9-Nights Iraq Treasures of the South Cultural Discovery from $6,795

MT Sobek

OFFER ID 1494347

Iraq Treasures of the South Cultural Discovery
Visiting Iraq is a journey into the cradle of human civilization. Roam Mesopotamia, the land between the rivers of Euphrates and Tigris, and tread in the footsteps of the world's earliest civilizations. Start in Baghdad, the present-day capital of Iraq, and explore ancient Babylon—home of Mesopotamian kings. Climb the Ziggurat of Ur, believed to be the birthplace of Abraham, and boat through the dreamy Tigris marshlands. Visit Uruk, the world's first city, and discover Najaf and Karbala, centers of the Shia faith.

Explore the ancient town of Samarra and marvel at the Arch of Ctesiphon
Climb to the top of the 6,000-year-old Ziggurat of Ur at UNESCO-listed Ur
Boat through the Mesopotamian Marshes, a dreamy landscape dotted with lakeside villages!

Minimum Age: 16

9 nights from $6,795 per person

Itinerary

Click here for Full Itinerary Details

Itinerary Details

MT Sobek: Iraq Treasures of the South Cultural Discovery

Day 1 Arrive in Baghdad
Your MT Sobek guide will welcome you at Baghdad International Airport. Settle into the hotel and relax over a welcome drink, then dine in the hotel restaurant. Guests arriving early will have a chance to get a first glimpse of Baghdad on an optional sightseeing tour.
Accommodation: Babylon Rotana
(D)

Day 2 Explore Baghdad & Stand Beneath the Arch of Ctesiphon
Full day cultural touring
Visit the 13th-century El-Mustansiriya madrassa (school), one of the oldest Islamic institutions of higher learning in the world, and marvel at its ancient water-powered alarm clock that once announced prayer times. Stroll down the bookstore-laden Al-Mutanabbi street, the heart of the city's cultural life, and delight in the symphony of clinking sounds at Souk al-Safareen, the coppersmiths' market. In the afternoon, head to Ctesiphon, the former winter capital of Parthian and Sasanian empires, and today best known for the monumental remains of the 1,400-year-old palace Taq Kisra, complete with its 122-feet-high Arch of Ctesiphon. Enjoy dinner at your hotel.
Accommodation: Babylon Rotana
(B, L, D)

Day 3 Tour the Iraq Museum & Ancient Samarra
5-hour private van transfer
Full day cultural touring
After breakfast, delve into the ancient past at the Iraq Museum often called the Middle East Smithsonian for its 28 halls and artefacts as old as 10,000 years B.C. In the afternoon, journey to the holy city of Samarra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that traces its roots back to 5500 B.C. Explore its historic streets, gardens and palaces, and admire the majestic 9th-century Great Mosque (Al Malwiya Mosque) with its spiral minaret.Return to your hotel in Baghdad.

(B, L, D)

Day 4 Discover the Mythical Babylon & Travel to Karbala
Two 2-hour private van transfers
Full day cultural touring
Travel to Babylon, the ancient capital of southern Mesopotamia, and trace the footsteps of Alexander the Great. Tour Saddam Hussein's rebuilt Babylon with its vibrant aqua-blue Ishtar Gate (a reproduction of the original) and compare it to one of his once-opulent palaces just behind the complex. Continue on to Karbala, a holy city for the Iraqi Shia, holding the shrine of the martyred Imam Husayn Ibn Ali (died 680). Return for dinner at your hotel.
Accommodation: Baron Hotel
(B, L, D)

Day 5 Journey to Najaf & See the Holy Places of Shia Muslims
1-hour private van transfer
Full day cultural touring
Today travel to the holy city of Najaf, and along the way stop in the town of Al Kifl to marvel at its 7th-century Kufa Mosque, the holiest place for Shia Muslims. Then continue on to Najaf and after settling in the hotel, discover the shrine of Imam Ali. This masterpiece of Islamic architecture holds the tomb of Imam Ali, the fourth caliph who was the cousin and later son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad. In the evening, soak up the buzz of the nearby souk and savor dinner at the hotel.
Accommodation: Granada Hotel
(B, L, D)

Day 6 Roam Uruk, the First City on Earth
Full day cultural touring
Head to Samawa, a city on the banks of the Euphrates River that holds the archeological site of Warka, also known as Uruk. Explore the magnificent remains of this ancient Sumerian city that thrived around 2900 B.C. and was supposedly the first city on earth. Continue to the busy hub of Nasiriya, one of Iraq's largest cities and the capital of the Dhi-Qar province with a picnic lunch in a local mosque along the way. In the evening, feel the city's pulse on a stroll through its bustling souk, then enjoy a local dinner.
Accommodation: Sumerian Hotel
(B, L, D)

Day 7 Explore UNESCO-Listed Ur & Climb the Ziggurat of Ur Temple
Full day cultural touring
Tour the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ur, an ancient Sumer city believed to be the birthplace of Prophet Abraham. Climb up the steep stairs to the Ziggurat of Ur, a splendid temple dedicated to the lunar god Nanna and built the same way as the biblical Tower of Babel. After lunch, head to Nasiriya's lively bazaar for a dash of local buzz and a quest for souvenirs, from mabhara incense lamps to artisanal copperware and traditional sweets. Dinner tonight is at the hotel.
Accommodation: Sumerian Hotel
(B, L, D)

Day 8 Journey by Boat to the Mesopotamian Marshes
3.5-hour private van transfer
Full-day boat tour
Spend the day on the Tigris River, venturing into its dreamy marshes by boat. Navigate between islands of reeds and lakeside villages inhabited by Marsh Arabs, and take in the resplendent beauty of this unique aquatic environment inside a desert. En route to the town of Basra, stop to soak up the beauty of the Paradise of Aden (Garden of Eden) where Tigris and Euphrates rivers meet.
Accommodation: Millennium Hotel Al Seef Basra
(B, L, D)

Day 9 Explore Basra & Watch the Sunset over Shatt Al-Arab
Full day cultural touring with sunset cruise
Wander around the old city of Basra, once known as the Venice of the East for the Ottoman Shenashil Houses, traditional 19th-century residences that line its canal. Think back to the city's glory days as you explore one of the villas that was owned by a wealthy Greek merchant — a rare showcase of a bygone era. Wrap up the journey with a boat ride on Shatt Al-Arab, the river created by the Tigris and Euphrates merging, and soak up one last splendid Iraq sunset. Enjoy a farewell dinner tonight.
Accommodation: Millennium Hotel Al Seef Basra
(B, L, D)

Day 10 Depart from Basra
After breakfast, transfer to Basra International Airport for your homeward-bound flights and bid farewell to Iraq.

(B)

Featured Destinations

Nasiriyah

Al Najaf

Basra

Karbala

Baghdad

Founded in AD 762 on the west bank of the Tigris River, Baghdad was built as a city surrounded by a circular wall, with five gates. Only one of them, the restored Wastani Gate, is still in good condition. Almost nothing—except the gate and a carved marble prayer niche in the Khasaki Mosque—remains of the original "Round City." Baghdad rapidly grew to cover both sides of the river. Now Iraq's capital, it has a population of more than 7 million.

The west bank of the Tigris is called Karkh; the east side is Rusafa, where most of the ancient sites are located. On the west bank are the tombs of Sheikh Ma'ruf and Zobeidah, the Martyrs and Unknown Soldier Monument, the Royal Tulip Al Rasheed Hotel across the street (famous as the center of CNN's Gulf War coverage in 1991) and the Iraqi Museum.

Sights on the east bank include Sheikh Omar al Sahrawardi's Shrines (distinctive cone-shaped dome); the 13th-century College of Al Mustansiria and its fascinating architecture; the 14th-century Murjan Mosque; the Kadhimain Mosque (golden domes); and the Khan Murjan, now a museum and restaurant with beautiful arched ceilings. Also in Rusafa are the 13th-century Abbasid Palace and the various souks selling goods made from copper, silver, fabric, leather and gold.

The International Zone (formerly called the Green Zone) in Karkh, with the U.S. and British embassies, Parliament, several of Saddam Hussein's former palaces and various Saddam-era monuments, is not accessible to tourists.

Two nearby sites are the Kadhimain Mosque (5 mi/8 km from town), with its golden domes and minarets, and Tell Harmal (6 mi/10 km southeast), where clay tablets show that geometry was taught in this region several thousand years ago. Farther out of Baghdad are Baquba (about 40 mi/65 km northeast), which has many ruins, some dating back to 6000 BC; Agargour (20 mi/30 km northwest), which has 15th-century-BC ruins and a 170-ft-/50-m-high ziggurat); and the Arch of Ctesiphon (one of the wonders of the Ancient World, the world's largest brick arch was built in the third century BC).

Vacation Details

Valid Date Ranges

11/01/2024 - 11/10/2024

from $6,795 per person

* This departure has been designated a guaranteed departure by the operator, meaning that the minimum number of guests has been met, although still subject to weather and other conditions.

Prices Start At

from $6,795 per person

Length

9 Nights

Air City

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Vacation Rating

Deluxe

Remarks

Prices are per person, based on double occupancy, and subject to availability and change without notice. Prices reflect land only accommodations, airfare is additional. Blackout dates/seasonal supplements may apply. Accommodations, inclusions and itinerary subject to change depending upon specific departure date. Please inquire for more information at the time of booking. Prices subject to availability and change without notice. Some restrictions may apply.

All fares are quoted in US Dollars.

OFFER ID

1494347

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