Deep Sumer & the Anbar
Ziggurats, Desert Fortresses & the Cities of the Euphrates
Built from the winter itinerary Ali runs himself: the museums and Shanasheel of Basra, a night in a marsh mudhif, the three great ziggurats of Ur, Uruk and Nippur in a single day, the desert fortress of Ukhaydir, the bitumen springs and waterwheels of Heet, and the sun temple city of Hatra at the end. Days run from about seven in the morning until nine at night. Photography help is included.
Basra
The Basra Civilization Museum of southern Mesopotamia. The Hasson Antique Museum and its collection of Iraqi heritage. Old Basra and its Shanasheel. Basra Sports City. A sunset boat tour on the Shatt al-Arab, where the Tigris and Euphrates meet before the Gulf. Overnight: Basra.
Qurna & the Chibayish Marshes
The confluence of the Tigris and Euphrates at Qurna. The marshlands: a traditional reed guesthouse, masgouf grilled over an open fire, a boat tour among the channels, birds and buffalo. Overnight: a mudhif in Chibayish.
Ur, Uruk & Nippur, then Najaf
The Ziggurat of Ur, crown of the Sumerians. The Ziggurat of Uruk, city of the first written word. The Ziggurat of Nippur, spiritual center of the Sumerian world. Overnight: Najaf.
Kufa, Najaf & Karbala
The palm orchards of Kufa and its boat-building workshops. Wadi al-Salam, the largest cemetery in the world, and the Imam Ali Shrine. Khan Al-Musallah, the old caravanserai-bazaar. Ukhaydir, the great desert fortress of the early Islamic period. Al-Uqaiser, one of the oldest churches in Iraq. The Al-Tar caves. The shrines of Imam Hussein and Al-Abbas in Karbala. Overnight: Karbala.
Babylon, Kish & Sippar, then Baghdad
The ancient city of Babylon - Hammurabi, Nebuchadnezzar, the Hanging Gardens. Kish, the early Sumerian city of the king lists. Sippar, city of the sun god Shamash. Al-Tahrir Square and the Freedom Monument of modern Baghdad. Overnight: Baghdad.
Baghdad
Bab Al-Wastani, the middle gate of old Baghdad. The 13th-century Mustansiriya School. Al-Mutanabbi Street, the cultural heart of the capital. Souq Al-Saray for books, paper and antiques. The Qishla and its Ottoman clock tower. The statue of Scheherazade and Shahryar. Overnight: Baghdad.
Anbar: Heet & Ramadi
The Euphrates of the west. Heet: the natural bitumen springs that have burned for centuries, the ancient citadel, and the waterwheels, one of the oldest irrigation systems in the world. A workshop where sesame paste and date syrup are made the old way. Ramadi in the evening, with a relaxed local gathering. Overnight: Ramadi.
Samarra, Hatra & Mosul
The spiral Minaret of Samarra and the historic prison of Imam Ali al-Hadi. Hatra, the city that Rome never took, its temples and great iwans. The sulfur springs of Hammam Al-Alil for a rest at the end of the road. Arrival in Mosul. End of the trip; departure transfer to Erbil Airport arranged.
- All accommodations (4-star hotels or best available; one night in a traditional marsh mudhif)
- Private air-conditioned transportation with driver
- English-speaking guide (Ali) throughout
- Breakfast and dinner daily
- The Chibayish marsh package (traditional lunch, boat tour, dinner, overnight, breakfast)
- All entrance fees to the listed archaeological and cultural sites
- The Shatt al-Arab boat tour
- Photography assistance
- Airport transfers
- International flights
- Iraqi visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Lunches (except the marsh day)
- Personal expenses
- Tips for guide, driver and unofficial site guards