How to Plan a Trip to Iran

Iran is one of the most culturally rich and ancient countries on earth. Here is how to plan a trip there.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Tourist visa

Find Accommodations in Iran

1. Search for accommodations at the Iran Touring and Tourism Organization's Web site (see Resources below), or call the office at 011+98 21 643 5650. The Web site does not offer online booking, but you can submit an e-mail request form after researching what's available.

2. Check with your hotels for residency restrictions. Many hotels or apartments can only be occupied by Iranians, which is why it is advised to go through a travel agency that specializes in Iran.

3. Stay in Tehran if you're seeking accommodations with 5-star amenities. Often you'll find fine hotel rooms in the city, sometimes with large suites, for moderate rates.

4. Book accommodations through an all-inclusive tour operator. Tours typically include a detailed itinerary, guide and even a translator in addition to nightly lodging.

5. Weigh safety into your destination decisions. The safest regions in Iran are central, east and south. The border regions near Iraq and Pakistan, to the west and north, are considered dangerous and are not currently visited by tourists.

Seasons in Iran

6. Visit Tehran during the mild seasons of spring and fall, and the Caspian Sea during the summer.

7. Avoid the mountains and central high desert plain in winter; it is blisteringly cold and snows frequently.

Preparations for Your Trip to Iran

8. Register through the U.S .State Department's online travel site (see Resources below).

9. Secure a visa through an Iranian tour agency that offers "completed" tours. Tourist visas are otherwise difficult to secure.

10. Apply for a visa at least six months in advance. Despite the extra steps needed to travel to Iran, American tourism is legal and for the most part safe.

Tips & Warnings

• In Iran, book your next lodging through your hotel's official Web site. You'll see the most updated rates and can usually print out a confirmation immediately.
• Be prepared to pay more for accommodations than the advertised price.
• Although the travel embargo to Iran has been lifted, the U.S. State Department urges all Americans who visit to exercise caution. Currently, there are no diplomatic relations between Iran and the U.S., and you won't find a U.S. embassy in Tehran (the Swiss act on the U.S.'s behalf).
• Americans of Iranian descent have been detained by Iranian authorities in the past, and former Muslims who have converted to other faiths are, by law, subject to arrest. In reality, arrests for this are extremely rare.