Tour Overview
| Duration | 7 Days / 6 Nights |
|---|---|
| Country | Iraq — Kurdistan Region |
| Price From | $2,795 per person (twin share) |
| Tour Style | Cultural / Mountain Explorer |
| Data Source | Young Pioneer Tours / Kurdistan Tourism — 2026 |
Itinerary Highlights
Day 1: Arrive Erbil — One of the World’s Oldest Cities
Arrive at Erbil International Airport. Transfer to hotel. Afternoon: visit the Erbil Citadel, a UNESCO World Heritage site continuously inhabited for 6,000+ years — one of the oldest continuously inhabited settlements on Earth. Walk through the restored citadel and visit the Kurdish Textile Museum. Evening: explore the bustling Qaysari Bazaar below the citadel, dating to the Ottoman era. Overnight in Erbil.
Day 2: Erbil — Kurdish Capital
Full day in Erbil. Morning: Kurdish Heritage Museum and the Syriac Heritage Museum, documenting the region’s Christian and Assyrian history. Afternoon: Sami Abdulrahman Park, Erbil’s massive green space. Visit Ankawa, the Christian quarter, with its churches and Assyrian community. Evening: dinner at a traditional restaurant with live Kurdish music. Overnight in Erbil.
Day 3: Lalish — Sacred Yezidi Pilgrimage Site
Day trip to Lalish (1.5 hours), the holiest site of the Yezidi religion — one of the world’s oldest monotheistic faiths. Walk barefoot through the sacred valley where the conical-domed shrine of Sheikh Adi rises among ancient olive trees. Learn about Yezidi beliefs including the Peacock Angel (Melek Taus) from community members. The Yezidi community has endured immense suffering, making a visit both culturally profound and an act of solidarity. Afternoon: return to Erbil. Overnight in Erbil.
Day 4: Duhok & Zawa Mountain
Drive to Duhok (2.5 hours), a beautiful city nestled between two mountain ranges. Afternoon: cable car ride up Zawa Mountain for spectacular views over Duhok and the surrounding valleys. Visit the Duhok Dam and its scenic lake. Evening: explore Duhok’s vibrant bazaar. Overnight in Duhok.
Day 5: Amedi — The Mountain Citadel
Day trip to Amedi (1.5 hours), one of the most spectacularly located ancient cities in the world — perched on a flat-topped mountain at 1,200m, completely surrounded by cliffs. Believed to be the home of the Biblical Magi (Three Wise Men). Walk the ancient streets with their distinctive arched gate. Visit the ruins of a Zoroastrian fire temple and an ancient synagogue. Views stretch across the Kurdish mountains to Turkey. Overnight in Duhok.
Day 6: Rawanduz Gorge & Hamilton Road
Drive the legendary Hamilton Road (built 1928-1932 by New Zealand engineer A.M. Hamilton) through the Rawanduz Gorge — one of the Middle East’s most spectacular drives with hairpin turns carved into sheer cliffs. Visit Bekhal Waterfall cascading into the gorge. Afternoon: arrive in Soran district. Visit Shanidar Cave, where Neanderthal skeletons (including the famous “Shanidar 1” who lived with severe disabilities into his 40s, suggesting Neanderthal compassion) were discovered in the 1950s. Evening return to Erbil. Farewell dinner. Overnight in Erbil.
Day 7: Depart Erbil
Morning visit to the Erbil Civilization Museum. Transfer to airport.
Inclusions
- 6 nights accommodation (Erbil 3 + Duhok 2 + Erbil 1)
- Daily breakfast + 4 dinners
- Private vehicle with driver throughout
- Erbil Citadel & Qaysari Bazaar guided tour
- Lalish Yezidi pilgrimage site visit
- Duhok cable car & Zawa Mountain
- Amedi mountain citadel tour
- Rawanduz Gorge & Hamilton Road drive
- Shanidar Cave visit
- Airport transfers
- English-speaking guide
Why Iraqi Kurdistan
- Erbil Citadel — 6,000+ years of continuous habitation
- Lalish — the holiest site of the Yezidi faith, older than Christianity or Islam
- Amedi — a mountain citadel that might be the home of the Three Wise Men
- Rawanduz Gorge — one of the Middle East’s most spectacular drives
- A safe, welcoming region with extraordinary hospitality
