Middle East
Modern Mesopotamia
Photo credit: Explore Mesopotamia
From Baghdad to Babylon
Overview
Starting in the capital Baghdad and ending in the southeastern port city of Basra, this 10-day exploration of southern Iraq focuses on the majority Shia areas of the country. This region is also deeply rich in history. It is home to the ruins of some of the planet’s most ancient civilizations (the Sumerians, Akkadians, and Babylonians, for example), alongside sites that were pivotal in the early development of Islam. The region is also fascinating as the cultural homeland to both urban Shia Arabs in cities like Karbala and Najaf and rural Marsh Arabs. The former are custodians of some of the most beautiful and holy mosques in the Muslim world, and the latter (who are also Shia) have a unique lifestyle based on the reed-lined waterways of Iraq’s marshes. Both suffered greatly under Saddam Hussein’s regime, and the revitalization of the area has been important to the rebirth of Iraq as a new state free of the former dictator.
Map
Itinerary
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Days 1-3: Baghdad (Iraq), Samarra
The adventures starts in Baghdad, Iraq’s capital and largest city. Over the course of three nights and two days explore the local culture in the souqs and streets and get acquainted with the country’s ancient history while browsing the exhibits at the national museum. Head out of town on a day trip to view the Great Mosque of Samarra and its impressive Malwiya Minaret.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Explore the 28 galleries and hundreds of thousands of artifacts housed at the Museum of Iraq, one of the world’s best museums, especially for ancient Mesopotamian civilizations and Islamic history
- Acquaint yourself with life in contemporary Baghdad as you browse the booksellers and markets on Mutanabbi Street and in the Souq al Safafeer
- Climb the 9th-century Malwiya Tower in Samarra, one of the world’s oldest and largest minarets, unique for its spiral shape, akin to the inside of a seashell
- Visit the ruins of the Parthian and Sassanian capital, Ctesiphon, which lies not far from Baghdad
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Days 4-6: Karbala, Najaf
From Baghdad head into the ancient heartland of Mesopotamia to view Babylon, both the ancient ruins and one of Saddam Hussein’s palaces. Then continue to Karbala, an important pilgrimage site for Shia Muslims and the location of the historically important Battle of Karbala. The next stop is Najaf, one of Iraq’s major cities and another important center for Shia pilgrims. The UNESCO-listed ruins of ancient Sumerian city-states are located nearby.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Wander the ruins at Babylon, one of the most famous of Iraq’s many ancient cities, and afterwards climb up to the palace overlooking the site, a testament to Saddam Hussein’s megalomania
- Explore Ukhaidir Palace, an Abbasid archaeological site extensively documented by Gertrude Bell in the early 20th century
- Contemplate the history of Shia Islam at the spectacular pilgrimage sites of southern Iraq, especially the Imam Husayn Mosque in Karbala, the Great Mosque of Kufa, and the Imam Ali Shrine in Najaf
- Step back into time as you explore the millennia-old Sumerian city-states of Ur and Uruk, both included on UNESCO’s World Heritage List
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Days 7-10: Nasiriyah, Basra
Continue through Mesopotamia towards the Persian Gulf, stopping in Nasiriyah to view its bustling markets and then the marshes near where the Euphrates River meets the Tigris River. The finals nights are spent in Basra, home to Ottoman heritage. Head out for a sunset cruise on the final night to take in the city from a new perspective.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Learn about the culture and tumultuous recent history of the Marsh Arabs as you explore the waterways of their reed-filled homeland aboard a boat
- See where the Euphrates and Tigris meet to form the Shatt al Arab, a purported site of the Biblical Garden of Eden, and then later head out on the Shatt al Arab to see Basra from a new perspective
- View Ottoman-era Shanasheel houses along the canals of Basra, largely dilapidated now but still evocative of a bygone era, and the subject of UNESCO-supported efforts to revive the traditional carpentry technique
Dates & Prices
Small group tour – max 16 travelers
Land tour price, per person. Based on double occupancy and minimum group size of 6 travelers.
This trip connects to our preceding Kurdistan tour, October 7-15, 2024.
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2024 Dates
Oct 15 - 24Limited spaceTour, double occupancy$7,295Single supplement$995
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2025 Dates
Feb 4 - 13Nov 11 - 20Tour, double occupancy$7,695Single supplement$1,095
What's Included
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Tour Includes
- Accommodations, as noted in the itinerary.
- Most meals, as noted in the itinerary: 9 breakfasts, 8 lunches and 9 dinners.
- Restaurant tips for included meals.
- Services of experienced, English-speaking local guides, drivers and other staff, including a MIR Tour Manager.
- Arrival/departure airport transfers. MIR will arrange for all travelers to be met on arrival and seen off on departure whether we make your airfare arrangements or not, provided you arrive and depart on the tour start/end dates in the tour start/end cities.
- Ground transportation throughout itinerary by private mini-coach, jeep or van (size of vehicle depends on group size and terrain and may vary from region to region).
- Guided sightseeing tours and entrance fees as outlined in itinerary.
- Gratuities to local guides, drivers, porters and other service personnel.
- Complete pre-departure electronic document that includes detailed packing suggestions, reading list links, country-specific information, maps, travel tips and more.
- Customized visa instruction kit (please note, visa fees are not included in the tour price).
- Electronic final update bulletin, with any late news, updates and important information.
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Not Included
- International airfare or taxes/fuel surcharges.
- Internal airfare from Erbil to Baghdad (required if participating on the preceding Kurdistan Explorer tour).
- Meals not specified as included in the itinerary.
- Single supplement charge, if requested or required.
- Items of a personal nature (phone calls, email, laundry, alcohol, excess baggage, etc).
- Visa/passport fees, airport departure fees.
- Expenses incurred as a result of delay, modification or extension of a tour due to causes beyond MIR’s control.
- Baggage handling.
- Gratuities to Tour Manager.
- Travel and trip cancellation insurance.
Activity Level
Level 3: Medium
The accommodations vary from three- to five-star properties. It is important to keep in mind that parts of Iraq are not up to the standards North American travelers expect. Services are improving; however, you may encounter problems with bureaucratic service, road conditions, plumbing, unpaved sidewalks, uneven surfaces and steps, variety of locally available foods, and availability and quality of public restrooms. You are traveling in some areas that see relatively few travelers, and the infrastructure is not yet fully developed.
While this program is designed to be the most comfortable possible for travel in this region, it is rated as rigorous touring due to the daily walking involved, the length of some bus rides and the overall shortcomings of the tourism infrastructure. This itinerary features a significant amount of touring on foot. Many streets are made of packed dirt, and some attractions are only accessible via steep staircases with tall uneven steps. Often the museums have no elevators. During touring excursions, availability of western toilets is unreliable in in the region. Many public toilets encountered during touring, at museums, at restaurants and so forth are squat toilets, and handrails may be inadequate.
Every effort has been made to make the information in this schedule accurate. However, trip itineraries are always subject to change. We do our best to inform you in advance of any changes, but due to the nature of travel in the region, this may not always be possible. Only those willing to accept these conditions should consider joining this program.
To reap the full rewards of this adventure, travelers must be able to walk at least a mile a day, keeping up with fellow travelers. Flexibility, a sense of humor and a willingness to accept local standards of amenities and services are essential components to the enjoyment of this trip.
Gallery
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1/20 Bustling Mutannabi Street in Baghdad. Photo credit: Jake Smith -
2/20 The UNESCO-listed citadel at Ur. Explore Mesopotamia
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3/20 A friendly baker in Baghdad. Jake Smith
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4/20 A mural within Saddam's Palace at the site of Ancient Babylon. Jake Smith
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5/20 A typical street scene in Baghdad. Jake Smith
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6/20 A model of the Ishtar Gate at the entrance to ancient Babylon. Photo credit: Jake Smith
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7/20 Serving tea in a traditional cafe on Baghdad's Mutannabi Street. Photo credit: Jake Smith Jake Smith
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8/20 The Imam Ali Shrine in Najaf. Explore Mesopotamia
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9/20 Iraqi baklava, a delicious (and perspective changing) treat. Photo credit: Jake Smith
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10/20 Riding through the reedy marshes of southern Iraq. Explore Mesopotamia
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11/20 A cuneiform tablet on display at the Iraq Museum in Baghdad. Jake Smith
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12/20 The Imam Husayn Shrine in Karbala. Explore Mesopotamia
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13/20 Mustansiriyah Madrassah in Baghdad. Explore Mesopotamia
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14/20 An Assyrian statue from the 9th century BCE on display in the Iraq Museum. Jake Smith
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15/20 Dates on Inner Karada Street in Baghdad. Jake Smith
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16/20 A modern street secene in Karbala. Explore Mesopotamia
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17/20 The Sumerian ruins of Uruk, once ruled by Gilgamesh. Explore Mesopotamia
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18/20 Old town Basra and a canal. Explore Mesopotamia
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19/20 The ruins of ancient Babylon. Explore Mesopotamia
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20/20 The Ottoman-era Haydar Khana Mosque in Baghdad. Photo credit: Jake Smith
