I went to a women only adventure in Iran. Here’s what happened …
Donna Treby:
Have just returned from Iran. I just loved it so much! For starters our tour guides Vahid and Fatima were simply amazing. Vahid went above and beyond to ensure that we had the most memorable experiences everywhere we went. Fatima is a gentle kind lady who also lead with her heart. Their knowledge of their country is impressive as is their ability to share the stories of their history and beautiful architecture. Our bus driver Moiri is the most patient and highly skilled precision bus driver I have ever met. The three of them together make an incredible team.
Iranian people are so welcoming, warm and kind hearted. They love having us visit their country. I can not speak highly about this tour. Patch you have excelled and delivered a very professional package. Well done team.
11/24/2023
Harry:
If I could give the Patch Adventure trip to Iran six stars out of five I would! And I’d describe it more as an immersive cultural experience, rather than merely a trip or a visit. Our local guides, and the wonderful people they introduced us to, all generously opened their hearts to us and shared everything from their tea and poetry, to their hopes and dreams. Life is increasingly difficult in Iran for many but despite this the legendary warmth and generosity of the people shine brightly through.
Travelling in a women-only Patch group is a lovely value-add because it engenders those extra interactions with the amazing women and girls of Iran who are formidable in intellect and spirit! If you offer a “Salam and a smile” then you’ll likely be approached and welcomed to Iran as a feted guest, along with an offer of assistance if they think you’re a bit lost. Then be ready for a request for photos before then receiving a very well-educated opinion about the global and local state of affairs! If, like me, you had moments of moral quandary about whether visiting Iran was the “right thing to do” the locals will soon answer that question for you – and very firmly in the affirmative!
Second only to the magical people, is the incredibly rich and diverse history of the ancient cultures and empires which forms modern-day Iran. Tehran’s Golestan Palace, Shiraz’s (pink) Mosque, the magnificence of Esfahan’s main square (where apparently polo was invented!), the ancient Persian city of Persepolis and the 4,500-year-old city of Kharanaq are all magnificent. I honestly can’t do these places justice with words or iphone photos because these are just places that you just need “to be” to properly experience.
Hint! The accommodation and food throughout my trip was first-class with stays at beautifully restored historic homes and feasts at high quality traditional restaurants. One of many highlights was a night in a very well-appointed caravanserai – think “glamping”, not really roughing it! At sunset on the roof you could look out to the horizon and imagine the traders and travellers that would have passed by on their silk road journeys.
Finally, I loved the overall vibe of my Patch trip – relaxed, friendly and authentic. The priority was about us having a great and unique experience, and not just ticking off sites for photos. This approach meant plenty of time to ramble and explore, and meet the locals, and last but not least – shop!
6/24/2023
Marie Walker:
Initially booked for March 2020 and we all know how that ended. So excited to finally get to Iran. Right from the planning stage every thing was well thought out and ran smoothly. Thoroughly enjoyed every aspect from the spectacular landscapes to the food and drinks, from the ancient and modern architectures to experiencing the kind and welcoming locals.
The hospitality that is legendary is very real. We were constantly greeted by Iranians of all ages and invited to homes for tea. Our guide Vahid was so generous with his knowledge and cared for us beautifully. He was ably supported by Saba who was so warm and helpful. Mori our driver kept us safe and on schedule and was a magician fitting the ever growing piles of luggage into the van. Such fantastic ambassadors for their country. Thanks Patch, a fantastic itinerary enhanced by the Shiraz extension.
6/24/2023
Liz Swinton
I doubt there are enough superlatives to describe this travel experience. Suffice to say my mind was officially blown by my 17 days visiting Iran. What made this trip so memorable were the Iranians themselves – so friendly, warm, generous and curious, from the elderly women in the street going out of their way to say Salam, to the children in the bazaars practising their language skills with us; all we felt was welcomed and safe.
Our guides Vahid and Saba, along with our driver Maurie were knowledgeable, patient and fun and went out of their way to ensure that we experienced the grassroots Iran – the culture, the history, the scenery, the religion and of course, the food! Iran is such an intriguing and beguiling country. If you are after a travel escapade that oozes authenticity and passion with a high dose of culture and history, then visit Iran. I’d happily return, with Patch Adventures by my side.
6/24/2023
Jocelyn
Fantastic tour of Iran. What a beautiful country and what wonderful friendly people. Tour guides Vahid and Saba were fantastic as was the wonderful Moro who got us everywhere safely. Iran is well worth the visit – absolutely amazing.6/24/2023
Tracey Smith
I made the decision to go to Iran with Patch Aventures quite quickly and I was a little apprehensive, but also very excited. Wow what a trip, I was met at the airport in Tehran as planned, and from then on everything was perfect.
Met our wonderful tour guide Vahid who couldn’t have been more attentive or knowledgeable about his home country. I arrived a day early and Matt was already in Tehran, met with us early birds, and he and Vahid took us out and about before the tour started. I’ve done alot of travel, but this trip was one of the best I’ve ever done. From the friendly locals thanking us for visiting their country to the tasty food, architecture, history and warmth, just so amazing … oh and did I mention the shopping 🛍️.
Saba, our female guide, was very friendly, helpful, and did a great job of looking after us ladies. I really want to thank Matt, Vahid, Saba and our wonderful driver Mori for keeping us all safe on the busy roads of Iran. Patch really knows it’s stuff and goes out of their way to accommodate everyone’s needs. I can’t wait to do another trip and meet more Patchies😊
5/24/2023
Tania Geoff
Iran Sep/Oct 22 – a very memorable experience well worth waiting for (originally booked for April 20). Patch Adventures are well organised and communication was excellent. They are obviously passionate about what they do, and they do it well. What made the trip extra special were our kind, knowledgeable and helpful guides Ava and Vahid. Nothing was too much trouble and they ensured we had the best experience possible. The country, the people (so friendly), the food and the culture were amazing and there is no doubt I will return as there is so much more I want to see and experience. I can’t wait:)
1/24/2023
Diane Simpson
I recently went back to back on The Stans and Iran trips with Patch Adventures. I’ve never had any direct communication with a tour company before but Matt and the team at Patch were always in contact through phone calls and emails making sure everything was right before we left and following up on return. The tours were well organised with great itineraries that were made all the more special by the tour guides. Each guide was absolutely passionate about showing us their country. They treated us with care, friendship and patience and nothing was too much trouble. Patch Adventures and their trips are so good I’ve already booked the Tunisia trip for next year.
1/24/2023
Michelle Lewis
Patch Adventures went above and beyond any other travel company I have toured with. I did the Silk Road and the Iran trip back-to-back, and I can’t speak highly enough of the company, the guides and the itinerary. Abdu was the best guide I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. He was so knowledgeable and caring, ensuring we were taken care of, and our individual needs were met. He worked so well with the other guides, Tatiana, Gahou and Pahoud (my apologies if I have misspelled their names) who were equally passionate about their countries and willing to answer all our questions while ensuring our experiences were outstanding.
I loved that we did more than the usual ‘tourist’ activities. We met the real people and shared meals with them while learning so much about their history and culture. I came away with a sense of awe that, before I arrived, I knew so little about this part of the world and now I want to learn more. Iran was an amazing experience. Vahid was a delight, quite the larrikin really. He certainly knew his stuff and ensured we had fun while enriching our understanding of this fascinating country. Our other guide, Ava, was such a sweet, gentle person who was very generous with her time and knowledge, especially where the food is concerned. At all times we felt safe and got to meet so many people who were very warm and welcoming. I am now planning my next holiday with Patch and would be happy to recommend Patch Adventures to anyone.
1/24/2023
Tania Meyers
I was originally booked on the Patch Adventures Iran tour for March 2020 but, like just about everything on the planet, it had to be cancelled. Patch gave me the option of cancelling and receiving a full refund however, as it was a trip I really wanted to do, I decided to hang in there and I’m so glad I did. The team at Patch were great and kept in contact over the months, letting me know how things were going and making sure I was kept in the loop the entire time. I finally completed the trip in Sept/Oct 2022 and I absolutely loved it.
Our guides, Vahid and Ava, with their love and knowledge of their amazing country made the trip an even better than expected experience. Some of the highlights for me were walking around the busy streets of Tehran and using the subway, sipping tea amongst the trees on a pomegranate farm, climbing on to the roof of a bazaar to watch the sunset over the mountains, walking through ancient ruins, cooking lessons in a beautiful private garden, setting off fireworks in the desert, walking through a 500 year old abandoned village, listening to locals singing as they congregate at a bridge at dusk and speaking with Iranian people and learning about their day to day life.
I have travelled to over 60 countries and I have never been to a country where I felt so safe and welcomed. The Iranian people are wonderfully friendly and warm and you constantly hear them yelling out, ‘welcome to my country’. If you’ve ever wanted to visit this intriguing country, don’t let negative news stories stop you. Iran is so much more than the government the people did not elect.
1/24/2023
Frances de Jong
I was one of 12 women to do the 12 day tour of Iran in Set/Oct 2022. This tour was everything I hoped it would be and more. Our guides Vahid and Ava both went above and beyond to accommodate us all. Vahid was friendly, organised, knowledgeable, funny, professional and the kindest person you could hope to meet and he’s only 30! Ava was the quiet shepherd making sure we were all in the right place at the right time. They worked so well together to give us all a wonderful experience. If you’re thinking of taking a PA tour to Iran, do it! Iran has the friendliest people anywhere (and I’ve travelled to many countries), it was safe, we saw no actual evidence of the protests taking place although we were aware it was happening. Everywhere people welcomed and thanked us for coming to their beleaguered country. This tour will stay in my heart like a treasure I hold for a long time. It was worth the 2.5 year wait.
1/24/2023
Wendy Woods
I went to Iran with Patch Adventures in Sept 2022. What a trip! Mat kept in touch promptly, and when I had speed wobbles, checked that everything was ok, and kept in contact. So glad I went on this tour, it was so special. From the bucket list items I wanted to see and do, to the friendly people who wanted to make sure we were ok and having a great time in their country, to the amazing guides, Vahid and Ava, who went so far beyond requirements, to ensure we had a fabulous time, and the wonderful women on the tour, it was just so amazing. The history, the bazaars, the mosques, the scenery, the food, oh my, the food! I would recommend Patch Adventures wholeheartedly, very well run, and we were so well looked after with outstandingly memorable experiences. Thank you!
1/24/2023
Does this sound like your type of adventure?!? We’re running the Iran trip in 2024 and 2025 as well.