Iraq Tours

Iraqi Kurdistan Nowruz Tour

  • March 15th - 21st, 2025
  • 1390
  • 7 Days
Itinerary

What's it all about?

Our Iraqi Kurdistan tour offers an extensive look into the autonomous region of Northern Iraq. Kurdistan offers not only safety but stunning mountain ranges with thousands of archaeological sites and some of the most friendly and welcoming people on the planet.

The region has long been known in Middle Eastern literature as ‘paradise on earth’. There’s no better time to visit than the Persian/Kurdish New Year festivities celebrated by Kurds around the world. The festival culminates in an incredible fireworks and torch-lit parade in the mountains of Akre.

The tour begins with arriving from our Baghdad & Babylon tour or joining us in Erbil by your own means before we head hit the road to explore. The trip takes us to the world’s most important Yazidi shrine at Lalesh (40 KM from Mosul), Duhok, Saddam Hussein’s former mountaintop palace, Amadiya, Sulaymaniyah, Akre for New years and back to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Erbil.

This is one of our favourite tours and it’s a great place to start if you have never visited the Middle East before. It’s also a great tour for those who hate applying for costly and time-consuming visas! Check out the itinerary below and book your place today.

Highlights
Where?

Erbil – Sulaymaniyah – Halabja – Rawandas – Duhok – Lalish – Akre – Erbil.

When?

March 15th – 21st, 2025

Visa?

For Kurdistan, luckily it’s visa on arrival or e-visa 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.

The Itinerary

March 15th - Erbil

  • Arrival in Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan. Our guide will be waiting to pick you up from the arrivals hall. Transfer to the hotel.
  • Today is mainly an arrival day so feel free to walk through the main bazaar and change your money into Iraqi Dinars with the help of our local guide who will find you the best rate. Pick up a few souvenirs or just take in the atmosphere. Stop for Kurdish tea/coffee inside the market.
  • In the afternoon we’ll visit the Erbil 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 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.
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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 Patrick’s 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 1930s for what he hoped would unify the people 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 mountaintop 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 chose 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 monasteries – Alqosh is built into the mountains and is technically part of Mosul and Iraq “proper”.
  • We then drive one 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 the tour, we can arrange additional accommodation or transport to the airport.

Join us before this tour for the Baghdad & Babylon tour and get a combo discount!

Tour Map

What else?
Inclusions
Exclusions

  • Secure Hotels

    Twin share accommodation (single supplements are available for an extra charge)

  • Entrance fees

    All entrance fees (unless otherwise stated)

  • Guides

    Either an expert local guide only or a local guide and RRT tour leader. (Depends on the tour)

  • Transport

    Air-conditioned bus and driver.

  • Visa Support

    If you require visa support for Iraqi Kurdistan just let us know. If you're not sure, we're happy to help.

  • International Fights

    Flights to and from Erbil.

  • (Breakfast) Lunch and Dinner

    Breakfast is included at most hotels but not all. All other meals are extra charge.

  • Visa Fee

    Any associated visa fees.

  • Tips

    Tip are expected for your Iraqi local guides and driver.

Tour Notes

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

Before the tour, we will add you to a dedicated WhatsApp group so you can share photos easily and chat with your travel mates. Just let us know if you want to opt out of this.

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

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Apply for your spot on the tour now or simply request more info below.
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March 15 - 21st, 2025

Start & Finish in Erbil

Entire Iraq option

Start your tour in Southern Iraq and make it a whole Iraq combo!

Standard hotel

6 nights in Iraq

The price

€1390

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