Middle ,South and North Iraq Package
Our Guide will meet you at your hotel, We will then provide you with an introductory briefing on traveling in Iraq and an itinerary breakdown. During the briefing, we will highlight the Victory over America Palace, as well as the place where Saddam’s statue was toppled in 2003.
Afterward, we will visit the Al-Yassin Shrine, arguably Baghdad’s finest. Following the visit, we will drive an hour outside of the city to the ancient city of Ctesiphon. These days, all that remains is the palace archway, the largest single-span vault of unenforced brickwork in the world.
We will then head back to Baghdad for dinner by the Tigris River, followed by tea and shish-a. You will spend the night in Baghdad.
We will have a delicious local breakfast near Tahrir Square before embarking on a full Baghdad city tour. The tour began with a visit to the Liberation Square monument, which commemorates the establishment of the Republic of Iraq. After that, we headed to the National Museum of Iraq, which reopened in 2015 after being notoriously looted during the war. The museum contains various treasures from the Mesopotamian and Babylonian periods.
We then strolled along the Tigris River and crossed over the water on a boat. We also visited the Al-Mustansariya School, which is commonly known as the oldest school in the world and has been beautifully renovated.
During our tour, we walked through the book market and adjoining copper market, which is a great place for souvenirs and photography. We took a well-deserved break in the Shabinder cafe for tea and shisha and then had lunch in the famous Kubba restaurant next door.
Then Al Shaheed Monument was our next stop, which is a martyr’s memorial spot for people who died during the Iran-Iraq War. Nowadays, it’s a highly controversial monument, as it was originally built during the Saddam era.
To end the day, we had a traditional Fish Masgouf dinner and stayed overnight in Baghdad.
we will drive to visit the tomb of the prophet Ezekiel located in the city of Al Kifl. After that, we will head to Najaf, where we will visit Imam Ali’s house (the very spot where Imam Ali was killed) and the Imam Ali Shrine. We will also have the opportunity to visit the Wadi-Us-Salaam, which is the world’s largest graveyard with tens of millions of bodies buried there. Many Shiites request to be buried in one of the numerous catacombs found here.
Later, we will leave Najaf and drive south to visit the Ziggurat of Ur. This neo-Sumerian construction was built in 2000 BC and used to be the capital of Mesopotamia during the Sumerian era. The site has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2016.
Finally, we will drive to Nasariyah city, where we will spend the night.
we will drive to visit the tomb of the prophet Ezekiel located in the city of Al Kifl. After that, we will head to Najaf, where we will visit Imam Ali’s house (the very spot where Imam Ali was killed) and the Imam Ali Shrine. We will also have the opportunity to visit the Wadi-Us-Salaam, which is the world’s largest graveyard with tens of millions of bodies buried there. Many Shiites request to be buried in one of the numerous catacombs found here.
Later, we will leave Najaf and drive south to visit the Ziggurat of Ur. This neo-Sumerian construction was built in 2000 BC and used to be the capital of Mesopotamia during the Sumerian era. The site has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2016.
Finally, we will drive to Nasariyah city, where we will spend the night.
We will wake up very early today to see the sunrise in the Mesopotamian Marshes. We took a boat trip through the maze of marshes and visited some local villages for tea. The marshes used to cover a large part of Southern Iraq with many floating villages. Nowadays, most families have changed their livelihoods as the waters have receded. However, we still saw a few villagers that remained living on the water.
We also visited the Maʻdān population who have adapted to life on the water over the centuries. We stopped by a traditional house for lunch and tea. Afterward, we toured the local market of Chibayesh and had lunch in a traditional reed house. Later, we drove back to Baghdad and stopped by the ancient site of Agargouf Ziggurat.
then continue to Baghdad, overnight in Baghdad.
We will embark on a northbound journey toward Samara, Samara is renowned for its colossal Minaret (also known as the Great Mosque of Samara). We will ascend the spiral staircase to reach the top and enjoy a breathtaking 360-degree view. However, this may not be suitable for those with a weak heart!
Next, we will explore the Caliphal Palace, also known as Jawsaq al-Khaqani, which is one of the largest palaces of its kind in the Islamic world.
After lunch, we will continue our journey towards Hatra, a significant religious center located along the caravan trade routes. It was one of the first Arab states to be established outside of Arabia. We will witness the remarkable renovation efforts taking place here after its liberation from ISIS. Finally, we will proceed to Mosul, where we will spend the night.
We will begin our day by having a delicious local breakfast. We’ll then explore the old city and see the reconstruction of the Al-Nuri Mosque and Al Tahira Church. From there, we’ll visit the Bash Tapia Castle, which offers breathtaking views of the city and the Tigris River. For lunch, we’ll try the area’s most popular dish, the “Kubba of Mosul.”
After that, we’ll head to the Christian town of Bakhdida or Qaraqosh to visit the Church Square, where the Pope gave mass on his historic visit to Iraq in March 2021. Before sunset, we’ll travel to Erbil, located in the Kurdistan region of Iraq.
We’ll have a farewell dinner for those leaving us in Erbil and also meet up with those joining us for the Kurdistan tour. We’ll spend the night in Erbil.
After a lot of driving in the south, we will have a leisurely start. Our first stop will be the bazaar, where we can take in the vibrant atmosphere and stop for some Kurdish tea or coffee inside the market.
In the afternoon, we will visit the citadel, which is the oldest continually inhabited place in the world. From the top of the citadel, we can enjoy the stunning views over the city.
We will also visit the textile museum, Minaret Park, and the Jalil Khayat Mosque.
Later, we will rest up at the hotel before heading out for dinner with the rest of the group in the Christian district. There are plenty of Kurdistan cuisine options available here!
We will spend the night in Erbil.
We depart early and drive to Sulaymaniyah, the second-largest city in Iraqi Kurdistan. Before lunch, we took a break in the old Jewish town of Koya to visit the ancient and crumbling Caravanserai. Upon arrival in Sulaymaniyah, we headed straight to the infamous “Red Prison,” which was once used as a torture center by Saddam Hussein’s regime and is now a fascinating museum. We then walked through the bustling central Bazaar, which was located right next to our hotel, and had some tea at a traditional tea house. At sunset, we drove up Goyzha Mountain to enjoy the stunning views overlooking Sulay and then took the cable car back down the mountain. We had dinner in Sulaymaniyah and spent the night there.
We drive one hour to Halabja. During our tour, we will visit the memorial and mass grave sites. We’ll make our way to Tawela, which was previously the front line in the Iran/Iraq war and is located on the Iran border. We’ll stop for lunch by the border before heading to Ahmed Awa waterfall. Later, we’ll return to Sulaymaniyah to spend some leisurely time exploring the bazaars. In the evening, we’ll have a group dinner and drinks before spending the night in Sulaymaniyah.
We will be leaving Suli this morning and heading west towards Lake Dokan. If the weather allows, we plan to take a boat ride and enjoy some tea and snacks. During our journey, we will drive on the famous Hamilton Road, which was constructed by AM Hamilton in the 1930s with the hope of bringing the various peoples of the region together. The road connected Iran with Iraq and was an engineering marvel of its time. We will also visit the Bekhal waterfall during our trip. Our drive will take us through breathtaking mountain ranges, and we will stop at various points along the way to take photos. We will be staying overnight in Soran.
Drive to the historic Shanidar cave.
Discover the breathtaking village of Amadiya, perched on top of a mountain. Take a stroll through its peaceful streets and visit both the mosque and church. Don’t miss the chance to see the ancient gateway to the town. Explore the ruins of the Qubahan School, an intriguing ancient madrassa. Afterward, head to Saddam Hussein’s former mountaintop palace and marvel at the stunning views that made him choose this location.
Next, continue our journey toward Duhok. Take a tour of the bustling Duhok Bazaar and enjoy a cup of tea at a traditional tea house. Finally, savor a delicious dinner and spend the night in Duhok.
We will depart from Duhok to visit one of the world’s oldest monasteries, Alqosh. It is built into the mountains and is technically part of Mosul and Iraq proper. From there, we will drive for an hour to reach Lalesh, the most sacred town for the Yazidi religion. During the tour, we will visit the temple, and meet the locals who are here on pilgrimage.
After the tour, we will enjoy a picnic lunch at Jerwan Aqueduct and then continue our journey to Akre in time for the Nowruz festival. Every year, thousands of Kurds come to the surrounding hills to celebrate the new year. We will witness and partake in an incredible fireworks and torch show that symbolizes Spring, the season of light.
Finally, we will drive to Erbil, where we will have our final group dinner and spend the night.
At the end of the tour, we can help you arrange for extra accommodation or transportation to the airport. Let us know if you need any assistance with this.
Baghdad
baghdad
Karbala
كربلاء - طويريج، كربلاء 56001،، Karbala' 56001, Iraq
Najaf
285V+GRJ, Najaf, Iraq
Ur
CCHM+74, Baghdad, Iraq
Nasiriyah
ذي قار،، 46CM+MJM, An Nasiriyah, Iraq
Chibayish
XX3H+7R Chibayish, Iraq
Samarra
4WX9+VR Samarra, Iraq
Mosul
952H+FCR, Mosul, Iraq
Erbil
5XCQ+FJ7, Erbil, Iraq
Sulaymaniyah
HCRW+H4 Sulaymaniyah, Iraq
Halabja
6222+7H Halabja, Iraq
Rawanduz
JG5F+CG9, Rawanduz, Iraq
Dohuk
VXHH+V7 Duhok, Iraq
Akre
PVVP+MV, Akre, Iraq
Dohuk
VXCG+X6C, Duhok, Iraq
Lalish
Q7FX+3V Lalish, Iraq
Details
Our Guide will meet you at your hotel, We will then provide you with an introductory briefing on traveling in Iraq and an itinerary breakdown. During the briefing, we will highlight the Victory over America Palace, as well as the place where Saddam’s statue was toppled in 2003.
Afterward, we will visit the Al-Yassin Shrine, arguably Baghdad’s finest. Following the visit, we will drive an hour outside of the city to the ancient city of Ctesiphon. These days, all that remains is the palace archway, the largest single-span vault of unenforced brickwork in the world.
We will then head back to Baghdad for dinner by the Tigris River, followed by tea and shish-a. You will spend the night in Baghdad.
We will have a delicious local breakfast near Tahrir Square before embarking on a full Baghdad city tour. The tour began with a visit to the Liberation Square monument, which commemorates the establishment of the Republic of Iraq. After that, we headed to the National Museum of Iraq, which reopened in 2015 after being notoriously looted during the war. The museum contains various treasures from the Mesopotamian and Babylonian periods.
We then strolled along the Tigris River and crossed over the water on a boat. We also visited the Al-Mustansariya School, which is commonly known as the oldest school in the world and has been beautifully renovated.
During our tour, we walked through the book market and adjoining copper market, which is a great place for souvenirs and photography. We took a well-deserved break in the Shabinder cafe for tea and shisha and then had lunch in the famous Kubba restaurant next door.
Then Al Shaheed Monument was our next stop, which is a martyr’s memorial spot for people who died during the Iran-Iraq War. Nowadays, it’s a highly controversial monument, as it was originally built during the Saddam era.
To end the day, we had a traditional Fish Masgouf dinner and stayed overnight in Baghdad.
we will drive to visit the tomb of the prophet Ezekiel located in the city of Al Kifl. After that, we will head to Najaf, where we will visit Imam Ali’s house (the very spot where Imam Ali was killed) and the Imam Ali Shrine. We will also have the opportunity to visit the Wadi-Us-Salaam, which is the world’s largest graveyard with tens of millions of bodies buried there. Many Shiites request to be buried in one of the numerous catacombs found here.
Later, we will leave Najaf and drive south to visit the Ziggurat of Ur. This neo-Sumerian construction was built in 2000 BC and used to be the capital of Mesopotamia during the Sumerian era. The site has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2016.
Finally, we will drive to Nasariyah city, where we will spend the night.
we will drive to visit the tomb of the prophet Ezekiel located in the city of Al Kifl. After that, we will head to Najaf, where we will visit Imam Ali’s house (the very spot where Imam Ali was killed) and the Imam Ali Shrine. We will also have the opportunity to visit the Wadi-Us-Salaam, which is the world’s largest graveyard with tens of millions of bodies buried there. Many Shiites request to be buried in one of the numerous catacombs found here.
Later, we will leave Najaf and drive south to visit the Ziggurat of Ur. This neo-Sumerian construction was built in 2000 BC and used to be the capital of Mesopotamia during the Sumerian era. The site has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2016.
Finally, we will drive to Nasariyah city, where we will spend the night.
We will wake up very early today to see the sunrise in the Mesopotamian Marshes. We took a boat trip through the maze of marshes and visited some local villages for tea. The marshes used to cover a large part of Southern Iraq with many floating villages. Nowadays, most families have changed their livelihoods as the waters have receded. However, we still saw a few villagers that remained living on the water.
We also visited the Maʻdān population who have adapted to life on the water over the centuries. We stopped by a traditional house for lunch and tea. Afterward, we toured the local market of Chibayesh and had lunch in a traditional reed house. Later, we drove back to Baghdad and stopped by the ancient site of Agargouf Ziggurat.
then continue to Baghdad, overnight in Baghdad.
We will embark on a northbound journey toward Samara, Samara is renowned for its colossal Minaret (also known as the Great Mosque of Samara). We will ascend the spiral staircase to reach the top and enjoy a breathtaking 360-degree view. However, this may not be suitable for those with a weak heart!
Next, we will explore the Caliphal Palace, also known as Jawsaq al-Khaqani, which is one of the largest palaces of its kind in the Islamic world.
After lunch, we will continue our journey towards Hatra, a significant religious center located along the caravan trade routes. It was one of the first Arab states to be established outside of Arabia. We will witness the remarkable renovation efforts taking place here after its liberation from ISIS. Finally, we will proceed to Mosul, where we will spend the night.
We will begin our day by having a delicious local breakfast. We’ll then explore the old city and see the reconstruction of the Al-Nuri Mosque and Al Tahira Church. From there, we’ll visit the Bash Tapia Castle, which offers breathtaking views of the city and the Tigris River. For lunch, we’ll try the area’s most popular dish, the “Kubba of Mosul.”
After that, we’ll head to the Christian town of Bakhdida or Qaraqosh to visit the Church Square, where the Pope gave mass on his historic visit to Iraq in March 2021. Before sunset, we’ll travel to Erbil, located in the Kurdistan region of Iraq.
We’ll have a farewell dinner for those leaving us in Erbil and also meet up with those joining us for the Kurdistan tour. We’ll spend the night in Erbil.
After a lot of driving in the south, we will have a leisurely start. Our first stop will be the bazaar, where we can take in the vibrant atmosphere and stop for some Kurdish tea or coffee inside the market.
In the afternoon, we will visit the citadel, which is the oldest continually inhabited place in the world. From the top of the citadel, we can enjoy the stunning views over the city.
We will also visit the textile museum, Minaret Park, and the Jalil Khayat Mosque.
Later, we will rest up at the hotel before heading out for dinner with the rest of the group in the Christian district. There are plenty of Kurdistan cuisine options available here!
We will spend the night in Erbil.
We depart early and drive to Sulaymaniyah, the second-largest city in Iraqi Kurdistan. Before lunch, we took a break in the old Jewish town of Koya to visit the ancient and crumbling Caravanserai. Upon arrival in Sulaymaniyah, we headed straight to the infamous “Red Prison,” which was once used as a torture center by Saddam Hussein’s regime and is now a fascinating museum. We then walked through the bustling central Bazaar, which was located right next to our hotel, and had some tea at a traditional tea house. At sunset, we drove up Goyzha Mountain to enjoy the stunning views overlooking Sulay and then took the cable car back down the mountain. We had dinner in Sulaymaniyah and spent the night there.
We drive one hour to Halabja. During our tour, we will visit the memorial and mass grave sites. We’ll make our way to Tawela, which was previously the front line in the Iran/Iraq war and is located on the Iran border. We’ll stop for lunch by the border before heading to Ahmed Awa waterfall. Later, we’ll return to Sulaymaniyah to spend some leisurely time exploring the bazaars. In the evening, we’ll have a group dinner and drinks before spending the night in Sulaymaniyah.
We will be leaving Suli this morning and heading west towards Lake Dokan. If the weather allows, we plan to take a boat ride and enjoy some tea and snacks. During our journey, we will drive on the famous Hamilton Road, which was constructed by AM Hamilton in the 1930s with the hope of bringing the various peoples of the region together. The road connected Iran with Iraq and was an engineering marvel of its time. We will also visit the Bekhal waterfall during our trip. Our drive will take us through breathtaking mountain ranges, and we will stop at various points along the way to take photos. We will be staying overnight in Soran.
Drive to the historic Shanidar cave.
Discover the breathtaking village of Amadiya, perched on top of a mountain. Take a stroll through its peaceful streets and visit both the mosque and church. Don’t miss the chance to see the ancient gateway to the town. Explore the ruins of the Qubahan School, an intriguing ancient madrassa. Afterward, head to Saddam Hussein’s former mountaintop palace and marvel at the stunning views that made him choose this location.
Next, continue our journey toward Duhok. Take a tour of the bustling Duhok Bazaar and enjoy a cup of tea at a traditional tea house. Finally, savor a delicious dinner and spend the night in Duhok.
We will depart from Duhok to visit one of the world’s oldest monasteries, Alqosh. It is built into the mountains and is technically part of Mosul and Iraq proper. From there, we will drive for an hour to reach Lalesh, the most sacred town for the Yazidi religion. During the tour, we will visit the temple, and meet the locals who are here on pilgrimage.
After the tour, we will enjoy a picnic lunch at Jerwan Aqueduct and then continue our journey to Akre in time for the Nowruz festival. Every year, thousands of Kurds come to the surrounding hills to celebrate the new year. We will witness and partake in an incredible fireworks and torch show that symbolizes Spring, the season of light.
Finally, we will drive to Erbil, where we will have our final group dinner and spend the night.
At the end of the tour, we can help you arrange for extra accommodation or transportation to the airport. Let us know if you need any assistance with this.
Locations
Baghdad
baghdad
Karbala
كربلاء - طويريج، كربلاء 56001،، Karbala' 56001, Iraq
Najaf
285V+GRJ, Najaf, Iraq
Ur
CCHM+74, Baghdad, Iraq
Nasiriyah
ذي قار،، 46CM+MJM, An Nasiriyah, Iraq
Chibayish
XX3H+7R Chibayish, Iraq
Samarra
4WX9+VR Samarra, Iraq
Mosul
952H+FCR, Mosul, Iraq
Erbil
5XCQ+FJ7, Erbil, Iraq
Sulaymaniyah
HCRW+H4 Sulaymaniyah, Iraq
Halabja
6222+7H Halabja, Iraq
Rawanduz
JG5F+CG9, Rawanduz, Iraq
Dohuk
VXHH+V7 Duhok, Iraq
Akre
PVVP+MV, Akre, Iraq
Dohuk
VXCG+X6C, Duhok, Iraq
Lalish
Q7FX+3V Lalish, Iraq





