Citizens of the USA, EU countries, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand can easily receive a visa on arrival when entering Iraq. The cost is $80 USD and must be paid in USD cash.
Please ensure you have $80 USD with you, in crisp, clean bills when you arrive in Baghdad as they will not provide change.
As mentioned below, our VIP representatives will meet you at the airport in Baghdad and take you through this visa on arrival process. They will also assist you with getting your luggage and they will take you directly to your private car that will transfer you to our hotel.
*Important: As many airlines are still not familiar with travelers going to Iraq, we recommend printing out this visa on arrival webpage from the Iraqi government. This statement shows that you can obtain a visa on arrival in Baghdad and will help the airline check-in staff in case they don’t know the rules.
IMPORTANT – Airport Arrival & Pickup
Please follow the below instructions upon arrival at Baghdad’s International Airport:
Upon disembarking the airplane, please follow the hallway towards immigration. This will take you to a staircase that leads downstairs.
At the bottom of the stairs you will find our designated representative who will be waiting for you with a sign displaying your name. If they don’t have a sign, they will have a copy of your passport on their phone and they will be looking for you.
Our VIP representative will guide you through the necessary procedures for obtaining your visa on arrival, take you through immigration and customs and escort you to your private vehicle which will transfer you directly to the hotel.
In case you cannot find our representative upon arrival, please call or send a WhatsApp message to your tour leader Derek at +1 (912) 289-5602, or to our local contact Ali at +964 780-495-5885
WhatsApp Group
We will set up a WhatsApp chat 2 weeks prior to the start of the tour that will include all of the participants, as well as your tour leader, Derek. This will allow everyone to get to know each other in advance, ask questions and communicate with your tour leader both before and during the tour. It will be very useful for you to have WhatsApp available to you during the tour as this will be the main method of communication.
Tour Leader
Your tour leader for this trip will be none other than Derek Baron, the founder of Wandering Earl Tours. His journey in the world of travel began in 1999, and since then, he has led many successful tours across the globe, including all of our Iraq tours. His extensive knowledge and experience will ensure you’re in the best hands for this adventure.
He will introduce himself and share more details when we create the group WhatsApp chat.
Local currency
The local currency in Iraq is the Iraqi Dinar (IQD). The current exchange rate is $1 USD = 1,309 IQD.
In terms of spending money, you should estimate an average of $25 USD per day for all of your needs. This would be for meals that are not included in the tour, basic purchases (laundry service, snacks, etc) as well as any activities you choose to do on your own.
As for exchanging money, the best method is to take out local currency via ATM machines which can be found in all cities and larger towns. Iraq no longer allows the use of USD for any transactions in the country. However, you can also bring USD or EUROS that can be exchanged at currency exchange offices in Baghdad. Please make sure any USD or EUROS are crisp, clean and in denominations of $50 or $100 bills. Also, all bills must have been printed in 2013 or later.
Credit cards are generally not accepted in Iraq. There might be one or two places that accept them but it’s best to assume that you will not be able to pay for anything with a credit card.
Tipping
Tipping in Iraq is not as common as in the West but in some cases it is expected. Here’s a general guideline:
Restaurants – 5% – 10% if a service charge is not already added to the bill.
Hotel staff – $1 – $2 USD (1300 – 2600 IQD) if someone helps you with luggage or anything else.
Our driver and local guide – At the end of the trip, we recommend that everyone gives $100 USD that will be split among our driver and local guide. We will collect this on the last day in Federal Iraq (before we leave Mosul) and give it to them before we say goodbye.
Tour leader – If you wish to tip your tour leader, they will always be greatly appreciative.
*Tips for waitstaff at included meals will be handled by your tour leader.
Staying Connected
Wi-Fi will be available at most accommodations and in general, it will be okay, although most likely slower than what you’re used to. If you want a stronger connection throughout the trip, we recommend that you either activate the international phone plan from your network at home or buy an online E-Sim for Iraq (an excellent option these days). These two options will ensure you have a good 4G connection throughout the tour.
Clothing/ Abaya in Najaf
Please note that while in the holy city of Najaf, women are required to wear an abaya, a black robe that covers both your clothes and hair. The abaya needs to be worn in all public places within this holy city during our stay. We will provide these abayas for you.
No such dress code applies at any of the other destinations in the country. Also, apart from our visit to Najaf, women do not need to cover their hair during this trip, unless we visit a mosque. As for clothes, regular Western clothes can be worn, however, for both men and women, it is best to wear pants (or long skirts) and looser shirts that at least cover your shoulders. It’s very rare to find men or women wearing shorts in Iraq.
Itinerary
Please note: Since tourism is not widely developed in Iraq, various circumstances may cause a need to re-arrange or replace certain activities. With that said, the overall trip will certainly be incredible no matter what happens!
October 2nd: Baghdad / Arrival day
Meet our representative upon arrival at the airport for VIP immigration service
Private transfer to the hotel where you’ll meet your tour leader
Group orientation at 5:30pm in the hotel lobby
Welcome dinner at a rooftop restaurant overlooking Baghdad
➜ Accommodation: Noorland Hotel – Arasat Street, Al Risafa, Baghdad / +964 773 252 5777 ➜ Included meals: Breakfast (for those with pre-trip accommodation), Dinner
October 3rd: Baghdad
Full walking tour of Old Baghdad, visiting various local markets and heritage sites
Boat trip on the Tigris River, historically known as the boundary of the cradle of civilization
Visit to the famous Green Zone, an area known for its high security and the location of key government buildings, embassies, and international offices
Group dinner
➜ Accommodation: Noorland Hotel ➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
October 4th: Baghdad
Traditional Iraqi breakfast
Visit to the impressive Iraqi Museum in the morning, where you’ll explore thousands of years of Mesopotamian history through its extensive collection of artifacts
Continue to the Abbasid Palace, a place known for its intricate Islamic architecture and lush gardens, and learn about its role as a political center during the Abbasid dynasty
Tour of modern Baghdad, witnessing the blend of contemporary architecture and bustling city life that defines the capital today
Dinner at a local restaurant followed by a visit to a shisha cafe, where you can relax and experience the social heart of Iraqi culture
➜ Accommodation: Noorland Hotel ➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
October 5th: Baghdad ➜ Babylon ➜ Najaf
Morning departure from Baghdad
Full walking tour of Babylon, an ancient city that was once a center of Mesopotamian civilization
Special access to one of Saddam Hussein’s abandoned palaces
Drive to Najaf and check into our hotel
View of “The Valley of Peace”, recognized as the largest cemetery in the world
Imam Ali Shrine experience in the evening, one of the holiest sites in Shia Islam, known for its stunning architecture and spiritual atmosphere
Spend time in the Najaf Bazaar, a market that comes alive in the evening as pilgrims from countries all over the world shop for various local goods
➜ Accommodation: Zamzam Hotel – Thawrat 20, Najaf / +964 780 122 8828 ➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch
October 6th: Najaf➜Nasiriyah and Marshes
Morning drive to Nasiriyah, a city in southern Iraq known for its proximity to many ancient archaeological sites
Visit to the historical city of Ur, a UNESCO heritage site where you’ll walk through the ruins of one of the earliest known civilizations, famed for its ziggurat and as the birthplace of Abraham
Group dinner
➜ Accommodation: Somerion Hotel – Dhi Qar, Nasiriyah / +964 781 066 6432 ➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
October 7th: Nasiriyah and Marshes➜ Baghdad
Morning sunrise photoshoot over the marshes
Traditional regional breakfast with a local family, offering an intimate glimpse into the daily life
Boat ride through the marshes, one of the largest ecosystems in the world
Local fish lunch in a reed house, a traditional structure made from reeds that grow abundantly in the marshes
Meet marshland locals to learn about their culture and way of life
Drive back to Baghdad
➜ Accommodation: Noorland Hotel ➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch
October 8th: Baghdad ➜ Fallujah➜ Baghdad
Drive to nearby Fallujah, a city with a complex history and a path towards recovery and peace
Walking tour along the Euphrates River and through the main Fallujah market in the heart of the historical district
Traditional kebab lunch in the town of Fallujah
Free evening back in Baghdad with optional activities
➜ Accommodation: Noorland Hotel ➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch
October 9th: Baghdad ➜ Samarra ➜ Hatra➜Mosul
Morning drive up to the north, with several important stops to make along the way
Stop in Samarra, where you’ll visit the ancient spiral minaret, part of the Great Mosque of Samarra
Group lunch
Continue to the fortified caravan city of Hatra, an important historic religious center
2-hour drive towards the city of Mosul, where we’ll check into our hotel and enjoy another regional group dinner
➜ Accommodation: Bashtabya Hotel – Imam Azam College Rd, Nineveh, Mosul / +964 770 999 4004 ➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
October 10th: Mosul
Full walking tour of Old Mosul, exploring the narrow streets and historic buildings
Visit the Al-Nouri Mosque, famous for its leaning minaret, and the Tahira Church, showcasing Mosul’s rich religious diversity and heritage
Wander through the colorful Old Bazaar and spice market, where the scents and colors vividly illustrate the city’s vibrant trade history
Ancient Assyrian gates visit
Evening at a local cafe/museum/cultural center created by young Iraqis as a place for locals to gather, share their culture, celebrate events and focus on the future together
Interaction with locals to hear their stories from ISIS times
➜ Accommodation: Bashtabiya Hotel ➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
October 11th: Mosul➜Nineveh Plains➜Mosul
Visit to a Christian-Yazidi village in the Nineveh Plains, a region known for its diverse communities
Local breakfast hosted by a traditional family
Spend time learning about Yazidi culture, gaining insights into their religious practices, traditions, and the community’s significance in the region
Free evening in Mosul and an optional evening out in town
➜ Accommodation: Bashtabiya Hotel ➜ Included meals: Breakfast
October 12th: Mosul ➜Erbil
Morning 2-hour drive towards Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region
Visit the ancient citadel (one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, dating back 6000 years) and the Erbil market
Afternoon tour of the historic center
Dinner in the hip Ankawa neighborhood, full of great energy and activity at all hours of the day and night
➜ Accommodation: Erbil Quartz Hotel – Sharawani Street, Erbil / +964 750 397 7373 ➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
October 13th:Erbil➜Shaqlawa ➜Rwanduz River ➜Erbil / Departure Day
Visit to the gorgeous Jalil Khayat mosque before hitting the road for a trip into the countryside of Kurdistan
Drive along an engineering feat known as the Hamilton Road, crossing the Zagros Mountains en route to the town of Rawanduz
Stop at Shaqlawa, a place famous for its delicious sweets, where we’ll visit a local winery
Continue to several communities, enjoy a picnic lunch next to the Rawanduz River, and enjoy the beautiful canyons, mountains, waterfalls gorges, and rivers
Return to Erbil in the evening followed by our farewell dinner
Transfer to the airport for your departing flight or overnight at the hotel for those flying out the following day
➜ Accommodation: Erbil Quartz Hotel ➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
*Please make sure you book your departure flight after 8:00pm on October 13th or for October 14th
What’s Included?
Wandering Earl Tours group leader
Small group (maximum 12 participants)
Accommodation (10 nights – 3*/4* hotels)
Transportation within Iraq (private bus and minibus)
Local English-speaking guides in each destination
All included activities and entrance fees
Breakfast every day, 7 lunches and 8 dinners
Bottled water throughout the trip
Gratuities at hotels/included meals
All airport transfers
Visa assistance at the airport
What’s Not Included?
Flights to/from Iraq (Baghdad/Erbil)
Passport/visa fees (visa on arrival for most nationalities is $80 USD)
Meals and activities not mentioned
Travel insurance (mandatory)
Other gratuities
That’s all for now! If you have any questions at all, please don’t hesitate to send us an email at team@wanderingearl.com.
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