Itinerary

Day 1 | Arrival in Baghdad

Upon arrival at Baghdad International Airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel.

Overnight in Baghdad  

Day 2: Baghdad – Culture, History & Ctesiphon

Begin your exploration of Baghdad with a visit to Liberation Square, one of the city’s main squares and an important place in Iraq’s modern history, having witnessed several major revolutions, marches, and uprisings.

Continue with a short boat trip on the Tigris River, crossing the river to reach Al-Mutanabbi Street. Known as Baghdad’s oldest cultural market, the street has long been a center for books, literature, and intellectual gatherings.

Visit the Abbasid Palace, one of the city’s important historical landmarks.

Continue walking through the Old Bazaar and explore the Copper Market, where traditional crafts and local culture can still be experienced.

Take a relaxing break at Al-Shabander Café, one of Baghdad’s most famous traditional cafés, and enjoy Iraqi tea and dried lime tea.

Visit Ctesiphon, one of the most significant historical sites in the Baghdad area.

After sunset, explore Karada Market, Baghdad’s lively evening destination. Walk through its vibrant streets, discover local shops, enjoy traditional street food such as shawarma and kebabs, and experience the welcoming atmosphere of the city at night.

Overnight in Baghdad

Day 3: Baghdad – Babylon – Karbala

Check out from the hotel.

Visit the Martyr Monument (from outside of the fence).

Continue to Babylon, the cradle of Mesopotamian civilization, dating back to the 18th–6th centuries BC. Explore the remains of this legendary ancient city, including the area associated with the Hanging Gardens, which were described as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, although their physical existence has never been proven.

Visit Saddam Palace, now a museum, located on top of Babylon and inspired by the palace of King Nebuchadnezzar.

Continue to Karbala.

Arrive at the hotel and have time to rest.

Visit Imam Abbas Shrine, which contains the tomb of Al-Abbas ibn Imam Ali, one of the most respected figures in Islamic history, known for his loyalty and sacrifice during the Battle of Al-Taff.

Visit Imam Hussein Shrine, which contains the tomb of Imam Hussein, the second son of Imam Ali and the second grandson of Prophet Muhammad after Imam Hassan.

Overnight in Karbala

Day 4: Karbala – Najaf – Nasiriyah

Drive to Najaf City.

Enjoy the sunset view from a high building overlooking Wadi Al Salaam Cemetery, one of the most important landmarks in Najaf. It is considered the largest cemetery in the world, containing nearly six million graves, and has been included on the World Heritage List.

Continue to Uruk, one of the earliest and most influential cities of ancient Mesopotamia. Flourishing between 4000–3000 BCE, Uruk is considered the world’s first major city and one of the most important centers of Sumerian civilization.

Continue to Nasiriyah.

Visit the Ziggurat of Ur, one of the most distinctive architectural achievements of the Ancient Near East. Built as a religious and administrative center, this ancient structure reflects the advanced skills and achievements of Mesopotamian civilizations. Its unique tiered design remains a remarkable symbol of the power and creativity of the ancient world.

Overnight in Nasiriyah.

Day 5: The Marshes of Iraq – Back to Baghdad

Visit the Marshes of Iraq, the largest wetlands in the Middle East. These unique wetlands provide a natural habitat for hundreds of bird and fish species and are also home to the Marsh Arabs, who continue to preserve their traditional lifestyle and connection to the land.

Take some time to relax, enjoy traditional tea, and meet the local people while listening to their stories and learning about their way of life.

Continue with a boat trip through the waterways of the marshes using the traditional boat known as the “shakhtura.”

Enjoy the famous Masgouf lunch, a traditional Iraqi fish dish grilled using reeds instead of wood, served inside an Al-Mutheef, a traditional house built entirely from reeds.

Return to Baghdad.

Overnight in Baghdad

Day 6 | Samarra-Baghdad

Drive to Samarra.

Visit the Great Mosque of Samarra, a unique 9th-century mosque built during the Abbasid Caliphate. The mosque is famous for its iconic spiral minaret, known as the Malwiya Minaret, and its distinctive corkscrew design, which allows visitors to climb the exterior. This UNESCO World Heritage Site remains one of the most important symbols of early Islamic architecture.

Visit Abu Dalaf Mosque, an important historical site featuring unique Islamic architecture, including its large rectangular layout and spiral minaret similar to the famous Malwiya Minaret of the Great Mosque of Samarra.

Drive back to Baghdad.

Visit Al-Kadhimiya, one of Baghdad’s important historic neighborhoods, and enjoy its lively night market. The area also includes the Al-Kadhimiya Holy Shrine (Golden Dome), which contains the tombs of Imam Musa Al-Kadhim and Imam Muhammad Al-Jawad, two prominent figures in Twelver Shiite Islam.

Drive to Baghdad.

Overnight in Baghdad.

Departure

Transfer to the airport for departure