Wander Across Iraq

March 10th – 22nd, 2023

Important Details

Tourist Visas

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 approximately $77 USD and must be paid in USD cash. Please ensure you have $77 USD with you, in crisp, clean bills when you arrive in Baghdad.

To make things even easier, one of our representatives will meet you at the airport in Baghdad and take you through the visa on arrival process. This representative will also help you get your luggage and take you to your driver for your transfer to the hotel.

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.

Airport Arrival & Pickup

Please follow the below instructions upon arrival at Baghdad’s International Airport:

• Upon disembarking from the airplane, locate our designated representative who will be waiting for you with a sign displaying your name. This representative will be waiting for you immediately after you disembark the plane.
• Our 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

Local currency

As for exchanging money, the best method is via ATM machines which can be found in major cities. However, check with your bank at home as many banks charge high foreign transaction fees every time you withdraw money overseas.

If using an ATM is not an option, or the fees are too high, simply bring USD, GBP or Euros to exchange at money exchange offices that are located in big cities and at some hotels.

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 (1600 – 3200 IQD) if someone helps you with luggage or anything else.
• Airport driver – There is no need to tip your driver upon arrival at the airport.
• Our driver and local guide – At the end of the trip, we recommend that everyone gives $50 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.

*Tips for waitstaff at included meals will be handled by your tour leader.

Staying Connected

Although Iraq is starting to modernize, the infrastructure is not as you’d expect back home. 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 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.

Packing

Packing lightly will make it easier to load up the bus and will also be less of a hassle as you move from place to place. There may be times when you’ll need to walk with your luggage for a short while to reach our accommodation.

Tour Leader

The tour leader for your trip is Derek Baron. He will be with you every step of the way. With his extensive experience, you’ll be in excellent hands. He will introduce himself and share more details when we create the group WhatsApp chat approximately 2 weeks before the tour.

Tour Style

Please keep in mind that given the nature of the destination, this trip will involve:
– Early morning wake-ups
– Long bus journeys
– Accommodations that may not be up to the standards you’re used to back home
– Itinerary changes due to unforeseen circumstances

As this is not a touristy country, the tourism infrastructure is still in its infancy. With that said, this is going to be a unique and unforgettable experience and we strongly urge you to go with the flow as this trip unfolds!

IMPORTANT: COVID-19 Travel Information

Iraq no longer requires proof of vaccination or a PCR test prior to arrival unless you’re transiting through China, Hong Kong, Japan, Republic of Korea, Singapore or Thailand, in which case you will require a negative PCR test taken not more than 72 hours prior to departure.

Itinerary

March 10: Baghdad / Arrival day

• Meet our representative upon arrival at the airport
• Transfer to the hotel
• Group orientation at 5:30pm in the hotel lobby
• Welcome dinner

➜ Included meals: Breakfast (for the participants that booked the pre-trip accommodation with us), Dinner
➜ Accommodation: Uruk Hotel

March 11: Baghdad

• Full walking tour of Old Baghdad, visiting various local markets and heritage sites
• Boat trip on the Tigris River
• Baghdad cultural center visit
• Van tour to other local neighborhoods, including the famous Green Zone
• Group dinner

➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
➜ Accommodation: Uruk Hotel

March 12: Baghdad

• Traditional Iraqi breakfast
• Free time to visit the impressive Iraq Museum
• Modern Baghdad tour
• Visit to the Al Shaheed Monument, the iconic two half domes of Baghdad
• Evening out, including dinner and a local shisha cafe visit

➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
➜ Accommodation: Uruk hotel

March 13: Baghdad ➜ Babylon ➜ Najaf

• Morning departure from Baghdad
• Full walking tour of the ancient city of Babylon
• Special access to one of Saddam Hussein’s abandoned palaces
• Drive to Najaf and check into our hotel
• Imam Ali Shrine experience in the evening
• Group dinner

➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
➜ Accommodation: Zamzam Hotel

March 14: Najaf ➜ Nasiriyah and Marshes

• View of “The Valley of Peace”, the largest graveyard in the world
• Morning drive to Nasiriyah
• Visit to the historical city of Ur, a UNESCO heritage site
• Beautiful sunset over the marshes

➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
➜ Accommodation: Sumerioon Hotel

March 15: Nasiriyah and Marshes ➜ Baghdad

• Sunrise over the marshes
• Traditional regional breakfast with a local family
• Boat ride through the marshes, one of the largest ecosystems in the world
• Local fish lunch in a reed house
• Meet marshland locals to learn about their culture and way of life
• Drive back to Baghdad

➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
➜ Accommodation: Uruk Hotel

March 16: Baghdad ➜ Dur Kurigalzu ➜ Baghdad

• Visit to the abandoned city of Dur Kurigalzu and the 3,400 year old temple tower
• Traditional kebab lunch in the the town of Fallujah
• Free evening back in Baghdad

➜ Included meals: Breakfast
➜ Accommodation: Uruk Hotel

March 17: Baghdad ➜ Samarra ➜ Hatra ➜ Mosul

• Morning departure from Baghdad
• Visit to Samarra and its ancient spiral minaret
• Visit to the fortified caravan city of Hatra, an important historic religious center
• Arrival in Mosul
• Group dinner

➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
➜ Accommodation: Modern Plaza Hotel

March 18: Mosul

• Full walking tour of Old Mosul
• Visit to the Al-Nouri Mosque and the Tahira Church
• Old Bazaar and spice market tour
• Ancient Assyrian gates visit
• Interaction with locals to hear their stories from ISIS times

➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
➜ Accommodation: Modern Plaza Hotel

March 19: Mosul

• Visit to a Christian-Yazidi village
• Local breakfast with a traditional family
• Visit to a tahini factory
• Local food tasting for lunch
• Free afternoon and evening for exploring Mosul

➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch
➜ Accommodation: Modern Plaza Hotel

March 20: Mosul ➜ Erbil

• Morning departure from Mosul
• Arrival in Erbil
• Evening excursion to the nearby town of Akre
• Celebration of the arrival of spring with the exhilarating local Nowruz festival
• Return to Erbil
• Group dinner

➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
➜ Accommodation: Erbil Quartz Hotel

March 21: Erbil

• Morning city tour of Erbil
• Visit one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, the impressive ancient citadel
• Old Erbil market tour
• Visit to the Grand Mosque and Shar Park
• Free afternoon
• Farewell group dinner

➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
➜ Accommodation: Erbil Quartz Hotel

March 22: Erbil / Departure day

• Transfer to the airport depending on your flight time

➜ Included meals: Breakfast

What’s Included?

What’s Not Included?

Covid-19 Disclaimer

Please note that in the event of any interruption to your tour experience as a result of your testing positive for Covid-19, our staff will be on hand to assist with making any arrangements that need to be made. This could include accommodation booking, transportation, scheduling additional Covid-19 tests, etc. However, it is important to understand that you would be fully responsible for all expenses incurred related to interruptions to the trip and/or medical treatment needed as a result of a positive Covid-19 test before, during or after the trip. We highly recommend having a travel/health insurance policy that covers Covid-19 related situations. By participating in the tour, you are confirming your understanding of the above

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.