Iraq History, Culture and Spirituality Tour

After flying from Istanbul to Baghdad, we transfer by bus to the ancient city of Babylon, one of Mesopotamia's most important archaeological sites. Following the visit we have lunch and continue on to Najaf, where we check into our hotel for the night.

This day is devoted to Najaf, Kufa, and Karbala, among the most important pilgrimage centers of the Shia Muslim world. In Najaf we see the shrine attributed to Imam Ali, and in Karbala the shrines attributed to Imam Hussein and Abbas, along with the area around the Kufa Mosque. In the evening we return to Baghdad and stay overnight at the hotel.

This day covers Baghdad's Adhamiyah district and the city's historic old town area. We stay overnight again at our hotel in Baghdad.

After checking out, we first head to Madain to visit the tombs of Salman al-Farisi, Hudhayfah ibn al-Yaman, Abdullah ibn Jabir al-Ansari, and Tahir, son of Imam Muhammad al-Baqir. We then return to Baghdad to see the mausoleum of Ahmad ibn Hanbal, one of the great Sunni imams, and take a short break on al-Mutanabbi Street, at Haydar Khana, Saray Bazaar, and the historic Shahbandar Café, all reflecting the old city's historic fabric. The tour continues with a panoramic look at Arasat Street and the Karrada district, which showcase Baghdad's more modern side, and dinner at a restaurant known for grilled Masguf river fish. After dinner we transfer to the airport for a late-night flight to Istanbul, arriving early the next morning to conclude the tour.