JOURNEY THROUGH FEDERAL IRAQ

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Short description

Our journey through Federal Iraq begins in Baghdad, the capital city. We'll explore the historic Al-Mustansiriya University, the Al-Abbasid Palace, the Museum of Iraq, and the Monument to the Victims. We'll also stroll down Al-Mutanabbi Street, the city's bustling cultural heart. From there, we'll visit the ancient city of Babylon and Saddam Hussein's Palace, perched majestically on a hill overlooking the ancient ruins. Our 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 Mosque of Imam Ali.

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

Our exploration continues to ancient 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 with a tour of ancient Samarra, a remarkable UNESCO World Heritage site.

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

Basic information

This program offers an overview of the key aspects of the trip. If you require customized solutions based on your specific case and circumstances, please contact us via email. We can arrange flight tickets from any location worldwide to the trip's starting point. Furthermore, we can handle hotel transfers and any necessary documents. Our team will provide assistance throughout the entire organization process. Feel free to reach out to us without hesitation via email!

Program

Day 1 Flight to Baghdad, the capital of Iraq

Overnight flight to Baghdad. 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 fly through Istanbul, we may meet there. If not, we'll meet at the hotel in Baghdad. You'll receive detailed information about the hotel's name, address, and meeting time.

Day 2 Arriving in Bagdad; 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 in the previous day. Then we'll 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 Museum of Iraq (it may be closed due to reconstruction). If closed, we'll tour the Green Zone of Baghdad with its 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 allocated several hours for complete exploration.

Saddam Hussein's Palace sits on a hill in the middle of the ancient city. It was built during the economic embargo following the 1991 Gulf War and 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 has old and new sections, with the Mashhad al-Husayn at its heart—the tomb of Husayn bin Ali, Prophet Muhammad's grandson. During the annual Ashura observance, hundreds of thousands of devoted 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'll continue to Najaf to visit the tomb of Ali Ibn Abi Talib-known as "Imam Ali," the first imam of the Shiites and 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 houses this revered figure's burial place and is considered the third holiest Islamic site by Shiites. Adjacent to it lies the Wadi al-Salam Cemetery, the world's largest burial ground. Over the centuries, the shrine has attracted 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; he Marshes of Southern Iraq

Our first stop today is Ur, one of the most important Sumerian cities. Founded around 3800 BCE, Ur 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 rivers 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. Though once reduced to just 10% of their original size, restoration projects have successfully returned almost half of the marsh areas to their natural state.

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

Day 6 Uruk and Ctesiphon; back to Baghadad

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 was central to 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 journey to Ctesiphon on the Tigris' eastern bank. For over eight centuries, this magnificent city served as 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, located 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 (who ruled 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 return 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 suit you. You can also join the list for future trips—just send us your names. It's that simple!

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