Iraq Tours

Iraq New Years Tour

  • Dec 26th - Jan 1st, 2027
  • 2290
  • 6 Days
Itinerary

What's it all about?
It’s our signature Iraq tour which starts in Basra and ends in the capital of Baghdad – just in time for New Year celebrations!
 
This Basra to Baghdad tour will take in all of the major highlights of federal Iraq between the two cities. The area is spoiled with world-class heritage and is completely unspoiled by tourism meaning we will feel like the only foreign travellers in town.
 
There is a huge amount of ancient and modern history waiting to be explored. We’ll travel from Basra heading north to the Iraqi Marshlands & the holy cities of Najaf & Karbala. We will also head all the way to Babylon & Samarra, before enjoying New Year’s Eve in Baghdad. We cover a huge amount of ground with your expert local guide keeping you informed throughout.
 
Join us this December for a one-of-a-kind Iraq New Year tour!
Highlights
Where?

Basra – Najaf – Karbala – Babylon – Baghdad – Samarra – Baghdad.

When?

Dec 26th – Jan 1st, 2027

Visa?

For Southern Iraq a new eVisa scheme has been announced for all countries. Everyone must apply for an eVisa in advance.

The Itinerary

Dec 26th - Basra

  • Arrival in Basra. Your tour guide will meet you at Basra Airport and transfer you to the hotel.
  • Meet the rest of your group in the hotel before heading out for your full Basra city tour.
  • Visit the Ashar and Shanashil Al Basra area to witness the old Basra – old-style merchant houses with balconies leaning over the narrow streets. Stop by the Souq, History Museum & Saddam Hussein Palace.
  • Dinner and overnight in Basra.

Dec 27th - Marshes, Ur & Najaf

  • Up bright and early to drive towards the Mesopotamian Marshes. We’ll take a boat trip through the maze of marshes stopping by local villages for tea. The marshes once engulfed a whole swathe of Southern Iraq with numerous floating villages. Today the receding waters have led most families to change their livelihood but we’ll still see the few that remain.
  • It is also home to the Maʻdān population who over the centuries have adapted to life on the water. Stop by a traditional house for lunch and tea.
  • Drive north and stop to visit the Ziggurat of Ur, a neo-Sumerian construction built in 2000 BC.
  • Continue driving to Najaf, visit the Imam Ali Shrine & Imam Ali’s house (the very spot where Imam Ali was killed)
  • Dinner and overnight in Najaf.
Continue reading

Dec 28th - Babylon & Karbala

  • Visit the Wadi-Us-Salaam – the world’s largest graveyard. It is said to contain tens of millions of bodies. Many Shiites request to be buried here in one of the numerous catacombs.
  • Drive to Babylon, once the largest and most important city in the world. We tour the ancient ruins with our local expert and see what’s left of the hanging gardens.
  • Saddam Hussain Palace – Perched right on top of Babylon, the dictator made sure he had the best view of the site. We spend some time exploring the looted remains of one of his many former palaces.
  • Drive to Karbala and visit the holy city’s famous Al Abbas mosque and Iman Husayn shrine. Enjoy the shrines at dusk and wander through the surrounding markets.
  • Dinner and overnight in Karbala.

Dec 29th - Baghdad  

  • Early rise and head towards Baghdad. Baghdad city tour – See the Liberation Square monument, which commemorates the establishment of the Republic of Iraq.
  • Visit to the National Museum of Iraq. Reopened in 2015 after notorious looting during the war, it contains various treasures from the Mesopotamian and Babylonian periods.
  • Visit the incredible and well-renovated Al-Mustansariya School. This is commonly known as the oldest school in the world.
  • Walk through the book market and adjoining copper market. A great place for souvenirs and photography.
  • Visit the Al-Shaheed (Martyr) Monument.
  • Dinner, Tea, shisha and overnight in Baghdad.

Dec 30th - Baghdad - Samarra

  • Hit the road and drive north to Samara. We pass through multiple checkpoints along the route driving by many villages recently destroyed during fighting against ISIS.
  • Samara is famous for its palaces, shrines & Minarets. We’ll visit the Abu Delef minaret and climb the spiral staircase all the way to the top for a 360-degree view!
  • Dinner and overnight in Baghdad.

Dec 31st - Baghdad

  • Drive out to one of the greatest historical sites in the Middle East: the ruins of Ctesiphon. These days all that’s left is a gigantic arch which also happens to be the world’s largest span of unreinforced brickwork.
  • Visit the Save Iraqi Culture & Ali Baba Monuments.
  • Visit the happening Adamiya or Karada neighbourhoods in the evening.
  • Traditional Fish Masgouf dinner and New Year celebrations!
  • Overnight in Baghdad.

Jan 1st - Erbil

  • Transfer to the airport and end of tour.

Tour Map

What else?
Inclusions
Exclusions

  • Secure Hotels in Iraq

    Twin share accommodation (single supplements are available for an extra $60 per night)

  • Entrance fees

    All entrance fees (unless otherwise stated)

  • Guides

    Expert local guide only on budget tours. Both a local guide and western tour leader on regular tours.

  • Transport

    Air-conditioned bus and driver.

  • Visa Support

    Everyone must apply for an eVisa through the official portal on the Iraqi government's website.

  • Airport Pickup/Dropoff

    Airport transfers included.

  • International Flights

    Flights in and out of Iraq.

  • Lunch and Dinner

    Most lunch and dinners are extra charge.

  • Visa Fee

    Any associated visa fees.

  • Tips

    Tips are expected for your Iraqi local guides and driver.

  • Pre/Post Tour Accommodation

    If you would like to spend a day or more pre or post tour, let us know and we'll reserve the hotel for you.

Tour Notes

You’ll be in the vastly experienced hands of our English-speaking local guide & fixer. We visit Iraq regularly, so we know the best spots and have perfected the itinerary accordingly. Given the unpredictable nature of travelling in Iraq, the itinerary may change slightly, but we will always go above and beyond with added extras to the itinerary such as stops at local cafe-bars, shisha lounges and amusement parks. We are in constant communication with our local partners on the ground who advise the safest routes to take.

Before each tour we will add you to dedicated Whatsapp group so you can share photos easily with your travel mates. Just let us know is you want to opt out of this.

To book simply hit the button below and start the conversation today.

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Dec 26 - Jan 1st, 2027

Baghdad to Erbil Tour

Start in Basra

Finish in Baghdad!

Standard hotel

6 nights in Iraq

The price

€2290

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