10 Day Federal Iraq Tour

Day 1: Baghdad and Taq Kasra

Visit the city of Baghdad this morning before departing for Taq Kasra, an ancient monument with the world’s largest single-span brick vault arch, built between the third and sixth centuries AD.  Late this afternoon enjoy some local cuisine before being dropped at the hotel. Overnight in Baghdad.

Day 2: Samarra (about 1.5 hours from Baghdad)

Leave early in the morning from your hotel for Samarrato climb the great minaret of the Malwiya mosque, one of the highlights of the trip (entrance 25k IQD). The impressive Askari Shrine shrine is also worth checking out. Return to Baghdad this afternoon for dinner and your hotel.

Day 3: Babylon 

From Baghdad, depart for Hillah (approx. 1 hour)  the get-in point for the ancient city of Babylon. 

Explore the ancient ruins of Babylon, including the Ishtar Gate, the site of the Tower of Babel and Saddam’s summer palace this afternoon before returning to Hillah. Overnight in Hillah. 

Day 4: Karbala

From Hillah, depart Karbala, which takes about one hour and costs.

Explore Karbala, Iraq’s second holy city after Najaf, and the Al Abbas holy shrine.  From here if there is time you can  visit the Al-Ukhaidir Fortress, which is about 50km away in the desert to the west

Day 5: Najaf

From Karbala, depart for Najaf (about 1 hour). Explore 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 Kufa mosque.    Overnight in Najaf

Day 6: Nasiriyah – The Mesopotamian Marshes and Ziggurat of Ur.  

Depart from Najaf to today Nasiriyah (3-4 hours) very early.

Get up early to beat the heat and visit the Mesopotamian marshes near Chibayish. 

Once you get back to Nasiriyah, we will head to the Ziggurat of Ur.  Depart back to Nasiriyah for the night.

Day 7: Basra

Depart from Nasiriyah to Basra today (about 3-4 hours).  

Visit Basra.

Day 8: Basra- Baghdad

Arriving back in Baghdad today from Basra  completes the southern loop of the itinerary. Visit Baghdad for a couple of hours this afternoon. Overnight in Baghdad.

Day 9: Baghdad -  Mosul

Depart Baghdad for Mosul (about 4-5 hours). Overnight Mosul.

Day 10: Kirkuk

Depart from Mosul today to Kirkuk, the centre of Iraq’s oil industry (along with Basra).  The city also has a dilapidated but still interesting citadel and the Qishla, an ancient building that was once the headquarters of the Ottoman army in Kirkuk.  

From Kirkuk, depart for Baghdad.