small group tour

Mystical Iran; an interview with small-group tour operator, Anoush

Rosie Champness — Thu, 01 Nov 2018 07:39:38 +0000

I first met Anoush about 10 years ago, in a backpacker bar in Sultanahmet, Istanbul, with his beautiful Aussie wife Sami. We were both working in tourism, and had many mutual friends.

Fast forward 8 years, and we run into each other at a travel industry function in Melbourne! We had both started our own Travel Agencies and small group tour companies, Anoush’s specialising in his home country, Iran. I spoke to him recently to find out more:

How did Mystic Tours start?

As one of the most misrepresented countries in the world, it was my passion to introduce the Iranian Culture and the vast tourism potential to the Australian people.

Whilst working within the industry I realised that many Australians are curious about traveling to Iran but there were limited opportunities available. With over 2 years of research and testing numerous itineraries and land operators before Mystic Tours was born in 2015.

What can Mosaic Travellers expect on a Mystic Tour of Iran?

Personalised service and flexibility of travelling in a small group of maximum 10 passengers as well as more opportunities to interact with locals.

In your opinion, what are the absolute ‘must-sees’ for a first-time traveller to Iran?

That is quite a hard question considering the vastness of the country and number of amazing sites to visit. But in my opinion, you should not miss the National Jewellery Museum in Tehran, Isfahan as a city and off course the ruins of Persepolis. I also recommend a short extension to Caspian coast for travellers who have more time to see a very different side of Iran.

Is there anything travellers need to be aware of when travelling to Iran?

Be ready to get surprised at every step!

When is the best time to visit Iran?

Weatherwise you can choose spring (March to May), particularly April or Autumn (September to November) especially the month of October when up north is not too cold and central Iran not too hot. However, the month of April is recommended if you wish to visit the Persian Gardens in the best condition.

Here at Mosaic Travel, we think a huge part of travelling is experiencing local food. Tell us a bit about Iranian food.

With Iran being the heart of silk road, Iranian cuisine has been inspired by many different cultures however, it has reserved its main characteristics. A typical Iranian dish is rice mixed or next to a stew of meat, vegetables, beans, herbs, nuts or dried fruit.

There are many different combinations of these ingredients. Tasty spices such as Turmeric, Saffron (almost in every dish), cinnamon and cumin are also widely used in Iranian food.

To book an incredible tour to Iran, call Rosie at Mosaic Travel on (03) 5275 4583

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2 spots left on Croatia tour – June!

Rosie Champness — Wed, 22 Feb 2017 22:08:27 +0000

Due to a cancellation, I now have places available for two lucky travellers on our boutique tour departing in June. I will be personally leading this luxurious tour, which starts in Dubrovnik, and ends in Venice.

With only 10 guests, we’ll spend 20 days exploring Croatia, from the old town of Dubrovnik, to the laid-back islands of Korcula and bright lights of Hvar, to the small country villages of Istria, before finally arriving in glorious Venice by speedboat, George Clooney style!

As well as seeing the sights, we take time on this small-group tour to enjoy long lunches, wine tastings, unique cultural experiences, and plenty of free time for you to explore on your own.

Accommodation varies from a luxurious clifftop resort (with a private elevator down to a private beach!), to a restored mansion within the city walls, to a boutique winery hotel.

The tour is from 11 – 30 June and there are only two spots left. Please call Rosie for more info and a special deal – I’m not used to having places available on these tours!!!

Magnificent Croatia

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Living the dream in Croatia!

Rosie Champness — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 05:19:04 +0000

Highlights of our three week Croatia tour in June!

Question: What happens when you take nine women to Croatia for a three week holiday?

Answer: Lots of walking, laughing, wine-drinking, boating, some singing and dancing… and a lot of fun!!!

Mosaic Travel doesn’t specifically operate women-only tours yet this one just turned out this way, and what a hoot we had! Starting in Dubrovnik and ending in Venice, the tour lasted three weeks. Here are our highlights from the trip.

Walking through the Plitvice National Park

We changed the itinerary this year to avoid the tourist crush at the famous Plitvice Lakes, and we’re glad we did. Getting started early, we had the paths almost to ourselves and were treated with spectacular views of the lakes and waterfalls.

2. Pag Island

What a strange place! When we drove across the bridge to Pag, everyone was wondering why I was taking them here – it looked barren, dry and inhospitable! However the winery hotel where we spent two nights is like an oasis. Set amongst vineyards, with a pool, and not too far from a small beach, we enjoyed a very pleasant few days here. The food and wine at the on-site restaurant are top notch too.

3. Boating

A lot of people ask why this tour isn’t done by boat, and the reason is because we think it’s fantastic to enjoy different accommodation along the way, and have the freedom to explore local towns and villages on your own, rather than being stuck on a boat. Having said that, we certainly don’t miss out on boating, and spend plenty of time on the water!

Our favourite boating experience on the trip would have to be our day on the Elaphiti Islands with a huge wooden gulet which would hold 50 people, all to ourselves! We spent the morning exploring the small islands, before anchoring at a small but exquisite seafood restaurant for lunch with the Adriatic as our view.

On our last night in Croatia, we did a sunset cruise from Rovinj. We watched the spectacular sunset while tucking into a picnic feast, fresh from the markets. Now I’m not sure what was in the wine, but the evening ended in lots of dancing on the deck! A very quiet drive to Venice the following day, that’s for sure!

4. Food

If you’ve been on a Mosaic Tour, you know that food is a big part of our tours! Croatia is mostly on the coast so the seafood is fresh and abundant. They’re also well known for their cheese, cured meats (Istra ham) and truffles. Meal highlights would definitely include our 4 course truffle lunch near the Motovun truffle forest, and our Peka, meaning ‘cooked under the iron bell’ at Mr Dubokovic’s family home in Hvar. All washed down with local, light summer wines.

5. Dubrovnik

We start our tour in Dubrovnik, and yes, it is touristy, but it is very popular for a reason! Dubrovnik’s old town really is spectacular, with dramatic high walls surrounding it, the fortress looming overhead, and the narrow, cobbled laneways down below. We loved walking the city walls and exploring the back streets.

The tour this year was loved by all the women – you can read some of their reviews here . I will be leading this fabulous tour again in June and Sue will be leading it in September. Click here to check out the itinerary, or visit our tour page!

Rosie

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Inaugural Black Sea Tour in May

Rosie Champness — Tue, 16 Aug 2016 22:03:12 +0000

The inaugural Black Sea tour was such an adventure! Northern Turkey, along the Black Sea coast, and Georgia and Armenia – what a fascinating and undiscovered part of the world.

The walk from the ‘road’ to our alpine chalet accommodation high in the Kackar Mountains.

Incredible singing and dancing troupe showing us traditional dances and music in the heart of Georgia’s wine region.

Northern Turkey couldn’t be more different to the Western / Southern region. Lush green forest, high high high mountains and absolutely no tourists! In fact, we didn’t see a tourist until the 14th day of the tour, where we sat next to a small group of Americans in the only restaurant in town that served alcohol.

Georgia – 5 days of wine tasting after wine tasting! What a country! The Georgians are fiercely proud of their country, and love to show off their heritage, and their excellent food and wine.

Armenia has a sad history, which is still very much evident in everyday life. However, the Armenians embrace life and we had lots of fun cooking ‘dolma’ with some local ladies, tasting local brandy and a crazy night tapping our toes in a famous jazz club until 2am!!!

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