6-Day Baghdad to Southern Iraq Tour

Itinerary

Day 1 | Welcome to Baghdad

Your journey begins with your arrival at Baghdad International Airport, where you will be met by our team and transferred to your hotel.

After completing check-in, the remainder of the day is free to relax after your journey and settle into Iraq’s capital before the tour begins.

Overnight in Baghdad

Day 2 | Baghdad’s Streets, Markets & Ctesiphon

After breakfast, set out to experience the different sides of Baghdad, beginning at Liberation Square, home to one of the city’s most recognizable monuments and an important symbol of Iraq’s modern history.

Continue to the banks of the Tigris River and enjoy a traditional boat ride on the water, offering a different perspective of the city.

The day then takes us to Al-Mutanabbi Street, Baghdad’s celebrated cultural and literary district. Browse its book-lined streets and explore the atmosphere that has made this area a gathering place for writers, readers, artists, and intellectuals for generations.

Nearby, step into the atmosphere of Baghdad’s traditional commercial districts as we explore the Old Bazaar and Copper Market. Here, narrow streets, small shops, and workshops reveal a more traditional side of daily life, while local craftsmen continue producing handcrafted copper items.

Later, leave Baghdad for Ctesiphon and stand before the remarkable Taq Kasra. The enormous surviving arch is a powerful reminder of the former Sassanian capital and remains one of the most impressive architectural achievements from this period.

Return to Baghdad for a visit to the Imam Kadhim Shrine, known for its elaborate decoration and striking golden domes.

Overnight in Baghdad

Day 3 | A Journey into Abbasid and Kassite Iraq

Today we head north from Baghdad toward Samarra, a city closely connected with the Abbasid period.

Our first stop is the Great Mosque of Samarra, famous for its distinctive Malwiya Minaret. Its unusual spiral design has become one of the most recognizable examples of Islamic architecture in Iraq.

We then continue to the Abu Dalaf Mosque, another important Abbasid monument distinguished by its vast open layout and spiral minaret.

Later, as we make our way back toward Baghdad, we visit Dur-Kurigalzu. Once an important Kassite capital, the site offers insight into a period of Mesopotamian history that is often less familiar to modern visitors. Its surviving remains, including its prominent ziggurat, mark the location of what was once a major royal and administrative center.

Overnight in Baghdad

Day 4 | From Baghdad to Babylon and Karbala

After breakfast, begin the day with a visit to Baghdad’s striking Martyr Monument. With its distinctive split-dome design, the monument has become one of the capital’s most recognizable architectural landmarks.

From Baghdad, continue south toward Babylon, one of the most famous cities of Mesopotamia. Explore the archaeological landscape and discover the story of the city during the reign of Nebuchadnezzar II, whose building projects helped shape Babylon into one of the great cities of the ancient world.

The visit also explores Babylon’s connection with the legendary Hanging Gardens, remembered in historical accounts among the wonders of the ancient world.

Continue to the nearby Saddam Hussein Palace, positioned above the archaeological site and offering wide views across the surrounding landscape. The building now serves as a museum.

In the afternoon, travel onward to Karbala.

After checking into the hotel, visit the Imam Abbas Shrine, dedicated to Abbas ibn Ali and recognized as one of Karbala’s most important religious landmarks.

Continue to the nearby Imam Hussain Shrine, built around the burial place of Imam Hussain and visited by millions of pilgrims.

Overnight in Karbala

Day 5 | Najaf and the Heart of Sumer

Leave Karbala in the morning and travel to Najaf for a visit to Wadi al-Salam Cemetery. Stretching across a vast area, this extraordinary cemetery contains millions of graves and holds deep religious and cultural importance.

From Najaf, continue south toward Uruk, one of the world’s earliest known cities. The site played an important role in the development of urban civilization and is closely associated with the emergence of writing and the story of Gilgamesh.

Explore the archaeological remains and learn about Uruk’s place in the history of Sumer and early Mesopotamian society.

Later, continue toward Nasiriyah and visit Ur, home to the spectacular Ziggurat of Ur. Rising above the surrounding plain, this monumental structure was once part of a major religious complex dedicated to the moon god Nanna and remains one of Iraq’s most recognizable archaeological sites.

Overnight in Nasiriyah

Day 6 | Mesopotamian Marshes & Return to Baghdad

Today we leave Nasiriyah and head into the Mesopotamian Marshes, entering one of southern Iraq’s most distinctive natural landscapes. The vast wetlands of reeds and waterways have long been home to the Marsh Arab communities, whose traditions remain closely connected to the environment.

During the visit, meet local residents, enjoy traditional Iraqi tea, and gain a closer understanding of everyday life in the marshes.

We then take a traditional shakhtura boat through the reed-lined waterways, navigating the quiet channels that define this remarkable landscape.

Lunch brings another local experience, with Iraq’s famous masgouf prepared using traditional methods and served in a mudhif, the characteristic reed guesthouse of the marsh communities.

After exploring the marshes and enjoying lunch, we begin the drive back to Baghdad, arriving in the capital later in the day.

Overnight in Baghdad

Departure

After breakfast, transfer to Baghdad International Airport for your departure flight, bringing your Iraq journey to an end.