THE TRIP JOURNAL

Group Gallery

Travelers from different countries gather here, speaking their native languages, yet all expressing the same sense of wonder. Words may fade, but the expressions in these photos never will. Every frame of light and shadow in this gallery is a badge of honor we’ve woven together with friends from around the world.

MAR 2026 · 15 TRAVELERS · 1 NATIONALITY

Baghdad to Basra, March2026

Baghdad · Basra · Karbala · Mosul · Muthanna · Najaf · Nasiriyah & the Marshes · Samarra

In March 2026, fifty travelers from Spain joined us to tour Baghdad, Mosul, Samarra, Karbala, Najaf, Nasiriyah, Muthanna, and Basra. We walked past the weathered stone monuments in Nasiriyah and examined the ancient stone relief carving of a winged human-headed bull in Mosul. The group gathered near the Malwiya spiral minaret in Samarra and ate inside a traditional reed mudhif in the south. Along the way, we visited the Iraq Museum in Baghdad and the Imam Husayn shrine in Karbala.

Spain

الناصرية الاهوار — NASIRIYAH & THE MARSHES · MAR 2026 · 15 TRAVELERS

سامراء — BAGHDAD · MAR 2026 · 15 TRAVELERS

Golden-tiled shrine illuminated at night with crowds gathered below and a minaret glowing green. — NAJAF · MAR 2026 · 15 TRAVELERS

Train booking counter with green metal grilles, marble columns, and wall clocks showing global time zones. — BASRA · MAR 2026 · 15 TRAVELERS

Entrance to the Iraq Museum with blue tiled panels showing ancient Mesopotamian scenes and Arabic signage above the doors. — NASIRIYAH & THE MARSHES · MAR 2026 · 15 TRAVELERS

A hand holds a fragment of ancient pottery with black geometric patterns against a sandy background. — MUTHANNA · MAR 2026 · 15 TRAVELERS

كربلاء — KARBALA · MAR 2026 · 15 TRAVELERS

Ancient stone stele with carved figures and cuneiform script on display indoors. — BAGHDAD · MAR 2026 · 15 TRAVELERS

كردستان العراق — BAGHDAD · MAR 2026 · 15 TRAVELERS

البصرة — BASRA · MAR 2026 · 15 TRAVELERS

اثار بابل — MUTHANNA · MAR 2026 · 15 TRAVELERS

متاحف بغداد — BAGHDAD · MAR 2026 · 15 TRAVELERS

FEB 2026 · 16 TRAVELERS · 1 NATIONALITY

Basra to Erbil, February 2026

Babylon · Baghdad · Basra · Erbil · Karbala · Mosul · Muthanna · Najaf · Nasiriyah & the Marshes · Samarra

In February 2026, eighteen travelers from Taiwan joined us for a route covering Baghdad, Babylon, Samarra, Mosul, Erbil, Karbala, Najaf, Nasiriyah, Muthanna, and Basra. We walked through the Mosul old city and saw the Al-Nuri mosque, and stood beneath the Malwiya spiral minaret at the Great Mosque of Samarra. The group ate meals inside a traditional reed mudhif and visited the Ishtar Gate in Babylon, the Erbil Citadel, the Swords of Qadisiyah in Baghdad, and the Imam Ali shrine in Najaf alongside the Imam Husayn shrine in Karbala.

Taiwan

Sun flares through arched openings in the ancient brick minaret of Samarra's Great Mosque. — BAGHDAD · FEB 2026 · 16 TRAVELERS

The weathered, stepped mud-brick mound of the ziggurat at ancient Uruk (Warka) rising out of flat, empty desert under a wide pale sky. — MUTHANNA · FEB 2026 · 16 TRAVELERS

JAN 2026 · 18 TRAVELERS · 1 NATIONALITY

Basra to Sulaymaniyah, January 2026

Babylon · Baghdad · Basra · Erbil · Mosul · Muthanna · Nasiriyah & the Marshes · Samarra · Sulaymaniyah

In January 2026, twenty-five travelers from Taiwan joined us for a route covering Baghdad, Babylon, Samarra, Mosul, Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, Nasiriyah, Muthanna, and Basra. We walked through the ruins of Babylon past the Lion of Babylon and the Ishtar Gate, and climbed the Malwiya spiral minaret at the Great Mosque of Samarra. In Sulaymaniyah, the group visited Amna Suraka, and in Erbil we spent time around the Erbil Citadel. Along the waterways, passengers rode a wooden boat with tires near industrial towers, and in a reed-walled room we sat on patterned rugs around a long table with fish dishes.

Taiwan

Brick arches of a historic mosque reflected in a puddle, with scaffolding along the base. — SAMARRA · JAN 2026 · 18 TRAVELERS

Ruins of ancient mud-brick structures in a flat desert landscape with wooden walkways. — NASIRIYAH & THE MARSHES · JAN 2026 · 18 TRAVELERS

White tour bus parked outside Ramada Plaza by Wyndham Mosul Corniche hotel at night with illuminated signage. — MOSUL · JAN 2026 · 18 TRAVELERS

Sunset over water with city skyline silhouetted against golden sky, viewed from a boat. — BASRA · JAN 2026 · 18 TRAVELERS

Two men stand before a blue-glazed brick wall with animal reliefs and an arched gateway. — BABYLON · JAN 2026 · 18 TRAVELERS

Illuminated spiral minaret viewed through an arched stone frame at dusk. — MOSUL · JAN 2026 · 18 TRAVELERS

A water buffalo wades through marshland reeds under a partly cloudy sky. — NASIRIYAH & THE MARSHES · JAN 2026 · 18 TRAVELERS

Close-up of an ancient cuneiform-inscribed clay brick embedded in a weathered mud-brick wall. — BABYLON · JAN 2026 · 18 TRAVELERS

مثنى — MUTHANNA · JAN 2026 · 18 TRAVELERS

طاك كسرى — BAGHDAD · JAN 2026 · 18 TRAVELERS

JAN 2026 · 28 TRAVELERS · 1 NATIONALITY

Baghdad, to Basra January 2026

Babylon · Baghdad · Erbil · Karbala · Mosul · Muthanna · Nasiriyah & the Marshes · Samarra

In January 2026, 28 travelers from Spain joined us across Iraq. We walked past the carved animal reliefs on the ancient brick wall in Babylon and looked up at the Malwiya spiral minaret at the Great Mosque of Samarra. In Nasiriyah, the group visited the Ziggurat of Ur under an open blue sky. We also stopped in Baghdad, Erbil, Karbala, Mosul, and Muthanna to see the cities firsthand.

Spain

Ancient brick wall with carved animal reliefs under a blue sky. — BABYLON · JAN 2026 · 28 TRAVELERS

Two illuminated minarets flank a golden-domed shrine at dusk, with tiled archways and courtyard visible. — NAJAF · JAN 2026 · 28 TRAVELERS

Night cityscape with heavy traffic on a wide avenue, illuminated buildings, and distant golden domes. — KARBALA · JAN 2026 · 28 TRAVELERS

Stone arch with melted candles and gum stuck to its base, beside potted palm and Arabic sign. — BASRA · JAN 2026 · 28 TRAVELERS

Relief of a lion carved into a beige brick wall, part of ancient Babylon's Ishtar Gate. — BABYLON · JAN 2026 · 28 TRAVELERS

Weathered mud-brick walls of an ancient ruin under a blue sky with scattered clouds. — BABYLON · JAN 2026 · 28 TRAVELERS

Night view of a congested highway from a rooftop terrace with people standing at the railing. — KARBALA · JAN 2026 · 28 TRAVELERS

DEC 2025 · 18 TRAVELERS · 1 NATIONALITY

Basra to Erbil, December 2025

Babylon · Baghdad · Basra · Erbil · Karbala · Kirkuk · Mosul · Muthanna · Najaf · Nasiriyah & the Marshes · Samarra

In December 2025, twenty-five travellers from Taiwan joined us for a route stretching across Babylon, Baghdad, Basra, Erbil, Karbala, Kirkuk, Mosul, Muthanna, Najaf, Nasiriyah, and Samarra. We stood by the stone relief of the lion carved into the weathered brick wall at Babylon and walked through the Qaysari bazaar in Erbil. The group also viewed the Malwiya spiral minaret in Samarra and walked on red patterned carpet inside the shrines in Najaf and Karbala. From the southern palace to the Al-Shaheed Monument in Baghdad, we covered a lot of ground in nine days.

Taiwan

Curved brick wall with crenellations and Arabic calligraphy under a clear blue sky. — BAGHDAD · DEC 2025 · 18 TRAVELERS

Close-up of ancient cuneiform inscriptions carved into weathered mud-brick blocks. — BABYLON · DEC 2025 · 18 TRAVELERS

Brick arch frames a wooden walkway leading to a citadel on a hill under a pale sky. — BABYLON · DEC 2025 · 18 TRAVELERS

Row of ancient stone columns under blue sky with distant tower and wall. — MOSUL · DEC 2025 · 18 TRAVELERS

Brick fortress gate with arched entrance and crenellated parapet under daylight. — BAGHDAD · DEC 2025 · 18 TRAVELERS

Interior of a shrine with mirrored walls, crystal chandeliers, and visitors seated on patterned carpets. — NAJAF · DEC 2025 · 18 TRAVELERS

DEC 2025 · 15 TRAVELERS · 1 NATIONALITY

Basra to Sulaymaniyah, December 2025

Babylon · Baghdad · Basra · Karbala · Muthanna · Samarra · Sulaymaniyah

In December 2025, eighteen travellers from Italy joined us to see Babylon, Baghdad, Basra, Karbala, Muthanna, Samarra, and Sulaymaniyah. We stood before the Ishtar Gate and the Lion of Babylon, and visited the Great Mosque of Samarra and the Malwiya spiral minaret. The group also walked down Al-Mutanabbi Street in Baghdad, saw the Imam Husayn shrine in Karbala, and went to Ahmed Awa in Sulaymaniyah.

Italy

A blue sign reading 'The first written words started here' stands before a large eroded mud-brick mound under a clear sky. — MUTHANNA · DEC 2025 · 15 TRAVELERS

Ornate mosque interior with patterned domes, chandeliers, and red prayer carpets under arched windows. — ERBIL · DEC 2025 · 15 TRAVELERS

A man stands atop a tall, ancient brick minaret under a clear blue sky. — SAMARRA · DEC 2025 · 15 TRAVELERS

Modern glass building with palm trees and manicured lawn under clear blue sky. — ERBIL · DEC 2025 · 15 TRAVELERS

A person stands before the ancient spiral minaret of Samarra under a clear blue sky, framed by brick arches. — SAMARRA · DEC 2025 · 15 TRAVELERS

Two men crouch beside a blue vintage Volkswagen Beetle inside a tiled exhibition hall with framed photos and Arabic signage. — BAGHDAD · DEC 2025 · 15 TRAVELERS

Outdoor swimming pool with lounge chairs, palm trees, and a city skyline featuring a tall domed tower. — ERBIL · DEC 2025 · 15 TRAVELERS

Sunset over a calm river with palm trees on the far bank and two motorboats moored at the shore. — NASIRIYAH & THE MARSHES · DEC 2025 · 15 TRAVELERS

DEC 2025 · 12 TRAVELERS · 1 NATIONALITY

Baghdad to Erbil, , December 2025

Baghdad · Erbil · Muthanna · Nasiriyah & the Marshes · Samarra · Basra

In December 2025, fifteen travellers from Germany joined us for a tour through Iraq. We walked through the Erbil Citadel and visited the Ziggurat of Ur in Nasiriyah. The group also stopped at the Malwiya spiral minaret in Samarra, the Al-Shaheed monument in Baghdad, and the Swords of Qadisiyah.

Germany

NOV 2025 · 18 TRAVELERS · 1 NATIONALITY

Baghdad to Erbil, November 2025

Babylon · Baghdad · Duhok · Erbil · Karbala · Mosul · Muthanna · Nasiriyah & the Marshes · Samarra · Sulaymaniyah

In November 2025, we guided 18 travelers from Italy across Baghdad, Babylon, Karbala, Samarra, Mosul, Nasiriyah, Muthanna, Duhok, Sulaymaniyah, and Erbil. We stood by the Swords of Qadisiyah in Baghdad under the bright sun, walked past the brick walls of the Erbil Citadel, and visited the Imam Husayn shrine in Karbala. The group also viewed the Lion of Babylon and the Ishtar Gate in Babylon, the Great Mosque of Samarra with its Malwiya spiral minaret, and the Ziggurat of Ur in Nasiriyah.

Italy

Swords of Qadisiyah monument under bright sun with palm tree and modern buildings in background. — BAGHDAD · NOV 2025 · 18 TRAVELERS

Ornate golden shrine interior with chandelier, patterned carpet, and visitors near grated enclosure. — NAJAF · NOV 2025 · 18 TRAVELERS

Stone-paved alley between ancient walls under a tree, leading uphill toward a sunlit citadel entrance. — ERBIL · NOV 2025 · 18 TRAVELERS

Brick fortress with arched gateway and crenellated walls under blue sky. — BAGHDAD · NOV 2025 · 18 TRAVELERS

Ancient stone columns with carved capitals stand under night sky, illuminated against darkness. — MOSUL · NOV 2025 · 18 TRAVELERS

View from inside a cave looking out at a rocky cliff and a person walking near a black metal fence under blue sky. — ERBIL · NOV 2025 · 18 TRAVELERS

Bread stall in a market with staff behind counters and framed portraits above. — BAGHDAD · NOV 2025 · 18 TRAVELERS

Stone temple with conical roofs under a clear blue sky, surrounded by ancient walls and dry vines. — DUHOK · NOV 2025 · 18 TRAVELERS

Ornate interior with crystal ceiling, chandelier, Arabic calligraphy panels, and open doorway to grated chamber. — BAGHDAD · NOV 2025 · 18 TRAVELERS

A wooden boat with patterned cushions rests at a reed-lined riverbank under a clear blue sky. — NASIRIYAH & THE MARSHES · NOV 2025 · 18 TRAVELERS

Two people on a grassy slope below a rocky cliff with a large cave entrance under a blue sky. — ERBIL · NOV 2025 · 18 TRAVELERS

Eroded mud-brick layers of an ancient desert mound under a clear blue sky. — BAGHDAD · NOV 2025 · 18 TRAVELERS

Man in traditional robe and red fez sits at ornate desk using vintage telephone, framed portraits and Iraqi flag behind. — MOSUL · NOV 2025 · 18 TRAVELERS

Night street with string lights, shops, and a minaret visible in the background. — MOSUL · NOV 2025 · 18 TRAVELERS

Ornate interior dome with chandelier, Arabic calligraphy, and gold detailing in a shrine. — KARBALA · NOV 2025 · 18 TRAVELERS

NOV 2025 · 14 TRAVELERS · 1 NATIONALITY

Baghdad to Basra,, November 2025

Baghdad · Basra · Karbala · Muthanna · Nasiriyah & the Marshes

In November 2025, 28 travellers from italy joined us across Baghdad, Basra, Karbala, Muthanna, and Nasiriyah. We walked through the halls of the Iraq Museum in Baghdad and stood inside the Imam Husayn shrine in Karbala, surrounded by mirrored walls and blue tiles with Arabic calligraphy. Days included sitting in colorful wooden boats on a marshy riverbank and eating meals inside a reed mudhif. We also stopped at eroded mud-brick tower ruins on rocky desert mounds and shared large spreads of Iraqi dishes on patterned tablecloths.

Germany

Eroded mud-brick tower ruin on a rocky desert mound under clear blue sky. — BABYLON · NOV 2025 · 14 TRAVELERS

Ornate golden shrine with silver chainmail doors inside a marble-tiled hall. — BAGHDAD · NOV 2025 · 14 TRAVELERS

OCT 2025 · 16 TRAVELERS · 1 NATIONALITY

Baghdad to Basra, October 2025

Babylon · Baghdad · Basra · Erbil · Karbala · Kirkuk · Muthanna · Najaf · Nasiriyah & the Marshes · Samarra

In October 2025, fifty travelers from Spain joined us across Baghdad, Babylon, Karbala, Najaf, Nasiriyah, Samarra, Erbil, Kirkuk, Muthanna, and Basra. We walked through the Ishtar Gate in Babylon and climbed the Malwiya spiral minaret at the Great Mosque of Samarra. Later, we stood before the Ziggurat of Ur in Nasiriyah and looked up at the Erbil Citadel. We also visited the Iraq Museum and Al-Shaheed Monument in Baghdad, plus the Imam Ali shrine in Najaf and the Imam Husayn shrine in Karbala.

Spain

Street view of traditional brick buildings with wooden balconies under a clear sky. — BASRA · OCT 2025 · 16 TRAVELERS

Reed mudhif structure with tall columns and arched entrance under clear sky. — NASIRIYAH & THE MARSHES · OCT 2025 · 16 TRAVELERS

Man praying at an ornate green and silver grille inside a shrine. — KARBALA · OCT 2025 · 16 TRAVELERS

Outdoor terrace with tables and glass floor overlooking a river and city skyline under clear blue sky. — BAGHDAD · OCT 2025 · 16 TRAVELERS

Crowd walking under ornate tiled arch toward golden domes of a shrine at night. — BAGHDAD · OCT 2025 · 16 TRAVELERS

Street lined with traditional wooden balconied buildings under a clear sky, people walking and cars parked. — BASRA · OCT 2025 · 16 TRAVELERS

OCT 2025 · 15 TRAVELERS · 1 NATIONALITY

Basra to Erbil , October 2025

Babylon · Baghdad · Basra · Erbil · Karbala · Muthanna · Nasiriyah & the Marshes · Samarra · Sulaymaniyah

In October 2025, twenty-five travelers from Italy joined us to see Iraq. We walked past the eroded mud-brick mound at the Ziggurat of Ur in Nasiriyah and stood before the ancient glazed brick reliefs of a lion and bull on a weathered wall at Babylon. The group also visited Baghdad, Samarra, Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, Basra, Karbala, and Muthanna. Along the way, we stopped at the Al-Abbas shrine in Karbala, the Al-Kadhimiya shrine in Baghdad, the Erbil Citadel, and the Malwiya spiral minaret in Samarra.

Italy

Eroded mud-brick mound under clear blue sky with paved foreground. — BAGHDAD · OCT 2025 · 15 TRAVELERS

Ancient glazed brick reliefs of a lion and bull on a weathered wall. — BABYLON · OCT 2025 · 15 TRAVELERS

Modern monument with curved, patterned facade and red marble base under cloudy sky. — BAGHDAD · OCT 2025 · 15 TRAVELERS

People stand on a wooden walkway beside a curved waterfall in a river at dusk with a modern arched bridge behind. — DUHOK · OCT 2025 · 15 TRAVELERS

Cobblestone street lined with shops and string lights, tall minaret visible at end under blue sky. — DUHOK · OCT 2025 · 15 TRAVELERS

Intricate stucco carvings on a wall with the Great Mosque of Samarra's arched facade visible in the background under a clear blue sky. — SAMARRA · OCT 2025 · 15 TRAVELERS

Beige tiled wall with Arabic and English text welcoming visitors to Basrah Railway Station. — BASRA · OCT 2025 · 15 TRAVELERS

Two people climb stone steps toward a massive ancient mud-brick ziggurat under a clear blue sky. — BAGHDAD · OCT 2025 · 15 TRAVELERS

Men seated on cushioned benches in a traditional café with wooden pillars, framed photos, and a ceiling fan. — BAGHDAD · OCT 2025 · 15 TRAVELERS

Two tall spiral minarets flank a gated entrance to a historic mosque under a clear blue sky. — BABYLON · OCT 2025 · 15 TRAVELERS

Intricate stone carvings and arches inside a historic shrine with a hanging lantern and modern air conditioner. — BAGHDAD · OCT 2025 · 15 TRAVELERS

Tall spiral brick minaret against clear blue sky, showing weathered texture and arched top windows. — SAMARRA · OCT 2025 · 15 TRAVELERS

Brick arcade with pointed arches and decorative columns under a clear blue sky. — SAMARRA · OCT 2025 · 15 TRAVELERS

Tall spiral brick minaret under clear blue sky with paved foreground. — SAMARRA · OCT 2025 · 15 TRAVELERS

Large Iraqi flag flies above a monumental sculpture depicting warriors, set against a clear blue sky in a paved plaza. — BAGHDAD · OCT 2025 · 15 TRAVELERS

SEPT 2025 · 10 TRAVELERS · 1 NATIONALITY

Erbil to Baghdad, September 2025

Babylon · Baghdad · Karbala · Muthanna · Najaf · Nasiriyah & the Marshes · Samarra

In September 2025, fifty travelers from Spain joined us across Iraq, visiting Babylon, Baghdad, Karbala, Muthanna, Najaf, Nasiriyah, and Samarra. We walked past the blue glazed brick of the Ishtar Gate in Babylon and climbed the Malwiya spiral minaret at the Great Mosque of Samarra. In Baghdad, the group spent time on Al-Mutanabbi Street before seeing the night traffic from above. We also visited the Imam Husayn shrine in Karbala and the Imam Ali shrine in Najaf, and ate grilled meat skewers served on flatbread inside a reed-built hall.

Spain

Blue glazed brick gate with animal reliefs under a clear sky. — BABYLON · SEPT 2025 · 10 TRAVELERS

Ruined mud-brick mounds in desert foreground with large modern building atop a palm-dotted hill in background. — BABYLON · SEPT 2025 · 10 TRAVELERS

Ornate blue-tiled facade with arched entrance and intricate calligraphy, one person seated near glass booth. — KARBALA · SEPT 2025 · 10 TRAVELERS

Golden dome and minarets of a shrine at dusk with ornate tiled walls below. — NAJAF · SEPT 2025 · 10 TRAVELERS

Tall spiral minaret beside a modern building under a clear blue sky with palm trees and garden paths. — MOSUL · SEPT 2025 · 10 TRAVELERS

A water buffalo stands in shallow marsh water surrounded by tall reeds under a clear blue sky. — NASIRIYAH & THE MARSHES · SEPT 2025 · 10 TRAVELERS

Night aerial view of a busy urban square with cars, pedestrians, and illuminated storefronts. — NAJAF · SEPT 2025 · 10 TRAVELERS

Eroded mud-brick ruins with wooden supports under a clear sky. — MUTHANNA · SEPT 2025 · 10 TRAVELERS

Man photographs a street market with fruit stalls and Arabic signage from an elevated position. — BAGHDAD · SEPT 2025 · 10 TRAVELERS

Worshippers gather inside a vast, ornately tiled shrine hall with chandeliers and gold railings. — KARBALA · SEPT 2025 · 10 TRAVELERS

Man photographing a busy street with tuk-tuks, pedestrians, and a scaffolded building. — BAGHDAD · SEPT 2025 · 10 TRAVELERS

Sunlit brick arches and walls of a historic mosque under clear blue sky. — BABYLON · SEPT 2025 · 10 TRAVELERS

بغداد — BAGHDAD · SEPT 2025 · 10 TRAVELERS

APR 2025 · 25 TRAVELERS · 1 NATIONALITY

Baghdad,, Basra and Erbil, April 2025

Babylon · Baghdad · Basra · Erbil · Halabja · Karbala · Kirkuk · Mosul · Muthanna · Nasiriyah & the Marshes · Samarra · Sulaymaniyah

In April 2025, twenty-five travellers from Italy joined us for a twelve-day trip across Iraq. We walked among the mud-brick ruins at Hatra and saw the blue glazed bricks of the Ishtar Gate in Babylon. The group also visited the Malwiya spiral minaret in Samarra and the Erbil Citadel. We spent time in Baghdad, Mosul, Basra, Karbala, Kirkuk, Nasiriyah, Muthanna, Halabja, and Sulaymaniyah before the tour ended on May second.

Italy

Blue glazed brick wall with relief sculptures of lions, bulls, and dragons under a clear sky. — BABYLON · APR 2025 · 25 TRAVELERS

Densely packed stone and concrete houses climb a rocky hillside with scattered trees and a playground visible below. — SULAYMANIYAH · APR 2025 · 25 TRAVELERS

View from a reed hut overlooking a marsh with boats and reeds under a thatched roof. — NASIRIYAH & THE MARSHES · APR 2025 · 25 TRAVELERS

Brick spiral minaret arch framing a cloudy sky and distant trees. — BABYLON · APR 2025 · 25 TRAVELERS

Stone citadel with crenellated walls atop a barren hill under clear blue sky. — ERBIL · APR 2025 · 25 TRAVELERS

Water cascades over rocks beside a metal railing, surrounded by lush green trees. — ERBIL · APR 2025 · 25 TRAVELERS

Relief of a dragon on ancient yellow brickwork with weathered glaze patches. — BABYLON · APR 2025 · 25 TRAVELERS

Village nestled in a green valley between steep rocky cliffs under a clear sky. — ERBIL · APR 2025 · 25 TRAVELERS

Stone steps ascend a narrow alley flanked by greenery and hanging lanterns under a blue sky. — DUHOK · APR 2025 · 25 TRAVELERS

Two traditional wooden marsh boats displayed on gravel with an informational sign nearby. — BASRA · APR 2025 · 25 TRAVELERS

Stone lion statue behind iron fence in front of ornate building with arched windows and columns. — BASRA · APR 2025 · 25 TRAVELERS

Large sand-colored mosque with arched entrances and geometric brick patterns under a blue sky. — BAGHDAD · APR 2025 · 25 TRAVELERS

A traditional reed marsh boat rests on white gravel beside a palm-frond structure under an overcast sky. — BASRA · APR 2025 · 25 TRAVELERS

Hillside town with stone and stucco buildings under a rocky slope, green trees in foreground. — SULAYMANIYAH · APR 2025 · 25 TRAVELERS

Ancient stone structure with carved animal reliefs under a cloudy sky. — MOSUL · APR 2025 · 25 TRAVELERS

Weathered two-story building with wooden balconies and arched brick windows under a clear blue sky. — BASRA · APR 2025 · 25 TRAVELERS

FEB 2025 · 16 TRAVELERS · 1 NATIONALITY

Basra to Najaf, February 2025

Karbala · Nasiriyah & the Marshes · Samarra

In February 2025, sixteen travellers from Turkey joined us for a tour through Samarra, Karbala, and Nasiriyah. We walked beneath the yellow brick archways and blue star patterns, and visited the Great Mosque of Samarra. The group spent time at the Imam Husayn shrine, seeing the gold floral patterns and the dome lit with green lights at twilight. Throughout the days, the visitors walked through the brick corridors and observed the tiled walls and Arabic calligraphy.

Turkey

Ornate shrine dome lit with green lights, Arabic calligraphy on tiled walls, festive string lights against twilight sky. — KARBALA · FEB 2025 · 16 TRAVELERS

Golden dome and minaret of a shrine under blue sky with Arabic banners. — KARBALA · FEB 2025 · 16 TRAVELERS

Ornate interior of a shrine with mosaic domes, chandeliers, and arched alcoves. — KARBALA · FEB 2025 · 16 TRAVELERS

Ornate golden doorway with blue tilework under a domed structure at night. — BAGHDAD · FEB 2025 · 16 TRAVELERS

Golden winged sculptures flank a blue-tiled Arabic calligraphy panel inside a shrine. — KARBALA · FEB 2025 · 16 TRAVELERS

Ornate shrine with gold dome and blue tilework under clear sky, green banners with Arabic script hanging from columns. — KARBALA · FEB 2025 · 16 TRAVELERS

Eroded mud-brick ruins in a desert landscape with excavated walls and earthen mounds. — MUTHANNA · FEB 2025 · 16 TRAVELERS

JAN 2025 · 15 TRAVELERS · 1 NATIONALITY

Iraq, January 2025

Baghdad · Basra · Duhok · Erbil · Mosul · Muthanna · Nasiriyah & the Marshes · Samarra · Sulaymaniyah

In January 2025, twenty-five travellers from Italy joined us across Baghdad, Basra, Duhok, Erbil, Mosul, Muthanna, Nasiriyah, Samarra, and Sulaymaniyah. We stood before the eroded mud-brick mounds in Nasiriyah and walked down the stone-paved alleys of Erbil Citadel. In Samarra, the group climbed the Malwiya spiral minaret and visited the Great Mosque. We also stopped at Amna Suraka in Sulaymaniyah, the Iraq Museum in Baghdad, the Lalish temple in Duhok, and the ancient site of Hatra in Mosul.

Italy

Stone temple with conical roof behind bare trees under blue sky. — DUHOK · JAN 2025 · 15 TRAVELERS

A man in a headscarf stands among tall reeds in a marsh, holding a pole under a clear blue sky. — NASIRIYAH & THE MARSHES · JAN 2025 · 15 TRAVELERS

Stone-paved alley between ancient walls under leafy branches, blue sky visible ahead. — ERBIL · JAN 2025 · 15 TRAVELERS

Indoor Christmas nativity scene with figurines, straw, and a decorated tree beside a painted angel and wooden cross. — BAGHDAD · JAN 2025 · 15 TRAVELERS

Hilly landscape with sparse trees, stone buildings, and a clear blue sky viewed from an elevated position. — SULAYMANIYAH · JAN 2025 · 15 TRAVELERS

Stone citadel with conical towers under blue sky, bare trees in foreground. — DUHOK · JAN 2025 · 15 TRAVELERS

A conical-roofed building sits below barren hills under a clear blue sky, with leafless trees and power lines in foreground. — SULAYMANIYAH · JAN 2025 · 15 TRAVELERS

Tall spiral minaret with weathered brickwork stands beside a paved walkway under a twilight sky with a crescent moon. — BASRA · JAN 2025 · 15 TRAVELERS

DEC 2024 · 18 TRAVELERS · 1 NATIONALITY

Baghdad and Basra, December 2024

Baghdad · Nasiriyah & the Marshes · Basra · Najaf

In December 2024, eighteen travellers from Taiwan joined us for a tour across Baghdad and Nasiriyah. We visited offices, walked along the river with palm trees, and stood on wooden balconies with ornate railings. The group spent time near the water, with city buildings and modern glass structures visible in the background.

Taiwan

DEC 2024 · 15 TRAVELERS · 1 NATIONALITY

Baghdad to Basra, December 2024

Babylon · Baghdad · Karbala · Muthanna · Nasiriyah & the Marshes · Samarra

In December 2024, fifteen travellers from Italy joined us for a route across Baghdad, Babylon, Karbala, Muthanna, Nasiriyah, and Samarra. We started at the Iraq Museum and walked through the outdoor book market before heading to the Ishtar Gate in Babylon and the Malwiya spiral minaret in Samarra. Later, the group visited the Imam Husayn shrine in Karbala and passed under the Swords of Qadisiyah in Baghdad.

Italy

Spiral minaret and brick wall of Great Mosque of Samarra under clear blue sky. — SAMARRA · DEC 2024 · 15 TRAVELERS

Two giant crossed swords held by stone hands under a clear blue sky. — BAGHDAD · DEC 2024 · 15 TRAVELERS

Spiral brick minaret viewed through an archway under a clear blue sky. — SAMARRA · DEC 2024 · 15 TRAVELERS

Outdoor book market with vendors and shoppers under sun, tables lined with books, buildings with Arabic signage surround the square. — BAGHDAD · DEC 2024 · 15 TRAVELERS

Man stands beside ancient stone lion statue inside museum hall with exhibit banners. — BAGHDAD · DEC 2024 · 15 TRAVELERS

DEC 2024 · 18 TRAVELERS · 1 NATIONALITY

Basra to Erbil, December 2024

Babylon · Baghdad · Basra · Erbil · Karbala · Mosul · Muthanna · Nasiriyah & the Marshes · Samarra

In December 2024, eighteen travellers from Belgium joined us for a route across Babylon, Baghdad, Basra, Erbil, Karbala, Mosul, Muthanna, Nasiriyah, and Samarra. The group stood near the blue-glazed Ishtar Gate in Babylon and walked through the desert site at Hatra near Mosul. We saw water buffalo in the wetlands of Nasiriyah and looked up at the Malwiya spiral minaret at the Great Mosque of Samarra. Along the way, we visited the Al-Abbas shrine and Imam Husayn shrine in Karbala, the Al-Qishla clock tower in Baghdad, and Erbil Citadel alongside Qaysari bazaar.

Belgium

Ornate shrine facade with green banners, Arabic calligraphy, and blue-tiled patterns under night sky. — KARBALA · DEC 2024 · 18 TRAVELERS

Water buffalo wade through tall reeds in a marshy wetland under a pale sky. — NASIRIYAH & THE MARSHES · DEC 2024 · 18 TRAVELERS

Ancient stone columns and arches under a clear blue sky at Hatra ruins. — MOSUL · DEC 2024 · 18 TRAVELERS

Reed hut overlooks calm water with traditional boats and distant trees under cloudy sky. — NASIRIYAH & THE MARSHES · DEC 2024 · 18 TRAVELERS

Interior view of a shrine with ornate arches, patterned walls, and a decorated mihrab under a dome. — KARBALA · DEC 2024 · 18 TRAVELERS

Close-up of ancient cuneiform inscriptions carved into a weathered mud-brick block. — MUTHANNA · DEC 2024 · 18 TRAVELERS

Ancient stone arches and columns under a clear sky with visitors walking nearby. — MOSUL · DEC 2024 · 18 TRAVELERS

NOV 2024 · 11 TRAVELERS · 1 NATIONALITY

Erbil to Basra , November 2024

Babylon · Erbil · Karbala · Mosul · Muthanna · Samarra · Sulaymaniyah

In November 2024, we welcomed eleven travelers from Taiwan for a route covering Babylon, Erbil, Mosul, Muthanna, and Samarra. We stood together on the sunny terrace by Erbil Citadel's stone walls and arched windows before heading west to walk through the ruins at Hatra. In Mosul, the group posed by the Al-Nuri mosque and stopped by a large TV-shaped photo frame featuring local university banners. We finished the days looking at the Lion of Babylon and the Great Mosque of Samarra under clear blue skies.

Taiwan

Desert landscape with eroded mud-brick mounds under a clear blue sky, power lines visible. — MUTHANNA · NOV 2024 · 11 TRAVELERS

Ruins of a large ancient mosque with arched openings under a clear blue sky. — SAMARRA · NOV 2024 · 11 TRAVELERS

Man points toward a valley from a rocky hillside overlook with dry terrain and distant settlement. — SULAYMANIYAH · NOV 2024 · 11 TRAVELERS

Weathered stone relief of a lion carved into ancient wall under blue sky. — BABYLON · NOV 2024 · 11 TRAVELERS

Eroded mud-brick mounds under clear sky in a flat desert landscape. — MUTHANNA · NOV 2024 · 11 TRAVELERS

Stone citadel with arched walkways and a bell tower under blue sky, people walking on upper terrace. — ERBIL · NOV 2024 · 11 TRAVELERS

NOV 2024 · 8 TRAVELERS · 1 NATIONALITY

Baghdad to Erbil, November 2024

Baghdad · Erbil · Mosul · Muthanna · Nasiriyah & the Marshes · Samarra · Sulaymaniyah

In November 2024, ten travelers from Germany joined us to explore Iraq across ten days. We walked through the Iraq Museum in Baghdad before heading north to see the Malwiya spiral minaret in Samarra and the ancient Erbil Citadel. The itinerary continued through Mosul and Sulaymaniyah, where we visited Ahmed Awa, before finishing our route down south through Muthanna and Nasiriyah.

Germany

Arched stone gateway with wooden doors and Arabic signage, leading to a sunlit alley with buildings. — ERBIL · NOV 2024 · 8 TRAVELERS

Ancient stone statue of a bearded figure in patterned robe displayed indoors. — BAGHDAD · NOV 2024 · 8 TRAVELERS

OCT 2024 · 15 TRAVELERS · 1 NATIONALITY

Baghdad, and Erbil, October 2024

Babylon · Baghdad · Erbil · Karbala · Mosul · Muthanna · Nasiriyah & the Marshes · Samarra · Sulaymaniyah

In October 2024, fifteen travellers from Russia joined us for a tour across Iraq. We walked through the Ishtar Gate and past the Lion of Babylon before heading north to see the Erbil Citadel. In Baghdad, the group visited the Iraq Museum and stood by the Al-Shaheed monument and the Swords of Qadisiyah. We also stopped in Samarra to view the Malwiya spiral minaret and the Great Mosque of Samarra, and traveled south to see the Ziggurat of Ur in Nasiriyah.

Russia

Reed mudhif structure with conical pillars under clear blue sky, surrounded by greenery and palm fronds. — NASIRIYAH & THE MARSHES · OCT 2024 · 15 TRAVELERS

Two people in a red boat near a reed mudhif on marshland under clear blue sky. — NASIRIYAH & THE MARSHES · OCT 2024 · 15 TRAVELERS

OCT 2024 · 12 TRAVELERS · 1 NATIONALITY

Baghdad, and Basra, October 2024

Babylon · Baghdad · Basra · Karbala · Muthanna · Najaf · Nasiriyah & the Marshes · Samarra

In October 2024, twenty-two travellers from Italy joined us for a route across Iraq. We walked among the ruined mud-brick structures in Babylon and saw the Al-Shaheed monument in Baghdad. The group visited the Great Mosque of Samarra and its Malwiya spiral minaret, as well as the Imam Ali shrine in Najaf and the shrines of Imam Husayn and Al-Abbas in Karbala. We also passed through Muthanna, Nasiriyah, and Basra during the week.

Italy

Tall brick minaret with spiral design and ornate tiled dome against clear blue sky. — SAMARRA · OCT 2024 · 12 TRAVELERS

Aerial view of a city roundabout with a central monument, roads, and surrounding buildings. — BAGHDAD · OCT 2024 · 12 TRAVELERS

Golden-domed shrine tower behind palm trees under a blue sky with scattered clouds. — BAGHDAD · OCT 2024 · 12 TRAVELERS

Brick arches receding into a sunlit spiral minaret with blue sky visible through openings. — SAMARRA · OCT 2024 · 12 TRAVELERS

Brick arch frames the spiral minaret of Samarra's Great Mosque against blue sky. — SAMARRA · OCT 2024 · 12 TRAVELERS

Interior of a church with wooden pews, red patterned carpet, chandeliers, and religious icons on walls. — BAGHDAD · OCT 2024 · 12 TRAVELERS

SEPT 2024 · 16 TRAVELERS · 1 NATIONALITY

Iraq Route, September 2024

Babylon · Baghdad · Basra · Erbil · Karbala · Kirkuk · Mosul · Muthanna · Najaf · Nasiriyah & the Marshes · Samarra · Sulaymaniyah

In September 2024, fifty travelers from Italy joined us for a route across twelve governorates. We walked past the ancient brick walls of Hatra and stood before the Ishtar Gate in Babylon. In Samarra, the group climbed the Malwiya spiral minaret and visited the Great Mosque. We also stopped at the Erbil Citadel, Kirkuk citadel, Amna Suraka in Sulaymaniyah, and shrines in Najaf, Karbala, and Baghdad.

Italy

Stone building with arched windows, balconies, and Iraqi flags under a blue sky. — MOSUL · SEPT 2024 · 16 TRAVELERS

Ornate dome interior with mosaic tiles, chandelier, and Arabic calligraphy plaque. — KARBALA · SEPT 2024 · 16 TRAVELERS

Night view of a lit bridge over a river with streetlights and a flag visible. — BAGHDAD · SEPT 2024 · 16 TRAVELERS

Golden dome of a shrine with blue tilework and Arabic calligraphy under a clear blue sky. — NAJAF · SEPT 2024 · 16 TRAVELERS

Weathered stone relief carving of a bearded face with detailed hair and beard on ancient wall. — MUTHANNA · SEPT 2024 · 16 TRAVELERS

Reed mudhif structure on a small island in a marsh under clear blue sky. — NASIRIYAH & THE MARSHES · SEPT 2024 · 16 TRAVELERS

Narrow alley between damaged stone buildings under a clear blue sky, rubble on ground. — MOSUL · SEPT 2024 · 16 TRAVELERS

Ornate dome and spiral minaret against clear blue sky, tiled with Arabic calligraphy. — SAMARRA · SEPT 2024 · 16 TRAVELERS

Interior of a grand shrine with ornate blue tilework, chandeliers, and worshippers on patterned carpets. — KARBALA · SEPT 2024 · 16 TRAVELERS

Stone archway with carved details frames two weathered statues inside a recessed niche. — MOSUL · SEPT 2024 · 16 TRAVELERS

Golden dome and patterned minarets under clear sky with construction crane in background. — KARBALA · SEPT 2024 · 16 TRAVELERS

AUG 2024 · 10 TRAVELERS · 1 NATIONALITY

Baghdad to Erbil, August 2024

Baghdad · Erbil · Kirkuk · Muthanna · Nasiriyah & the Marshes · Samarra · Sulaymaniyah

In August 2024, 12 travellers from Italy joined us across Baghdad, Erbil, Kirkuk, Muthanna, Nasiriyah, Samarra, and Sulaymaniyah. We walked the ramparts of the Erbil Citadel and the Kirkuk citadel, and we climbed the Malwiya spiral minaret in Samarra. The group stood before the Ziggurat of Ur in Nasiriyah and examined the memorial panels inside Amna Suraka in Sulaymaniyah. At one stop, we shared a meal of grilled fish, rice, flatbread, and watermelon served on the floor of a tiled room.

Italy

Stone building with arched windows and a golden cross above its entrance, set on a mosaic courtyard under blue sky. — MOSUL · AUG 2024 · 10 TRAVELERS

Stone fortress wall with arched doorway and crenellated top under clear blue sky. — ERBIL · AUG 2024 · 10 TRAVELERS

Stone citadel with crenellated walls atop a dry hill under clear blue sky. — KIRKUK · AUG 2024 · 10 TRAVELERS

APR 2024 · 15 TRAVELERS · 1 NATIONALITY

Baghdad, and Erbil, April 2024

Babylon · Baghdad · Erbil · Karbala · Mosul · Muthanna · Nasiriyah & the Marshes · Samarra · Sulaymaniyah

In April 2024, fifteen travelers from Italy joined us for a route across Iraq. We walked through the Ishtar Gate and past the Lion of Babylon, stopping later at the Erbil Citadel and the Great Mosque of Samarra. The group also visited the Imam Husayn shrine in Karbala, the Al-Kadhimiya shrine in Baghdad, and the ruins of Hatra in Mosul. We spent time in Sulaymaniyah seeing Amna Suraka and Ahmed Awa, as well as making stops in Muthanna, Nasiriyah, and Karbala.

Italy

Ancient stone archway with columns and steps under a clear blue sky. — MOSUL · APR 2024 · 15 TRAVELERS

Sunlit courtyard with mud-brick buildings and stone steps under a blue sky with scattered clouds. — ERBIL · APR 2024 · 15 TRAVELERS

Man in sunglasses holding camera aboard a moving boat, water spraying around, reeds in background. — NASIRIYAH & THE MARSHES · APR 2024 · 15 TRAVELERS

Modern three-story hotel building with signage reading 'HOTEL DELOS' and 'DELOS REST', set against green hills under overcast sky. — SULAYMANIYAH · APR 2024 · 15 TRAVELERS

Ancient stone archway with columns under blue sky, steps leading up to entrance. — MOSUL · APR 2024 · 15 TRAVELERS

Stone arched gateway in a fortified wall overlooking a green valley with scattered buildings. — ERBIL · APR 2024 · 15 TRAVELERS

Interior of a mosque with ornate tilework, arched windows, and red prayer carpets. — BAGHDAD · APR 2024 · 15 TRAVELERS

Gravel courtyard inside Erbil Citadel with stone walls, trees, and a flagpole flying the Kurdish flag under a blue sky. — ERBIL · APR 2024 · 15 TRAVELERS

A person stands at the base of a large, eroded mud-brick archaeological mound under a clear blue sky. — MUTHANNA · APR 2024 · 15 TRAVELERS

Grand mosque with blue-tiled arches and a tall minaret under cloudy sky, wet courtyard with one person walking. — KARBALA · APR 2024 · 15 TRAVELERS

Yellow car parked on street in front of large domed mosque with minaret under clear blue sky. — BAGHDAD · APR 2024 · 15 TRAVELERS

View through an arched stone window onto sunlit ancient ruins under blue sky. — MUTHANNA · APR 2024 · 15 TRAVELERS

MAR 2024 · 4 TRAVELERS · 1 NATIONALITY

Baghdad to Erbil, March 2024

Baghdad · Basra · Erbil · Mosul · Muthanna · Najaf · Nasiriyah & the Marshes · Samarra · Sulaymaniyah

In March 2024, fifteen travellers from Spain joined us to cross Iraq from Baghdad and Samarra up to Mosul, Erbil, and Sulaymaniyah. We walked through the old quarters of Nasiriyah and Muthanna, stopping at the House of Abraham, before heading south to the Imam Ali shrine and Wadi al-Salam cemetery in Najaf. Along the way we also spent time in Basra and saw the damage at Nimrud and the Al-Nuri mosque in Mosul. It was a long route covering nine cities in ten days.

Spain

White building with arched windows behind ornate metal fence, sign reads Mosul Heritage. — MOSUL · MAR 2024 · 4 TRAVELERS

Green valley with terraced rocky hills, a small building near a stream, and sparse trees under overcast sky. — SULAYMANIYAH · MAR 2024 · 4 TRAVELERS

Large brick citadel with arched gateway and rows of windows under a clear blue sky. — ERBIL · MAR 2024 · 4 TRAVELERS

Man stands under a brick archway with the spiral minaret of Samarra behind him under a clear blue sky. — SAMARRA · MAR 2024 · 4 TRAVELERS

Erbil Citadel on a hill with shops and people below under a clear blue sky. — ERBIL · MAR 2024 · 4 TRAVELERS

Ancient stone cliff face with carved niches and weathered reliefs under a clear sky. — MOSUL · MAR 2024 · 4 TRAVELERS

Cityscape of dense beige buildings under blue sky with scattered clouds, distant water horizon. — NAJAF · MAR 2024 · 4 TRAVELERS

Man in sunglasses poses beside ancient brick ruins under clear blue sky. — SAMARRA · MAR 2024 · 4 TRAVELERS

Rusty white signpost in desert reads 'WELCOME IN ASSUR' under blue sky. — MOSUL · MAR 2024 · 4 TRAVELERS

Ruined brick archway on a sandy mound under clear blue sky. — SAMARRA · MAR 2024 · 4 TRAVELERS

Two men in a stone courtyard with arched walkways and wooden doors under a glass roof. — ERBIL · MAR 2024 · 4 TRAVELERS

Excavated mud-brick ruins under a protective white roof structure in a desert setting. — MUTHANNA · MAR 2024 · 4 TRAVELERS

Two people stand under a large arched gateway of ancient brick ruins under a clear blue sky. — SAMARRA · MAR 2024 · 4 TRAVELERS

Dining area with large windows overlooking the Tigris river and city skyline with domed structures. — BAGHDAD · MAR 2024 · 4 TRAVELERS

FEB 2024 · 28 TRAVELERS · 1 NATIONALITY

Erbil, Baghdad, February 2024

Babylon · Baghdad · Basra · Erbil · Karbala · Mosul · Muthanna · Nasiriyah & the Marshes · Samarra

In February 2024, twenty-eight travelers from Italy joined us to see Iraq. We walked through the Ishtar Gate in Babylon, viewed the stone statues outside the Iraq Museum in Baghdad, and climbed the Ziggurat of Ur in Nasiriyah. Our group also stopped at the Malwiya spiral minaret at the Great Mosque of Samarra and visited Erbil Citadel.

Italy

Reed mudhif house on a marsh island under blue sky with reeds in water foreground. — NASIRIYAH & THE MARSHES · FEB 2024 · 28 TRAVELERS

Ancient eroded mud-brick ruins with carved stone reliefs under a cloudy sky. — MUTHANNA · FEB 2024 · 28 TRAVELERS

Directional sign for Basra Railway Station with Arabic and English text and a train icon against a clear sky. — BASRA · FEB 2024 · 28 TRAVELERS

Man gestures toward ancient stone ruins with carved animal reliefs under cloudy sky. — BABYLON · FEB 2024 · 28 TRAVELERS

A person paddles a small boat on calm water with reeds and a large domed building in the background. — NASIRIYAH & THE MARSHES · FEB 2024 · 28 TRAVELERS

Ancient stone relief carving showing two figures in detailed attire on a weathered wall. — MOSUL · FEB 2024 · 28 TRAVELERS

Two giant crossed swords held by hands, lit at night with palm trees and Iraqi flag visible. — BAGHDAD · FEB 2024 · 28 TRAVELERS

Man in jacket stands beside saddled brown horse on dry, eroded terrain under blue sky. — MUTHANNA · FEB 2024 · 28 TRAVELERS

Spiral minaret and long brick wall under a bright blue sky with sun glare. — SAMARRA · FEB 2024 · 28 TRAVELERS

Man riding a horse on a dry, flat landscape with another person standing beside them. — MUTHANNA · FEB 2024 · 28 TRAVELERS

FEB 2024 · 35 TRAVELERS · 1 NATIONALITY

Baghdad, to , Sulaymaniyah, February 2024

Baghdad · Nasiriyah & the Marshes · Sulaymaniyah · Basra · Karbala · Babylon · Muthanna

In February 2024, thirty-five travelers from Hong Kong joined us to explore Baghdad, Nasiriyah, and Sulaymaniyah. We stood together inside the dark memorial hall of the Al-Shaheed monument and later sat on patterned rugs inside a reed mudhif structure. By the water, some of us watched a person row a long wooden boat through the reeds while others looked out over Dukan lake from the white railing.

Hong Kong

JAN 2024 · 15 TRAVELERS · 1 NATIONALITY

Baghdad to Basra , January 2024

Babylon · Baghdad · Basra · Karbala · Muthanna · Najaf · Nasiriyah & the Marshes · Samarra

In January 2024, twenty-five travellers from Italy joined us for a route across Iraq. We walked through the ancient mud-brick ruins in Babylon and stood by the blue gate with animal reliefs. The group visited the Imam Ali shrine in Najaf and looked out over Wadi al-Salam cemetery from a rooftop. We also stopped at the Great Mosque of Samarra, Baghdad, Basra, Karbala, Muthanna, and Nasiriyah during the week.

Italy

Ornate blue-tiled dome and minaret of a shrine under clear sky, with palm trees and a white car nearby. — BAGHDAD · JAN 2024 · 15 TRAVELERS

Ancient eroded mud-brick ruins under blue sky with scattered dry grass and a palm tree near an arched gateway. — MUTHANNA · JAN 2024 · 15 TRAVELERS

Building with red roof beside river at sunset, Tigris visible in foreground. — BAGHDAD · JAN 2024 · 15 TRAVELERS

Sunset over a river with silhouetted buildings and calm water reflecting the orange sky. — BAGHDAD · JAN 2024 · 15 TRAVELERS

DEC 2023 · 25 TRAVELERS · 1 NATIONALITY

Baghdad to Basra, December 2023

Babylon · Baghdad · Basra · Karbala · Mosul · Muthanna · Nasiriyah & the Marshes · Samarra · Sulaymaniyah

In December 2023, we travelled with 25 people from Hong Kong across Iraq. We walked through the Ishtar Gate in Babylon, visited the Erbil Citadel in Erbil, and saw the Imam Husayn shrine in Karbala. The itinerary also took us to the Great Mosque of Samarra and Nimrud in Mosul.

Hong Kong

Large 'I ❤️ BEKHAL' sign in front of a waterfall cascading down rocky cliffs with a wooden viewing platform. — SULAYMANIYAH · DEC 2023 · 25 TRAVELERS

Sunlit waterway flanked by tall reeds in the Mesopotamian Marshes. — NASIRIYAH & THE MARSHES · DEC 2023 · 25 TRAVELERS

Modern building with Arabic signage on a busy street at sunset, cars moving on wet pavement. — BAGHDAD · DEC 2023 · 25 TRAVELERS

A person in blue stands near ancient stone ruins and a large arched building in a desert landscape. — MOSUL · DEC 2023 · 25 TRAVELERS

Spiral minaret and long brick wall under bright sun in open desert. — SAMARRA · DEC 2023 · 25 TRAVELERS

Deep canyon with steep rocky cliffs, a winding river below, and a village perched on the right cliff edge under a clear sky. — SULAYMANIYAH · DEC 2023 · 25 TRAVELERS

Ornate interior with mirrored walls and ceiling, patterned tiles, and recessed lighting in a shrine. — KARBALA · DEC 2023 · 25 TRAVELERS

Welcome sign to the Ancient City of Ur against a blue sky with power lines. — NASIRIYAH & THE MARSHES · DEC 2023 · 25 TRAVELERS

Weathered two-story wooden building with carved balconies and arched brick entrances in a historic citadel. — BASRA · DEC 2023 · 25 TRAVELERS

Close-up of ancient stone arch with carved lion relief under blue sky. — BABYLON · DEC 2023 · 25 TRAVELERS

Massive brick mosque with spiral minaret under bright sun in desert landscape. — SAMARRA · DEC 2023 · 25 TRAVELERS

Ornate brick building with wooden balconies and arched windows on a street with parked cars and a man standing beside a truck. — BAGHDAD · DEC 2023 · 25 TRAVELERS

Ancient eroded mud-brick walls and stone-paved courtyard under open sky. — MUTHANNA · DEC 2023 · 25 TRAVELERS

Ancient stone relief carving of two figures in Assyrian attire on a weathered wall under sky. — MOSUL · DEC 2023 · 25 TRAVELERS

Sunset behind a bridge over a river with boats and a domed building visible in the distance. — BAGHDAD · DEC 2023 · 25 TRAVELERS

JUN 2023 · 13 TRAVELERS · 1 NATIONALITY

Baghdad to Erbil, June 2023

Baghdad · Duhok · Erbil · Karbala · Mosul · Muthanna · Najaf · Nasiriyah & the Marshes · Samarra · Sulaymaniyah

In June 2023, thirteen travellers from Russia joined us for a route stretching from Baghdad across the central plains and up to Mosul. We walked through the stone ruins of Hatra and looked up at the Malwiya spiral minaret at the Great Mosque of Samarra. The group spent time around the Imam Ali shrine in Najaf and the Imam Husayn shrine in Karbala, before heading north to Erbil Citadel and the Lalish temple in Duhok. We also visited Ahmed Awa in Sulaymaniyah, where water cascades through the canyon.

Russia

Natural rock arch framing turquoise water cascading through a mossy canyon with bare trees on slopes. — SULAYMANIYAH · JUN 2023 · 13 TRAVELERS

Three conical stone towers with ridged surfaces against a clear blue sky, framed by autumn leaves. — DUHOK · JUN 2023 · 13 TRAVELERS

Sunset over a river with silhouetted buildings and a dome on the far bank. — BAGHDAD · JUN 2023 · 13 TRAVELERS

Ornate interior with gold carvings, Arabic calligraphy, and red-lit alcoves under a chandelier. — KARBALA · JUN 2023 · 13 TRAVELERS

Ancient stone columns with carved capitals under a clear blue sky. — MOSUL · JUN 2023 · 13 TRAVELERS

Close-up of ancient cuneiform inscriptions carved into weathered stone blocks. — MUTHANNA · JUN 2023 · 13 TRAVELERS

Massive brick mosque wall with arched openings under a cloudy sky, palm trees in distance. — SAMARRA · JUN 2023 · 13 TRAVELERS

Man stands beside bronze bust on pedestal with plaque, citadel visible on hill behind. — ERBIL · JUN 2023 · 13 TRAVELERS

Five geese swim in calm water with tall reeds lining the bank under a clear sky. — NASIRIYAH & THE MARSHES · JUN 2023 · 13 TRAVELERS

Man points toward stone building with conical roof and arched openings, surrounded by trees and people. — DUHOK · JUN 2023 · 13 TRAVELERS

Long corridor with repeating pointed arches and intricate stucco carvings inside a historic mosque. — SAMARRA · JUN 2023 · 13 TRAVELERS

Ruined mud-brick walls and arches in a desert landscape under a clear sky. — MUTHANNA · JUN 2023 · 13 TRAVELERS

Ancient stone columns with carved capitals stand under a clear sky at an archaeological site. — MOSUL · JUN 2023 · 13 TRAVELERS

Sunset over calm water with reeds silhouetted against golden sky. — NASIRIYAH & THE MARSHES · JUN 2023 · 13 TRAVELERS

Man in traditional headwear stands before stone conical towers on a hillside. — DUHOK · JUN 2023 · 13 TRAVELERS

Two tall minarets with gold domes flank an ornate arched entrance to a shrine under a clear sky. — KARBALA · JUN 2023 · 13 TRAVELERS

Ancient stone ruins with arched gateway and black metal gate under clear sky. — MUTHANNA · JUN 2023 · 13 TRAVELERS

Ancient Assyrian winged bull sculpture with human head displayed indoors under museum lighting. — BAGHDAD · JUN 2023 · 13 TRAVELERS

Mannequin in traditional Kurdish attire stands in a stone-walled room with woven textiles, rugs, and cultural artifacts displayed. — ERBIL · JUN 2023 · 13 TRAVELERS

People in traditional attire gather on stone steps near conical-roofed buildings on a hillside. — DUHOK · JUN 2023 · 13 TRAVELERS

Man stands in desert ruins with crumbling stone arches and walls under bright sky. — MUTHANNA · JUN 2023 · 13 TRAVELERS

Ancient stone temple with tall columns and arched entrance under clear sky. — MOSUL · JUN 2023 · 13 TRAVELERS

Two men stand near a wooden marsh boat with reeds and trees in the background. — NASIRIYAH & THE MARSHES · JUN 2023 · 13 TRAVELERS

Stone temple with conical roof under bright sun, parked cars and visitors nearby. — DUHOK · JUN 2023 · 13 TRAVELERS

MAY 2022 · 2 TRAVELERS · 1 NATIONALITY

Baghdad to Najaf, May 2022

Babylon · Baghdad · Karbala · Kirkuk · Mosul · Muthanna · Najaf · Nasiriyah & the Marshes · Samarra

In May 2022, eight travellers from Turkey joined us for a route across the country. We walked along the long sandy path between the crenellated brick walls of the Babylon reconstructed palace walls and looked up at the Ishtar Gate. In Mosul, we stood by the damaged Al-Nuri mosque under a clear blue sky before heading north to see the Erbil Citadel.

Turkey

Ornate ceiling with crystal chandeliers and mirrored surfaces inside a shrine. — KARBALA · MAY 2022 · 2 TRAVELERS

Damaged mosque with green dome and wooden scaffolding under a clear blue sky. — MOSUL · MAY 2022 · 2 TRAVELERS

Long sandy path between tall, crenellated brick walls under a clear sky, bordered by black metal fencing. — BABYLON · MAY 2022 · 2 TRAVELERS

Stone archway with Arabic calligraphy under a flagpole flying the Iraqi flag against a blue sky. — MOSUL · MAY 2022 · 2 TRAVELERS

Brick building with arched gateway, blue-tiled window, and Arabic sign beside parked scooter under clear sky. — NASIRIYAH & THE MARSHES · MAY 2022 · 2 TRAVELERS

Eroded mud-brick mounds under a clear sky with distant low walls and sparse vegetation. — MUTHANNA · MAY 2022 · 2 TRAVELERS

Interior of a mosque with blue carpet, ornate dome, Arabic calligraphy, and golden chandelier. — BAGHDAD · MAY 2022 · 2 TRAVELERS

Man stands beside ornate wooden shrine with glass panels inside tiled hall. — NAJAF · MAY 2022 · 2 TRAVELERS

Two men stand before a large blue gate decorated with animal reliefs under a clear sky. — BABYLON · MAY 2022 · 2 TRAVELERS

Ornate golden shrine with blue tilework and Arabic calligraphy under a glittering chandelier, viewed from below. — KARBALA · MAY 2022 · 2 TRAVELERS

Ornate stone arch with Arabic calligraphy and turquoise trim under a clear blue sky. — MOSUL · MAY 2022 · 2 TRAVELERS

Wide sandy courtyard within a walled citadel, hazy cityscape visible beyond the walls. — KIRKUK · MAY 2022 · 2 TRAVELERS

Small brick building with a blue dome under a palm tree and clear sky. — NASIRIYAH & THE MARSHES · MAY 2022 · 2 TRAVELERS

Blue-domed shrine and spiral minaret under clear sky with palm trees. — SAMARRA · MAY 2022 · 2 TRAVELERS

Golden shrine with green lattice panels inside a marble hall with chandeliers and patterned carpet. — BAGHDAD · MAY 2022 · 2 TRAVELERS

Long mud-brick wall with crenellations stretches across a flat desert under a hazy sky. — MUTHANNA · MAY 2022 · 2 TRAVELERS

Ornate golden shrine interior with crystal chandelier and mirrored walls under arched ceiling. — KARBALA · MAY 2022 · 2 TRAVELERS

Street view of a large domed shrine with blue tilework and a minaret, cars parked along the road. — BAGHDAD · MAY 2022 · 2 TRAVELERS

Damaged mosque with green dome under wooden scaffolding against blue sky. — MOSUL · MAY 2022 · 2 TRAVELERS

Blue-tiled dome with Arabic calligraphy atop a brick building, surrounded by palm trees and arched structures. — NASIRIYAH & THE MARSHES · MAY 2022 · 2 TRAVELERS

Sunlit mud-brick archway with crenellated walls under clear sky. — MUTHANNA · MAY 2022 · 2 TRAVELERS

Ornate chandelier hangs beneath tiled ceiling with Arabic calligraphy; red flag with white script visible through window. — KARBALA · MAY 2022 · 2 TRAVELERS

Ornate beige building with blue tilework and balconies on a street with parked vehicles under a clear sky. — BAGHDAD · MAY 2022 · 2 TRAVELERS

Relief of a lion in glazed blue and yellow tiles mounted on an interior wall. — BABYLON · MAY 2022 · 2 TRAVELERS

Golden dome and minaret viewed through an arched window frame against blue sky. — NAJAF · MAY 2022 · 2 TRAVELERS

DEC 2019 · 22 TRAVELERS · 1 NATIONALITY

Iraq, December 2019

Babylon · Baghdad · Basra · Erbil · Karbala · Kirkuk · Mosul · Muthanna · Nasiriyah & the Marshes · Samarra · Sulaymaniyah

In December 2019, we travelled across Iraq with 22 visitors from Hong Kong. We walked through the sunlit stone streets of Erbil Citadel and looked at ancient artifacts in glass cases inside the Iraq Museum in Baghdad. The group also visited the Great Mosque of Samarra to see the Malwiya spiral minaret and stood near the rocky waterfall at Ahmed Awa in Sulaymaniyah.

Hong Kong

Desert mound of ancient Uruk ruins viewed through a stone archway under a clear blue sky. — MUTHANNA · DEC 2019 · 22 TRAVELERS

Night view of a brightly lit turquoise-tiled shrine facade with arched windows and people sitting nearby. — KARBALA · DEC 2019 · 22 TRAVELERS

Illuminated cable-stayed bridge spans a river at night with city lights reflecting on water. — BASRA · DEC 2019 · 22 TRAVELERS

Brick mosque with spiral minaret and domes under blue sky, market tents below. — SAMARRA · DEC 2019 · 22 TRAVELERS

Relief carving of a lion behind a white metal grid on a stone wall. — BABYLON · DEC 2019 · 22 TRAVELERS

A person in purple robe touches a grilled window inside a room with ornate blue and gold tilework and marble walls. — NAJAF · DEC 2019 · 22 TRAVELERS

Ancient stone relief carving of a winged human-headed bull behind a white metal grid. — MOSUL · DEC 2019 · 22 TRAVELERS

Tall reeds line a calm waterway under an overcast sky, reflecting in the still surface. — NASIRIYAH & THE MARSHES · DEC 2019 · 22 TRAVELERS

Man on a boat at night with illuminated cable-stayed bridge over water in Basra. — BASRA · DEC 2019 · 22 TRAVELERS

JAN 2019 · 25 TRAVELERS · 1 NATIONALITY

Baghdad and Basra january 2019

Baghdad · Samarra · Babylon · Nasiriyah & the Marshes · Karbala

Twenty-five travelers from Russia joined us for this tour. We walked through the galleries of the Iraq Museum and saw the Al-Qishla clock tower in Baghdad. The group also climbed the Malwiya spiral minaret in Samarra under a clear blue sky. Everyone gathered for photos in front of the large arched gateway with blue decorative reliefs.

Russia

JUL 2013 · 22 TRAVELERS · 1 NATIONALITY

Basra to Baghdad, July 2013

Babylon · Baghdad · Basra · Karbala · Mosul · Muthanna · Najaf · Nasiriyah & the Marshes · Samarra

In July 2013, twenty-two travellers from Taiwan, joined us for a route across Iraq. We walked past the mud-brick desert mounds of Babylon and paused at the Ishtar Gate and the Lion of Babylon. In Baghdad, the group saw the Al-Shaheed Monument and the Al-Kadhimiya shrine, while further north we climbed the Malwiya spiral minaret at the Great Mosque of Samarra. The itinerary also included stops in Basra, Karbala, Muthanna, Najaf, and Nasiriyah.

Taiwan

NOV 2012 · 12 TRAVELERS · 1 NATIONALITY

Baghdad to Basra, November 2012

Baghdad · Basra · Karbala · Muthanna · Nasiriyah & the Marshes · Babylon

In November 2012, fifteen travellers from Estonia joined us for an eleven-day route from Baghdad down to Basra. We walked the city streets past yellow taxis and Arabic signs, and spent time inside the ornate walls of the Imam Husayn shrine and the Al-Abbas shrine in Karbala. In Nasiriyah, the group climbed the brick steps of the Ziggurat of Ur under an overcast sky. Later in the trip, we stood near the waterfront at dusk to watch the illuminated boats on the water.

Estonia

AUG 2012 · 15 TRAVELERS · 1 NATIONALITY

Samarra and Karbala, August 2012

Karbala · Samarra

In August 2012, fifteen travellers from Myanmar joined us for a tour through Samarra and Karbala. We stood outside in the desert landscape to look at the tall Malwiya spiral minaret and its long brick wall under a clear sky. Later, we visited the Imam Husayn shrine, entering through the illuminated green doorway into the night crowds. We also rested indoors together in a marble-walled hotel lobby between our walks.

Myanmar

Illuminated green shrine entrance at night with Arabic banners and crowd below. — KARBALA · AUG 2012 · 15 TRAVELERS

Tall spiral brick minaret under clear sky with people on its steps and desert ground. — SAMARRA · AUG 2012 · 15 TRAVELERS

FEB 2012 · 13 TRAVELERS · 1 NATIONALITY

Baghdad, Erbil and Sulaymaniyah, February 2012

Baghdad · Duhok · Erbil · Sulaymaniyah

In February 2012, thirteen travellers from Germany joined us to explore Baghdad, Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, Duhok, and Muthanna. We walked past the Al-Shaheed monument and the Al-Qishla clock tower in Baghdad before heading north to see the Erbil Citadel and the Duhok dam. The group also visited Amna Suraka and the waterfall at Ahmed Awa in Sulaymaniyah during the cooler winter days.

Germany

JAN 2011 · 1 NATIONALITY

Russia Group

Baghdad · Basra · Najaf · Babylon · Nasiriyah & the Marshes

Twelve travellers from Russia joined us in Baghdad. We spent the day at the Iraq Museum. Visitors walked through the large halls, looking closely at the ancient artifacts displayed inside the glass cases under the high windows.

Russia

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