Iraqi-Kurdistan Newroz Festival

Overview

Start: Erbil, Iraq

Finish: Erbil, Iraq

Duration: 9 Days

Max. Group Size: 10

We will not run this group trip in 2025 due to date conflictions. Please contact us for private requests.

This 9 day trip explores the Northern area of Iraq, Kurdistan, taking in the cultural, geographical and historical highlights as well as getting a greater understanding of life in this semi-autonomous region of Iraq. We start in Erbil with its famous citadel. At 6,500 years old, it is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world and now a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Departing the city, the trip encompasses many natural sights: from blue waterfalls to steep gorges, deep caves and spectacular mountains between Dohuk and Soran. We explore the regions cultural and ethnic diversity by taking in Christian monasteries, and the spiritual home of the Yazidi people as well as places that give us an understanding of modern Iraq including visiting the Halabja memorial and the notorious Red Prison in Sulaymaniyah.

The trips finale is a visit to the town of Akre during the Newruz New Years festivities.

Highlights:

Lalish – spiritual home of the Yazidi people
Visit Mar Mattai monastery, Alqosh and Raban Hormizd monastery
Explore Rawanduz canyon and the Hamilton Road
Celebrate Newruz. The Kurdish New Year

Itinerary

Arrive in Erbil.
Transfer from airport to the hotel for briefing.
Visit the main square and the bazaar in the evening
Overnight in hotel in Erbil

Drive from Erbil to Dohuk.
En route we will stop and have lunch in Lalish, the spiritual home of the Yazidi people.
Visit the church in Alqosh and the nearby Raban Hormizd monastery (closed at the time of writing).
Once in Dohuk you will have time to explore the city.
Overnight in hotel in Dohuk

Spend the morning exploring Dohuk and its surrounding area, including Duhok dam and Chwarstoon Cave. Continue the drive to the walled town of Amedi and see the mosque ruins in the valley.

Overnight in simple hotel in Amedi

Drive between Amedi and Soran through the mountains of Kurdistan. Stop in Barzan and see the Barzani Memorial Centre.
There will be a chance to visit the Shanidar cave as well as passing through the Korek Mountains.

Overnight in hotel in Soran

A day visiting the mountains of Kurdistan including Rawanduz canyon, Bekhal and Gali Ali Bag waterfalls. Part of this day includes driving the famous Hamilton Road and stop by Dukan Lake before arriving in Sulaymaniyah. Enjoy an evening walk in the city centre in Iraq’s most liberal city.
Overnight in hotel in Sulaymaniyah

Walk the busy streets of the city before visiting the Amna Saraka – the museum dedicated to the terrors of Saddam located in the Ba’ath party’s old intelligence headquarters.

Drive to the memorial to Saddam’s gas attacks at Halabja. Stop by the Goizha viewpoint before driving back to Erbil for a good night’s rest.
Overnight in hotel in Erbil

A late start then a full day visiting Akre for the Kurdish festival of Newruz. The highlight being the torch lit procession at dusk up the mountain.
A late return to Erbil.

Transfer to airport – end of trip

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Information

We do not directly arrange international flights to Iraqi Kurdistan. However, we can suggest routes and operators.

For most nationalities, a visa is available on arrival in Erbil airport. The visa is valid for Iraqi Kurdistan only and NOT for southern Iraq. If you have an Iraq visa in advance then it is valid for all of Iraq.

We do not and cannot offer a uniform accommodation standard on our itineraries. Even if we wanted to, the reality is that standards and costs in Erbil cannot be compared to a hotel in Soran. We consider comfort, location, design, character, security, historical interest and whether the money we spend will go into the pockets of the local community when we make our choices of where to stay. The accommodation will be based on you sharing a twin room. Optional single supplement is available for US$360 per person.

We provide breakfast everyday. We know plenty of places in Erbil & Sulaymaniyah for lunch and dinner. From traditional kebab houses to international restaurants at international prices. When there is an option, we let you make the choice of how much you want to spend.

When we choose our vehicles and drivers we take into consideration the road conditions, the length of journey and the competence of the man behind the wheel. Your comfort, enjoyment and safety of the journey is the first priority.

You will be accompanied by an international guide from Untamed Borders along with a Kurdish driver/guide for the length of the trip.