Iraq
Iraq. History at every corner. From the ancient ziggurats of Ur and Uruk, to the sparkling shrines of Karbala or Najaf, all the way to the mesmerizing and intriguing north of Kurdistan, you will be a witness to one of the most diverse countries in the Middle East.
DAY 1|13th MARCH | Departure
DAY 2 14TH MARCH BAGHDAD
Al-Mustansiriya School. An ancient school that was founded in the time of the Abbasid state in Baghdad in 1233 by the Abbasid Caliph Al-Mustansir Billah. Then we will walk through the Old bazar And see also the copper Market. Then we will have some rest to drink the traditional Iraqi tea and Dried lime tea in Al-shabander It is one of the most famous old cafes in Baghdad.
Visit Martyr Monument dedicated to Iraqi soldiers who died in 80’s Iraq-Iran war, Iraqis today generally consider it a commemoration of all the martyrs of Iraq
Visit Al-Kadhimiya is one of the important neighborhoods in Baghdad and enjoy the beautiful night market and also includes the Al Kadhimiya holy Shrine (Golden Dome) The tomb of Imam Musa al-Kadhim and his grandson, Imam Muhammad al-Jawad, one of the most prominent Muslims and the seventh imam of Twelver Shiites.
Ending the day at one of the tea shops on Al Mutanabbi Street in the old quarters of Baghdad
DAY 3 15TH MARCH BAGHDAD – UR – NAJAF
We will visit Ziggurat of Ur The ziggurat is the most distinctive architectural invention of the Ancient Near East. Like an ancient Egyptian pyramid, an ancient Near Eastern ziggurat has four sides and rises up to the realm of the gods. However, unlike Egyptian pyramids, the exterior of Ziggurats were not smooth but tiered to accommodate the work which took place at the structure as well as the administrative oversight and religious rituals essential to Ancient Near Eastern cities. Ziggurats are found scattered around what is today Iraq and Iran, and stand as an imposing testament to the power and skill of the ancient culture that produced them.
We will see ziggurat Uruk “Al Warka” the first civilized city in the history of mankind around 4000 BC. During that period agricultural villages were built around the city of Uruk, and at that time it enjoyed military and economic power.
It is believed that the name of Iraq is derived from the name of this great city. Overnight in Najaf
DAY 4 16TH MARCH | NAJAF – BABYLON – KARBALA
Imam Ali holy shrine which contains the tomb of’Aliibn Abi Talib. He was a cousin of Muhammad and later became his son-in-law. The Shias consider Ali as their first Imam, and the Sunnis regard him as the fourth Sunni Rashid Caliph. From the holy shrine we will visit probably the largest cemetery in the world here in Najaf
Afterwards we will head towards the ancient ruins of Babylon, the cradle of Mesopotamian civilization dating back to the 18th-6th century BC. The Hanging Gardens, once believed to be attached to the Palace of King Nebuchadnezzar, are a must-see attraction. Although they were appointed as one of the Seven Wonders of the Hellenic World and have a presence in various literature sources, their physical existence has never been proven.
Then visit the Saddam Palace, which is now a museum, perched on top of Babylon and inspired by the Babylonian palace of King Nebuchadnezzar.
Then head to Karbala to visit the Imam Abbas shrine, which contains the tomb of the Al Abbas son of Imam Ali, one of the greatest Islamic and historical figures. Al-Abbas demonstrated the real brotherhood trait during the Al-Taff battle when he sacrificed himself to protect his family. Additionally, he granted his palms for the sake of defending the Islamic values and idealism of Ahlul-Bayt, which Yazid was seeking to alter.
The tour concludes with a visit to the Imam Hussein shrine, which contains the tomb of Imam
Hussein, the second son of Imam Ali and the second grandson of the Messenger of Allah
Muhammad after his brother Imam Hassan.
The we will go back to Baghdad
DAY 5 17TH MARCH | BAGHDAD – SAMMARA – MOSUL
Visit Samarra spiral minaret One of the prominent distinctive Landmarks of Iraq because of its unique shape because of the ascending spiral conical design. Similar to the Samarra minaret we have Abu Dulaf minaret a few kilometers outside of Samarra, where we will be able to climb this ancient minaret to get great views.
Go to Mosul and on our way we will visit Hatra. Overnight in Mosul
DAY 6 18TH MARCH | MOSUL-LALISH -ERBIL
Visit The Old City of Mosul one of the oldest neighborhoods in the Middle East. Visit the Great Mosque of al-Nuri, the oldest mosque in Mosul (12th century), today under reconstruction.
On the way to Erbil we will visit the ancient Rabban Hormizd Monastery in AlQoush. Carved into the mountain range that spans Iraq, Turkey, and Iran, this monastery symbolizes the turbulent history of Christianity in Mesopotamia
Next, Our journey will continue by driving to Lalish, the Ezzidian temple. Lalish is a unique town, considered one of the most exceptional places in the world and the holiest site for Yazidi followers. Overnight in Erbil.
DAY 7 | 19TH MARCH | ERBIL – AKRE – ERBIL
We will leave the hotel at 7:30 AM
We will go to Monastery of Marmattia which is one of eastern Christendom’s most famous sites and apart from a few forced closures has been in continuous use for nearly 2,000 years.
Overnight in Erbil
DAY 8 | 20ST MARCH | ERBIL – SORAN – ERBIL
Visit the town of Rawanduz and the incredible Hamilton Road – one of the great engineering feats of the past centuries. Hamilton cut a path from Shaqlawa to Iran against insurmountable odds and in spite of the belief by most that it could not be done with the technology available and considered the animosity of the tribes that inhabited the region. See Bekhal and Geli Ali Beg water fall and the Rawanduz Gorge. Then we will go to enjoy the Eid of Nowruz which is a joyful celebration of the Kurdish New Year, welcoming spring with fire-jumping, lively music, dancing, and delicious feasts. Families unite to share traditional meals and visit loved ones, embracing renewal and togetherness, public events bring Kurdish culture to life with vibrant performances like the fire jumping ritual (Chaharshanbe Suri), music, and dance. For tourists, it’s an unforgettable experience of Kurdish hospitality and festive spirit.
Then we will go back to Erbil
DAY 9 21nd MARCH | Departure
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