This is the most complete expedition into Iraq, where you’ll travel from southern Iraq to the Kurdish lands in 11 days, visiting highlights like the Mesopotamian Marshes, Karbala, Babylon, Baghdad, Mosul, Lalish, Erbil and more.
From visiting the center of Yazidism to the holiest place for Shia devotees, while learning everything about the ISIS legacy, this is the most comprehensive itinerary into the most diverse country in the Middle East.
Note that we always keep the itinerary flexible, and it may be subject to change, depending on the political situation.
Day 1 – Arrival in Baghdad
Day 2 – Babylon, Saddam Hussein Palace and Karbala
Day 3 – Karbala, Ziggurat of Ur & Nasiriyah
Day 4 – Mesopotamian Marshes
Day 5 – Full day in Baghdad
Day 6 – Samarra, Hatra & Mosul
Day 7 – Full day in Mosul
Day 8 – Mar Mattai, Lalish and Duhok
Day 9 – Saddam Hussein Palace, Amedi and Barzan
Day 10 – Full day in Erbil
Day 11 – Erbil & departure
Day 1 – Arrival in Baghdad
Arrival in Baghdad, airport transfer, hotel check-in and introductory briefing.
Money exchange, getting SIM Cards and welcome dinner
Overnight in Baghdad.
Day 2 – Babylon, Saddam Hussein Palace and Karbala
Drive to Ancient Babylon, the first great civilization in the world, believed to be the first city to ever reach a population of more than 200,000.
Visit the former Saddam Hussein Palace, today overlooking the ancient city of Babylon.
After lunch, head to Karbala, the holiest city in the world for Shia Muslims, a surprisingly touristic city visited every year by millions of pilgrims.
Visit Karbala shrines after sunset.
Overnight in Karbala.
Day 3 – Karbala, Ziggurat of Ur & Nasiriyah
Early start to the Ziggurat of Ür, one of the oldest cities in the world (3800BC) – even older than Babylon.
Check-in at the hotel in Nasiriyah, he largest city in southern Iraq, a high-secured city, home to the American-built Al-Hoot prison, a maximum-security prison today filled with ISIS fighters.
Overnight in Nasiriya.
Day 4 – Mesopotamian Marshes
Mesopotamian Marshes tour, a wetland ecosystem in south Iraq, an aquatic landscape in the middle of the desert, home to a distinct cultural group named the Marsh Arabs.
We will get immersed into their culture by visiting their villages, islands and eating masgouf with them, an old Mesopotamian dish consisting of a giant grilled fish.
Back to Baghdad after lunch, overnight in Baghdad.
Day 5 – Full day in Baghdad
Early start with a traditional breakfast only found in Baghdad, followed by visiting the National Museum of Iraq.
Old City tour, including old book market, the leather and copper bazaars, the historical Shabandar café, and all the old city highlights.
After lunch, Martyr’s Monument and, depending on the political situation, we also the Green Zone.
Overnight in Baghdad.
Day 6 – Samarra, Hatra & Mosul
Samarra is a city controlled by a Shia Militia, a city practically impossible to visit for independent travelers but thanks to our expert local guides, hopefully, we won’t be running into any issues.
The city is famous for holding the spiral minaret of Malwiya, a UNESCO Heritage Site and one of the most famous landmarks in Iraq, absolutely stunning.
Then, on our way to Mosul, we will stop in Hatra, a very well-preserved ancient Mesopotamian city, located in the middle of nowhere, and also a former ISIS training camp. We will have the chance to see actual ISIS graffiti.
Mosul is the second most important city in Iraq and one of the oldest cities in the world, the place where ancient Niniveh was found.
In 2017, the city was liberated from ISIS, and people already started to come back.
Yes, we will explore the war-torn old city and all its destroyed buildings, but we will also discover Mosul’s most human side by witnessing all the reconstruction, getting to know kind-hearted locals, and also checking out all the lively bazaars.
Goodbye to our friends from Baghdad, and we’ll be welcomed by our brand-new Kurdish team.
Visit the Christian monastery of Mar Mattai, and Lalish, the holiest place for Yazidis.
Dinner and overnight in Duhok.
Day 9 – Saddam Hussein Palace, Amedi and Barzan
Visit Amedi, Joan Torres’ favorite place in Iraqi Kurdistan, built on the top of a flat mountain, with incredible views of the valley.
On the way, stop at one of the several abandoned palaces that Saddam Hussein had across Iraq.
After lunch, drive towards Erbil through the most scenic road in all Iraq, stopping on the way in Barzan, a village and epicentre of Kurdish nationalism.
Dinner and overnight in Erbil.
Day 10 – Full day in Erbil
Full city tour of Erbil: Old Citadel, the bazaar, Jalil Khayat mosque and the Christian district of Ankawa.
Dinner and overnight in Erbil.
Day 11 – Erbil & departure
After enjoying breakfast altogether, we will take care of your transfer to Erbil International Airport.
Gallery of photos
Chaotic BaghdadMartyr’s Monument BaghdadThe twisting minaretLocal people in SamarraHatraISIS Graffiticamels in HatraReconstruction of Al Noori Mosque in MosulSaddam Hussein MosqueA Yazidi woman in LalishMar Mattai Monastery and a priestThe road connecting Amedi and BarzanA Kurdish man in Erbil old cityErbil main square
Included
10 nights of accommodation (twin shared) in hotels mentioned in FAQ
Private transportation and driver around Iraq
Breakfast and lunch (not on day 1)
Clearance for all checkpoints
English-speaking knowledgeable local guide
International tour leader
Entrance fees to all sites listed in the itinerary
Airport transfer in Baghdad and Erbil
Fast-track visa service upon arrival in Baghdad
Not Included
International flights
Visa fees (80USD)
Dinner
Single supplement. Having your private room for 10 nights costs €450.
Price of the tour includes accommodation in a twin room.
If you are a solo traveler, you will be sharing the room with another like-minded traveler from the group. We always try to group people of same gender and age together but note that this can’t always be the case.
Moreover, in the hypothetical case there weren’t perfect pairs, one of the rooms would be a triple room.
If you wanted to have your own single room, you will have to pay an additional €450.
How to get a visa?
There is a visa on arrival available at Baghdad International Airport. It costs $80.
This visa will be valid for both Federal Iraq and Kurdistan.
Which nationalities can get a visa on arrival?
All European Union passport holders, and also the United States (yes, Americans can travel to Iraq), United Kingdom, Russia, China, Japan, South Korea, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Switzerland
What about the rest of nationalities, can they join?
If your passport is not on the lucky list, we can get you a Letter of Invitation, with which you’ll be able to apply at your nearest embassy.
How many people will attend this tour?
We will be a group of maximum 12-13 people.
What’s the minimum number of people required for this tour?
All our Iraq expeditions have a guaranteed departure, that’s for sure.
However, in the hypothetical and unlikely case we didn’t reach a minimum number of 8 people, the Western Tour leader would not join, but you’d just be traveling with the local guide.
Where does the trip start from?
We start in Baghdad and we finish in Erbil. This means that, ideally, you should fly to Baghdad and fly out from Erbil.
Both have international airports with loads of connections.
If you are coming from anywhere in Europe, the best is to come via Istanbul (either Pegasus or Turkish Airlines), and those coming from the American continent, also have the option of coming via Doha or Dubai.
Is it safe?
The situation is getting better and better by the day, plus we will be traveling with a group of local experts who know the latest security updates. Moreover, we will always stick to the stable areas of Iraq.
