American Travel Companies Taking Groups to Iran

Our Iran TV program has inspired many people to ask how they too can travel in Iran. Travel to Iran is as straight forward today as Americans traveling to the USSR was back in the Cold War Days: you must get a visa which is granted only if you take a tour.

In spite of many requests, I am not interested in organizing tours to Iran myself. There are already plenty of fine, well-established companies that do that. Each work with Iranian ground operators and have a different style. With this page I let other tour organizers connect with our travelers.

I do not endorse any of these organizations. These companies are listed at their request. (Tour companies interested in joining this list, please email ashley@ricksteves.com with a 20 word description of your company and your web address.)

For more information, the most comprehensive and up to date book for learning about Iran from a traveler's point of view is the excellent Lonely Planet Iran. The U.S. Department of State also has a travel warning page that lays out the U.S. government's official position on travel to Iran.

We hope this is helpful for people inspired to see Iran for themselves.

Best wishes,
Rick

 

Abdi Sami, Rick Steves' Iran Associate Producer

Abdi was my partner in our “Rick Steves Iran” TV production. He will personally lead a few tours and delegations to Iran in 2010.

Caravan Serai Tours

A Seattle-based company helpful to Rick in planning his shoot, has led several annual Iran tours for years.

Distant Horizons

Join Distant Horizons, pioneers in travel to Iran since 1997, on a scholar-led program through this country of soaring minarets.

Geographic Expeditions

Geographic Expeditions was the first American company to run trips to Iran after the 1979 revolution and still sets the highest standards for group and custom-tailored travel to Iran.

Iran Custom Travel

Norma Lee Nichols-Mahdavi, an American sociologist who has lived in Iran, speaks Farsi and has considerable experience traveling to Iran, offers safe, enlightening and affordable experiences to travelers who wish to visit Iran.

Iran Traveler

At Iran Traveler we are Americans and Iranians who support and help arrange individual & group travel to Iran  for US citizens and residents who want to experience the real Iran for themselves and help build bridges of citizen diplomacy between Iran and the USA.

MIR Corporation

With 22 years of experience, Seattle-based MIR Corporation offers creative small group tours and handcrafted private journeys to Iran and throughout Central Asia.

World Affairs Council

The World Affairs Council has been offering tours for more than thirty years. Many trips include access to political leaders and local experts with lecturers accompanying.