5 Day Federal Iraq Express Tour

Day 1: Baghdad and Taq Kasra.  Get up early to visit the Martyr’s Monument in Baghdad and explore the city.  Don’t miss al Rasheed street, the main market (best visited in the morning) and the Iraqi National Museum.  In the afternoon, take a short trip to Madain to see the beautiful Taq Kasra, an ancient monument with the world’s largest single-span brick vault arch, built between the third and sixth centuries AD.   In the evening, enjoy traditional Iraqi food before returning to your hotel.

Day 2: Samarra

Leave your hotel early in the morning to climb the great minaret of the Malwiya mosque, one of the highlights of the trip (entrance 25k IQD).  The drive will be about 1.5 hours however this can be longer depending on how long the checkpoint at Samarra. The impressive Askari Shrine shrine is also worth checking out.  

From Samarra head to Hillah, the entrance essentially for Babylon. Overnight in Hillah.

Day 3: Babylon

This morning, depart Hillah to explore the ancient ruins of Babylon, including the Ishtar Gate, the site of the Tower of Babel and Saddam’s summer palace.  These are in a historic site a few kilometers from Hillah. The entrance ticket per location is 25k IQD.  

In the afternoon depart from Hillah to Najaf (about 1 hour). Overnight in Najaf.

Day 4: Najaf

Visit the Imam Ali Holy Shrine, the key religious site of the holy city of Najaf, which many Iraqis refer to as the third holiest city in Shia Islam, after Mecca and Medina, plus the world’s largest graveyard (more than 5m graves) and the Kufa mosque. Depart this afternoon to  Nasiriyah (3-4 hours) Overnight in Nasiriyah.

Day 5: Nasiriyah – The Mesopotamian Marshes and Ziggurat of Ur

Get up very early to beat the heat and visit the Mesopotamian marshes near Chibayish. Enjoy a boat trip through the marshes which is the only way to see much and is really worthwhile. 

Once you get back to Nasiriyah, head to the Ziggurat of Ur before departing back to Baghdad later this afternoon (about 4 hours)