Welcome to the new and improved Forward Travel website. We're currently putting the finishing touches on the site, so you may notice that some features or pages are still being updated or are temporarily unavailable. We appreciate your patience as we complete the final stages of development. If you notice any issues while browsing the website, we'd greatly appreciate you letting us know so we can address them as quickly as possible. To report an issue, please contact us on +61 401 812 219 or drop us a message at thekitchen@forwardtravel.com.au. Thank you for helping us make the Forward Travel experience even better. Get in Touch

Forward Travel

Tailor-Made Itineraries

Forward Travel

Tailor-Made Itineraries

Iraq & Kurdistan (18 Days) - Small Group Tour | Forward Travel | Forward Travel

Iraq & Kurdistan

Image of Arch of Victory Baghdad Iraq Middle East

Travel Map

Basra, Iraq → Erbil, Kurdistan

Country: Iraq, Kurdistan
Start: Basra, Iraq
End: Erbil, Kurdistan
Date: Flexible
Duration: 18 days
Theme: Culture, Discovery, History
Physical rating: Moderate
Meals: 16 breakfasts, 17 lunches, 17 dinners
Transport: Private vehicle, boat, walking
Price: On Request

Request Customisation

Trip Highlights

Explore the Basra Museum and Basra’s shanashil architecture.
Cruise through the Mesopotamian Marshes by marsh boat.
Visit a mudhif reed house in Al-Chibayish.
Walk through Al-Habbobi Street in Nasiriyah.
Discover the Sumerian cities of Eridu, Ur, Lagash, and Girsu.
Climb the Ziggurat of Ur.
Visit the birthplace site of Abraham.
Explore Uruk, one of the world’s earliest cities and the birthplace of writing.
Visit the Imam Ali Shrine in Najaf.
Explore Wadi Al-Salām, the world’s largest cemetery.
Visit the shrines of Imam Hussein and Al-Abbas in Karbala.
Discover the ruins of Babylon and the Ishtar Gate.
Stand beneath the Taq Kasra arch at Ctesiphon.
Explore the Iraq Museum and Baghdadi Museum in Baghdad.
Browse books and cafés along Al-Mutanabbi Street.
Visit the spiral Malwiya Minaret in Samarra.
Explore the UNESCO-listed ruins of Hatra.
Discover Mosul’s Old City and the walls of Nineveh
Visit the Syriac Orthodox Church of Saint Thomas.
Explore Kirkuk Citadel.
Learn about Kurdish history at the Red Museum and Halabja Memorial.
Visit Hazar Merd Cave and the mountain landscapes of Kurdistan.
Explore Shaqlawa and Bekhal Waterfall.
Experience daily life in Iraq and Kurdistan through markets, cafés, and bazaars.

Request Customisation

Itinerary

Must Know

Inclusions

Accommodation throughout the journey
Airport arrival and departure transfers
Private transport throughout the itinerary
English-speaking guide throughout the tour
All sightseeing and activities listed in the itinerary
All entrance fees included in the itinerary
Boat excursion in the Mesopotamian Marshes
All meals as specified in the itinerary
Unlimited drinking water throughout the journey

Exclusions

International and domestic flights
Visa fees and visa processing costs
Travel insurance
Personal expenses
Optional activities not listed in the itinerary
Tips and gratuities
Beverages other than drinking water
Anything not mentioned in the inclusions or itinerary

Will This Trip Suit You?

Want an in-depth exploration of the Mesopotamian civilisation.
Interested in archaeology, history, religion, and geopolitics.
Enjoy culturally immersive destinations with limited mass tourism.
Comfortable with long overland driving days.
Appreciate destinations that are raw, complex, and historically significant.
Want to visit major Shia pilgrimage cities and sacred Islamic sites.
Enjoy interacting with locals in markets, cafés, and traditional communities.
Comfortable travelling in developing destinations with unpredictable infrastructure.
Want to experience both federal Iraq and Iraqi Kurdistan in one journey.
Interested in UNESCO World Heritage Sites and ancient ruins.
Prefer luxury-focused or resort-style travel.
Dislike long drives and full sightseeing days.
Require polished tourism infrastructure.
Uncomfortable with security protocols and checkpoints.
Have mobility limitations that make uneven terrain or stairs difficult.
Prefer destinations with nightlife, shopping, or beach-focused experiences.
Uncomfortable visiting religious sites with conservative dress requirements.
Struggle with heat, dust, or physically demanding sightseeing conditions.
Prefer independent travel rather than guided cultural touring.
Looking for a relaxed holiday with lots of downtime.

✦Ready when you are

Want to See the Middle East on Your Own Terms?

Let’s bring your dreams to reality. Perhaps you already know what you want to see and do, perhaps you don’t. We will help you bring your social media feed to reality.

Book Private ChatBuild your own itinerary

ATTA & CATO accredited

1,000+ happy travellers

Reply within 24 hours

Your travel consultant

David Smyth

Director, Forward Travel

Sample only

AvailabilitySample only

Response timeSample only

Session length30 minutes

Schedule a call →

Iraq & Kurdistan

Trip Highlights

Itinerary

Day 1: Basra

Day 2: Basra

Day 3: Basra – Al-Chibayish Marshes – Nasiriyah

Day 4: Nasiriyah – Eridu – Ur – Lagash – Girsu – Nasiriyah

Day 5: Nasiriyah – Uruk – Kufa – Najaf

Day 6: Najaf

Day 7: Najaf – Ukhaidir – Al-Tar Caves – Al-Aqiser Church – Karbala

Day 8: Karbala – Babylon – Borsippa – Ctesiphon – Baghdad

Day 9: Baghdad

Day 10: Baghdad

Day 11: Baghdad – Samarra – Baghdad

Day 12: Baghdad – Hatra – Mosul

Day 13: Mosul

Day 14: Mosul – Kirkuk – Sulaymaniyah

Day 15: Sulaymaniyah – Halabja – Byara – Sulaymaniyah

Day 16: Sulaymaniyah

Day 17: Sulaymaniyah – Shaqlawa – Erbil

Day 18: Departure

Must Know

Inclusions

Exclusions

Will This Trip Suit You?

Want to See the Middle East on Your Own Terms?