5-Day Iraq Cultural Tour with Babylon, Ur and Chibayish Marshes

Our tour commences at the Iraqi Museum, immersing ourselves in ancient Mesopotamian antiquities and Arab-Islamic relics.

The tour continues with a captivating walking tour through the old quarters of Baghdad, visiting al-Mutanabbi Book Market street, an intellectual haven.

Walk to Mustansiriyah Madrasah, one of the earliest universities in the world, built by the Abbasid caliph al-Mustansir in 1233 AD.

A stop at the century-old Shabandar Cafe for a glass of lime tea, a speciality in Baghdad.

Next, we visit the Abbasid Palace on the Tigris riverbank, built in 1181. Adorned with beautiful ornamental designs and carvings, it is traditionally known as a palace, though Arab scholars believe it was actually a school.

Another stop is a century-old juice shop that serves refreshing raisin juice and was visited by Iraqi kings and presidents.

A walk in Khan Al Mudallal Antique Market shops.

A boat tour on the Tigris river follows.

Lunch at an old Baghdadi restaurant offering Kubba, a dumpling-like Iraqi dish.

Strolling through the bustling bazaars of the Copper Market, Stationery Market, and Clothing Market.

A walk through historical Rashid Street, the center of Baghdad in the past century, seeing several important old mosques and buildings.

Visiting Firdos Square, where Saddam's bronze statue was pulled down.

Marvel at the Martyr Monument, a blue split dome built as a memorial for the fallen Iraqi soldiers and officers.

We end the tour at the iconic Freedom Monument.

We head to Babylon, exploring the original lower part of the Ishtar Gate and the Lion of Babylon, a 2600-year-old black basalt statue of a lion trampling a man.

Strolling through the reconstructed palace of Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar II, seeing some ancient bricks with cuneiform inscriptions.

Following the ruins, we walk to Saddam's abandoned palace, exploring its grandeur and encountering the last standing portrait statue of Saddam.

Walk to see the remains of the Tower of Babel, the Etemenanki Ziggurat.

Our path then leads us to Karbala, where we embark on a walking night tour, marveling at the magnificent shrines of Imam Hussein and Abbas.

Immersing ourselves in the vibrant nearby bazaar. The night concludes with a stay in Karbala.

The following morning, we head to Najaf to explore the holy shrine of Imam Ali.

A visit to the immense Valley of Peace graveyard, with over 6 million graves. Gaining a panoramic view from the top of a multistory garage, we gaze at the vastness of the cemetery.

Continuing our travels, we drive to Nasiriyah province to marvel at the well-preserved Ziggurat of Ur, a pyramid-like stepped temple tower dating back to 2100 BC, during the time when this ancient city served as the capital of the Neo-Sumerian Empire.

Explore the Great Pit of Ur, the royal tombs cemetery, including that of Queen Puabi, discovered by Sir Leonard Woolley in the 1920s.

See Dub-La-Mah temple, which served as the entrance to the passage that leads to the ziggurat.

A special access to the house of the biblical prophet Abraham.

The day concludes with an overnight stay in Nasiriyah.

The next morning, we venture to the Chibayish Marshes, home to a community living in reed houses and embracing a way of life that dates back to the ancient Sumerians. After interacting with the local Marsh Arabs, we embark on an exhilarating boat tour through the marshes, witnessing reeds, swimming buffalo, and various bird species.

Following the boat tour, a delightful lunch of masgouf roast fish awaits us in a reed house, followed by a glass of hot tea.

Visit a tribal reed guesthouse, a larger reed structure where local tribesmen gather.

Heading back to Baghdad.

In the morning, we set out for Samarra city to explore the UNESCO Heritage Sites, including the 9th century spiral Malwiya Minaret of the Great Mosque of Samarra.

Visit the Abbasid Pond Palace, an underground recreational palace named after the pond at its center.

Another spiral minaret of Abu Delaf Mosque, standing at a height of 30 meters, built in 859 AD of baked bricks by the Abbasid caliph Al-Mutawakkil.

End the tour at Qaser al-Ashiq, the Lover's Palace, situated on the western side of Samarra. It was built in the 9th century when Samarra was the capital of the Abbasid Caliphate.

Then we drive back to Baghdad.