7-Day Iraq Ancient Empires Tour

Itinerary

Day 1 | Arrival in Baghdad

Welcome to Iraq. Upon arrival at Baghdad International Airport, our team will meet you and transfer you to your hotel. The rest of the day is reserved for relaxation after your flight and preparation for the journey ahead.

Overnight in Baghdad  

Day 2 | Baghdad & Ctesiphon

Begin your exploration of Iraq’s capital at Liberation Square, a landmark closely connected with Baghdad’s modern history and public life.

Continue with a short boat ride across the Tigris River before arriving at Al-Mutanabi Street, Baghdad’s renowned literary quarter where generations of booksellers, writers, and scholars have gathered. Wander through the Old Bazaar and the traditional Copper Market, where local craftsmen continue centuries-old metalworking traditions.

Pause at the historic Al-Shabander Café, one of Baghdad’s oldest cafés, to enjoy traditional Iraqi tea and dried lime tea while experiencing the city’s timeless atmosphere.

Later, visit Ctesiphon, once the capital of the Sassanian Empire and home to the magnificent Taq Kasra, one of the largest single-span brick arches ever constructed.

End the day in Al-Kadhimiya, one of Baghdad’s most important religious districts. Explore its lively evening market before visiting the magnificent shrine of Imam Musa al-Kadhim and Imam Muhammad al-Jawad, distinguished by its iconic golden domes.

Overnight in Baghdad

Day 3 | Babylon & Karbala

After checking out, make a brief stop at the Martyr Monument (viewed from outside), one of Baghdad’s best-known modern landmarks.

Continue to the ancient city of Babylon, one of the greatest capitals of Mesopotamia. Explore its archaeological remains, discover the legacy of King Nebuchadnezzar II, and learn about the legend of the Hanging Gardens, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

Visit the former Saddam Hussein Palace, now a museum overlooking the archaeological site and offering panoramic views across ancient Babylon.

Later, travel to Karbala, one of the holiest cities in Iraq.

Visit the Imam Abbas Shrine, dedicated to Al-Abbas ibn Ali, remembered for his loyalty and courage during the Battle of Karbala. Continue to the Imam Hussein Shrine, the resting place of Imam Hussein ibn Ali, whose sacrifice remains one of the defining moments in Islamic history.

Overnight in Karbala

Day 4 | Najaf, Uruk & Ur

After breakfast, we leave for southern Iraq, with several important historical stops along the way.

We begin in Najaf, stopping for a panoramic view of Wadi Al-Salam, one of the world’s largest and most significant cemeteries. The vast landscape of graves and mausoleums reflects the city’s long-standing religious and cultural importance.

Our route then continues to Uruk, one of the earliest major urban settlements in Mesopotamia. Once a powerful Sumerian city, Uruk played an important role in the development of early urban life and civilization.

Later, we reach Ur, where the impressive Ziggurat of Ur rises above the surrounding landscape. Built as part of the ancient city’s religious complex, this stepped monument remains one of the best-known archaeological landmarks in southern Iraq.

After exploring the site, we continue to Nasiriyah for the evening.

Overnight in Nasiriyah.

Day 5| Mesopotamian Marshes & Return to Baghdad

After breakfast, we leave Nasiriyah and make our way into the Mesopotamian Marshes, a unique landscape where waterways, reed beds, wildlife, and traditional communities come together.

The visit offers a chance to see the traditional lifestyle of the Marsh Arabs, whose communities have long depended on the marshlands. We take a ride through the waterways aboard a traditional shakhtura, passing reed-covered channels and local settlements.

We also visit a traditional al-mutheef, a distinctive reed-built gathering house used by local communities. This provides an opportunity to learn more about the customs and hospitality of life in the marshes.

The experience continues with a traditional lunch of Masgouf, Iraq’s famous grilled fish, before we begin the journey back to Baghdad.

We arrive in Baghdad for the final evening of the tour.

Overnight in Baghdad.

Day 6| Samarra & Hatra

Depart Baghdad for Samarra, one of the great capitals of the Abbasid Caliphate.

Visit the Great Mosque of Samarra, famous for its extraordinary spiral Malwiya Minaret, one of the most recognizable examples of early Islamic architecture and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Continue to the nearby Abu Dalaf Mosque, admired for its vast rectangular design and distinctive spiral minaret inspired by the Great Mosque of Samarra.

Travel onward to Hatra, an extraordinary fortified city that flourished as a religious and commercial center during the Parthian period. Today, its temples, sculptures, and defensive walls make it one of Iraq’s most impressive UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Overnight in Mosul

Day 7| Mosul & Erbil

Begin the day at the remains of the Ancient Assyrian Wall, one of the surviving reminders of Mosul’s long history.

Explore the Old City of Mosul, where centuries of history are visible alongside the ongoing restoration following the destruction caused during the conflict with ISIS.

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.

Drive into the Kurdistan Region and arrive in Erbil.

Visit the historic Erbil Citadel (viewed from the outside while restoration work continues), one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited settlements and the defining landmark of Iraq’s oldest city.

Overnight in Erbil

Departure

After breakfast, transfer to Erbil International Airport for your departure, bringing your journey across central, northern, and Kurdistan Iraq to a close.