TREASURES OF ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA

Arrival at Basra International Airport, reception and direct transfer to the hotel for check-in and rest.

Accommodation in Basra.

After breakfast in Basra, we begin the day with a visit to the Basra Civilization Museum, followed by a walk along the Basra Corniche, with views of the Shatt al-Arab, especially in the Al-Ashar area.

We continue exploring the traditional shanasheel, also known as mashrabiya, distinctive architectural elements found in historic houses and old palaces in Basra, Baghdad, and other Iraqi cities.

Next, we head to Qurna to visit the Tree of Adam, a site of great religious and historical importance located at the confluence of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.

Afterwards, we enter the Iraqi Marshes, a unique ecosystem renowned for its biodiversity and the traditional way of life of the Marsh Arab communities. We will take a ride in a traditional mashhouf boat, allowing us to appreciate the landscape from the water. Lunch will be served in a traditional reed house (al-mudhif), where we will taste the famous masgouf, grilled fish cooked over reeds.

In the afternoon, we continue by road towards Nasiriyah for accommodation.

After breakfast in Nasiriyah, departure to visit the ancient city of Ur, with its famous Ziggurat, one of the great architectural wonders of the Ancient Near East.

We continue towards Uruk (Warka), one of the first great urban and cultural centers of humanity, known for its monumental walls, temples, and palaces. Uruk is associated with the goddess Inanna and the development of cuneiform writing, one of the fundamental milestones in history.

After the visit, transfer by road to Najaf.

Accommodation in Najaf.

After breakfast, we visit Wadi Al-Salam Cemetery, the largest cemetery in the world, with millions of graves and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

We continue to the Shrine of Imam Ali (peace be upon him), one of the holiest sites in Shia Islam, located in the heart of the religious complex of Najaf.

Afterwards, departure towards Karbala to visit the Shrine of Imam Abbas, dedicated to Abbas ibn Ali, followed by the Shrine of Imam Hussein, one of the most revered sites in Shia Islam, where the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad was martyred in 680 AD.

Transfer to the hotel. Accommodation in Karbala.

After breakfast in Karbala, departure towards the ancient city of Babylon to explore its archaeological remains, including palaces, temples, and walls from different historical periods, particularly from the Neo-Babylonian period.

Babylon is known as one of the great cradles of Mesopotamian civilization (18th–6th centuries BC) and is associated with the legendary Hanging Gardens, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, although their existence remains a subject of historical debate.

We continue towards the Taq Kasra Arch, known as the Arch of Ctesiphon, an architectural marvel of the Sasanian Empire located on the outskirts of Baghdad. This impressive arch, with its brick structure and horseshoe shape, symbolizes the grandeur of the ancient Persian civilization.

Accommodation in Baghdad.

After breakfast in Baghdad, we begin the day with a visit to the Iraq National Museum (visit subject to completion of the restoration works), which houses an extraordinary collection of artifacts spanning the history of Mesopotamia, from ancient Sumer to the Islamic period.

Next, we head to Tahrir Square, one of the main landmarks of modern Baghdad, followed by a visit to the Martyrs’ Monument, designed by Iraqi sculptor Ismail Fattah Al-Turk in memory of Iraqi soldiers who died during the Iran-Iraq War.

We then travel towards the historic heart of the city to enjoy a boat ride on the Tigris River, disembarking near the Old City. We reach Al-Mutanabbi Street, Baghdad’s literary and intellectual center, filled with bookstores, antique stalls, and traditional cafés, and a historic meeting place for writers, poets, and thinkers.

From there, we walk along Al-Rasheed Street, one of the city’s oldest and most iconic avenues, characterized by its arcades, early 20th-century architecture, and historic shops, evoking Baghdad’s cosmopolitan past.

We continue with a visit to Al-Qishla, followed by the Abbasid Palace (8th century AD, visit subject to the condition of the restoration works), admired for its arches, brickwork, and peaceful courtyards. We also stop at the Mustansiriya School (visit subject to the condition of the restoration works), a masterpiece of the Abbasid educational legacy.

The day ends at the iconic Al-Shabander Café and the traditional markets in the surrounding area, before returning to the hotel.

Accommodation in Baghdad.

After breakfast in Baghdad, early departure towards Samarra, in Salah al-Din Governorate, to visit the iconic Spiral Minaret of the Great Mosque, one of the most unique architectural works of the Abbasid period and part of the complex designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site as the Archaeological City of Samarra.

We also visit the Abu Dulaf Mosque, another important remnant of the Abbasid period, before continuing towards the ancient city of Hatra.

Hatra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was an important fortified city of the Parthian Empire, known for its monumental temples, defensive walls, and unique architecture combining Hellenistic, Roman, and Eastern influences.

After the visit, we continue by road towards Mosul for accommodation

After breakfast in Mosul, we begin our visit to the Old City of Mosul. We will head to Al-Tahira Church, visited by Pope Francis in 2021 following its restoration. (Access inside the church is not permitted.) We will walk through the streets of the Old City, one of the oldest historic districts in the Middle East and the scene of significant reconstruction efforts in recent years.

Continuation towards the Great Mosque of Al-Nuri, built in the 12th century by Nur al-Din Zengi. With nearly 900 years of history, it is known for its iconic leaning minaret, nicknamed Al Hadba’ (“The Hunchback”), one of the most recognizable symbols of Mosul.

Afterwards, we will visit part of the ancient Walls of Nineveh, more than 3,000 years old. Along the route, we will be able to appreciate the conservation work being carried out at this important Assyrian archaeological site.

Transfer to Erbil and accommodation.

After breakfast in Mosul, we will visit Mar Mattai Monastery, followed by Lalish Temple, the sacred valley of the Yazidis in the Shekhan district. We will then visit the Khinnis (or Khinusa) reliefs, an Assyrian archaeological site, and finally head towards Duhok for an overnight stay.

Breakfast and we begin with the Faida Archaeological Complex, whose reliefs depict a procession of seven major deities of the Assyrian pantheon, standing on animal-shaped platforms and accompanied by the king, who is represented twice at each end of the panels. The figures appear in profile, facing left and looking in the same direction as the flow of the canal.

Continuation towards the Rabban Hormizd Monastery, carved into the mountain and founded in the 7th century. This monastery is a symbol of the region’s spirituality and an important center of the Assyrian Church of the East and the Chaldean Catholic Church. We will also visit the Alqosh Museum and the Tomb of the Prophet Nahum, a testament to the ancient Jewish presence in Mesopotamia and its coexistence with the early Christian communities.

At the end, transfer to Duhok. Accommodation in Duhok.

After breakfast, departure towards Amedi (Amadiya), one of the most unique cities in Iraqi Kurdistan, spectacularly situated on a natural plateau surrounded by deep valleys. Walk through its historic center, with impressive panoramic views, and visit its main points of interest, such as the Amedi Gate and the historic minaret, which reflect its long history from the Assyrian period to the medieval era.

We continue towards the Barzani Monument and Museum, dedicated to Mustafa Barzani, a central figure in Kurdish political history. The complex provides an in-depth understanding of the contemporary history of Kurdistan and the Kurdish struggle.

Next, we head to Shanidar Cave, one of the most important prehistoric sites in the Middle East. Famous for its Neanderthal discoveries, this site has been key to the study of burial rituals, social organization, and human life in Prehistory.

Continuation by road towards Erbil.

Accommodation in Erbil.

After breakfast, we begin the visit of Erbil, capital of Iraqi Kurdistan and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. We start the tour at the Erbil Citadel, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, situated on an elevated tell overlooking the city center and inhabited since antiquity.

Next, we descend towards the Qaysari Covered Bazaar, the city’s traditional market, where stalls selling spices, textiles, jewelry, local products, and traditional sweets offer an authentic insight into the commercial life of Erbil.

We then make a brief stop at the Joli Minaret, a 12th-century monument built during the Atabeg period. Only the minaret remains from the original mosque structure, now integrated into an urban park surrounded by sculptures and green spaces.

In the afternoon, departure towards Ankawa, a Christian district located north of Erbil. Walk through the area to experience its local atmosphere, with churches, lively streets, cafés, and restaurants reflecting the religious and cultural diversity of the region.

Accommodation in Erbil.

Transfer to Erbil International Airport and end of services.