Basra to Erbil Tour

What's it all about?

This is a big one. Travel all the way from Iraq’s southern tip to northern Iraqi Kurdistan! Fly into Basra and finish in Erbil whilst taking in all of the major highlights of Federal Iraq.

We’ve been running safe and secure tours to the south since our first research tour to the region in April 2018. It quickly became one of our favourite tours. The area is spoiled with world-class heritage and is completely unspoiled by tourism. We will frequently 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 to the Mesopotamian Marshes, then onto the holy cities of Najaf & Karbala before exploring Babylon and Baghdad. Then we head north to Samarra and onto Mosul & Erbil. We cover a huge amount of ground with our expert local guide keeping us entertained and explaining all as we go.

Join us for this unique southern Iraq tour and see the whole of Iraq by adding in a very special Iraqi Kurdistan Nowruz tour!

Where?

Basra – Nasariyah – Najaf – Karbala – Babylon – Baghdad – Samarra – Mosul – Erbil.

When?

March 7 – 15th, 2026

Visa?

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

The Itinerary

March 7th - Basra - Arrival Day

Arrive in Basra at your own leisure. Airport transfers are provided to our hotel.
Today is mainly an arrival day so you’ll have free time before we meet up in the hotel lobby at 6 pm.
Meet & greet/discuss the itinerary before heading out for a group dinner.
Overnight in Basra.

March 8th - Basra

Breakfast at the hotel before exploring Basra for the day.
Visit the Ashar and Shanashil Al Basra area to catch a glimpse of the old Basra: traditional-style merchant houses with balconies leaning over the narrow streets.
Take a cruise across the Shatt Al Arab River and see some shipwrecks from the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s.
Traditional Iraqi Lunch.
We’ll also have the opportunity to explore one of Saddam Hussain’s palaces’ – the now converted Basra Museum.
After we’ll stop by the Souq and the historic old Central Railway Station.
Dinner and overnight in Basra.

March 9th - Chibayesh | Ur | Najaf

Up early for the drive to 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.
On the way see the famed Tree of Knowledge – the same tree, according to local legend, that Eve ate from in the Garden of Eden.
The Marches is also home to the Maʻdān population who over the centuries have adapted to life on the water.
Continue to visit the Ziggurat of Ur, a neo-Sumerian construction built in 2000 BC. This used to be the capital of Mesopotamia during the Sumerian time and it has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2016.
Drive to Najaf.
Dinner and overnight in Najaf.

March 10th - Najaf & Karbala

Najaf tour, including Imam Ali’s house (the very spot where Imam Ali was killed) and the Imam Ali Shrine itself.
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.
After lunch head to Karbala and visit the holy city’s famous Al Abbas mosque and Iman Husayn shrine at dusk.
It’s also home to some of the best baklava in Iraq!
Dinner and overnight in Karbala.

March 11th - Babylon & Baghdad

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 – (if open – TBC) 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.
After extensively exploring Babylon, continue on to the ancient city of Ctesiphone.
These days all that’s left is the palace archway which is the largest single-span vault of unenforced brickwork in the world.
Drive an hour to Baghdad.
Visit the Save Iraqi Culture Monument.
Dinner and overnight in Baghdad.

March 12th - Baghdad

After breakfast, it’s a full Baghdad city tour starting with the Liberation Square monument in Tahrir Square, 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.
Stroll along the Tigris River and cross over the water on a boat.
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.
Take a well-deserved break in the Shabinder cafe for tea and Shisha.
Lunch in the famous Kubba restaurant next door.
The Al Shaheed Monument -TBC – is the martyr’s memorial spot for people who died during the Iran-Iraq War. These days it’s a highly controversial monument, as it was originally built during the Saddam era.
Traditional Fish Masgouf dinner and overnight in Baghdad.

March 13th - Baghdad - Samarra - Mosul

Hit the road and drive north to Samara. We pass through multiple checkpoints along the route.
Samara is famous for its huge Minaret (also known as the Great Mosque of Samara). We’ll climb the spiral staircase all the way to the top for the 360-degree view. Not for the faint-hearted!
Visit the Jawsaq al-Khaqani – otherwise known as the Caliphal Palace. It’s one of the largest of its kind in the Islamic world.
After lunch drive towards Hatra, an important historic religious centre with a strategic position along caravan trade routes. Hatra was one of the first Arab states to be established outside of Arabia. We’ll see the incredible refurbishment efforts underway here after its liberation from ISIS.
Continue driving to Mosul and overnight.

March 14th - Mosul - Erbil

Start the day with a local breakfast before we start discovering the reconstruction of the old city including the Al-Nuri mosque and Al Tahira church.
See the Bash Tapia castle with its amazing views over the city and Tigris river.
Lunchtime with the “Kubba of Mosul” the area’s most popular dish.
Before sunset, we head to Erbil in the Kurdistan region of Iraq.
Farewell dinner to those leaving us in Erbil and meet up with those joining us for the Kurdistan tour.
Overnight in Erbil.

March 15th - Erbil

End of Tour.
Continue touring northern Iraq on our Iraqi Kurdistan tour!

Tour Map

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.

You’ll be in the vastly experienced hands of our English-speaking local guides & fixers as well as your Rocky Road Travel guide. 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.

After each tour, we will add you to dedicated email and social media groups so you can share photos easily with your travel mates. Just let us know if you want to opt out of this.

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

Apply for your spot on the tour now or simply request more info below.

March 7-15th, 2026

Basra to Erbil Tour

Iraqi Kurdistan Option

Continue North to Kurdistan

Premium hotel

8 nights in Iraq

The price

€2590

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Basra to Erbil Tour

What's it all about?