8-Day Basra to Erbil Iraq Tour

Itinerary

Day 1 | Arrive in Basra

Your Iraq journey begins in Basra. After landing at Basra International Airport, you will be welcomed by our team and transferred directly to your hotel.

The rest of the day is left open for you to recover from your journey and settle in, with time to get your first feel for southern Iraq at your own pace.

Overnight in Basra

Day 2 | Basra’s History, Waterways & Heritage

Following breakfast, start your first full day in Basra with a visit to the Basra Museum (closed on Fridays and Saturdays), where you can gain an introduction to the region’s history and archaeological heritage.

Next, head onto the Shatt al-Arab for a boat cruise along the waterway formed where the Tigris and Euphrates meet. From the river, you will see the former riverside palace built during Saddam Hussein’s era while taking in the distinctive character of Basra’s waterfront.

Return to the city and explore some of its older quarters, particularly the traditional Shanasheel houses. Their projecting wooden balconies, colorful glasswork, courtyards, and intricate details reflect Basra’s historic connections with trade and commerce. Despite years of deterioration, these houses remain an important part of the city’s architectural identity.

Overnight in Basra

Day 3 | Al-Qurnah & Life in the Mesopotamian Marshes

Leave Basra and travel toward Al-Qurnah, where the journey continues into one of southern Iraq’s most distinctive landscapes.

Visit the Tree of Adam, a location surrounded by local traditions connecting it with Adam’s descent to Earth and with Abraham’s prayer. These traditions are local beliefs rather than mainstream Islamic teachings, but the site continues to attract Christian and Jewish visitors.

Continue to Al-Multaqa, the meeting point of the Tigris and Euphrates, where the two rivers join to create the Shatt al-Arab.

The route then takes you deep into the Mesopotamian Marshes, a vast wetland environment and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Meet members of the Marsh Arab community and step inside a traditional reed Mudhif to experience their hospitality, enjoy Iraqi tea, and learn more about life in this unique environment.

A traditional Shakhtura boat will take you through the marsh waterways, passing through reed-filled channels and natural wetland scenery. Lunch is served in a reed house, with the opportunity to try Masgouf, the region’s famous fish traditionally grilled over burning reeds.

After exploring the marshes, continue onward to Nasiriyah.

Overnight in Nasiriyah

Day 4 | Ur, Uruk & Najaf

Depart Nasiriyah and head toward the archaeological remains of Ur. Here, explore the monumental Ziggurat of Ur, one of the most prominent surviving structures from Sumerian civilization. Built as a religious center dedicated to the moon god Nanna, the ziggurat provides a striking introduction to the ancient cities of southern Mesopotamia.

Continue to Uruk, one of the earliest major urban centers in human history. The city developed more than 5,000 years ago and was influential in the growth of organized urban life, monumental construction, and early writing. Uruk is also strongly associated with the legendary ruler Gilgamesh.
Visit to Uruk is weather permitting and may not be possible during rainy conditions.

From Uruk, travel north to Najaf.

In the afternoon, visit Wadi Al-Salam Cemetery, or the Valley of Peace. Covering a huge area beside Najaf, the cemetery is considered one of the largest and oldest burial grounds in the world and holds particular significance because of its proximity to the Imam Ali shrine.

End the day at the Imam Ali Holy Shrine, one of Najaf’s most important religious landmarks and the burial site of Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib.

Overnight in Najaf

Day 5 | Babylon, Borsippa & Baghdad

After checking out, leave Najaf and continue toward Babylon, one of the most famous names in the history of Mesopotamia.

Spend time exploring the archaeological remains of Babylon, a city that became one of the major centers of Mesopotamian civilization, particularly during the first millennium BC. The site is traditionally connected with the Hanging Gardens, one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world, although no conclusive archaeological evidence has confirmed their existence.

Above the archaeological area stands Saddam Palace, now used as a museum. The imposing building overlooks Babylon and incorporates architectural elements inspired by the palaces traditionally associated with King Nebuchadnezzar.

Continue to Borsippa, another important archaeological site in the Babylonian region, before driving north to Baghdad.

After arriving in Baghdad, head to Karrada Market, one of the capital’s lively commercial areas. Take a walk through the busy streets, browse local shops, and experience the atmosphere of Baghdad in the evening.

Overnight in Baghdad

Day 6 | Baghdad, Ctesiphon & Al-Kadhimiya

After checking out, begin the day with a short boat ride across the Tigris River, offering a different perspective of Baghdad and its historic relationship with the river.

Continue into the heart of the city and walk along Al-Mutanabbi Street, Baghdad’s celebrated literary and cultural quarter. The street has long been associated with books, writers, scholars, and intellectual life.

From here, explore the Old Bazaar and Copper Market, where traditional shops and crafts offer a glimpse into the commercial character of historic Baghdad.

Take some time to relax at Al-Shabander Café, one of the city’s best-known historic coffeehouses. Enjoy traditional Iraqi tea and dried lime tea while taking a break from sightseeing.

Leave Baghdad and head toward Ctesiphon. The site is visited from outside the fence, where you can view the monumental Taq Kasra. Once part of one of the major imperial centers of the Parthian and Sassanian worlds, Ctesiphon is best known today for its enormous surviving brick vault, one of the most impressive structures left from the ancient city.

Return to Baghdad and continue to Al-Kadhimiya, a historic district that becomes particularly lively in the evening. Visit the Al-Kadhimiya Holy Shrine, recognizable by its golden domes and minarets and associated with the tombs of Imam Musa al-Kadhim and Imam Muhammad al-Jawad.

Overnight in Baghdad

Day 7 | Samarra & Hatra

Leave Baghdad in the morning and travel north toward Samarra, the former Abbasid capital renowned for its monumental Islamic architecture.

The main stop is the Great Mosque of Samarra, famous for the enormous spiral Malwiya Minaret. The unusual form of the minaret has made it one of Iraq’s most recognizable landmarks and a defining feature of the UNESCO-listed site.

Continue to the nearby Abu Dalaf Mosque, another impressive Abbasid monument distinguished by its large rectangular layout and spiral minaret.

The journey then continues toward Hatra, a remarkable fortified city that once prospered as an important religious and commercial center under the Parthians. Its surviving temples, sculptures, gates, and defensive walls reveal the cultural influences that came together in this ancient crossroads. Hatra is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

After visiting Hatra, continue to Mosul.

Overnight in Mosul

Day 8 | Mosul, Nimrud & Erbil

Begin the final day by exploring the remains of the Ancient Assyrian Wall, an important surviving element of Mosul’s historic landscape.

Continue into the Old City of Mosul, where historic streets and landmarks reflect the city’s long and complex past. The area is also a visible example of the extensive restoration and reconstruction taking place after the destruction caused during the conflict with ISIS.

Leave Mosul for Nimrud, the former capital of the Neo-Assyrian Empire under King Ashurnasirpal II. Although much of the archaeological site was severely damaged in recent years, its remains continue to demonstrate the importance and grandeur of the Assyrian Empire, while preservation work continues.

From Nimrud, cross into the Kurdistan Region and continue to Erbil.

Your final sightseeing stop is the Erbil Citadel, viewed from the outside while restoration work continues. Rising above the modern city, the citadel is one of Erbil’s defining landmarks and is recognized as one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited settlements.

Overnight in Erbil

Departure

After breakfast, you will be transferred to Erbil International Airport for your departure flight, marking the end of your journey through southern, central, northern, and Kurdistan Iraq.