7-Day Southern Iraq Tour

7-Day Southern Iraq Tour Itinerary

Day 1 | Arrival in Basra

Welcome to Iraq. Upon arrival at Basra International Airport, our team will meet you and transfer you to your hotel. The remainder of the day is free to relax after your journey or enjoy your first impressions of southern Iraq.

Overnight In Basra

Day 2 | Discovering Historic Basra

Begin your exploration of Basra with a relaxing boat cruise along the Shatt al-Arab, the famous waterway created by the meeting of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. During the cruise, enjoy views of the former riverside palace built during Saddam Hussein’s era.

Continue into Basra’s old quarters to admire the city’s historic Shanasheel houses. These traditional homes are recognized for their beautifully carved wooden balconies, colorful stained-glass windows, spacious courtyards, and distinctive architecture that reflects Basra’s rich trading heritage. Although many have suffered from age and neglect, they remain among the city’s most iconic cultural landmarks.

Overnight in Basra

Day 3 | The Mesopotamian Marshes & Nasiriyah

After breakfast, visit the Basra Museum (closed on Fridays and Saturdays) before traveling to Al-Qurnah.

Visit the legendary Tree of Adam, a site traditionally associated by local belief with the place where Adam descended to Earth and where Abraham is said to have prayed. While these traditions are not part of mainstream Islamic belief, the location is visited by many Christian and Jewish pilgrims.

Continue to Al-Multaqa, where the Tigris and Euphrates rivers unite to form the Shatt al-Arab.

From here, travel into the Mesopotamian Marshes, one of the largest wetland ecosystems in the Middle East and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Meet members of the Marsh Arab community, enjoy traditional Iraqi tea inside a reed house known as a Mudhif, and learn about a way of life that has existed for thousands of years.

Board a traditional Shakhtura boat and navigate through the winding waterways surrounded by reeds and wildlife. Lunch is served inside a traditional reed house, featuring the region’s famous Masgouf, freshly grilled fish prepared over burning reeds.

After the marsh experience, continue to Nasiriyah.

Overnight in Nasiriyah

Day 4 | Ur, Uruk & Najaf

Depart Nasiriyah and visit the magnificent Ziggurat of Ur, one of the best-preserved monuments of ancient Mesopotamia. Once dedicated to the moon god Nanna, this monumental stepped structure stands as one of the greatest achievements of Sumerian civilization.

Continue to Uruk (weather permitting and inaccessible during rainy conditions), considered the world’s first great city. Uruk flourished over 5,000 years ago and played a central role in the development of urban civilization, monumental architecture, and one of humanity’s earliest writing systems. It is also closely connected with the legendary King Gilgamesh.

Drive to Najaf and Visit the Imam Ali Holy Shrine, one of the most significant landmarks in Najaf and a major center of Shia Islamic heritage. The shrine marks the burial place of Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib and has stood at the heart of Najaf’s religious and intellectual life for centuries.

Overnight in Najaf

Day 5 | Najaf – Karbala

Start the day by Visiting Kufa and visit the Great Mosque of Kufa, one of the oldest mosques in Islam. Dating back to the 7th century, it became the main mosque during the rule of Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib when Kufa served as his capital. The mosque is closely linked to important events in early Islamic history.

explore Wadi Al-Salam, one of the largest and oldest cemeteries in the world. Stretching across much of Najaf, this vast burial ground has served as a place of burial for centuries and reflects the city’s long-standing spiritual and cultural importance.

After exploring Najaf, travel north to Karbala.

Visit the Imam Abbas Shrine, honoring Al-Abbas ibn Ali, remembered for his courage, loyalty, and sacrifice during the Battle of Karbala.

Continue to the Imam Hussein Shrine, the burial place of Imam Hussein ibn Ali, grandson of the Prophet Muhammad and one of the most revered figures in Islamic history.

Overnight in Karbala

Day 6 | Babylon & Baghdad

Leave Karbala and travel to the legendary city of Babylon, one of the world’s greatest ancient capitals.

Explore the archaeological remains of Babylon, including the ceremonial processional route and the foundations of monuments associated with King Nebuchadnezzar II. The city is famously connected with the legendary Hanging Gardens, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, although their exact location remains unknown.

Continue to the former Saddam Hussein Palace, overlooking Babylon. Today the building serves as a museum while providing panoramic views across the archaeological landscape.

Later, continue to Baghdad.

Upon arrival, visit Al-Kadhimiya, one of Baghdad’s most significant religious districts. Explore its lively evening market before visiting the magnificent Al-Kadhimiya Shrine, where Imam Musa al-Kadhim and Imam Muhammad al-Jawad are buried beneath its famous golden dome.

Enjoy dinner before checking into your hotel.

Overnight in Baghdad

Day 7 | Exploring Baghdad

Spend the day discovering Iraq’s capital through its historic landmarks and vibrant old neighborhoods.

Begin at Liberation Square, home to the famous Freedom Monument and an important symbol of Iraq’s modern history.

Cross the Tigris River on a short boat ride before arriving at Al-Mutanabi Street, Baghdad’s renowned literary district where generations of writers, readers, and booksellers have gathered.

then stroll through Baghdad’s traditional old bazaar and the historic Copper Market, where artisans continue centuries-old craftsmanship.

Pause for refreshments at Al-Shabander Café, one of Baghdad’s oldest coffee houses, and enjoy authentic Iraqi tea in its historic surroundings.

Complete the day with a visit to Ctesiphon, once the capital of the Parthian and Sasanian Empires, where the enormous brick arch of the ancient palace remains one of the largest single-span masonry structures ever built.

Overnight in Baghdad

Departure

After breakfast, transfer to Baghdad International Airport for your departure, bringing your journey through southern Iraq and Mesopotamia to a close.