9-Day Diverse Iraq Tour

Itinerary

Day 1 | Baghdad 

Arrive at Baghdad International Airport, where our team will meet you and arrange your transfer to the hotel. After check-in, the rest of the day is free to settle in and rest.

Overnight in Baghdad

Day 2 | Baghdad 

Begin your Baghdad sightseeing at Liberation Square, one of the city’s prominent public spaces and a location associated with several important demonstrations, political movements, and historic events.

From here, take a short boat ride across the Tigris River before reaching Al-Mutanabbi Street, Baghdad’s renowned center for books, publishing, cafés, and literary life. Spend some time browsing the street and its surrounding shops .

Continue on foot through the Old Bazaar and the traditional Copper Market, where the atmosphere reflects Baghdad’s long-standing commercial traditions. Afterwards, take a break at Al-Shabander Café, one of the city’s best-known historic cafés, and try traditional Iraqi tea or dried lime tea.

Later, travel to Ctesiphon to see the imposing remains of the Sasanian capital, including its famous brick arch.

After sunset, return to Baghdad and visit Karada Market. The area becomes particularly lively in the evening, with shops, cafés, restaurants, street food, and busy local streets offering a glimpse of Baghdad after dark.

Overnight in Baghdad

Day 3 | Babylon Karbala

Check out from your Baghdad hotel and begin the day by visitng Babylon, one of the most important archaeological sites in Iraq and a major center of Mesopotamian civilization. Explore the remains of the city and learn about its association with the reign of King Nebuchadnezzar II and the wider history of Babylon.

The site also includes the area traditionally associated with the Hanging Gardens, one of the famous Seven Wonders of the ancient world, although no physical remains have conclusively confirmed their existence.

Visit the former Saddam Palace, positioned above the archaeological site and now used as a museum. Its location provides a striking view over the remains of Babylon.

After Babylon, continue to Karbala. Stop at a local restaurant and hotel for some time to rest before visiting the city’s principal shrines.

Visit the Imam Abbas Shrine, which contains the tomb of Al-Abbas ibn Ali and holds major historical and religious importance. Continue to the Imam Hussein Shrine, the burial place of Imam Hussein ibn Ali and one of the most significant religious landmarks in Karbala.

Overnight in Karbala

Day 4 | Najaf – Uruk – Ur

Leave Karbala and travel to Najaf, one of Iraq’s most important religious and historic cities.

In Najaf, see from a high viewpoint overlooking Wadi Al-Salam Cemetery. The vast cemetery is one of the defining landmarks of Najaf and contains millions of graves, reflecting the city’s long-standing importance as a place of pilgrimage and burial.

Continue south to Uruk, one of the earliest major urban centers of Mesopotamia. The archaeological site is associated with the development of early cities, monumental architecture, and the emergence of cuneiform writing. Uruk is also closely connected with the legendary figure of Gilgamesh.

Proceed to Nasiriyah, where you will visit the Ziggurat of Ur. This stepped monument was a major religious structure of the Sumerian city of Ur and remains one of the most recognizable archaeological landmarks in southern Iraq.

Overnight in Nasiriyah

Day 5 | Marshes of Iraq – Baghdad

Check out from the hotel and head towards the Mesopotamian Marshes, one of Iraq’s most distinctive natural and cultural landscapes.

The marshes are home to a wide variety of bird and fish species as well as the Marsh Arab communities whose traditional way of life is closely connected to the wetlands. Spend time meeting local residents, sharing tea, and hearing stories connected to life in the marshes.

Board a traditional shakhtura boat and travel through the waterways between the reed beds. The boat ride provides an opportunity to see the landscape from the water and observe the traditional environment of the marshes.

Lunch will be served inside an al-mudhif, a traditional reed-built guesthouse. Enjoy masgouf, Iraq’s famous grilled fish, traditionally prepared over reeds rather than wood.

After the marshes visit, return to Baghdad.

Overnight in Baghdad

Day 6 | Baghdad

Today focuses on several different aspects of Baghdad’s history and cultural heritage.

begin the day with a stop at the Martyr Monument. The monument is currently closed for maintenance, so the visit is limited accordingly.

Continue to Dur-Kurigalzu, a Kassite-period site near Baghdad. The settlement served as a royal capital and administrative and religious center during the Kassite period, with its monumental remains providing insight into this important chapter of Mesopotamian history.

Later, visit Al-Kadhimiya, one of Baghdad’s prominent historic neighborhoods. Explore the surrounding evening market and visit the Al-Kadhimiya Holy Shrine, whose golden dome is one of the neighborhood’s most recognizable features. The shrine contains the tombs of Imam Musa al-Kadhim and Imam Muhammad al-Jawad.

End the day at the Save the Iraqi Culture Monument, created by Iraqi artist Mohammed Ghani Hikmat. The sculpture represents the protection and preservation of Iraq’s cultural heritage and reflects the resilience of the country’s historical legacy.

Overnight in Baghdad

Day 7 | Samarra – Mosul

travel north towards Samarra.

The first stop is the Great Mosque of Samarra, known for its distinctive spiral Malwiya Minaret. Built during the Abbasid period, the structure is one of the most recognizable examples of early Islamic architecture in Iraq.

Continue to Abu Dalaf Mosque, another major Abbasid monument in Samarra. Its large layout and distinctive spiral minaret provide a second perspective on the architectural style developed during the Abbasid era.

Continue the journey towards Mosul, with a visit to Assur (Qal’at Sherqat) along the way. Assur was the early capital and principal religious center of the Assyrian kingdom and developed along the Tigris River. The archaeological remains include sections of the city walls, temples, and a ziggurat.

The route then continues to Hatra, a heavily fortified caravan city that became the capital of the Kingdom of Hatra. Situated between the Roman and Parthian spheres, Hatra developed as an important commercial and cultural center before its destruction and abandonment in the 3rd century.

Continue to Mosul for the night.

Overnight in Mosul

Day 8 | Mosul –Erbil

Begin the day with the remaining sections of the Assyrian Wall, an important reminder of the ancient history surrounding Mosul.

Continue into the Old City of Mosul, one of the region’s historic urban quarters. The area suffered extensive destruction during the conflict with ISIS, including the loss of many historic buildings that had stood for centuries. The visit offers an opportunity to see the areas that remain and observe the continuing efforts to recover and preserve Mosul’s heritage.

Next, visit the remains of Nimrud, an important city of the Neo-Assyrian Empire that flourished between the 9th and 7th centuries BCE. It became the capital of King Ashurnasirpal II and was known for its monumental architecture and artistic achievements. The site suffered severe damage during the ISIS period, while restoration and preservation work continues.

After completing the Mosul-area visits, drive to Erbil.

Overnight in Erbil

Day 9 | Erbil

Spend the day exploring Erbil, beginning with the Erbil Citadel. The citadel is one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited settlements and occupies a prominent position above the modern city.

The citadel is currently closed to visitors, so the visit will be from the outside. From this viewpoint, you can appreciate its elevated setting and historic character while learning about the successive civilizations that have shaped Erbil.

Continue with a walk through the traditional bazaar surrounding the citadel. Its covered lanes and local shops offer a closer look at everyday commercial life in Erbil, with crafts, textiles, spices, and other traditional goods.

Finish the day at the Choli Minaret, a historic Seljuk-era monument and an important surviving example of medieval Islamic architecture in the Erbil region.

Overnight in Erbil

Departure

Transfer to the airport for your departure flight, marking the end of your Iraq journey.