8-Day Authentic Iraq Tour

Itinerary

Day 1 | Basra Arrival

Arrive in Basra, where our team will meet you at the airport and arrange your transfer to the hotel. The remainder of the day is free to relax after your journey.

Overnight in Basra

Day 2 | Exploring Basra

Begin your first full day in Basra with a visit to the Basra Museum, home to collections that offer an introduction to the history and heritage of southern Iraq.

Continue with a boat trip along the Shatt al-Arab, enjoying views of the waterways and the riverside Saddam Palace.

After the boat ride, explore Basra’s traditional Shanasheel houses. These historic homes are recognized for their distinctive wooden balconies, spacious courtyards, decorative stained-glass windows, and architectural details that reflect the character of old Basra. Many of these buildings have suffered from years of deterioration, making the remaining examples an important part of the city’s architectural heritage.

Overnight in Basra

Day 3 | The Meeting Point & Iraqi Marshes

Leave Basra and head towards Al-Qurnah, an important location at the northern end of the Shatt al-Arab.

Here, see the Tree of Adam, a tree associated by local tradition with the place where Prophet Adam is believed to have descended to earth and where Prophet Abraham is said to have prayed. The site also holds significance for some Jewish and Christian visitors.

Continue to Al-Multaqa (Meeting Point), where the Tigris and Euphrates come together and form the Shatt al-Arab River.

The journey then continues into the Iraqi Marshes, one of the Middle East’s most distinctive wetland environments. The marshes support a rich variety of birds and fish and are traditionally inhabited by the Marsh Arabs.

Take time to meet local people, enjoy traditional Iraqi tea, and hear stories connected to life in the marshes. Afterwards, board a traditional shakhtura boat and travel through the waterways and reed-filled landscape.

Lunch will feature masgouf, Iraq’s famous grilled fish, prepared using reeds rather than wood. The meal will be served inside an al-mutheef, a traditional guesthouse constructed entirely from reeds.

Overnight in Nasiriyah

Day 4 | Ur – Uruk – Najaf

After breakfast, check out at 09:00 and begin the day’s archaeological journey.

The first stop is the Ziggurat of Ur, one of the most impressive surviving monuments of ancient Mesopotamia. Its massive stepped structure reflects the architectural traditions and religious importance of the great cities of the ancient Near East.

Continue by road to Simawaha, followed by a visit to Uruk (not possible on rainy days). Once one of the world’s earliest major urban centers, Uruk played a central role in the development of Sumerian civilization. The site is associated with monumental temples, ziggurats, the emergence of cuneiform writing, and the legendary figure of Gilgamesh.

From Uruk, continue to Najaf.

In Najaf, visit Wadi Al-Salam Cemetery, also known as the Valley of Peace. Stretching across a vast area beside the city, it is regarded as one of the world’s largest and oldest cemeteries and holds particular importance in relation to the nearby Imam Ali shrine.

The final visit of the day is the Imam Ali Holy Shrine, one of the most significant religious landmarks in Najaf and the burial place of Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib.

Overnight in Najaf

Day 5 | Babylon – Karbala

Check out at 09:00 and travel towards Babylon, one of the most celebrated cities of Mesopotamia.

Explore the archaeological remains of Babylon, a major center of Mesopotamian civilization that flourished particularly during the first millennium BC. The site is associated with the Hanging Gardens, traditionally counted among the Seven Wonders of the ancient world, although their physical existence has never been conclusively established.

Continue to Saddam Palace, now used as a museum and positioned above the archaeological site of Babylon. Its design was inspired by the palaces traditionally associated with King Nebuchadnezzar.

Later, continue to Karbala and visit the Imam Abbas Shrine, dedicated to Al-Abbas ibn Ali, remembered for his role and sacrifice during the Battle of Karbala.

Then visit the Imam Hussein Shrine, marking the burial place of Imam Hussein ibn Ali and one of the most important landmarks of Karbala.

Overnight in Karbala

Day 6 | Karbala – Ukhaider – Baghdad

After checking out at 09:00, leave Karbala and begin the journey towards Baghdad.

En route, stop at Ukhaider Fortress, an impressive example of early Islamic architecture dating to around 775 AD. Built during the Abbasid period, the fortress remains one of Iraq’s best-preserved examples of its type.

Continue to Baghdad.

Once in the capital, visit the Martyr Monument (from outside the fence), one of Baghdad’s most recognizable modern landmarks.

Continue to Liberation Square, a central Baghdad gathering place that has witnessed important political events, demonstrations, and public movements throughout the city’s modern history.

The next stop is Firdous Square, internationally known for the events surrounding the toppling of Saddam Hussein’s statue on April 9, 2003.

Proceed to the hotel for check-in and some time to rest.

After sunset, head to Karada Market, one of Baghdad’s lively evening areas. Walk through its busy streets, browse local shops, sample Iraqi street food such as shawarma and kebabs, and stop for traditional Iraqi tea while experiencing the atmosphere of Baghdad after dark.

Overnight in Baghdad

Day 7 | Baghdad & Ctesiphon

After checking out at 09:00, begin the day with a short boat trip across the Tigris River.

Continue on foot through Al-Mutanabbi Street, one of Baghdad’s best-known cultural streets and a traditional center for books, literature, and intellectual life.

From there, explore the Old Bazaar and the Copper Market, where traditional crafts and local commerce continue to shape the character of this historic part of the city.

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

Leave Baghdad for Ctesiphon (from outside the fence). Once the capital of the Parthian and Sassanian Empires, Ctesiphon was among the major cities of the ancient world. Its most recognizable surviving feature is the monumental Taq Kasra, an enormous vaulted brick arch and one of the most remarkable remains of the site.

Return to Baghdad and continue to Al-Kadhimiya, a historic Baghdad neighborhood known for its evening atmosphere and lively night market. Here, see the Al-Kadhimiya Holy Shrine, with its distinctive golden dome, associated with the tombs of Imam Musa al-Kadhim and Imam Muhammad al-Jawad.

Overnight in Baghdad

Day 8 | Samarra – Baghdad

Travel north from Baghdad to Samarra and visit the city’s famous Spiral Minaret, the distinctive 9th-century Abbasid landmark rising above the surrounding landscape. Its unusual spiral form and winding exterior ramp make it one of Iraq’s most recognizable historical structures. The site is currently undergoing restoration.

Continue to the Abu Dalaf Mosque, another important monument of early Islamic architecture. Its vast remains provide a glimpse into the scale and architectural ambition of Samarra when it served as a capital of the Abbasid world.

Return to Baghdad.

Before concluding the day’s journey, visit Dur-Kurigalzu, an ancient Kassite city dating to approximately the 14th–13th centuries BCE. Named after the Kassite ruler Kurigalzu, it served as a royal capital as well as an important administrative and religious center.

Overnight in Baghdad

Departure

After breakfast, transfer to Baghdad International Airport for your departure flight, marking the end of your Iraq journey.