Wander Across Iraq

April 14th – 26th, 2024

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 $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 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.

*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.

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 and they will be looking for you.
• 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

Arrival / Departure Airport

Please note that the arrival airport for this tour is the Baghdad International Airport (BGW) and your departure flight from Iraq should be from the Erbil International Airport (EBL). Please make sure that you are flying into Baghdad and departing from Erbil.

WhatsApp Group

We will set up a WhatsApp chat 3 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 many of our Iraq tours. His extensive knowledge and experience about the country 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.

*Our tour leader will be there to ensure the trip runs smoothly and our local guides are there to share the wonders of their country!

Local currency

The local currency in Iraq is the Iraqi Dinar (IQD). The current exchange rate is $1 USD = 1,310 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 anywhere 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

Although Iraq is starting to modernize, the infrastructure is not as you’d expect back home. Wi-Fi will be available at our 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, buy an online E-Sim for Iraq (an excellent option these days) or purchase a local SIM card upon arrival in Baghdad (we can help you with this). These 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!

April 14th: 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

April 15th: 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
• Baghdad cultural center visit, a hub for the city’s artistic and historical exhibitions
• 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, Lunch, Dinner

April 16th: 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
• Tour of modern Baghdad, witnessing the blend of contemporary architecture and bustling city life that defines the capital today
• Visit to the Al Shaheed Monument, notable for its striking design of two half domes
• 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, Dinner

April 17th: 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
• View of “The Valley of Peace”, recognized as the largest graveyard in the world
• Drive to Najaf and check into our hotel
• Imam Ali Shrine experience in the evening, one of the holiest sites in Shia Islam, known for its stunning architecture and spiritual atmosphere
• Group dinner

➜ Accommodation: Zamzam Hotel – Thawrat 20, Najaf / +964 780 122 8828
➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

April 18th: Najaf ➜ Nasiriyah and Marshes

• Morning drive to Nasiriyah
• 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

April 19th: Nasiriyah and Marshes ➜ Baghdad

• Sunrise 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
• Meet marshland locals to learn about their culture and way of life
• Drive back to Baghdad

➜ Accommodation: Noorland Hotel
➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

April 20th: Baghdad ➜ Fallujah ➜ Dur Kurigalzu ➜ Baghdad

• Drive to nearby Fallujah, a city with a complex history and a path towards recovery and peace
• Walking tour along the corniche
• Traditional kebab lunch in the town of Fallujah
• Visit to the abandoned city of Dur Kurigalzu and the 3,400 year old temple tower
• Free evening back in Baghdad

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

April 21st: Baghdad ➜ Samarra ➜ Hatra ➜ Mosul

• Morning departure from Baghdad
• First stop is Samarra, where you’ll visit the ancient spiral minaret, part of the Great Mosque of Samarra
• Visit to the fortified caravan city of Hatra, an important historic religious center
• Arrival in Mosul
• Group dinner

➜ Accommodation: Bashtabya Hotel – Imam Azam College Rd, Nineveh, Mosul / +964 770 999 4004
➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

April 22nd: 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 Old Bazaar and spice market, where the scents and colors vividly illustrate the city’s vibrant trade history
• Ancient Assyrian gates visit
• Interaction with locals to hear their stories from ISIS times

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

April 23rd: 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

➜ Accommodation: Bashtabiya Hotel
➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

April 24th: Mosul ➜ Qaraqosh ➜ Erbil

• Morning departure from Mosul
• Arrival in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region
• Afternoon tour of the historic center
• Group dinner

➜ Accommodation: Erbil Quartz Hotel – Sharawani Street, Erbil / +964 750 397 7373 
➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

April 25th: Erbil

• 2 hour drive into the beautiful countryside of Iraqi Kurdistan
• Visit to the quaint valley town of Shaqlawa, known for its sweets
• Picnic lunch at a spot next to the Rawanduz River
• Local Kurdish wine tasting at a small liquor store in the mountains
• Stop at the impressive Rawanduz gorges and canyons
• Return to Erbil in the afternoon
• Farewell group dinner

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

April 26th: Erbil / Departure day

• Transfer to the airport depending on your flight time

➜ Included meals: Breakfast

What’s Included?

What’s Not Included?

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.