Iraqi-Kurdistan Newroz Festival
fromThis 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.
The trips finale is a visit to the town of Akre during the Newruz New Years festivities.
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Vacation Style Holiday TypeCulture
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Activity Level Moderate
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Group Size Small Group
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
Start Point: Erbil
End Point: Erbil
Maximum number of people: 10
- All accommodation – 8 nights
- Breakfast
- All ground transport
- Guide/driver
- International guide
- Entrance fees
- Internal flight from Basra to Erbil (if booked on Cradle of Civilisation trip)
- Insurance
- International flights to and from Iraq
- Lunch & Dinner
- Visa
- Drinks
- Tips for guides / drivers
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 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 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.