Iraq: Adventure from North to South
| Duration: 11 days / 10 nights | Price: 2,695/ person in a shared double room, half board. | Group size: Min. 6 persons |
The published prices are calculated for groups of at least 6 travellers. However, Viajes a Irak ensures that outings can be organised for smaller groups. In these cases the price will vary, being higher due to the smaller number of people in the group.
Departure dates 2026:
From 15 April to 26 April - Guaranteed departure - only 3 places left!
From 18 October to 29 October
From 15 November to 26 November
Discover Iraq and Kurdistan: A Safe Journey to the Heart of Ancient Mesopotamia
Can you imagine touring the cradle of human civilisation, walking among the ziggurats of Sumer, the legendary streets of Babylon and the ancient fortresses of Kurdistan? This complete tour package invites you to live an unforgettable experience through the historical, religious and natural treasures of Iraq and Iraqi Kurdistan, in a tour organised with total security and accompaniment from the outset. This is a author's journeydesigned and accompanied by me. I am a profound connoisseur of both culturesI speak Arabic and Spanish as mother tongues. During the tour I will be at your side to facilitate contact with the population, interpret the cultural codes and ensure that you experience this adventure in a comfortable, safe and meaningful way.
This is not just any trip. It is a unique opportunity for those seeking cultural adventure, real encounters and the privilege of discovering a destination that is just beginning to open up to the world.
Travel differently. Travel authentic. Travel to Iraq with me.
Itinerary
Day 1: ARRIVAL IN BASRA
Early arrival at Basra International Airport. After completing visa formalities, we begin our cultural immersion with a visit to the Basra MuseumThe tour is a fascinating insight into the history of ancient Mesopotamia. We then head to Las Marismas de Mesopotamia ( marshes of Mesopotamia) to enjoy the beautiful nature and do some activities:
- We will have a traditional lunch with a local family. The meal will be one of the country's national dishes, Masgouf, grilled fish, with typical bread accompanied by other dishes.
- Enjoy an enchanting walk through the marshes of Iraq, World Heritage, to dmire the lush vegetation, wildlife and reed houses.
We will return to Basrah to take a short tour of Shatt Al- Arab and enjoy the nightlife of the Iraqi people.
Dinner and overnight stay after a busy day in Basra.
Day 2: ZIGGURAT OF UR AND URUK- NAJAF
We start the day by visiting the imposing Ziggurat of Ur, built around 2100 B.C. and declared UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2016. This ancient stepped tower, dedicated to the moon god Nanna, is a symbol of the greatness of Sumerian civilisation. Afterwards, we head to Uruk, considered the world's first civilisation, where cuneiform writing originated around 3000 BC and a culture that marked the beginning of human written history. Uruk is also famous as the home of King Gilgamesh, the protagonist of the famous epic.
After lunch, we head to Najaf:. We will visit the holy city for Shiite Muslims, take a break at the hotel to recharge our batteries, then we will visit the Shrine of Imam Ali. We then stroll through the bustling Najaf Bazaar, near the imposing mosque.
The day ends with a delicious dinner and overnight in Najaf, where you can rest after a journey full of history and spirituality.
Day 3: NAJAF - KUFA - BABYLON - BAGHDAD
We start the day with a good breakfast, then we head to visit the Wadi Al-Salam Cemetery, the largest in the world, which is home to more than 7 million graves. It is a holy site for Shi'ite Muslims, being the burial place of key religious figures. It is one of the largest and oldest cemeteries in the world. It has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 24 January 2011.
We then set off to explore the historic Kufa Mosque, famous for its connection with Imam Ali.
After a short break for lunch, we head to Thu al-Kifl, where the tomb of the Prophet is believed to be located (Ezequiel), an important religious site.
The day culminates with a visit to the ancient BabylonThe city of Hammurabi and Nebuchadnezzar II, where we admire:
- The Ishtar Gate
- The Lion of Babylon
- The remains of the palace
- The ruins of temples and processional streets
- The Saddam Hussein's palace built on the ancient ruins
Lunch in the area and departure to Baghdad for dinner and overnight.
Day 4: BAGHDAD
After breakfast, we start the day with a visit to the National Museum of Iraqwhere we admire important archaeological treasures from ancient Mesopotamia.
Next, we dive into the literary heart of the city with a visit to the legendary Al-Mutanabbi Streetfamous for its bookshops and intellectual atmosphere. We enjoyed a traditional tea in the historic tea houses. Al-Shabander (founded in 1904).
We travel through the copper marketthe former Al-Mustansiriya School and Abbasid Palace.
After lunch, we spend the afternoon visiting different emblematic places and typical areas of Baghdad, to continue discovering the history and daily life of this fascinating city. Dinner at a local restaurant and overnight in Baghdad.
Day 5: CTESIFON, ZIGURAT OF AKARKOUF AND SANCTUARIES
We start the day with a traditional Iraqi breakfast. We leave for CtesiphonThe Kesra Arch, one of the most impressive remnants of the Sassanid Persian Empire.
We then headed to the ziggurat of AkarkoufThe building is a millenary construction that connects us with the spiritual and astronomical legacy of ancient Mesopotamia.
We have lunch in Baghdad and in the afternoon we continue to discover emblematic and lively corners of the city, with visits to places steeped in history, tradition and spirituality, where cultures and beliefs that are part of the soul of Iraq coexist.
Dinner and overnight in Baghdad.
Day 6: SAMARRA - HATRA - MOSUL
We started the day with an early breakfast and set off to Samarraone of the most important capitals of the Abbasid Caliphate. There we visit the iconic Minaret of Samarra (al-Minārat al-Malwiyyah), with its famous ramp built in the 9th century, a unique architectural jewel of the Islamic world.
We continue our journey northwards towards Hatrafounded in the 3rd century BC, which reached its peak in the 1st and 2nd centuries AD under Parthian rule. Its impressive architecture mixes Roman, Hellenistic and Oriental elements, and it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its extraordinary conservation.
Picnic lunch on the way. Finally we arrive at MosulWe enjoyed a traditional dinner in a city with more than 2,500 years of history and stayed there to rest.
Day 7: MOSUL - PAST AND PRESENT
After breakfast, we spent the day exploring MosulMosul, a city that, despite years of harsh recent conflict, retains a deep historical and cultural richness. Situated on the banks of the Tigris, Mosul has been an important commercial and religious centre since ancient times.
We start by visiting the Mar Mattai Monasteryfounded in 363 AD, one of the oldest Christian monasteries in the world still in operation. Located atop a mountain, it offers a privileged view of the Nineveh Valley and connects us to the legacy of Syriac Christianity in the region.
We continue towards the heart of the city to see the Al-Nuri Grand MosqueFamous for its 12th century leaning minaret - the "Al-Hadba" - which was destroyed during the ISIS occupation and is currently being rebuilt.
We visit the old area, partially devastated between 2014 and 2017, where recovery efforts show us the resilience of the people of Mosul. We also tour the historic FISH MARKET and the Al-Tahera churchbuilt at the end of the 19th century, a symbol of the inter-religious coexistence that characterised the city for centuries.
We then headed to the outskirts to visit the remains of the ancient city of NinevehIt was the capital of the Assyrian Empire in the 7th century BC. Stretches of the city wall and the monumental Nergal GateThe remains of one of the most powerful urban centres of the ancient world.
Accommodation in the city.
Day 8: DUHOK - LALISH
After breakfast, we leave Mosul and head towards the northern mountainous region. Our first stop is on the outskirts of Duhokwhere we visited the reliefs of Khenisalso known as the Maltai sculptures. Carved into the rock during the reign of the Assyrian king Sargon II (8th century BC), these reliefs depict scenes of royal processions and ancient hydraulic systems. They are an exceptional testimony to the level of engineering and political symbolism of the Assyrian Empire.
We continue to LalishThe Yazidis are considered to be the holiest place in the Yazidi religion. It is the site of the Sheikh Adi TempleLalish, the central figure of Yazidism, whose origins go back to pre-Islamic traditions with Mesopotamian, Zoroastrian and Sufi influences. Lalish has been a centre of pilgrimage for the Yazidi community for centuries, and its stone temples with conical domes are unique in their architecture and spirituality. After this spiritual and cultural tour, we return to Duhoka modern city with ancient roots. We cross the Abbasid bridgeWe will visit the medieval town, built on the river that crosses the city, and enjoy some free time in its traditional markets, where Kurdish, Arab and Armenian influences mingle.
Dinner and overnight in Duhok.
Day 9: AMADIYA - ERBIL - LIVING CITY OF THE EAST
After breakfast, we leave for AmadiyaAmadiya, a small ancient city perched atop a rocky plateau at an altitude of more than 1,200 metres. With more than 4,000 years of history, Amadiya was inhabited by Assyrians, Persians and Kurds, and retains remains such as the iconic Badinan Gatebuilt in the 14th century. Its legends and panoramic views make it one of the most unique towns in Kurdistan.
After the visit, we went to ErbilThe capital of Iraqi Kurdistan and one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world. There we explore the Erbil Citadeldeclared UNESCO World Heritage Site, with more than 7,000 years of continuous occupation history. This iconic elevated settlement dominates the city centre and retains the essence of centuries of history.
During the afternoon, we continued to discover typical and representative places of the cityThe museum's collection of books, which give us a better understanding of the cultural, social and architectural life of modern-day Erbil.
Dinner and overnight in Erbil.
Day 10: KURDISTAN'S MOUNTAINS, MEMORY AND LANDSCAPES
After breakfast, we set off to explore the area around Erbil and enter a mountainous region of great historical and natural wealth.
We begin with a visit to the Barzani Museumdedicated to the figure of Mullah Mustafa BarzaniThe historical leader of the Kurdish people. The museum reviews his political legacy and the modern history of Iraqi Kurdistan. A few steps away is his mausoleum, a place of respect and remembrance.
Later, we visited the Shanidar Cavean archaeological site of world importance where Neanderthal remains more than 75,000 years oldand traces of funerary rituals. A place that connects directly with the most ancient origins of humanity.
We return to Erbil for dinner and rest at the hotel.
Day 11: RETURN HOME
Depending on the time of your flight, transport will be available to take you to the airport for your return flight. 
The trip includes
- 10 nights bed and breakfast in the planned hotels or similar 4-star hotels in a shared double room.
- Tramitation and fees visa to Iraq
- Basic health insurance in Iraq
- All transfers according to the programme.
- All tickets according to the programme.
- Half board.
- Official, experienced, English-speaking local guide.
- Bilingual tour leader (Spanish and Arabic) for groups of 9 or more people, who will accompany the group throughout the tour, guaranteeing a more fluid and personalised experience.
- Private transport by bus, minibus, minivan or car (depending on the number of passengers).
Planned establishments or similar
- BASORAH: 4* Hotel
- NAJAF: 4* Hotel
- BAGHDAD: 4* Hotel
- MOSUL: 4* Hotel
- Duhok: 4-star hotel
- Erbil: 5* Hotel
The trip does not include
- Flights are not included, but we will be happy to help you get the best connections and prices.
- Travel insurance, it is advisable to have one with maximum coverage.
- Personal expenses.
- Lunch or dinner as per programme (free to explore the local gastronomy or can be arranged on request).
- Tipping.
- Alcoholic beverages.
- Any other service requested or used during your stay (spa, room service, laundry, fridge, etc.).
- The standard supplement for a single room is €700.
What our travellers say
We are very travellers and it is worth it, culture, archaeology, diversity of landscapes, exceptional and welcoming people, we have felt more at home in security than in Spain, very good gastronomy, abundant and varied, sweets without comment and economic prices.
It is important not to go on your own, always with an agency.
We have travelled with :
viajesairak.es
I recommend her professionalism, Iraqi ancestry and good contacts that facilitate the whole trip with follow-up from the beginning to the end of the trip.
Iraq has a history of 5000 to 3000 BC, we visited Uruk, where writing was born and the invention of the wheel.
It is a safe country, we had no fear at all during the whole trip, the proof is the foreign investments that are being made.
Accommodation, which was excellent, is beginning to have a network of hotels and restaurants of a very high standard.
In addition to Mrs. Mariam, we were accompanied by a local guide Mr. Sagad with a lot of knowledge about the history of the country and a driver Mr. Mohamad with a lot of driving skills.
Iraq is a country to visit, and if you can do it with viajesairak.es, success is assured.
Joan
Vic (Barcelona)
Touring Babylon, Ur, Najaf or Kerbala is not just a succession of historical sites. It is to walk through places you have seen all your life in books, documentaries and stories, and discover that they are still alive, vibrant and full of humanity. Each city has its own rhythm, its own character and its own way of welcoming you.
We were particularly impressed by the hospitality. People who don't know you at all stop you in the street to welcome you, to invite you to tea, to ask you where you come from and thank you for choosing their country. This closeness, so natural and sincere, dismantles any previous prejudices.
The organisation of the trip was impeccable. We felt accompanied, safe and cared for at all times. The guides not only explain facts, they tell you stories, anecdotes and details that make each place come alive.
We came back with the feeling of having experienced something great, one of those trips that you never forget and that change the way you look at the world. Iraq is not just a destination, it is an experience that stays with you long after you have returned home.