Holy cities and fertile marsheS

March 06 ⇾ March 14
December 21 ⇾ December 29

In addition to our regular group departures to Iraq, we also offer tour services for private travel parties and lone wolves alike. As a traveller-oriented boutique operator, tailored trips and bespoke adventures are our bread and butter. Get in touch for more info on our customised journeys to Southern Iraq! 

DAY 1 – Baghdad

  • Meet-and-greet at Baghdad International Airport and transfer to our hotel of choice in downtown Baghdad.

  • Introductory briefing about the region, the route and the set of rules to observe while travelling in Iraq.

  • Time permitting, the rest of the day will be devoted to a slow-paced first encounter with Baghdad, one of the most significant cultural, commercial, and intellectual centres of the entire Muslim world.

  • Overnight in Baghdad.

DAY 2 – Baghdad

  • We'll spend the entire day exploring Baghdad and its vast array of historical and cultural attractions: mosques, churches, bazaars, impressive monuments and totalitarian architecture.

  • In the afternoon we’ll pay a mandatory pilgrimage to the National Museum of Iraq, looted during and after the 2003 American Invasion and Occupation of Iraq and officially reopened only in 2015, it still contains an incredibly vast array of precious relics from the Mesopotamian, Babylonian and Persian civilisations.

  • Overnight in Baghdad.

DAY 3 – Samarra

  • Breakfast of champions and full-day excursion to Samarra, the early capital of the Abbasid Caliphate.

  • Samarra is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the Middle East, a must-see highlight of your trip in Iraq and, since 2007, also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

  • We’ll spend a few hours thoroughly touring Samarra, its much celebrated Malwiya Tower and the rarely visited Al-Askari Shrine, before heading back to Baghdad by dusk.

  • Overnight in Baghdad.

DAY 4 – Babylon and Karbala

  • We'll start the day early and visit two of the greatest historical sites in the Middle East: the ruins of the Sasanian-era city Ctesiphon (Taq Kasra), just outside the sleepy satellite settlement of Salman Pak, and the remnants of the no-further-explanation-needed mythical town of Babylonia, also known as Babel.

  • We'll explore the ruins of this epic city of hanging gardens and mythical kings, and, if time permits, we'll continue the sightseeing with a visit to the local Saddam's Palace near the bustling town of Hillah.

  • In the afternoon we'll drive east towards Karbala, the capital of the namesake governorate and one of the most significant sites for muslims around the world: to fully appreciate the sacred nature of the place, we will join the crowd of pilgrims as they perform mesmerising rituals at the Imam Hussein and Al-Abbas holy shrines.

  • In the evening we’ll then head for the twin cities of Kufa and Najaf, spiritual centres of Shia Islam.

  • Overnight in Najaf.

DAY 5 – Najaf and Kufa

  • Full-day sightseeing around Najaf and Kufa’s vast array of religious sights, cultural curiosities and historical attractions, such as the immense Old Cemetery (Wadi-us-Salam), the stunning Imam Ali shrine, the tentacular Central Bazaar and the gargantuan Great Mosque of Kufa.

  • Overnight in Najaf.

DAY 6 – Nasiriyah and Ur  

  • Today we'll head further south towards the ancient city of Ur and visit Etemenniguru, the greatest Sumerian Ziggurat in the whole country.

  • We will then continue our journey to Nasiriyah, the capital of the Dhi Qar Governorate and the fourth largest city in Iraq

  • Once in Nasiriyah, we'll explore the exotic spice market, visit the local mashkhanna (the place of worship of the secretive Mandean community), and eventually enjoy a gorgeous sunset from the famous Bridge of Civilisations.

  • Overnight in Nasiriyah.

DAY 7 – Mesopotamian Marshes

  • In the morning we'll transfer to Chibayish and enjoy a long boat tour across the legendary Mesopotamian Marshes, a peculiar aquatic landscape that is home to the Maʻdān, an Arab Shia population that over the course of the centuries developed its own unique culture, language and rituals.

  • After having enjoyed a traditional lunch with the Arabs of the Marshlands, we'll head for Basra, the biggest city in Southern Iraq and the country's only seaport.

  • Overnight in Basra.

Bespoke Experiences • A traditional cooking and tasting session with local Maʻdān Arab families in the Marshes, a visit to the Mandean mashkhanna in Nasiriyah, and an encounter with the members of the Assyrian-Chaldean Christian community in Basra.

DAY 8 – Basra

  • Full day devoted to Basra and its vast plethora of historical and cultural sights: Shatt-al-Arab Corniche, Old Town, Central Souq, History Museum, and the Central Railway Station.

  • During our sojourn in the city, we’ll also have the unique opportunity to meet with the members of the Assyrian-Chaldean Christian community of Southern Iraq.

  • Overnight in Basra.

DAY 9 – FAREWELL TO MESOPOTAMIA OR MOSUL ADD-ON

  • After enjoying a last Iraqi meal together, we'll take care of your transfer to Basra International Airport.

  • For those wishing to prolong their sojourn in Iraq, we can arrange for an additional two-day tour extension to Mosul via Tikrit and the fabled archeological sites of Hatra and Ashur.

  • End of the tour.

2495 €

INCLUSIONS
Double/twin-room accommodation (breakfast included), private transport in Iraq (car/minivan), all entrance fees, English-speaking guiding service, 24/7 on-site and remote assistance.

EXCLUSIONS
Single supplement, international flights, main meals (lunches and dinners), extra drinks, visa fees (if required), tips, travel insurance.

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