10-Day Iraq Heritage Tour with Marshes, Babylon, and Erbil

Visit Basra's key cultural sites, including the Basra Museum, the historic old town with its Shanasheel houses, traditional markets, and landmarks such as the Church of St. Thomas and al-Hasoun Museum.

Walk through the lively fish market and Al-Ashar district, and see Saddam Hussein's former yacht on the Shatt al-Arab waterfront.

Finish the day with a sunset boat ride on the Shatt al-Arab River, followed by dinner and panoramic views over Basra's skyline and the Italian Bridge.

Journey through the Chibayish Marshes, where the Marsh Arabs continue a traditional way of life among the reed houses and waterways of southern Iraq.

Enjoy a boat ride through the marshes, passing tall reeds and water buffalo.

Continue to visit the ancient city of Ur and explore the magnificent Ziggurat of Ur, one of Mesopotamia's most important archaeological landmarks.

Explore the ancient city of Uruk, birthplace of cuneiform writing and linked to the Epic of Gilgamesh.

Continue to Najaf to visit the revered shrine of Imam Ali and the vast Valley of Peace cemetery, one of the largest cemeteries in the world.

Head to Karbala for a walking tour around the illuminated shrines of Imam Hussein and Abbas, with time to experience the atmosphere of the nearby bazaar.

Continue to the ancient city of Babylon, seeing the remains of the Ishtar Gate, the Lion of Babylon, and the reconstructed palace of Nebuchadnezzar II with its cuneiform-inscribed bricks.

Walk through the archaeological site, including Saddam Hussein's abandoned palace and the remains associated with the Tower of Babel.

Explore Baghdad's historical and cultural atmosphere through visits to iconic landmarks, heritage streets, traditional markets, and Abbasid-era sites, while experiencing the daily life and identity of the city through guided walks and local storytelling.

Discover Anbar Province in western Iraq with visits to Fallujah and the ancient town of Hit.

Explore Fallujah, known as the "City of Mosques," and learn about its modern history before visiting the historic Old Bridge.

Continue to Hit, famous for its Mesopotamian-era bitumen springs and traditional waterwheels, an important symbol of Iraq's heritage.

On this day, the itinerary covers ancient sites on the outskirts of Baghdad.

Dur-Kurigalzu Ziggurat, once a 60-meter multi-staged temple tower built 3,400 years ago, stands as a key relic dedicated to the city's patron god, Enlil.

The route continues to Taq Kasra, the world's largest unreinforced brick arch, constructed in the 6th century AD.

Travel north through Iraq's historic heartlands, where key landmarks reveal layers of ancient civilizations.

Samarra features UNESCO-listed monuments, including the 9th-century Malwiya Minaret of the Great Mosque and the spiral Abu Delaf Mosque built under Caliph Al-Mutawakkil.

Continue to the ruins of Hatra, a former Arab kingdom known for its monumental temples and fusion of Roman-Greco and Eastern architecture, before arriving in Mosul for dinner and an overnight stay.

Start the day with a walk through Bab Al-Saray Bazaar in Mosul, passing traditional coppersmith and spice markets, and the nearby fish market with its variety of local catch.

Move through the old town, seeing restored historic houses and narrow alleyways shaped by both heritage and recent destruction.

Continue to one of the oldest mosques in the region and the rebuilt Al-Nouri Mosque with its iconic Leaning Al-Hadba Minaret, reconstructed by UNESCO using original materials.

Start at Erbil Citadel, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the oldest continuously inhabited settlements in the world.

Walk through the surrounding Grand Bazaar, passing roofed market lanes, traditional shops, and a historic café for tea.

Continue to key landmarks including the Choli Minaret, Jalil Khayat Mosque, Syriac Heritage Museum, and the abandoned old Arab quarter.

End the day with an evening walk along Eskan Food Street, known for its local atmosphere and dining options.