliable information on ferry services between Iran and Dubai? Links? Personal experiences? etc?

I assume that it might be faster and even cheaper to fly, but nevertheless I would like to do my trip by rail and sea.

Thank you!

Hallo!

Can anyone provide me links to institutions that offer Persian language courses during the summer? For the moment I only found the International Center for Persian Studies http://icps.ut.ac.ir/en/. Has anyone experiences? Is it better to go to Teheran or Isfahan?

Thank you!

Hi,

Has any Iranian (on this forum) recently obtained business visa for Switzerland? tourist visa? if yes, how long did it take you to get it once you submitted the massive number of documents requested on their web site (see the link below)? if you were also refused visa I am also interesting to hear your story. Thanks for your advice.Bye.

I am an Irish citizen traveling to Iran in a few months time. I was wondering how do I go about getting a visa? I understand Ireland is one of the 'blacklisted' countries. Does this mean it is not possible, at all, to get a visa?

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks a million,
Laura :)

Quick questions as follows:
1. How much is the taxi fare from IKA airport to City at 4am?

2. Many travellers get taxi through their hotel for a day trip. I wonder the fare is bargainable?

Thanks.

hello,

After two weeks of pressing 'redial' on my phone to get through to the Iranian Embassy in Canberra I almost choked when someone actually picked up. My query was answered in my favour, however, stands in contradiction to previously and carefully collected 'research' from various and largely reliable sources. I would like to hear from any Australians/Kiwis with an Iranian father and/or name or women married to Iranians abroad who have visited Iran. Did you travel on your Australian/Kiwi passport? Were you ever under the belief that you had to obtain an Iranian passport? Any other information re travel to Iran from this small demographic would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

The wall tiles in the entrance foyer show scenes of torture. Can you explain who is torturing whom and why?

Are people being tortured for being Christian, or being tortured in an attempt to convert them to the Christian faith?

Which HOTEL in Kish has direct internet connection in their guest rooms where you can surf just using your laptop. Does not matter if wi-fi or cable.. Please advise!

Thanks

hi,

I just called Imam-Khomeini Airport and was able to confirm that Iran had just begun issuing so-called '15-day-on-arrival-airport visa' for almost all nationalities with the exception of 10 countries! The countries excluded are Somalia, Jordan, Bangladesh, UK, US, Canada, Ireland and three more, which the rude and impatient clerk at IK Immigration Check went over very fast and hence I could not write down the name of all countries on the list! However, it seems like Australians are no longer 'blacklisted' and if you also happen to be a dual citizen who happen to be from US, Canada or UK you should be alright too, because you can always use your other passport. Needless to say I would have to call back to double check the info. and also to find out what countries on the list I missed. Good Luck. Bye.

PS: Does any one know any of the remaining countries which DO NO qualify for the 15-day instant airport visa?! Please let me know.Thanks

Dear Vts,

Can i do a 1day trip by taxi early am from Hamadan to Ali Sadr Cave, Kharaghan Historical Towers & Soltaniyeh, finally overnight at Zanjan?
Time is limited, pls suggest alternative, i'm thinking of skipping Ali Sadr Cave if time is not on my side and proceed to Kharaghan Historical Towers & Soltaniyeh

THX

Dear Vts,

Can I do a 1 day visit by taxi early am frm zanjan to Masuleh and Kandovan and overnight at Tabriz?How much will it cost?
Time is limited, if not kindly suggest alternative or which to skip.

thx

Can I get adresses and contact numbers and email addresses or manteau suppliers in
Tehran/Isfahan.

Thank you

Ibtida

hi,
I will be in iran with friends in may for 2 weeks.
we have booked a tour from a local agent, with hotels and transportation included, but we will be free to make our meals where we want, because we wanted to avoid hotel restaurants and places meant specially for tourists, with international cuisine. I do not know if there are such places in iran, anyway!
could anyone suggest his/her favourite restaurants?
how much we will spend for a dinner?
and lunch? we will be mostly on the way at lunchtime, and I suppose we will find a lot of cheap kebab stalls along the way?
the places we will visit are:
teheran
ahwaz
isfahan
shiraz
yazd
kerman

thanks everybody!
annalu

I will arrive in Tehran on the day before the start of the jewish holiday of Passover. Is there any way to be invited to a jewish home to observe the holiday? Is it dangerous? Will I put anyone in danger?