Iran

Both this edition and the previous edition have been updated by Maria Oleynik MLitt, a Middle East expert and freelance translator fluent in ten languages, including Persian and Arabic. Since her first trip to the Middle East in 2003, she has studied in Yemen, Lebanon and Egypt. Since 2013 Iran has become her main professional and academic interest and she has studied Persian at the University of Esfahan, completed a Persian language teacher training course in Saadi Foundation in Tehran, studied Persian in Dekhoda Institute in the University of Tehran and is currently undertaking a degree in Middle Eastern Language (Persian) and Society in the University of Copenhagen. Describing Iran as the love of her life, she endlessly researches and merges into the culture and history of this magnificent land.

Introduction

PART ONE GENERAL INFORMATION
Chapter 1 Background Information
Geography and climate, Natural history and conservation, History, Government and politics, Economy, People, Language, Religion, Education, Arts and culture
Chapter 2 Practical Information
When to visit, Highlights, Suggested itineraries, Tourist information, Tour operators, Time difference, Red tape, Embassies, consulates and missions, Getting there and away, Health, Safety, What to take, Export and import restrictions, Money, Budgeting, Getting around, Accommodation, Eating and drinking, Public holidays, Shopping, Culture and entertainment, Media and communications, Business, Opening times, Cultural etiquette, Travelling positively

PART TWO THE GUIDE
Chapter 3 Tehran and the Road South
Tehran, Around Tehran, South of Tehran
Chapter 4 West of Tehran: from Qazvin Onwards to Kurdistan and Beyond
Qazvin, Around Qazvin, Hamadan, Around Hamadan, West of Hamadan - towards Kermanshah and Kurdistan, Kermanshah, North of Kermanshah towards Kurdistan province, West of Kermanshah, South of Kermanshah and towards Ilam province, Ilam province
Chapter 5 From Kashan to Esfahan
Kashan, On the road, Along the Kashan-Yazd road, Na'in, En route from Na'in to Esfahan, Esfahan, Further afield, East of Esfahan province
Chapter 6 The Caspian Region
Getting there and away, Towards Gilan, West and southwest of Bandar Anzali, East of Bandar Anzali, Amol and around, Sari, Gonbad-e Qabus, Bastam and around, Damghan, Semnan, Semnan to Tehran
Chapter 7 Iranian Azerbaijan
Getting there and around, Ardabil, Tabriz, South and southeast of Tabriz, North of Tabriz, Orumiyeh and beyond (to the south and southeast),
Zanjan
Chapter 8 Shiraz and Around
Shiraz, Around Shiraz
Chapter 9 Persepolis and the Surrounding Area
Persepolis, Naqsh-e Rostam, Istakhr, Pasargadae
Chapter 10 The South Coast
Ahvaz, Shushtar, Shush, Northwest of Shush/Susa, Southeast of Shush/Susa, East of Shush/Susa, South of Ahvaz, Eastwards, Further along the coast road
Chapter 11 En Route to Yazd and Kerman
Coming to Yazd from the southwest, Yazd, Kerman, Around Kerman, Mahan, Bam, Zahedan, Chabahar and beyond
Chapter 12 Mashhad and Khorasan
Razavi and North Khorasan provinces, Mashhad, Around Mashhad, Nishapur and around, South of Mashhad, Towards Gonbad and Tabas

Appendix 1 Language
Appendix 2 Glossary
Appendix 3 Further Information
Index