Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Around 350m southeast of the Poets' Monument (but with no direct road between
them) is the elegant
Qajar Museum
(Amir Nezam House; 523 6568; Farhang St,
Sheshgelan; admission US$1; 8am-6pm Sat-Thu, 9am-1pm Fri)
within the palatial
1881 Amir Nezam House, Tabriz's most impressive Qajar mansion with a split-level
facade. It's oddly hidden between a school and a children's hospital.
OUTER TABRIZ
About 4km east of Abaresan Crossing is the wealthy if architecturally neutral
Valiasr Dis-
trict
. While hardly SoHo, it's the nearest Tabriz comes to an entertainment district. The
city's gilded youth sip espressos around Valiasr's Karimkhan (Bozorg) Sq and make a
nightly
passeggiata
along pedestrianised Shahriyar St, misleadingly nicknamed Champs
Elysées.
Elgoli (Shahgoli) Park
, 8km southeast of the centre, is popular with summer strollers
and courting couples. Its fairground surrounds an artificial lake, in the middle of which a
photogenic restaurant-pavilion occupies the reconstruction of a Qajar-era palace.
Activities
When there are sufficiently large groups,
ALP Tours & Travel Agency
( 331 0340;
fax 331 0825; Karimkhan Sq; Dec-Apr)
can organise Friday skiing excursions to Mt
Sahand. The cost for transport is US$6, lift pass (US$5) and ski rental (US$17 to US$19)
are extra. ALP can also arrange climbing guides for Mt Sabalan.
Tours
TOUR
ALP Tours & Travel Agency
( 331 0340; fax 331 0825; Karimkhan Sq)
Offers a varying choice of Friday trips (from
US$8) whether sightseeing (Jolfa, Kaleybar or Kabudi Island) or winter sports.
The following are private individuals with other occupations so they're not always avail-
able at short notice.
Davoud Faraji
( 0914-414 7955;
www.alb.ir
)
Great value driving tours around Azarbayjan. Davoud is
lively, energetic and very sensitive to tourists' varying tastes.
GUIDE
Hossein Ravaniyar
GUIDE
