“Iran + Uppersia + Ali = Trip of a Lifetime”
Mar 18, 2017
ModernDayNomad (19 reviews)
Dallas, Texas
Our experience in Iran - and by extension with Uppersia - was excellent by every measure.
Easily the best part of our trip was our guide, Seyed Ali Mohammad Hosseini. His knowledge of Iran and its culture, and his experience with the travel industry in his country are unsurpassed. When he wasn't sharing his expertise and passion for Persepolis, Shiraz (his hometown), Esfahan, or Tehran, he was entertaining and enlightening us with his own unique travel leadership experiences and opportunities or he was introducing us to countless friends he has around the country. Ali works very hard to deliver a professional, in-depth experience to his guests, and we can't imagine a finer guide anywhere in the world. And, of course, he's the nicest, kindest gentleman we met in a country full of friendly and welcoming people. It's easy to say we have a new friend in Ali.
Beyond Ali, Uppersia was an outstanding tour operator. From our first contact with them, they were prompt, thorough, and helpful as we worked together to build a custom itinerary across Iran. Mahnaz, our dedicated agent, suggested sites, guided us thorough the visa application process, and answered dozens of questions that popped up along the way. She, too, is an expert in Iran travel, and she made the whole experience - all three months of planning and preparation- delightful from beginning to end.
The itinerary Uppersia created for us was efficient and thorough, and it provided exactly the level of comfort and adventure we were looking for. The hotels and the methods of transportation they used (train and coach) surpassed our expectations and made the trip fun, efficient, and easy. In each city we visited (Tehran, Shiraz, and Esfahan), our accommodations were centrally located and Ali expertly utilized taxis and transit when walking was impractical. The entire week ran smoothly - not a single glitch - and not a moment of our precious time in Iran was wasted. Ali even took us bowling one night. Can you imagine a more cultural experience than bowling in Iran? It was a blast!
So...what's Iran like? Especially for Americans? In a word: heartwarming! The people of Iran are some of the friendliest and most welcoming we've ever met. We were always greeted with a smile and a genuine appreciation for our efforts to discover the REAL Iran. It's completely safe; not once did we feel insecure, pressured, or out-of-place. To be fair, we were VERY closely minded by our guide (there was NO opportunity to wander alone aimlessly or spontaneously, and we had to think carefully before randomly snapping photos), but we wouldn't really want to deviate off course when we could hang out with Ali. He's that cool! Naturally the history and the culture are amongst the most impressive in the world. From the ruins of Persepolis to the mosques of Esfahan to the intrigue of Tehran, we felt like we got a good sense of Iran: past, present, and future.
So... Go to Iran, collaborate with Uppersia, and request Ali as your guide. The result will surely be the trip of a lifetime.
