Short description
Our journey through Federal Iraq begins in Baghdad, the capital city. We'll explore the historic Al-Mustansiriya University, Al-Abbasid Palace, the Museum of Iraq, and the Monument to the Victims. We'll also stroll down the bustling Al-Mutanabbi Street, the city's cultural heart. From there, we'll visit the ancient city of Babylon and Saddam Hussein's Palace, which sits 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 delta of the Shatt al-Arab river, 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 with an overnight stay in a guesthouse.
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 proud capital of the Iranian Empire. The journey concludes with a tour of the remarkable UNESCO World Heritage site of ancient Samarra.
Basic information
Dates: 15-22 October, 2025;
Duration: 7 nights/8 days;
Group: 7-8 people;
Price of the program in Federal Iraq excluding flight tickets: 1,960 EUR/person (group of 7/8 people). If the group is smaller than 7 people, the price will slightly increase;
The price includes:
Guides: An english-speaking company tour leader; local guide/driver;
Transportation: Transfers to and from the airport in Baghdad and throughout the country by minibus along the route;
Accommodation: 4-star Al Sadeer Palace Hotel in Baghdad (https://al-sadir-palace-baghdad.booked.net/); Al-Zaitoon Hotel in Nasiriyah - https://al-zaitoon-hotel.business.site/; guest house in southern Iraq; All accommodations include breakfast;
Excursions and museum visits: all entrance tickets for museums and the boat trip in the southern Iraq marshes.
Price does not include: International airfares; lunches and dinners (food is not expensive); travel insurance (we can arrange this if needed); e-visa ($77; we will arrange it); personal expenses.
(1) Flights
The group will fly from Istanbul Sabiha airport, Turkey (Pegasus Airlines). We can book flights from your home country to Istanbul or directly to Baghdad. We'll also arrange your transfer to the Baghdad hotel. Contact us for available options.
Departure: Istanbul 23.35 - Baghdad 02.20;
Return:
Baghdad 03.25 - Istanbul 06.25;
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'll arrive in Baghdad early in the morning. After transferring to our hotel—the Al Sadeer Palace Hotel or similar—we'll check in and rest briefly.
We'll then explore the Iraqi capital, visiting key landmarks: Al-Mustansiriya School, Al-Abbasid Palace, the Iraq Museum, and the Monument to the Victims. Our tour includes a stroll along Al-Mutanabbi, Baghdad's vibrant central street. Don't worry if we can't see everything today—we'll have another opportunity for sightseeing on our final day.
Day 3 Babylon and Saddam Hussein's Palace
After visiting the Museum of Iraq, we'll continue to Babylon—one of the world's most renowned ancient cities. Located on the Euphrates riverbank in Mesopotamia, Babylon lies in modern-day Babil province.
Overlooking the ancient ruins is Saddam Hussein's Palace, built during the economic embargo following the 1991 Gulf War. The palace later served as American forces' headquarters from 2003 to 2011. As evening falls, we'll journey to Karbala for the night.
Day 4 Karbala and Najaf
Today, we'll visit Karbala, one of the holiest sites for Shia Muslims, surpassed in importance only by Mecca and Najaf. The city consists of old and new sections, with the Mashhad al-Husayn—the tomb of Husayn bin Ali, Prophet Muhammad's grandson—at its heart. 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 to be one of the gateways to paradise.
Next, we'll visit Najaf to see 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 stands as a major center of worship for the Shiite Islamic world, surpassed in pilgrim numbers only by Mecca and Medina.
The Imam Ali Mosque, which houses this revered figure's burial place, is considered the third holiest Islamic site by Shiites. Adjacent to it lies the Wadi al-Salam Cemetery, the world's largest burial ground. Through the centuries, the shrine has attracted a rich cultural landscape of hospices, schools, libraries, and Sufi centers. We'll return to Baghdad in the evening.
Day 5 The Marshes of Southern Iraq; Nasiriyah
Today, we will continue to the delta of the Shatt al-Arab river, which forms where the Tigris and Euphrates rivers meet. This region is home to the "marsh Arabs," whom some researchers believe are the spiritual descendants of St. John the Baptist—also known as Mandaeans or Sab.
We will 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 they were 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 proceed to Nasiriyah, where we'll explore the ruins of Ur—one of the most significant Sumerian cities. We'll spend the night in Nasiriyah.
Day 6 Uruk
Today, we'll visit Uruk (known today as Warka), an ancient Sumerian and later Babylonian city located east of the Euphrates River's dried-up ancient channel. Uruk was crucial to Sumer's early urbanization in the mid-4th millennium BCE. With 40,000 inhabitants in the city and up to 90,000 people in the surrounding area, it was believed to be 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 Iranian Empire's capital 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 will visit Samarra, situated 125 kilometers north of Baghdad on the eastern bank of the Tigris. The modern city was founded in 836 CE by the Abbasid caliph al-Mu'tasim, who established it as his new administrative capital and military base. During the Iraq War, Samarra became known as part of the "Sunni Triangle" of resistance.
The archaeological site of Samarra contains remarkable remnants of the historical city, preserving its distinctive architecture and artistic treasures. UNESCO recognized its significance by designating it as a World Heritage Site in 2007.
We'll need to arrive at the airport by 23:30 for our early morning flight at 03:15 the next day. The 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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