JOURNEY THROUGH FEDERAL IRAQ

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Short description

Our journey through Federal Iraq begins in Baghdad, the capital. We’ll explore the historic Al-Mustansiriya University, the Al-Abbasid Palace, the Iraq Museum, and the Monument to the Victims, then stroll along Al-Mutanabbi Street—the city’s vibrant cultural heart. From there, we’ll visit the ancient city of Babylon and Saddam Hussein’s Palace, perched on a hill overlooking the ruins. The trip continues to the holy cities of Karbala and Najaf, where we’ll visit the tomb of Ali Ibn Abi Talib—known as “Imam Ali,” the first imam of the Shiites—and the magnificent Imam Ali Mosque.

The journey then takes us to the Shatt al-Arab river delta, where the Tigris and Euphrates merge. Here, we’ll meet the “marsh Arabs,” who call this unique ecosystem home, and take a boat ride through the marshes to experience local life.

Our exploration continues to Nasiriyah and the ruins of Ur—one of the most important Sumerian cities. We’ll also visit the ancient Sumerian city of Uruk and Ctesiphon, once the capital of the Iranian Empire. The journey concludes in Samarra, a remarkable UNESCO World Heritage site.

All images in this program are from our Federal Iraq tours.

Basic information

This program provides an overview of the trip’s key details. If you need a solution tailored to your specific circumstances, please contact us via email. We can arrange flights from anywhere in the world to the trip’s starting point, as well as airport/hotel transfers and any required documents. Our team will support you throughout the entire planning process. Feel free to reach out via email!

Program

Day 1 Flight to Baghdad, the capital of Iraq

Overnight flight to Baghdad. Your hotel stay for this night is included in the price; please refer to the flight schedule.

Note: Our group will fly from Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport to Baghdad. If all group members transit through Istanbul, we may meet there; otherwise, we’ll meet at the hotel in Baghdad. You’ll receive detailed information about the hotel name, address, and meeting time.

Day 2 Arriving in Baghdad; City tour

We arrive in Baghdad during the night (02:20 with Pegasus Airlines). After transferring to the hotel, we’ll check in and rest briefly—this is the overnight stay mentioned on the previous day. We’ll then tour the Iraqi capital, visiting Al-Mustansiriya School, Al-Abbasid Palace (it may be closed due to reconstruction), the market, and the Monument to the Victims. We’ll stroll down Al-Rashid Street. Overnight in Baghdad.

Day 3 Babylon; Saddam Hussein's Palace; Karbala

Today, we’ll visit the Iraq Museum (it may be closed for reconstruction). If it’s closed, we’ll tour Baghdad’s Green Zone, including two memorial complexes: the Victory Arch and the Monument to the Unknown Soldier.

Afterward, we’ll continue to the ruins of Babylon, where we’ve set aside several hours for a full exploration.

Saddam Hussein's Palace sits on a hill within the ancient city. Built during the economic embargo that followed the 1991 Gulf War, it served as headquarters for American forces from 2003 to 2011.

We'll head to Karbala to visit one of the holiest sites for Shia Muslims—surpassed in importance only by Mecca and Najaf. The city combines old and new quarters, with the Mashhad al-Husayn at its heart: the tomb of Husayn bin Ali, the Prophet Muhammad's grandson. During the annual Ashura observance, hundreds of thousands of pilgrims gather to honor the imam's memory. Many elderly faithful make their final journey here, believing the tomb is a gateway to paradise.

We'll spend the night in Karbala.

Day 4 Najaf

Today, we continue to Najaf to visit the tomb of Ali Ibn Abi Talib—known as “Imam Ali,” the first imam of the Shiites and the Prophet Muhammad’s cousin and son-in-law. Najaf is a major center of worship for Shiite Muslims, attracting more pilgrims than any other site except Mecca and Medina.

The Imam Ali Mosque enshrines this revered figure’s burial place and is considered the third-holiest Islamic site for Shiites. Next to it is the Wadi al-Salam Cemetery, the world’s largest burial ground. Over the centuries, the shrine has fostered a rich cultural landscape of hospices, schools, libraries, and Sufi centers. In the evening, we’ll arrive in Nasiriyah for the night.

Day 5 Ur; the Marshes of Southern Iraq

Our first stop today is Ur, one of the most important Sumerian cities. Founded around 3800 BCE, it was a major Mesopotamian center and is famously linked to the biblical patriarch Abraham. Today, the city’s archaeological remains are part of the “Ur Archaeological City” UNESCO World Heritage site.

We'll continue to the Shatt al-Arab river delta, where the Tigris and Euphrates meet. This region is home to the "marsh Arabs," whom some researchers believe are spiritual descendants of St. John the Baptist—also known as Mandaeans or Sabians.

Visiting Marsh Arabs in the Mesopotamian Marshes of Southern Iraq (travelogue)

We'll take a boat tour through the marshes.

These vast wetlands span about 9,000 square kilometers and are considered by some to be the biblical Garden of Eden. Once reduced to just 10% of their original size, restoration projects have successfully restored nearly half of the marshes to their natural state.

We'll proceed to Nasiriyah, where we'll spend the night.

Day 6 Uruk and Ctesiphon; back to Baghdad

Today, we'll visit Uruk (now known as Warka), an ancient Sumerian—and later Babylonian—city east of the Euphrates River’s dried-up channel. Uruk played a central role in Sumer’s early urbanization in the mid-4th millennium BCE. With 40,000 inhabitants in the city and up to 90,000 in the surrounding area, it was the world’s largest urban center of its time.

Next, we’ll travel to Ctesiphon on the eastern bank of the Tigris. For over eight centuries, this magnificent city was the capital of the Iranian Empire during the Parthian and Sassanid periods. We’ll explore its historic remains and ancient ruins.

We'll spend the night at our hotel in Baghdad.

Day 7 Samarra

Today we’ll visit Samarra, on the eastern bank of the Tigris, 125 kilometers north of Baghdad. The Abbasid Caliph al-Mu'tasim founded the modern city in 836 CE as a new administrative capital and military base. During the Iraqi Civil War, Samarra was part of the "Sunni Triangle" of resistance.

The Samarra Archaeological Site preserves much of the historic city, its architecture, and artistic relics. It became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2007.

Our first stop is the Great Mosque of Samarra, built by the Abbasid Caliph Al-Mutawakkil between 848 and 851 CE.

The second major site is the Abu Dulaf Mosque, built by Caliph Al-Mutawakkil in 859 CE.

The third significant site is the remains of a circular pool, surrounded by reception halls in Dar al-Khilafa (the Caliph's palace), built by Al-Mu'tasim (r. 833–842 CE).

In the evening, around 11:30 PM, we’ll head to the airport for our early 3:15 AM flight the next day. This overnight stay is included in the price.

Day 8 Flights back home

Today, you’ll either fly back to Istanbul or continue on to your home country.

How to join us

Please email us for more information about this trip or to sign up. We’ll respond promptly and keep you updated on all organizational details. If you’re a group of 5–8 people, we can discuss dates that work for you. You can also join the list for future trips—just send us your names. That’s it!

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