Entire Iraq Nowruz Tour

What's it all about?

Welcome to our first entire Iraq tour of the year!

We’ve been running safe and secure tours to southern Iraq since our first research tour to the region in April 2018. It quickly became one of our favourite tours. The area is spoiled with world-class heritage and is completely unspoiled by tourism meaning we will feel like the only foreign travelers in town.

There is a huge amount of ancient and modern history waiting to be explored. We’ll travel from Baghdad to the holy cities of Najaf & Karbala, onto Babylon & the marshes before making our way back northwards to Baghdad, Samarra & Mosul. We cover a huge amount of ground with our expert local guide keeping us entertained and explaining all as we go.

The second half of the Entire Iraq Nowruz Tour takes us to the autonomous region of Iraqi Kurdistan just in time for the Kurdish new festivities. We’ll be in the mountainous town of Akre for one incredible night of fire and dancing.

The region has long been known in Middle Eastern literature as ‘paradise on earth’. There’s no better time to visit than the Persian new year festivities celebrated by Kurds around the world.

This part takes us to the world’s most important Yazidi shrine at Lalesh (40 KM from Mosul), before heading north to Duhok, Saddam Hussein’s former palace, Amadiya, Sulaymaniyah and back to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Erbil.

Book your place now for this unique Iraq tour and see the whole of the country!

Keen to see more of the region? We’re running a special Socotra tour from March 21-28th, ask us for more info!

Where?

Baghdad – Karbala – Babylon – Najaf -Nasariyah – Baghdad – Samarra – Mosul – Erbil – Lalish – Duhok – Rawandiz – Akre Sulaymaniyah.

When?

March 8th – March 21st, 2023

Visa?

For Kurdistan, luckily it’s visa free for most nationalities including the EU, US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. If you’re not sure if you qualify just ask us and we’ll let you know.

For Southern Iraq a new visa on arrival scheme has been announced for citizens of the EU, UK, US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, Russia, China Japan & South Korea.

The Itinerary

March 8th - Baghdad & Ctesiphon

Arrival in Baghdad. You will be transferred from the airport to our hotel.
Introductory briefing on travelling in Iraq and a breakdown of the itinerary
The victory over America Palace and the place where Saddam’s statue was toppled in 2003.
Visit the Al-Yassin Shrine arguably Baghdad’s finest.
We drive an hour outside of the city to the ancient city of Ctesiphone. These days all that’s left is the palace archway which is the largest single span vault of unenforced brickwork in the world.
Back to Baghdad for dinner by the Tigris river.
Tea, shish-a and overnight in Baghdad.

March 9th - Baghdad

After a delicious local breakfast, it’s a full Baghdad city tour starting with the Liberation Square monument, which commemorates the establishment of the Republic of Iraq.
Visit to the National Museum of Iraq. Reopened in 2015 after notorious looting during the war, it contains various treasure from the Mesopotamian and Babylonian periods.
Stroll along the Tigris River and cross over the water on a boat.
Visit the incredible and well renovated Al–Mustansariya School. This is commonly known as the oldest school in the world.
Walk through the book market and adjoining copper market. A great place for souvenirs and photography.
Take a well deserved break in the Shabinder cafe for tea and Shisha.
Lunch in the famous Kubba restaurant next door.
The Al Shaheed Monument is the martyr’s memorial spot for people who died during the Iran-Iraq War. These days it’s a highly controversial monument, as it was originally built during the Saddam era.
Traditional Fish Masgouf dinner and overnight in Baghdad.

March 10th - Babylon & Karbala

Drive to Babylon, once the largest and most important city in the world. We tour the ancient ruins with our local expert and see what’s left of the hanging gardens.
Saddam Hussain Palace – Perched right on top of Babylon, the dictator made sure he had the best view of the site. We spend some time exploring the looted remains of one of his many former palaces.
After extensively exploring Babylon, continue onto Karbala.
Visit Karbala’s famous Al Abbas mosque and Iman Husayn shrine at dusk.
It’s also home to some of the best baclava in Iraq!
Dinner and overnight in Karbala.

March 11th - Najaf & Ur

In the morning we’ll drive to visit the tomb of the prophet Ezekiel in the city of Al Kifl.
Najaf, including Imam Ali’s house (the very spot where imam Ali was killed) and the Imam Ali Shrine itself.
Visit the Wadi-Us-Salaam – the world’s largest graveyard. It is said to contain tens of millions of bodies. Many shiites request to be buried here in one of the numerous catacombs.
Leave Najaf and drive south to visit the Ziggurat of Ur, a neo-Sumerian construction built in 2000 BC. This used to be the capital of Mesopotamia during the Sumerian time and it is a UNESCO world heritage site since 2016.
Drive to Nasariyah city and overnight.

March 12th - Chibayesh and Baghdad

Up super early for sunrise in Mesopotamian Marshes! We’ll take a boat trip through the maze of marshes stopping by local villages for tea. The marshes once engulfed a whole swathe of Southern Iraq with numerous floating villages. Today the receding waters have led most families to change their livelihood but we’ll still see the few that remain.
It is also home to the Maʻdān population who over the centuries have adapted to life on the water. Stop by a traditional house for lunch and tea.
Tour the local market of Chibayesh, have lunch in a traditional reed house and then drive back to Baghdad.
Stop by the ancient site of Agargouf Ziggurat.
Visit the Save Iraqi Culture Monument and see the Green Zone of Baghdad.
Dinner in the modern area of Karada and overnight in Baghdad.

March 13th - Baghdad - Samarra - Mosul

Hit the road and drive north to Samara. We pass through multiple checkpoints along the route.
Samara is famous for its huge Minaret (also known as the Great Mosque of Samara). We’ll climb the spiral staircase all the way to the top for the 360 degree view. Not for the faint hearted!
Visit the Jawsaq al-Khaqani – otherwise known as the Caliphal Palace. It’s one of the largest of its kind in the Islamic world.
After lunch drive towards Hatra, an important historic religious center with a strategic position along caravan trade routes. Hatra was one of the first Arab states to be established outside of Arabia. We’ll see the incredible refurbishment efforts underway here after its liberation from ISIS.
Continue driving to Mosul and overnight.

March 14th - Mosul - Erbil

Start the day with a local breakfast before we start discovering the reconstruction of the old city including the Al-Nuri mosque and Al Tahira church.
See the Bash Tapia castle with its amazing views over the city and Tigris river.
Lunchtime with the “Kubba of Mosul” the area’s most popular dish.
After that, we head to the christian town of Bakhdida or Qaraqosh to visit Church Square – the place where the Pope gave mass on his historic visit to Iraq in March 2021.
Before sunset we head to Erbil in the Kurdistan region of Iraq.
Farewell dinner to those leaving us in Erbil and meet up with those joining us for the Kurdistan tour
Overnight in Erbil.

March 15th - Erbil

After a lot of driving in the south, we’ll have a leisurely start today – head to the bazaar and take in the atmosphere. Stop for Kurdish tea/coffee inside the market.
In the afternoon we’ll visit the citadel – the oldest continually inhabited place in the world. Take in the views over the city from the top of the Citadel.
Check out the textile museum, Minaret Park & the Jalil Khayat Mosque.
Rest up in the hotel before going out for dinner with the rest of the group in the Christian district. Plenty of Kurdistan cuisine options here!
Overnight in Erbil.

March 16th - Sulaymaniyah

We hit the road early and drive to the second major city of Iraqi Kurdistan – Sulaymaniyah.
We’ll stop at the old Jewish town of Koya along the way before lunch. Visit the ancient and crumbling Caravanserai here.
On arrival in Sulaymaniyah we head straight to the the infamous “Red prison” – once a torture centre for Saddam Hussein’s regime. The prison is now a fascinating museum.
Walk through the bustling central Bazar right next to our hotel
Tea in a traditional tea house.
At sunset we’ll drive up Goyzha Mountain for the stunning views overlooking Sulay.
Get the cable car back down the mountain!
Dinner and overnight in Sulaymaniyah

March 17th - Halabja

We drive one hour to Halabja. This was the scene of a chemical attack on the Kurdish people, perpetrated by the Baathist regime towards the end of the Iran/Iraq war. Here we’ll tour the memorial and mass grave sites.
We head to Tawela on the Iran border, and previously the front line in the Iran/Iraq war.
Lunch by the border.
Drive onto Ahmed Awa waterfall.
We head back to Sulaymaniyah for some leisurely time around the bazaars.
Group dinner and drinks for St Patricks day!
Overnight in Sulaymaniyah.

March 18th - Sulaymaniyah - Rawunduz

We depart Sulay this morning and head west towards Lake Dokan. Weather depending we’ll take tea, snacks and a boat ride here.
Drive the famous Hamilton road. The road was built by AM Hamilton in the 1930’s for what he hoped would unify the peoples of the region. It linked Iran with Iraq and was an engineering marvel of the time.
Stop by the Bekhal waterfall.
Continue driving through incredible mountain ranges stopping at various points for photos.
Overnight in Soran.

March 19th - Duhok

Drive to the historic Shanidar cave.
Amadiya – the stunning mountain top village. Walk through the quiet streets and visit the mosque and church here. See the ancient gateway to the town.
Qubahan School – the fascinating ruins of an ancient madrassa
Drive to Saddam Hussein’s former mountaintop palace. You’ll know instantly why he choose this site. Explore the ruins and admire the views.
Continue towards Duhok
Tour the Duhok Bazaar and visit a tea house dedicated to Martyrs killed at the hands of ISIS.
Dinner and overnight in Duhok.

March 20th - Lalish - Akre

Depart Duhok for one of the world’s oldest monastery’s – Alqosh is built into the mountains and is technically part of Mosul and Iraq “proper”.
We then drive one hour drive to Lalesh. This is the most sacred town for the Yazidi religion. We’ll tour the temple, meet the locals on pilgrimage here and learn about their recent dark history with ISIS.
Picnic lunch at Jerwan Aqueduct
Following lunch, we’ll drive onto Akre in time for the Nowruz festival buildup!
Every year thousands of Kurds converge on the surrounding hills to bring in the new year.
We will witness and partake in an incredible fireworks and torch show that symbolises Spring – the season of light.
Drive to Erbil following the fireworks.
Final group dinner & overnight in Erbil.

March 21st

End of tour, we can arrange additional accommodation or transport to the airport.

Join us on Socotra Island for our March Essentials tour!

Inclusions

Exclusions

Secure Hotels in Iraq

Twin share accommodation with breakfast (single supplements are available for an extra charge)
Entrance fees

All entrance fees (unless otherwise stated)
Guides

Both an expert local guide and western tour leader.
Transport

Air-conditioned bus and driver.
Airport Transfers

Our driver will meet you inside the arrivals hall and transfer you to the hotel.

International Flights

Flights in and out of Iraq.
Lunch and Dinner

Most lunch and dinners are extra charge.
Visa Fee

The visa on arrival is $77 USD payable in cash only.
Tips

Tips are expected for your Iraqi local guides and driver.

You’ll be in the experienced hands of our legendary English speaking local guide and Rocky Road Travel guide. We visit Iraq regularly, so we know the best spots and have perfected the itinerary accordingly. Your itinerary may change slightly but we will always endevour to go above and beyond with added extras to the itinerary such as stops at local cafe-bars, shisha lounges and amusement parks.

Before & after each tour we will add you to dedicated email and social media groups so you can share photos easily with your travel mates. Just let us know is you want to opt out of this.

To book simply hit the button below and start the conversation today.

March 8 - 15th, 2023

Southern Iraq Tour

March 15 - 21st, 2023

Iraqi Kurdistan Tour

Premium hotel

13 nights in Iraq

The price

€3680

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Entire Iraq Nowruz Tour

What's it all about?

Samara

Karbala & Najaf

Babylon

Lalish

Saddam Hussein Palaces'

Sulaymaniyah