Iraq – Grand Iraq Summer Tour

Itinerary

Friday 12 May – Baghdad

• Arrive at your own convenience at the hotel in Baghdad (we will provide instructions).
• Meet up with our local guide who will give an introduction on travelling in Iraq.
• If time permits we will visit a couple of famous sights in Baghdad.
• Al-Mutanabbi street, this is the famous book street, here used to gather all the intellectuals.
• When possible we’ll take a quick tour around at Tahir Square, Firdos Square (where Saddam’s statue was toppled in 2003), Liberation Square and Former Camp Al-Adala (where Saddam was hanged) and try to catch a glimpse of the crossed swords, which are located in the off limits green zone.
• Overnight stay in Baghdad.

Saturday 13 May – Baghdad – Ctesiphone

• National Museum.
• Al-Mustansariya School, this used to be the most important university in the Islamic world.
• Copper market.
• Drive to Ctesiphone.
• Take a look at the old, gigantic brick arch and climb up yourself.
• Drive to Baghdad.
• Overnight stay in Baghdad.

Sunday 14 May – Baghad – Samarra – Agargouf Ziggurat – Karbala

• Getting up early for the drive to Samarra, on the way we drive through villages that have been destroyed in the fight against IS.
• Highlight: See the Samarra Minaret (also known as the Great Mosque of Samarra). If you like you can walk to the top.
• Drive back via Abu Ghraib (not the prison).
• Agargouf Ziggurat, a popular place for relaxation during the Saddam Hussein period.
• Continue on south to Iraq’s holiest city of Karbala.
• Dinner and overnight in Karbala.

Monday 15 May – Karbala – Babylon – Najaf

• Al Abbas Mosque, the place where Abbas ibn Ali is buried.
• Imam Hussein Shrine, the place where Imam Hussein is buried.
• Drive to Babylon.
• Highlight: Guided tour of the ruins of Babylon, including the Hanging Gardens and the Tower of Babel.
• Palace of Saddam Hussein, on top of a hill in the centre in Babylon.
• We continue to Najaf.
• Visit to the evening ceremony at the Imam Ali Shrine. Imam Ali is buried here.
• Dinner and Overnight in Najaf.

Tuesday 16 May – Najaf – Marshes – Basra

• House of Imam Ali. Imam Ali was the son-in-law and nephew of the prophet Mohammed. This is where he was murdered.
• Kufa Mosque, one of the oldest mosques in the world.
• Wadi-e-salam Cemetery, probably the largest Islamic cemetery in the world.
• Highlight: Visit to the ziggurat of Ur. An imposing structure in the middle of the desert.
• Drive to the Marshes (wetlands).
• Boat trip through the wetlands, with the famous ‘floating villages’.
• Drive to Basra.
• Overnight stay in Basra.

Wednesday 17 May – Basra – Baghdad

• Highlight: Ashar & Shanashil Al Basra (Old Basra).
• Boat trip on the Shatt Al Arab River, where we see several shipwrecks.
• Former Palace of Saddam Hussein.
• Long drive back to Baghdad, just outside of Basra we’ll visit the vast Basra British War Memorial.
• Overnight stay in Baghdad.

Thursday 18 May – Baghdad

• Depending on departure times we will visit the following sights in Baghad
• Highlight: Al Shaheed Monument, an imposing structure commemorating the first Gulf War.
• Visit to the Unknown Soldier Monument in Badgdad, an impressive spot to visit. (if accessible)
• Airport drop-off.
• End of tour.
• OR: join the Kurdistan Summer Tour.