Southern
The Deep South - Culture, History & Hospitality
Eight days through the deep south: the shrines of Karbala and Najaf, the Sumerian ziggurats of Nippur, Uruk and Ur, the desert fortress of Ukhaydir and one of the oldest churches in Iraq, the boat-builders of Kufa, the marshes, and Basra's riverfront. This edition adds the desert road between Karbala and Najaf, the meeting of the two rivers at Qurna, and Basra's museum in a former presidential palace.
Arrival in Baghdad
Evening stroll along the Tigris. A first night on Al-Mutanabbi Street.
Baghdad to Karbala
The shrines of Imam Hussein and Al-Abbas in Karbala, among the most sacred places in Iraq.
Karbala to Najaf via the Desert Road
The desert road: Ukhaydir, the great Abbasid fortress alone in the desert; Al-Uqaiser, one of the oldest churches in Iraq; the Al-Tar caves, which have sheltered travellers for centuries. Then Najaf: the shrine of Imam Ali and Wadi al-Salam, the largest cemetery in the world.
Najaf to the Marshes via Nippur & Uruk
The Sumerian heartland in one day: the ziggurat of Nippur, religious capital of Sumer; Uruk, where the first written words were inscribed; and the ziggurat of Ur. Evening at Chibayish, on the edge of the marshes.
Nasiriyah & the Marshes
A full day in the Garden of Eden: sunrise over the channels, the reed houses, the buffalo, a traditional boat, a family's lunch. The evening belongs to Nasiriyah's market town.
Qurna & Basra
Adam's Tree and the confluence of the two rivers at Qurna. Basra: the museum in the presidential-palace complex, the Shanasheel of the old town, the fish market, the stadium shaped like a date palm trunk, and a boat ride on the Shatt al-Arab at sunset.
Basra to Baghdad
Scenic drive back across the south with planned breaks. Farewell dinner in Baghdad.
Departure
Transfer to Baghdad International Airport.
- All accommodations
- Private transportation
- English-speaking guide
- All entrance fees
- Breakfast and dinner daily
- Nippur and Uruk ziggurats, Ukhaydir, Al-Uqaiser church, Kufa boat-building workshops, Basra Museum, Qurna confluence and Adam's Tree
- Marsh boat rides
- Airport transfers
- International flights
- Travel insurance
- Visa fees
- Lunches
- Personal expenses
- Tips