9-Day South to North Iraq Tour

Itinerary

Day 1 | Welcome to Southern Iraq

Arrive in Basra, where you will be met at the airport and transferred directly to your hotel. The rest of the day is free to settle in and rest.

Overnight in Basra

Day 2 | Basra’s Rivers, Heritage & Old Houses

Begin your exploration of Basra with a visit to the Basra Museum, home to archaeological and historical collections that introduce the long story of southern Iraq.

Continue with a boat trip along the Shatt al-Arab, taking in the riverside scenery and views of Saddam Palace from the water.

Later, explore Basra’s historic Shanasheel houses, known for their distinctive wooden balconies, spacious courtyards, decorative details, and colorful stained-glass windows. These traditional homes offer a glimpse into the architectural character and lifestyle of old Basra.

Overnight in Basra

Day 3 | Where the Rivers Meet & Life in the Marshes

Leave Basra and travel toward Al-Qurnah, beginning the day at the Tree of Adam, a tree associated by local tradition with the place where Prophet Adam descended to earth and where Prophet Abraham is believed to have prayed. The site also holds significance for some Christian and Jewish visitors.

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

From here, continue into the Iraqi Marshes, one of the Middle East’s most remarkable wetland landscapes and a traditional home of the Marsh Arabs. Take time to meet local people, enjoy traditional tea, and hear stories connected to life in the marshes.

The experience continues with a traditional boat ride aboard a shakhtura, navigating through the waterways and reed-filled landscapes. Enjoy a traditional masgouf lunch, with fish grilled using reeds, served inside an al-mutheef, a traditional guesthouse built from reeds.

Continue to Nasiriyah for the evening.

Overnight in Nasiriyah

Day 4 | Sumerian Cities & the Sacred Heart of Karbala

Check out from your hotel and travel toward the archaeological sites of southern Mesopotamia.

Visit the Ziggurat of Ur, one of the most impressive surviving monuments of Sumerian civilization. Its massive stepped structure reflects the architectural ambition and religious traditions of one of Mesopotamia’s earliest urban societies.

Continue to Uruk (not possible in rainy weather), one of the earliest major cities of Mesopotamia. Flourishing between approximately 4000 and 3000 BCE, Uruk became an important center of Sumerian civilization and is closely associated with the development of cuneiform writing and the legendary king Gilgamesh. Explore the remains of its temples, ziggurats, and ancient urban landscape.

After visiting Uruk, continue to Karbala.

Visit the Imam Abbas Shrine, associated with Al-Abbas ibn Ali and his role during the Battle of Karbala, followed by the Imam Hussein Shrine, the resting place of Imam Hussein ibn Ali.

Overnight in Karbala

Day 5 | Babylon’s Legacy & Baghdad by Night

Check out and depart Karbala for Babylon, one of the most celebrated cities of ancient Mesopotamia.

Explore the archaeological remains of Babylon, including the monumental remains associated with the city of King Nebuchadnezzar II and the site traditionally connected with the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world, although their physical existence has never been conclusively established.

Continue to Saddam Palace, situated above the archaeological site of Babylon. The palace was designed with inspiration drawn from Babylonian architecture and the legacy of King Nebuchadnezzar.

Continue to Baghdad.

In the evening, visit Al-Kadhimiya, one of Baghdad’s historic neighborhoods. Explore its lively night market and visit the Al-Kadhimiya Shrine, with its distinctive golden domes and its association with Imam Musa al-Kadhim and Imam Muhammad al-Jawad.

Enjoy dinner before returning to the hotel.

Overnight in Baghdad

Day 6 | Baghdad’s Historic Streets & Tigris River

Begin the day with a visit to the Martyr Monument, viewed from outside the fence, followed by Liberation Square, one of Baghdad’s major public squares and a place closely connected with important events in the city’s modern history.

Take a short boat trip on the Tigris River, crossing the river before continuing to Al-Mutanabbi Street, Baghdad’s famous historic book market and one of the city’s best-known cultural gathering places.

Continue to Al-Qishla, a historic Ottoman-era building dating to the second half of the 19th century, and then visit the Abbasid Palace.

Walk through the Old Bazaar and the traditional Copper Market, where workshops and shops preserve some of Baghdad’s longstanding commercial traditions.

Take a break at Al-Shabandar Café, one of Baghdad’s best-known traditional cafés, and enjoy Iraqi tea and dried lime tea while taking in the atmosphere of old Baghdad.

Overnight in Baghdad

Day 7 | The Abbasid Legacy & Hatra’s Ruins

Depart Baghdad and travel north to Samarra.

Visit the famous Spiral Minaret, the distinctive 9th-century Abbasid landmark known for its unusual spiral form and towering structure. As the minaret is currently undergoing restoration, continue to Abu Dalaf Mosque, an important example of early Islamic architecture and a valuable reflection of Samarra’s period as a major Abbasid capital.

Continue onward to Mosul.

From Mosul, visit Hatra, the impressive remains of a fortified ancient caravan city that once served as the capital of the Kingdom of Hatra. Positioned between the Roman and Parthian worlds, the city flourished during the 2nd century before its eventual destruction and abandonment.

Return to Mosul for the evening.

Overnight in Mosul

Day 8 | Exploring Historic Mosul & Nimrud

Begin the day exploring Mosul and its historical surroundings.

Visit the remains of the Assyrian Wall that once surrounded the city, then continue into the Old City of Mosul. Once one of the oldest urban areas in the region, the Old City suffered extensive destruction during the conflict with ISIS, leaving behind a landscape where historic buildings and ongoing reconstruction stand side by side.

Continue to Nimrud, one of the major cities of the Neo-Assyrian Empire. Flourishing particularly during the reign of King Ashurnasirpal II, Nimrud played an important role in Assyrian history. The archaeological site suffered severe damage during the ISIS period, while restoration and preservation efforts continue.

Continue to Erbil.

Overnight in Erbil

Day 9 | Discover Erbil’s Historic Center

Explore the historic heart of Erbil, beginning with the Erbil Citadel. The citadel is currently closed for maintenance, so the visit will be from outside while taking in its distinctive position above the city.

Continue through the local food market and Qaysari Bazaar, where traditional shops offer jewelry, gold and silver, carpets, antiques, sweets, and other local products.

Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before visiting Choli Minaret, one of Erbil’s best-known historic landmarks. Dating from the Atabeg period of the 12th century, the leaning minaret is one of the few remaining elements of a once-important historic mosque complex.

Overnight in Erbil

Departure from Erbil

After breakfast, transfer to Erbil International Airport for your departure.