15-Day Iraq & Kurdistan Long Tour: The Complete Mesopotamia to Mountains

Tour Overview

Discover the cradle of civilization on this comprehensive 15-day tour through Iraq and Iraqi Kurdistan, from the ancient Mesopotamian cities of Babylon and Nineveh to the stunning mountains of Kurdistan. Explore the world greatest collection of Mesopotamian artifacts, visit holy Shia sites, experience the unique culture of the Kurds, and witness the dramatic landscapes of northern Iraq.

Itinerary Highlights

Day 1: Arrival in Baghdad

Arrive in Baghdad and transfer to your hotel. Explore the city: Iraq Museum (housing the world greatest collection of Mesopotamian artifacts including the Code of Hammurabi replica, the Assyrian winged bulls, and the Sumerian artifacts), Al-Shaheed Monument, Unknown Soldier Monument, and historic Al-Mutanabbi Street (book sellers street). Evening welcome dinner with Iraqi cuisine including masgouf (grilled carp). Overnight in Baghdad.

Day 2: Babylon & Kish

Morning drive to Babylon (88km south), the legendary capital of ancient Mesopotamia. Explore the ruins: Ishtar Gate reconstruction, Processional Way, Palace of Nebuchadnezzar II, Temple of Marduk, foundations of the Hanging Gardens (one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World). Visit Hillah town. After lunch, visit ancient Sumerian city of Kish with its ziggurat and royal cemetery. Return to Baghdad. Overnight in Baghdad.

Day 3: Najaf & Karbala

Morning drive to Najaf (160km south), one of the holiest cities in Shia Islam. Visit the Imam Ali Mosque with its stunning golden dome (burial place of Imam Ali, the fourth caliph and first Shia Imam). Explore the historic city and the vast Wadi al-Salaam cemetery (the largest in the world). After lunch, drive to Karbala (80km), site of the martyrdom of Imam Hussein in 680 AD. Visit the Imam Hussein Shrine and Al-Abbas Shrine with their golden domes. Return to Baghdad. Overnight in Baghdad.

Day 4: Samarra & Tikrit

Morning drive to Samarra (125km north), a UNESCO World Heritage Site and 9th-century Abbasid capital. Visit the Great Mosque of Samarra with its iconic Malwiya Minaret (52-meter spiral minaret, one of the most distinctive landmarks in Islamic architecture). Visit the Abbasid Palace and Qasr al-Ashiq. After lunch, continue to Tikrit, birthplace of Saladin. Visit Tikrit Museum and the historic city. Return to Baghdad. Overnight in Baghdad.

Day 5: Baghdad to Mosul & Nineveh

Morning fly to Mosul (1.5 hours). Upon arrival, visit ancient Nineveh, capital of the Neo-Assyrian Empire across the Tigris River. Explore the ruins: palace of King Sennacherib (705-681 BC) with relief carvings, Nergal Gate, Mashki Gate, massive city walls (750 hectares). Visit Mosul Museum. Explore old city undergoing reconstruction. Visit Al-Nuri Mosque (famous leaning minaret Al-Hadba, destroyed by ISIS in 2017, being reconstructed). Overnight in Mosul.

Day 6: Nimrud & Khorsabad

Morning visit Nimrud (Kalhu), 30km south of Mosul, one of the great Neo-Assyrian capitals. Explore: palace of King Ashurnasirpal II (883-859 BC) with relief carvings and famous Lamassu (winged bull) statues, ziggurat, temple of Ninurta. After lunch, visit Khorsabad (Dur-Sharrukin), capital of King Sargon II (722-705 BC), with massive palace and Lamassu statues. Return to Mosul. Overnight in Mosul.

Day 7: Mosul to Erbil (Kurdistan)

Morning drive to Erbil (Hawler), capital of Iraqi Kurdistan and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities (over 6,000 years). Visit the Erbil Citadel (UNESCO), a massive fortified settlement on a 30-meter-high mound in the city center, with its narrow alleys, traditional houses, and the Kurdistan Textile Museum. Explore the bustling bazaar below the citadel. Visit Sami Abdulrahman Park and the modern city. Evening enjoy Kurdish cuisine including dolma, kebabs, and Kurdish tea. Overnight in Erbil.

Day 8: Erbil – Shanidar Cave & Rawanduz

Morning drive to Shanidar Cave in the Zagros Mountains, where remains of nine Neanderthal individuals were discovered (60,000-80,000 years old), providing key evidence about Neanderthal burial practices and care for the injured. Visit the cave and surrounding mountain scenery. After lunch, continue to Rawanduz, a beautiful mountain town in Soran District known for its stunning canyon (Rawanduz Gorge), Bekhal Waterfall, and Gali Ali Beg Waterfall. Walk through the canyon. Visit Korek Mountain resort with cable car. Overnight in Erbil or Rawanduz.

Day 9: Erbil to Sulaymaniyah

Morning drive to Sulaymaniyah (Silemani), second-largest city in Iraqi Kurdistan and its cultural capital. Visit the Sulaymaniyah Museum (Kurdistan Museum), one of the best in Iraq with excellent regional artifacts. Visit Amna Suraka Museum (Red Security Building), a former Iraqi intelligence headquarters and prison converted into a museum documenting Saddam regime atrocities against Kurds including the Anfal campaign and Halabja chemical attack. Visit Sulaymaniyah Old Bazaar, historic center. Visit University of Sulaymaniyah and Azadi Park. Evening enjoy Kurdish cuisine and vibrant cultural scene. Overnight in Sulaymaniyah.

Day 10: Halabja & Ahmed Awa

Morning drive to Halabja near the Iranian border, site of the infamous March 16, 1988 chemical weapons attack by Saddam regime that killed an estimated 5,000 civilians. Visit the Halabja Monument and Museum, a memorial to victims with exhibits documenting events and survivor stories. Visit Halabja cemetery with mass graves and memorials. After lunch, visit nearby Ahmed Awa waterfall, a beautiful waterfall in the Zagros Mountains near the Iranian border with hiking trails. Visit nearby Byara town and border areas. Return to Sulaymaniyah. Overnight in Sulaymaniyah.

Day 11: Dukan Lake & to Dohuk

Morning visit Lake Dukan (Dukan Dam), a beautiful artificial lake in the Zagros Mountains near Sulaymaniyah, created by the Dukan Dam on the Little Zab River. Popular recreational area with beautiful scenery, islands, boating, fishing, swimming. Visit the dam and lake, enjoy mountain scenery. After lunch, drive to Dohuk (Dihok), capital of Dohuk Governorate in northern Iraqi Kurdistan near Turkey and Syria borders. Visit Dohuk Museum, historic old town, Dohuk Dam and lake, beautiful surrounding countryside. Visit nearby ancient Assyrian ruins. Evening enjoy Kurdish cuisine in Dohuk. Overnight in Dohuk.

Day 12: Lalish & Alqosh

Morning visit Lalish, the holiest site of the Yazidi religion, in a beautiful mountain valley near Dohuk. The Yazidis are a unique religious minority with a syncretic religion combining Zoroastrianism, Islam, Christianity, and ancient Mesopotamian elements. Visit the Lalish temple (holiest Yazidi shrine, burial place of Sheikh Adi ibn Musafir, founder of the Yazidi religion), sacred springs, olive tree, and surrounding valley. Learn about Yazidi religion, culture, history, including recent ISIS persecution and ongoing recovery. After lunch, visit Alqosh, an ancient Assyrian Christian town in the Nineveh Plains near Dohuk with thousands of years of history. Visit ancient Assyrian Christian churches including Rabban Hormizd Monastery (6th-century Chaldean Catholic monastery carved into mountainside, one of oldest in Iraq), Tomb of the Prophet Nahum (believed burial place of biblical prophet Nahum), and ancient Assyrian ruins. Visit Alqosh Museum and historic old town. Return to Dohuk. Overnight in Dohuk.

Day 13: Dohuk to Erbil (via Zakho)

Morning visit Zakho, historic town on the Turkish border, known for its ancient stone bridge (Delal Bridge, historic stone arch bridge over Khabur River), Zakho Castle, and historic old town. Visit nearby Ishikveran village and ancient Assyrian Christian villages. After lunch, drive back to Erbil (3-4 hours), arriving late afternoon. Visit Erbil Citadel for final visit and old bazaar for last-minute shopping for Kurdish handicrafts including carpets, textiles, jewelry, traditional clothing. Evening enjoy farewell dinner in Erbil with Kurdish cuisine and music. Overnight in Erbil.

Day 14: Erbil Final Day

Final day in Erbil. Visit any missed sites, do last-minute shopping in bazaars and malls, or relax in a traditional Kurdish tea house or hammam. Visit Erbil Citadel for a final walk and Kurdistan Textile Museum. After lunch, visit Sami Abdulrahman Park and modern city center. Evening special farewell dinner. Overnight in Erbil.

Day 15: Departure from Erbil

Morning transfer to Erbil International Airport for your departure flight, concluding your extraordinary 15-day Iraq and Kurdistan tour through the cradle of civilization and the mountains of Kurdistan.

What’s Included

• Air-conditioned vehicle
• Driver
• Fuel Cost, Parking Fee, Toll Fee
• Accommodation in selected hotels
• Daily breakfast

What’s Not Included

• Entrance fees to attractions
• Tour Guide
• Meal (lunch and dinner)
• International flights
• Travel insurance
• Personal expenses