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Forward Travel

Tailor-Made Itineraries

Iraq and Kurdistan

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Travel Map

Start: Basra, Iraq
End: Erbil, Kurdistan
Date: 10/09/2026 - 28/09/2026
Duration: 18 days
Theme: history
Physical rating: moderate
Meals: 17 breakfasts, 17 lunches, 17 dinners
Transport: Private vehicle, boat, walking
Price: On Request

Fully customisable

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Trip Highlights

Walk the streets of Babylon, Ur, Eridu, and Nineveh, some of civilisation’s oldest cities.
Visit historical sites marking the birthplace of writing and the invention of the wheel.
Explore the isolated marshlands of Al-Chibayish by boat and visit a Mudhif House.
Stand beneath the massive Ziggurat of Ur and the colossal Arch of Ctesiphon.
Visit the shrines of Imam Ali, Imam Husayn, and Imam Al-Askari, sacred to Shia Islam.
Enjoy exquisite views from Barza Mountain and visit Bekhal Waterfalls in the Kurdish hills.
Discover hidden cave chambers at Hazar Merd.
Wander the alleyways and markets of Mosul, Najaf, and Sulaymaniyah.
Visit the Halabja Monument and Red Museum, memorials to Kurdish resilience.
Explore Erbil Citadel, one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities.
Witness the scale of Wadi al-Salam, the world’s largest cemetery.
Experience cultural immersion by engaging with hospitable local communities.

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Itinerary

Please download the full package itinerary of Iraq & Kurdistan, which has all the details you may need. If you have any questions, our Australia-based team will be happy to answer them. Contact us on +61 1300 738 168 or +61 401 812 219, or send an e-mail to enquiries@forwardtravel.com.au.

Must Know

Inclusions

17 nights of twin-share accommodations in the listed hotels or high-quality equivalents
All ground transit and scheduled group itinerary transfers as specified across the 18 days
Airport pickups on arrival in Basra (Day 1) and departures from Erbil (Day 18)
Full program of sightseeing tours, cultural interactions, and excursions as detailed in the daily schedule
Admission fees for all listed national museums, UNESCO heritage zones, archaeological ruins, fortresses, and holy monuments.
Full board dining plan covering all breakfasts, lunches, and dinners explicitly dictated by the day-by-day itinerary.
Unlimited supply of clean drinking water made available throughout the entirety of the overland journey.
Professional services of an experienced, English-speaking local guide and coordinator.

Exclusions

International and domestic airfares to Basra and out of Erbil
Visas, administrative processing fees, and border crossing taxes for Federal Iraq and Iraqi Kurdistan
International travel, emergency medical evacuation, and trip cancellation insurance (mandatory)
Laundry, phone connectivity, internet access, souvenir shopping, and photography/videography permit expenses
Soft drinks, coffees, and alcoholic beverages ordered during hotel or restaurant meals outside standard inclusions
Gratuities for coach drivers, field guides, hotel porters, and restaurant service staff
Meals, transit legs, or optional leisure excursions not explicitly specified within the itinerary inclusions

Will This Trip Suit You?

Want to walk through foundational archaeological sites like Babylon, Ur, Uruk, and the oldest continuously inhabited citadels on earth.
Enjoy visiting destinations that receive virtually no Western tourists and are comfortable interacting with curious, welcoming locals.
Want to experience the spirituality of Islamic shrines, Christian mountain sanctuaries, and Marsh Arab reed houses.
Interested in a balanced exploration that covers ancient landmarks alongside reminders of 20th and 21st-century geopolitical events.
Uncomfortable adhering to attire regulations, such as long trousers for men and full head/body coverings for women in holy cities like Najaf and Karbala.
Easily fatigued by long, consecutive hours of overland driving between regional hubs like Baghdad and Mosul.
Anxious in destinations still actively recovering from conflict or where tourist services and facilities are basic.
Prefer independent, spontaneous sightseeing over a structured, guide-led group itinerary that navigates sensitive historical locations.

✦Ready when you are

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