4 Days Baghdad to Erbil Iraq Tour

Itinerary

Day 1 | Arrive in Baghdad

Your Iraqi adventure begins in Baghdad. On arrival at Baghdad International Airport, our local team will meet you and accompany you to your hotel in the city.

The remainder of the day is intentionally kept free. Take the opportunity to rest, settle into your surroundings, and prepare for the days ahead as the journey moves from the capital toward the historic cities of northern Iraq.

Overnight in Baghdad

Day 2 | Baghdad: History, Markets & the Tigris

Today is dedicated to experiencing Baghdad from several different perspectives, bringing together its modern identity, literary traditions, historic markets, ancient surroundings, and religious heritage.

The morning begins at Liberation Square, where the imposing Freedom Monument stands as one of the defining landmarks of modern Baghdad. From the square, cross the Tigris River by traditional boat and make your way toward Al-Mutanabi Street. Known for its strong connection to books, poetry, and intellectual life, the street offers a very different view of the Iraqi capital.

The atmosphere changes as you enter the Old Bazaar and the neighboring Copper Market. Among the narrow passages and traditional shops, you can see crafts and commercial traditions that remain part of everyday life in Baghdad.

For a quieter moment, stop at Al-Shabander Café, a historic Baghdad meeting place, and enjoy traditional Iraqi tea before the journey moves beyond the city center.

The afternoon takes you to Ctesiphon, the former capital of the Sasanian Empire. Its great Taq Kasra remains an extraordinary example of ancient construction, with its enormous brick arch standing as the most recognizable surviving feature of the ancient city.

Return to Baghdad for an evening in Al-Kadhimiya. The district becomes particularly atmospheric later in the day, with its busy market streets leading toward the magnificent shrine dedicated to Imam Musa al-Kadhim and Imam Muhammad al-Jawad.

Overnight in Baghdad

Day 3 | Samarra, Hatra & Mosul

Leave Baghdad this morning and follow the route north into a landscape shaped by some of Iraq’s most important civilizations and empires.

The first major stop is Samarra, a city closely associated with the Abbasid period. Here, the Great Mosque of Samarra introduces you to one of the most recognizable monuments of early Islamic architecture. Its famous Malwiya (Spiral) Minaret dominates the surrounding landscape. The minaret is currently undergoing restoration and is not accessible, but its unusual form and scale can still be appreciated from the site while your guide provides the historical background.

Not far away stands the Abu Dulaf Mosque, another impressive Abbasid-era complex. Its distinctive spiral minaret and broad architectural remains demonstrate the ambitious scale of Samarra when the city served as a major center of the Islamic world.

The journey then moves further north to Hatra. Hidden within the desert landscape, this UNESCO World Heritage Site preserves the remains of a once-powerful kingdom that occupied a strategic position between the Roman and Parthian realms. Its monumental temples, massive walls, and carefully carved stonework reveal the wealth and cultural connections of the ancient city.

From Hatra, the route carries on to Mosul, one of Iraq’s oldest and historically significant cities.

Overnight in Mosul

Day 4 | Mosul & Erbil

Use the morning to see another side of Mosul, particularly its historic center. The Old City has undergone extensive damage in recent years, but restoration initiatives are gradually recovering important parts of its architectural and cultural heritage.

Among the surviving traces of the city’s much older past are sections of the Ancient Assyrian Wall, connecting modern Mosul with the ancient Assyrian settlement that once stood here.

Continue to the archaeological site of Nimrud, once the magnificent capital of the Neo-Assyrian Empire under King Ashurnasirpal II. Although heavily damaged in recent years, the site remains one of Iraq’s most important archaeological treasures and continues to undergo preservation efforts.

Later, leave Mosul behind and travel toward Erbil, where the character of the journey changes from the historic heart of northern Iraq to the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan.

The day ends at the Erbil Citadel, rising prominently above the surrounding city. Recognized as one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited settlements, the citadel has played a central role in Erbil’s history for thousands of years. It is currently closed for restoration, but its elevated location still provides a striking introduction to the city and its ancient heritage.

Overnight in Erbil

Departure

After breakfast, your journey through Iraq comes to an end. Our team will arrange your transfer to Erbil International Airport in time for your departure flight.

Your route has brought together Baghdad’s cultural life, the monuments of the Abbasid era, the ancient remains of Hatra and Mosul, and the historic landscape of Iraqi Kurdistan.