Christmas in Iraq Tour

Tuesday 22nd December – Baghdad, Iraq

• Arrive at your convenience into Baghdad, the capital city of Iraq, which is well connected from many countries within the Middle East and most of Europe.
• Pre-arranged private transfer to our hotel at the time of your arrival.
• Pre tour meeting in our hotel at 6:00pm
• Head out to our first taste of Iraqi cuisine!

Wednesday 23rd December – Baghdad – Babylon – Karbala – Baghdad

Morning

• In the morning, begin our drive to Babylon, once the largest and most important city in the world.
• On the way we will stop at a small city for a quick lunch for shawarma or falafel
• In Babylon we’ll tour the ancient ruins with explore what’s left of the hanging gardens, see the foundation of the Babel Tower (Babel being the Arabic name of Babylon!), and explore the UNESCO World Heritage Palace – part of which was restored by Saddam Hussein in the 80s.
• We’ll also see a replica of the Ishtar Gate and what’s left of it. This famous blue gate is now in a museum in Berlin.
• If we can get exclusive permission, you’ll explore one of Saddam Hussein’s former palaces. Perched right on top of Babylon, the dictator made sure he had the best view of the site. You’ll be able to walk through the abandoned building with one of the dictator’s former employees, who’s a good friend of YPT, and even pose for a photo in Saddam’s bathtub!

Afternoon

• After the exploration of Babylon, we will stop locally for a quick lunch.
• Continue 100km southwest of Baghdad to Iraq’s holiest city of Karbala. The shrines of Imam Husayn and Al Abbas are considered incredibly holy for Shi’ite Muslims, the same way as Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem.
• In the evening, we’ll explore the city and stop by the outside of the Al Abbas Mosque and Imam Husayn Shrine. At night, the shrines comes alive, and we’ll rub shoulders with thousands of Shia pilgrims who have come to pay their respect.
• In the evening, we will return to Baghdad
• Dinner and overnight in Baghdad

Thursday 24th December – Baghdad

Morning

• After breakfast, we will begin the tour by visiting the Al-Mutanabbi street located near the old quarter. This particular street is well known for bookselling and has often been referred to as the very heart of the Baghdad literacy and intellectual community.
• We will visit Shabandar Café is one of the oldest and most famous coffeehouses in Baghdad, Iraq. We will stop here for a tea break where you can view historical Iraqi memorabilia hanging from the walls of the cafe. In 2007, the cafe was unfortunately the victim of an explosion which claimed the lives of 100 people and the coffee house was destroyed along with its library.
• Visit the incredible and well renovated Al-Mustansariya School, commonly known as the oldest school in the world.
• Walk through the adjoining Al Safafeer copper market. First opened in the 800s, it is the oldest continuously operated market in the world. A wonderful place for souvenirs and photography.

Afternoon

• Lunch break in town to try local popular Iraqi dishes!
• Visit Tahir Square, which translates to Liberation Square, Baghdad’s largest and most central square which commemorates the 1958 establishment of the Republic of Iraq.
• Explore Firdos Square. Named after the Persian word “paradise”, this was the very square where the Coalition forces toppled Saddam’s statue in 2003.
• Have a look at Al Shaheed Monument, the most iconic structure in Baghdad commemorating all the wars held in Iraq.
• From outside the Green Zone, we’ll finish off today’s tour by trying to get close to the Victory Arch, also known as the Hands of Victory or the Crossed Swords. Built to commemorate the Iran–Iraq War and approved by Saddam himself, this monument stands 40 meters high and is located on the very edge of the green zone.
• Dinner in town – enjoying the best of Baghdad street food and enjoying the Christmas vibes in Baghdad. Despite the low Christian population (less than approximately 7%), the Christmas spirit is alive and well in Baghdad!
• Overnight at our high security hotel

Friday 25th December – Baghdad – Samarra – Hatra – Mosul

Morning

• We will begin Christmas day by having an early start and begin making our way north of Iraq passing multiple checkpoints again passing many villages returning to life after the destruction ISIS had left behind.
• Samarra is famous for its Minaret (also known as the Great Mosque of Samarra). As it is closed for renovations, we’ll see it from the entrance gate and then go to a secret abandoned 8th-century mosque, where we can also climb the spiral staircase all the way to the top for an epic 360 degree view. Not for the faint hearted!

Afternoon

• Continue north and stopping for a quick bite on the way
• Explore the UNESCO sites of Hatra. A religious and trading centre of the Parthian empire, it has flourished during the 1st and 2nd centuries BCE. This city survived multiple invasions before being completely abandoned in 241 CE. Permission is hard to obtain so expect many checkpoints on the way!
• Arrive in Mosul. Iraq’s second largest city is considered one of the most culturally significant cities of the Arab world due to its strategic location. The city was captured by ISIS in 2014 and reclaimed again by the Iraqi forces in 2017. It mostly remains in destruction but the locals are determined to rebuild and move on.
• Head out for a Christmas dinner and explore the nightlife of the city – see the streets alive with Christmas cheer and celebrations!
• Overnight in Mosul

Saturday 26th December – Mosul – Bakhdida – Erbil

Morning

• Breakfast at hotel
• Check the remains of the Al-Nuri Mosque. The most famous landmark of Mosul was famous for its leaning minaret, which earned the city its nickname “the hunchback”, and was dynamited by ISIS. It is now being reconstructed. The mosque is also famous for being the place where Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi announced the creation of its so-called caliphate. While we may not be allowed inside, we can observe this historically significant structure from outside.
• Walk through the neighbouring streets and encounter the men who are working to restore the heritage of Mosul. The entire area is under reconstruction following the massive destruction caused by ISIS.
• We’ll see the nearby church of Mar Toma, or St. Thomas. Believed to be situated at the site of the Apostle Thomas’s home in Mosul, this 7th century church is being carefully restored. If we are lucky, we may be allowed to view the renovation process!
• Visit the Al Tahira Church. It started construction in 1938 and is the largest church in Iraq.

Afternoon

• We will depart Mosul and head for the Christian village of Bakhdida. This village was largely destroyed by ISIS, but has completely been restored by its population – thankfully the inhabitants had time to flee before the arrival of ISIS and didn’t suffer many casualties. We will have lunch here before exploring the city.
• Stop by the Church Square. Pope Francis held a mass on his historic visit to Iraq in March 2021, where he famously said “Terrorism and death never have the last word”
• Whilst this village is full of many churches, we’ll visit the one not to be missed: the Immaculate Church. It is ridden with bullet holes as it was used as a training range for the children ISIS wanted to turn into soldiers.
• Continue on to Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan region of Iraq.
• Tour concludes – YPT is able to arrange post-tour accommodation or advice for flights.
• Group members on our Iraqi Kurdistan New Years Tour, you will meet the other group members in the lobby of our hotel at 6:00pm and head out for dinner together.