2024
• Arrive in Baghdad.
• Take a taxi to the hotel and check in before meeting in the evening.
• Overnight in Baghdad.
• Full-day city tour of Baghdad.
• We will visit the National Museum with its collections that are considered among the most important in the world.
• Exploring bazaar of Baghdad, freedom square and the square where Saddam statue was toppled down in 2003.
• We will visit the Martyr's Monument.
• Explore the historic Al-Rasheed and Al-Mutanabi streets before taking a boat ride on the Tigris River and then enjoying an Iraqi tea at the famous Al Shabander Café.
• Overnight in Baghdad.
• Head out to explore the ruins of the ancient Babylonian Empire's capital city.
• Explore Saddam Hussein's former Palace.
• Drive to Karbala and visit the Mausoleum of Imam Hussain the Grand Son of prophet Mohammed and the Shrine of Imam Abbas.
• Explore the city in the evening.
• Overnight in Karbala.
• Departure from Karbala towards Najaf.
• We will visit the Wadi-al-Salaam Cemetery, aka the 'Valley of Peace' and the world's largest cemetery, with over 6 millions burials.
• Afterwards we will visit the Imam Ali Shrine, one of the holiest Islamic sites in the world.
• Depart for Nassiriya where we will spend the night.
• Today we will visit the Great Ziggurat of Ur, built during the Early Bronze Age.
• Next we will visit the Mesopotamian marshes; once the largest wetland in the Middle East and home to an ancient civilization of Marsh Dwellers known as the Madan.
• Drive back to Baghdad and explore more.
• Overnight in Baghdad.
• Travel to Samarra to explore the city.
• We will pay a visit to The Great Mosque of Samarra and walk to the top of the 9th century spiral Minaret for a breath-taking scenic view.
• Afterwards we will visit Hatra, where with our local connections we will have special access to this unique archaeological site of Iraq in the desert. One of the highlights of Northern Iraq!
• Finally we drive to Mosul where we will overnight.
• We will visit the the old neighbourhood of Mosul where we will see the last spot where ISIS was defeated by the Iraqi army.
• We will visit the main churches and mosques, including Al-Nuri historical Mosque with its old minaret. As well as walking through the bazaar and seeing the newly renovated heritage houses where we can meet young locals.
• Visit to the old Nineveh walls. We will explore all of Mosul with experts of the city, under supervision of local authorities, while trying the local cuisine.
• Finally we drive to Erbil and visit the biggest town of Christian community known as Bakhdida or Qaraqosh on the way. In Erbil we will meet in the evening for a farewell for those who are going home and talk about our next adventure in Iraqi Kurdistan with everyone who will stay.
• Overnight in Erbil.
• Departure home or start of Iraqi Kurdistan trip.