TEHRAN, Iran While many Americans view Iran as a shadowy and perhaps even dangerous place to travel, others see the opportunity for a vacation.
Officials in Iran have heralded the maiden voyage of the first private passenger train to travel from Europe to the Islamic Republic as part of a wider tourism boom in the country. However, with tickets going for as much as $40,000 per head it's unclear how many tourists will take to the tracks.
Operators of the luxury tourist train majestically named the Golden Eagle Danube Express said they were surprised to discover the most common nationality among their passengers was American.
Marnie Shultz, a senior citizen from Kansas who was on the maiden journey, said her friends back home were perplexed about her plans to visit a country that once described the U.S. as "The Great Satan."
"They think I am absolutely nuts," she told NBC News about her family's reaction, during a stop-off in Iran's ancient city of Isfahan. "There is no reason not to come to Iran, don't let what is perceived to keep you home."
Golden Eagle Luxury Trains, the U.K.-based company which runs the service, admitted it was caught off guard by the demand from America. Of the 109 passengers who traveled on the east or westbound legs of the two-week journey, 26 were American citizens. For the eight near-sell-out journeys scheduled for next year, 45 percent of bookings came from the U.S.
"It was a bit of a surprise," said Natasha Baker, a sales executive at Golden Eagle Luxury Trains. "We wanted customers from America, but because of the history we were just seeing how it went."
"When American tourists first came to Iran they would tell locals that they were Canadian, but not today"
The 14-day trip takes tourists on a winding, 4,000-mile journey from Hungary's capital of Budapest through Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey and finally to Iran or the reverse, for a return route. Stop-offs in Iran include visits to Tehrans Grand Bazaar whose corridors stretch for miles a holy shrine in Mashdad and Isfahan, the ancient city that served as Persias capital until 1722.
"Generally speaking our passengers tend to be more adventurous and well-traveled," Baker said. They also appear to have deep pockets.
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Meet the Americans Paying Thousands to Vacation in Iran