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Join me on my THIRD trip to the beautiful country of Iraq! This is easily one of the world's most underrated destinations, with immense history, rich culture, and arguably the friendliest people on earth. Additionally, Iraq is the safest and most stable its been in decades. I instantly fell in love with the country during my first visit, expanded on that during my second, and I'm so excited to return with a new group of friends for a third time!
◆ Meet and greet, and fast track visa from the airport to the hotel. A tour of Baghdad’s landmarks can be arranged if arriving time before sunset.
◆This will include statues from the Arabian nights & iconic monuments.
◆ Traditional dinner of your choice.
Overnight: Baghdad / night 1
◆ 7 AM Start the day with a thick-cream and pastry breakfast (Qaimer and Kahi).
◆ Old Baghdad tour via Al Rasheed street, visiting various local markets such as the copper market “Al Safafeer”, Souq Al Sarai - and antiques market “Khan Al Mudalal”.
◆ Visit heritage sites such as Madrasa Mustansiriya School
◆ We'll take a boat ride on the Tigris river
◆ Old Baghdad offers many local foods along Hayder Khana street, such as Kubba Al Sarai.
Overnight: Baghdad / night 2.
◆ Head to The Iraq Museum and wander in its galleries that will take us in a journey of civilizations of Iraq through the time.
◆ Time to visit The Ziggurat of Dur-Kurigalzu and Enlil temples which are dedicated to Sumerian gods. The Ziggurat was unusually well preserved, standing to a height of about fifty-two meters.
◆ In the afternoon head to the Modern part of Baghdad, to see the shopping centers and evening vibes of the city.
Overnight: Baghdad / night 3.
◆ We will head to Babylon, a UNESCO world heritage site.
◆ We will see the historical city, rebuilt Ishtar Gate, procession street, the foundations of the real Ishtar Gate, special entrance to the old temples, the lion of Babylon, the maze, southern & northern palaces, the place where Alexander the Great passed away.
◆ Drive to Karbala. At night, visit the two shrines of Imam Hussain and his Abbas, with more explanation about the battle of Karbala in the tour.
Overnight: Karbala / night 4
◆ We will drive to Nasiriyah
◆ After lunch, we will drive to the historical city of Ur to visit the Great
Ziggurat of Ur, a UNESCO world heritage site and the former
capital of Mesopotamia during the Sumerian time.
◆ The site includes Abraham house, Sholgi palace, and the oldest arch of its kind in the world at the entrance of Dub-Lal-Makh
temple. We also can witness one of the most beautiful sunsets.
◆ Head to Chibayish
Overnight: Chibayish / night 5
◆ Local breakfast in the reed house with a local family.
◆ Followed by a sightseeing tour in numerous floating villages - the Gardens of Eden (birds, fishes, buffalos, reed, plants, and meeting the people of Ahwar). It is one of the largest ecosystems in the
world and a UNESCO world heritage site.
◆ After the tour, the we'll have a special marshland lunch. The lunch will take place in the reed house - Al Mudhif.
◆ After that, drive back to Baghdad.
Overnight: Baghdad / night 6
◆ 8 AM After breakfast we will head to Samarra to visit the Abbasid caliphate architecture and artistic relics, twisted minaret, lake palace, and the great mosque. This historical city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
◆ We will head to Hatra, an important historic religious center with its strategic position along caravan trade routes. Lunch will be in the middle of the way in one of the village's restaurants.
◆ Head to Mosul, check into hotel and have dinner.
Overnight: Mosul / night 7
◆ We are here in Mosul during "Victory Over ISIS Day" a very special occasion in Mosul filled with celebration!
◆ 8 AM Start the day with visiting the reconstruction of the old city, especially Al-Nuri Mosque, Al Hadbaa Minaret and Al Tahira church that are being rebuilt by UNESCO.
◆ Walk through the area where the last and most intensive battle against ISIS took place.
◆ Free time in Mosul and at night visiting the cafe house for local music.
Overnight: Mosul / night 8
◆ Early morning head to the Plains of Nineveh. Have breakfast with a local Christian family in Bahzani and learn their stories and history. Visit the Tahini factory of Bashiqa, and visit some of the Yazidi temples in the town.
◆ Head to Lalish and have a unique experience with the Yazidis of Iraq, and learn about their most holy and important land.
◆After that head to Mar Mattei, one of the oldest christian monasteries in the world.
◆ Head to Erbil.
Overnight: Erbil / night 9
◆ After breakfast, start heading to Barzan, and enjoy the natural scenery in the area.
◆ Morning hike near Barzan.
◆Visit Shanidar Cave, where Neanderthal remains were first
discovered.
◆ Lunch will be in one of the local restaurants, or we could bring our
own for a picnic!
◆ Head back to Erbil.
◆ Farewell dinner and drink in Erbil’s christian district of Ainkawa.
◆ Transfer to Erbil Intl. Airport at night or the next day.
There is a $800 non-refundable down payment to reserve your spot (only refundable upon cancelation by Dude Abroad and / or the ground operators)
The remaining balance of $2,000 should be paid at least 30 days before the trip start date.
All payments can be received by either bank wire, Paypal, or Zelle.
Most nationalities are eligible for Iraq's E-Visa. This is to be completed via Iraq's online visa portal. You'll visit the site, click "visa on arrival", fill out your application (which shouldn't take longer than 10 minutes), pay the visa fee of roughly $160 USD, and you'll receive confirmation typically with in 24 hours by email. To visit the visa portal: Click Here
Just to be safe, I recommend doing so at least 2 - 3 weeks before the trip start date. If you need any assistance during this process, I'm here for you!
You will need your passport in all Iraqi checkpoints and hotels. Make sure you have at least six months valid on your passport on your arrival date, and an empty page in your passport for the Iraqi visa sticker.
Make sure you have no stamp on your passport from regions that don't have recognition from Iraq. (Israel to be specific)
You will find it tough to find stores that will accept cards. Your best would be bringing all the cash you will need for your trip with you beforehand. ATMs are scarce in Iraq, and occasionally the servers will go down, so it won’t be possible to withdraw any money.
Bringing USD will not be a problem as it is also accepted and exchanged and most preferable notes are (100$ and 50$) issued in the year of 2006 and after.
It's always best to dress respectfully. Don't stress too much about what to wear though, but as a general rule of thumb, especially for women, try to cover as much of your shoulders and knees as you can. Long pants and loose-fitting t-shirts. Ideally, skirts should cover your ankles but covering just your knees would be fine too.
In holy shrines, men are not allowed to wear shorts and women should wear scarves and an Abaya. Our female team will help you choose suitable dressing for that, but again, don't worry to much! There are no laws in Iraq dictating what women are to wear. It's just a bit more conservative when visiting holy shrines.
It's up to you to ask or accept assistance. If someone is asking to help you and you don't need it, just say "no thank you!"
In case you accept some assistance then tips in hotels or airports should not be more than 5,000 IQD (less than $4).
But really it's up to you! Iraqi culture is not "pushy" and therefore anything you deem reasonable is accepted.
For tipping our tour guide, just use the same tradition that you do in your country. Iraq is your home too!
Have fun! Iraq is a unique and special place, with generous people and a rich culture. I guarantee you will enter the country with one perspective and leave with it completely transformed! :)
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