Lonely Planet Iran (Country Guide) [Paperback]

Andrew Burke (Author), Mark Elliott (Author)

Book Description

Series: Country Guide | Publication Date: October 1, 2004

Bustling bazaars and ancient sights, parched deserts and snowcapped mountains, awesome architecture and simple hospitality – discover Iran’s myriad attractions with this bestselling guide to the Persian heartland. Lonely Planet knows Iran better than anyone – discover its treasures with us.

Connect With Culture – History, Culture and Arts chapters offer in-depth coverage of the country's rich Persian and Islamic heritage

Be Inspired – new highlights, itineraries and planning sections help you plot your path

Discover the Hidden Gems with comprehensive coverage of regional Iran’s castles, archaelogical sites and picturesque villages

Stay In Style with recommendations of Iran’s best rest-your-head options, from mosaferkhuneh to five-star hotels

Get Around with detailed maps, including a full-colour country map and customised itineraries maps

Editorial Reviews

Review

Nobody covers the world like Lonely Planet.' --New York Post, May 2004

Product Details

• Paperback: 408 pages
• Publisher: Lonely Planet; 4 edition (October 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1740594258
• ISBN-13: 978-1740594257
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,503,773 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #54 in Books > Travel > Middle East > Iran

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

46 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A welcome replacement for the previous edition., May 20, 2006

By 

LEJ Brouwer - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lonely Planet Iran (Country Guide) (Paperback)

These are some excerpts from the new edition from the section entitled 'The National Psyche':

"Iranians are the most surprising people. Where you might expect them to be austere they are charming; rather than dour, they are warm, and instead of being hostile to foreigners, they are welcoming and endlessly curious".

"Iranians are not frightening people. They are generally warm and welcoming to an extent that can be embarassing to Westerners."

"...the Iranian system of courtesy [...] makes Iran a haven for travellers - you will be treated with unfailing politeness wherever you go."

Now compare this with the attitude taken by the racist idiot who wrote the previous (third) edition and one realises what a huge difference it makes when the guide authors actually appreciate and enjoy being in the country about which they write.

A welcome (and IMO absolutely necessary) new edition of the guide. Lonely Planet has shown shrewd judgment in replacing the previous one as well as its author.

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Open hearts & minds to Iran!, November 22, 2008

By 

Lois Chaney (Bakersfield, California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Lonely Planet Iran (Country Travel Guide) (Paperback)

Lonely Planet Iran (Country Guide)

This guide added immeaurably to my just-completed & thorougly enjoyable three-week vist to Iran. As the authors stress in the opening chapters, Western perceptions of Iran are largely based on government propaganda, ours as well as Iran's.

They also point out the huge differences between public and private life.

For example, alcohol may be government banned, but it is available for anyone who really wants it.

The Iranians are warm,friendly, and most of them do not hesitate to tell us "We love you! We love America!" Getting free of effusive schoolgirls--high school and university--who want to take our photos, can be difficult. I missed a mosque & a couple of old homes in Natanz because of this entrapment!

November was an ideal month, perfect weather throughout the country including sunshine in Tabriz and the Caspian Sea region which can be bitterly cold in the winter.

I didn't like having to wear the hijab in public, but this and no access to ATMs were small prices to pay for an invaluable experience. Burke and Elliott's Lonely Planet Iran makes both an ideal introduction to a visit and encapsulates everything one wants to remember about various sites from Persepolis to the flourishing bazaars in every city.

I would encourage everyone, especially Americans, to visit Iran. Ignorance on both sides is a problem that can be dispelled by first-hand experience.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 2008 Edition is one of the strongest Lonely Planet guides, October 14, 2008

By 

Graham (Palo Alto, CA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Lonely Planet Iran (Country Travel Guide) (Paperback)

I've used over 20 Lonely Planet guides, of widely varying quality. The 2008 Iran guide is one of the very best I've used, from historic background information to feet-on-the-ground travel pragmatics:

* The maps are excellent. There are multiple maps of the largest cities and there are very helpful detailed maps of key sites such as Persepolis or the Haram-e Razavi shrine in Mashhad.

* There is thorough background information on culture, history and religion which helped me understand the country and the sites better. The general tone is benign and factual.

* The hotel and restaurant guides seem accurate and pragmatic. I had to trudge around a number of hotels in Tehran while searching for a room and the Lonely Planet descriptions seemed consistently on the mark.

* The specific coverage of cities and historic sites, and the suggested walking tours were helpful and accurate.

* There is copious and (allowing for the vagaries of the bus companies) accurate information on train and bus schedules, travel times and costs.

I often saw other travelers consulting various editions of this guide in Iran. It seems to have become the standard. It deserves it!