Iran

As befits a country with an almost unparalleled history, Iran is something of a must for culture vultures. Iranians themselves are intensely proud of their heritage, and the fact that they once had one of the world's biggest empires. Not that this implies some innate warlike instinct - the country’s finest poets rank as highly as any generals or emperors in the pantheon of Persian national heroes.

Original Travel have a serious passion for the Middle Eastern and we're delighted to be able to offer possibly the most idiosyncratic destination in the region. It was only logical that after the success of places such as Libya and Syria, Iran was the next place on our list to explore, and it did not disappoint, thanks to the history, the elegant cities, the mountains, the beautiful deserts, the culture, the people, the handicrafts and, of course, those carpets.

Why now? Good question. Because personally we think it's important for people here to know that the average Iranian in the street is about the most hospitable, well-educated and charming person you're likely to meet, and completely removed from the sabre-rattling unpleasantness of their government. There are complications - that dubious regime, a laborious visa process, women travellers needing to have their heads covered at all times in public, and a strict absence of alcohol, but despite all these, this is somewhere we wholeheartedly recommend travelling to.