9-Day Iraq Adventure Tour

Itinerary

Day 1 | Arrival in Baghdad

Upon arrival at Baghdad International Airport, you will be met by our team and transferred directly to your hotel. Take the remainder of the day to settle in and rest before beginning your tour of Iraq.

Overnight in Baghdad

Day 2 | Baghdad

Begin the day in the heart of Baghdad with a visit to Liberation Square, one of the city’s best-known public spaces and a place that has witnessed important demonstrations, political movements, and major events throughout modern Iraqi history.

From here, take a short boat ride across the Tigris River, arriving on the opposite side near Al-Mutanabbi Street. Known for its long association with books, literature, and intellectual life, the street remains one of Baghdad’s most atmospheric places to experience the city’s cultural character.

Continue on foot through the Old Bazaar and the traditional Copper Market, where the sounds of craftsmen working with copper add to the character of the old market quarter.

Afterward, pause at Al-Shabander Café, one of Baghdad’s famous traditional cafés. Enjoy a cup of Iraqi tea or dried lime tea while taking in the relaxed atmosphere and everyday life around you.

Later, travel south of Baghdad to Ctesiphon and see the monumental Taq Kasra, the surviving arch of the ancient Sasanian capital.

Return to Baghdad and head to Al-Kadhimiya, an important historic district known for its lively evening market and the magnificent Al-Kadhimiya Shrine, with its distinctive golden domes and its connection to Imam Musa al-Kadhim and Imam Muhammad al-Jawad.

Overnight in Baghdad

Day 3 | Karbala – Babylon

After checking out, begin the journey south with a stop at the Martyr Monument. The monument is currently closed for maintenance, so the visit will be limited to viewing the site from outside.

Continue to Babylon, one of the most significant archaeological sites in Mesopotamia. Walk among the remains of the ancient city and learn about its importance during the Babylonian period, particularly under King Nebuchadnezzar II. The site is also associated with the legendary Hanging Gardens, whose existence has been described in ancient sources but has never been archaeologically confirmed.

High above the archaeological remains stands the former Saddam Palace, now used as a museum. Its elevated position provides views across the Babylon site, while its architecture was deliberately inspired by the palaces of ancient Babylon.

Continue to Karbala and check in at the hotel. After some time to rest, visit the Imam Abbas Shrine, the burial place of Al-Abbas ibn Ali, remembered for his role and sacrifice during the Battle of Karbala.

Continue to the nearby Imam Hussein Shrine, which contains the tomb of Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad and son of Imam Ali.

Overnight in Karbala

Day 4 | Najaf – Ur

Check out from the hotel and travel to Najaf.

From a high vantage point, take in the sunset over Wadi Al-Salam, the vast cemetery surrounding Najaf and one of the city’s most significant landmarks. Its enormous expanse reflects the religious and historical importance Najaf has held for centuries.

Continue toward Nasiriyah, entering southern Iraq and the heartland of ancient Mesopotamia.

Visit the Ziggurat of Ur, one of the most impressive surviving monuments of Sumerian civilization. Built as a stepped temple complex, the ziggurat once formed part of the religious and administrative center of the ancient city of Ur and remains one of the most recognizable archaeological landmarks in Iraq.

Overnight in Nasiriyah

Day 5 | Mesopotamian Marshes – Basra

After checking out, head into the Mesopotamian Marshes, an extraordinary landscape of waterways, reed beds, and traditional settlements. These wetlands are among the most distinctive environments in Iraq and remain closely connected with the traditional way of life of the Marsh Arab communities.

Stop to meet local people, enjoy traditional tea, and hear stories about life in the marshes. You will then board a traditional shakhtura boat and travel through the waterways, seeing the marsh landscape from the water.

Lunch will be served in a traditional reed-built mudhif, where you can try masgouf, Iraq’s famous grilled fish prepared using traditional methods.

Continue to Al-Qurnah and visit the Tree of Adam, a tree associated with local traditions concerning the Prophet Adam and the Prophet Abraham. The site’s religious associations are based on local tradition rather than established Islamic doctrine and have also attracted visitors from different faith backgrounds.

Nearby, stop at Al-Multaqa, meaning “the meeting point,” where the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers meet to form the Shatt al-Arab.

Continue to Basra and check into your hotel.

Overnight in Basra

Day 6 | Basra – Baghdad

After checking out, see another side of Basra from the water with a boat trip along the Shatt al-Arab. During the ride, you will have views of the Saddam Palace from the riverside.

Continue to the historic Shanasheel district, known for its distinctive traditional houses and elaborate wooden balconies. Their carved wooden screens, stained-glass windows, spacious courtyards, and decorated façades are reminders of Basra’s architectural heritage.

After visiting the Shanasheel area, begin the drive back to Baghdad.

Overnight in Baghdad

Day 7 | Samarra – Mosul

Visit the famous Samarra Spiral Minaret. As the minaret is currently closed due to construction, the visit will instead focus on Abu Dalaf Mosque, another important monument of the Samarra period.

Continue toward Mosul, with a stop at Hatra along the way. Once the capital of the Kingdom of Hatra, this heavily fortified city occupied an important position between the Roman and Parthian worlds. Its surviving temples, walls, and monumental stone structures reflect the different cultural influences that met here.

Continue to Mosul and check into the hotel.

Overnight in Mosul

Day 8 | Mosul – Erbil

Begin the day in Mosul’s Old City, an historic part of the city that suffered extensive destruction during the conflict with ISIS. Walking through the area today offers an opportunity to see both the remaining historic fabric and the ongoing efforts to restore parts of Mosul’s heritage.

Continue to the Assyrian Wall, a surviving reminder of the area’s connection with the ancient Assyrian city of Nineveh.

After the visits, leave Mosul behind and travel east toward Erbil.

Overnight in Erbil

Day 9 | Erbil – Baghdad

Start the morning at the Citadel of Erbil. As the citadel is currently closed for maintenance, it will be viewed from a distance, allowing you to appreciate its elevated position above the surrounding city.

Continue through the city’s lively food market before entering Qaysari Bazaar, the traditional covered market beside the citadel. Browse its narrow passages filled with jewelry, gold and silver, carpets, antiques, sweets, and other local products.

After the visit, begin the drive back to Baghdad.

Overnight in Baghdad

Departure

After checking out, you will be transferred to the airport for your departure flight, marking the end of your Iraq tour.