Lalish, Iraqi Kurdistan

Iraqi – Kurdistan

from
$2,250

This 7-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.

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  • Vacation Style Holiday Type
      Culture
    • Activity Level Moderate
      3/8
    • Group Size Medium Group
      10
    All about the Iraqi – Kurdistan.

    This 7-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 notorious Red Prison in Sulaymaniyah.

    Highlights:

    • Lalish – spiritual home of the Yazidi people
    • Explore Rawanduz canyon and the Hamilton Road
    • Visit the Amna Saraka or Red Prison – the museum dedicated to the terrors of Saddam

    Start Point: Erbil, Iraq
    End Point: Erbil, Iraq
    Maximum number of people: 10

    Combine Kurdistan with our Cradle of Civilisation trip

    The tour package inclusions and exclusions at a glance
    What is included in this tour?Items that are included in the cost of tour price.
    • All accommodation – 6 nights
    • Breakfast
    • All ground transports
    • Guide/driver
    • International guide*
    • Entrance fees
    • Internal flight from Basra to Erbil (if also booked on Cradle of Civilisation trip)

       


    • *included on the March 2024 trip, but not the October 2024 trip. 
    What is not included in this tour?Items that are not included in the cost of tour price.
    • Insurance
    • International flights to and from Iraq
    • Lunch & Dinner
    • Visa
    • Drinks
    • Tips for guides / drivers
    1. Day 1 Erbil

      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

    2. Day 2 Erbil - Lalish - Dohuk

      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)

      Overnight in hotel in Dohuk

    3. Day 3 Dohuk – Amedi

      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

    4. Day 4 Amedi – Barzan – Shanidar - Soran

      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

    5. Day 5 Soran – Hamilton Road – Sulaymaniyah

      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 before arriving in Sulaymaniyah. Enjoy an evening walk in the city centre in Iraq’s most liberal city.

      Overnight in Hotel in Sulaymaniyah.

    6. Day 6 Sulaymaniyah - Erbil

      You will have time to walk the busy streets and visit the Amna Saraka – the museum dedicated to the terrors of Saddam located in the Ba’ath parties old intelligence headquarters. Stop by the Goizha viewpoint before driving back to Erbil.

      Overnight in Hotel in Erbil

    7. Day 7 Erbil - End

      Enjoy a relaxing day visiting the textile museum, old minaret park and the Erbil City Centre. Walk the bazaar, have tea in the old tea places and end your trip with a delicious lunch from Foul and Hummus in downtown Erbil.

      Trip ends in the afternoon in Erbil.

    Accommodation

    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 Amedi. 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$300 per person.

    The tour package inclusions and exclusions at a glance.
    Included in the price:
    • All accommodation – 6 nights
    • Breakfast
    • All ground transport
    • Guide/driver
    • International guide
    • Entrance fees
    • Internal flight from Basra to Erbil
    Not included in the price:
    • Insurance
    • International flights to and from Iraq
    • Lunch & Dinner
    • Visa
    • Drinks
    • Tips for guides / drivers

    We do not directly arrange international flights to Iraqi Kurdistan. 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 top priority.

    You will be accompanied by an international guide from Untamed Borders, along with an English-speaking local driver/guide for the length of the trip.

    Trips to Iraq do create dangers of their own and whilst we want you to have as much freedom as possible we must state that the tour guide has the final word with regards to changes in the itinerary for safety reasons. Whilst the route we have chosen passes through areas which we consider to be relatively stable things can change and we may have to alter the route or cancel sections of the trip at short notice.

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    PackageConfirmed DatesTrip StatusCurrent StatusPricein Twin Occupancy
    Available to Book
    1950 $
    Available to Book
    1950 $