Iraq – Arbaeen Expedition Tour

Wednesday 14th July – Baghdad, Iraq

Morning

• 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.
• Pre-tour meeting at 12:00pm (midday) in the lobby of our hotel to discuss tour itinerary and to meet your fellow travellers and YPT guide.

Afternoon

• We’ll first an opportunity to exchange money on the local market for the duration of your tour
• Lunch – whether we try street food, falafel, shawarma, shorba or any other Iraqi dish – you are likely to be impressed! 
• Visit Tahrir Square, which translates to Liberation Square, Baghdad’s largest and most central square which commemorates the 1958 establishment of the Republic of Iraq.
• Visit Abu Nuwas Street, a lively riverside promenade on the banks of the Tigris.
• We will enjoy a dinner in the evening and lean into the Baghdad life – drinking shay and playing cards or Backgammon
• Overnight stay in Baghdad.

Thursday 15th July – Baghdad – Babylon – Najaf

Morning

• After breakfast at the hotel, depart the capital and drive south to the legendary city of Babylon, once the heart of Mesopotamian civilization.
• Guided tour of Babylon’s ruins, once the largest and most important city in the world. Here we’ll tour the ancient ruins with our local expert and explore what’s left of the hanging gardens, see the foundation of the Babel Tower (Babel being the Arabic name of Babylon!)

Afternoon

• Enjoy lunch nearby with shawarma and saj (sandwiches).
• Continue onwards to Najaf, one of the holiest cities in Shia Islam. Najaf is important because it is the burial place of Imam Ali. Imam Ali was the cousin and son-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.
• In Najaf, you will see most people wearing traditional Islamic clothing with ladies in hijab and dark abaya and men in thawbs. We will have an opportunity to purchase these outfits which are not only useful in other Muslim countries, but make great souvenirs!
• We will enjoy a local dinner at a popular cafe
• Evening at leisure to rest and prepare for the days of pilgrimage ahead.
• Overnight stay in Najaf.

Friday 16th July – Najaf

Morning

• After breakfast, we will visit the House of Imam Ali, where he was assassinated, and learn about his central role in Islamic history. This is the very spot where he was killed.
• Explore the Kufa Mosque. The Kufa Mosque was created in 670 CE and is one of the oldest surviving mosques in the world.
• We will visit the UNESCO Heritage Site of the Wadi-e-salam cemetery, also known as the Valley of Peace. This is the largest cemetery in the world with over 6 million corpses. It attracts millions of pilgrims annually.
• Attend a ceremony at the Imam Ali Shrine. The site is a mausoleum which Shia and Sunni Muslims believe contains the tomb of Ali ibn Abi Talib, a cousin, son-in-law and companion of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.

Afternoon

• We will enjoy lunch before preparing for the pilgrimage
• We will cook and prepare food to share with pilgrims during the walk.
• Begin Pilgrimage: In the evening, take part in the moving tradition of the Mawkab—serving meals to pilgrims and joining them in their journey. 
• Walk approximately 20 kilometres overnight alongside pilgrims, pausing at sunrise when the heat begins to intensify. You will see many pilgrims from across the world, raising various flags to represent the different countries they come from.
• Overnight rest at a Mawkab or in a local family house along the route.

Saturday 17th July – Pilgrimage Route – Karbala – Baghdad

Morning:

• Breakfast and sleep in after our first night of walking. You will be able to get some rest amongst other pilgrims and avoid the summer heat.

Afternoon

• In the afternoon, we’ll resume the walk along the pilgrimage route.
• Arrive in Karbala late at night or in the early morning hours, experiencing the powerful atmosphere of the city during Arbaeen.
• Visit the Al-Abbas Mosque, the burial place of Abbas ibn Ali, the half-brother of Imam Hussein. He died while trying to bring water to the camp of Imam Hussein’s family and companions, and his bravery made him one of the most beloved figures in Shia tradition.
• Explore the Imam Hussein Shrine, where Imam Hussein, grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, is buried—an unforgettable spiritual site and the heart of the Arbaeen pilgrimage.
• Evening departure back to Baghdad.
• Overnight stay in Baghdad.

Sunday 18th July – Baghdad

Morning

• Breakfast at the hotel
• We have the option for those who want to catch up on rest at the hotel, or for those who want to explore Baghdad city:

Afternoon

• Visit the monumental Al-Shaheed Monument. It was inaugurated in 1983 during Saddam Hussein’s rule, originally to honor the soldiers who died in the Iran–Iraq War but now encompasses all those who have died during war and conflict. The large blue structure is one of the most iconic structures in all of Iraq.
• Next, we will stop by 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.
• 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.
• In the evening, visit Karrada, a lively district full of cafés, shops, and youthful energy.
• Overnight stay in Baghdad.

Monday 19th July – Baghdad – Samarra – Mosul

Morning

• Breakfast at hotel
• Group A members: Departure transfers to the airport for those concluding their journey.
• Group B members: Begin the Northern Iraq extension.
• Drive north to Samarra, passing through villages scarred by the recent conflict with ISIS.
• 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 spiraling staircase all the way to the top for an epic 360 degree view. Not for the faint hearted!

Afternoon

• We will have lunch along the way at a popular roadside canteen and eat some more local Iraqi dishes.
• Along the way, stop at one of the most underrated sites in Iraq – Hatra. Hatra was a city from the Parthian Empire and is well preserved. Before ISIS, Hatra was extremely well preserved but unfortunately, ISIS soldiers used the archaeological site as a training camp and destroyed some monuments, graffitied the walls and destroyed some temples. Despite this, the structure still stands and is one of Iraq’s best kept secrets!
• Evening arrival in Mosul, once the stronghold of ISIS, now undergoing remarkable reconstruction.
• We will head out for dinner at one of our favourite local spots. Mosul is famed for their fresh nuts and deserts so we will stop by a store to make any purchases you like!
• Overnight stay in Mosul.

Tuesday 20th July – Mosul – Bakhdida – Duhok

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 earn 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.
• Walk through the neighboring 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.
• Visit the Al Tahira Church. It started construction in 1938 and is the largest church in Iraq.
• Walk around the Bash Tapia Castle, built in the 12th century as one of seven castles within Mosul’s city wall. A missile fell near the castle during the war against ISIS and damaged its walls.

Afternoon

• We’ll have lunch before departing Mosul and heading 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.
• 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.
• We will then cross into KRG (Kurdistan Regional Government) area and go to Lalish. Lalish is the most sacred town for the Yazidi people and is extremely interesting as it is now maintained by only a few families, waiting for the Yazidi refugees spread out all over the world to come back. To enter the town, we must remove our shoes.
• In the evening, we will arrive in Duhok and enjoy a local dinner. You can optionally check out the local bustling bazaar.
• Overnight in Duhok

Wednesday 21st July – Duhok – Amadiya – Rawanduz

Morning

• In the morning, we will enjoy a buffet breakfast before departing Duhok.
• We’ll arrive at the ancient city of Amadiya which is located on a high promontory above a breathtaking landscape. It was once an almost impenetrable fortress. The city Gate (Bab Zebar) was built by Imaduddin Al-Zanki 600AD. A 30-meter-high minaret stands in the middle of the old town.
• Continue onto the town of Barzan, home to the Barzani tribe, whose members control Iraqi Kurdistan today.
• You’ll visit the Barzani Memorial Center, built to honor the 8,000 members of the Barzani tribe killed in a genocide led by Saddam Hussein. It is a sombering look at the violence experienced by the Kurdish people.
• We’ll then embark on one of our longer journeys of the trip, around 3 hours of driving, to Rawanduz.

Afternoon

• Along the way, we’ll stop at a locally famous fish restaurant that serves a traditional Kurdish dish of fried river fish.
• We’ll stop by the Shamarda cave and partake in a short hike to the top. Here is an important archaeological site where the remains of 10 Neanderthals were found between 1957 and 1961.
• In the evening, we will arrive at Shingelbana resort near Rawanduz – a popular mountain top theme park! We will stay overnight in cabins and can enjoy some rides if open – including a mountain-side toboggan that shows incredible views but is not for the faint hearted!
• Overnight at Shingelbana resort.

Thursday 22nd July– Rawanduz – Erbil

Morning

• After breakfast at the hotel, we’ll head to two beautiful waterfalls located in the deepest gorge in the Middle East. First the Bekhal waterfall, then the Gali Ali Bag, the highest waterfall in Iraq. It is featured on the 5,000 dinars note.
• Drive the famously scenic Hamilton Road. The road was built by AM Hamilton in the early 1930s for what he hoped would unify the peoples of the region. In fact, the road has been fought over many times, especially during the 1980s war with Iran.
• We will then continue to Erbil, the capital of the KRG region.

Afternoon

• Enjoy a lunch along the way back to Erbil, stopping for photo opportunities along the way
• Once in Erbil, visit the Erbil Citadel. While it may remain shut due to renovations, the view from the entrance of the castle allows you to take in the beauty of the city center
• Walk through the Bazaar, a very traditional Middle Eastern Bazaar where you can find anything from clothing, to textiles to jewelry and food!
• Check out the oldest cafe in Erbil, perched directly across from the bazaar.
• We will finish our time in Iraqi Kurdistan by seeing it off with a last night celebration – enjoying a dinner and heading to one of the city’s most trendy bars!
• Overnight in Erbil.

Friday 23rd July – Erbil

• Breakfast at hotel
• Tour concludes – YPT is also able to arrange post-tour accommodation or advice for flights.