Friday March 3rd – Tehran

• Arrive at your convenience into Tehran – the capital city of Iran which is well connected from many countries within Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.
• Pre-tour meeting will be held at the lobby of our hotel at 5:00pm to discuss tour itinerary and to meet your fellow travellers and YPT guide.
• Visit to the heart of Old Tehran to soak up the night time atmosphere, drink some local tea and people watch.
• Traditional Iranian dinner of kebabs at famous restaurant Ayaran restaurant, near Ferdosi square.
• Overnight at New Naderi Hotel.

Saturday March 4th – Tehran

Morning

• Breakfast at hotel
• Head out on our day tour of the main sights of Tehran with first stop being a visit the Mausoleum of Ayatollah Khomeini – the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the leader of the 1979 Iranian Revolution.
• Head on to the Revolutionary Martyrs Cemetery, expect to see a lot of locals around paying their respects
• Visit the Azadi Tower – formally known as the Shahyad Tower or Shah’s Monument, standing 45 meters high, it is one of the most iconic landmarks of Tehran. The tower is located at the west entrance of the city and was built by the last Shah of Iran to mark the 2,500th year of the foundation of the Imperial State of Iran in 1971.
• We’ll drive through Tehran passing anti-US propaganda slogans and posters, as well as stopping by the former US embassy to visit in the inside.

Afternoon

• Lunch downtown to sample incredible local Iranian dishes
• Visit the Ebrat Museum which displays atrocities carried out by the Shah’s secret police during the 1970s within a former prison. Heavy doses of brutality and propaganda, not for the faint-hearted!
• Explore Tajrish Bazaar – this covered bazaar has ancient architecture and structure with some part of it being built more than 200 years ago back during the Qajar dynasty.
• Visit a nearby mosque in the old district.
• Dinner at the Armenian Club. Armenians are the main ethnic Christian minority in Iran.
• Overnight in New Naderi Hotel

Sunday March 5th – Tehran – Esfahan

Morning

• Breakfast at hotel and begin our drive to Esfahan located in central Iran, mostly known for its Persian architecture. We’ll arrange plenty of stops for breaks and photos on the way (4-5 hours).
• Lunch in a restaurant in one of the rural towns on the way.

Afternoon

• Visit the famous old Khaju Bridge – the bridge was built around 1650, under the reign of Abbas II. One would think the primary function of a bridge would be to cross it, for this unique structure it was to hold public meetings in the past.
• Visit one of the oldest carpet shops. Explanation on a variety of Persian carpets and opportunity for a purchase. The presentation involves a show how carpets are made and explanation of 30 different styles of carpets.
• Dinner at a popular restaurant that prepares the best Chelow kabab – the national dish of Iran.
• Evening visit to the 300 year old Abbasi Hotel for traditional Iranian tea.
• Overnight at the centrally located Esfahan Tourist Hotel.

Monday March 6th – Esfahan

Morning

• Breakfast at hotel and head straight to the majestic Ali Qapu Royal Palace – this palace served as the official residence of Persian Emperors of the Safavid dynasty dating back to 1597 CE.
• Visit the Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque – this is considered one of the masterpieces of Iranian architecture that was built during the Safavid Empire in 1619.
• Explore Naqsh-e Jahan Square which translates into “Image of the World Square” –  it is the largest square in Iran of a total area of 89,600 square metres. The square is depicted on the reverse of the Iranian 20,000 rials banknote.

Afternoon

• Lunch at a traditional restaurant by the square.
• Visit the Imam Mosque – famed for its traditional architecture which includes seven-colour mosaic tiles and calligraphic inscriptions. The mosque was previously called the Shah Mosque before the revolution.
• We’ll visit an official money exchange place located by the square that will give you the best chance to receive crisp rials for money collectors.
• Visit a Zurkhaneh Gym to watch an ancient Persian sport workout – a strength building exercises done with traditional drum and bell music.
• Dinner in town
• Overnight at the Tourist Hotel.

Tuesday March 7th – Esfahan – Yazd

Morning

• Breakfast and check out of hotel
• Begin our 4 hour drive to Yazd, formerly also known as Yezd – a 5000 year old city located southeast of Esfahan. It is the centre of Zoroastrian culture and in 2017 the city was granted World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Afternoon

• Lunch on arrival in town
• Visit the must-see Amir Chakhmaq complex and nearby mosque – during the Iran-Iraq War and the Iraq War with the US and Afghanistan, many Iraqis and Afghanis fled here.
• Explore the old city, the Jame Mosque and we’ll then head to Rafieian’s Old House – over 250 years old and a great example of traditional architecture in the region
• Dinner at the local kebab house in one of the old-fashioned Persian restaurants in the city
• Overnight in Yazd

Wednesday March 8th  – Yazd – Shiraz

Morning

• Breakfast at hotel and head to the beautiful Dolat Abad Garden – built in 1747, this walled complex includes the country’s tallest wind catcher, orchards & fountains.
• Visit the Zoroastrian Fire Temple – a place of worship for the followers of Zoroastrianism, the ancient religion of Iran.
• Explore the Yazd Tower of Silence – The Zoroastrian tradition is that once someone has passed away, their body is immediately contaminated by demons and made impure. So to prevent this, the Zoroastrians purified the dead body by exposing it to the elements on top of these towers called dakhmas in the desert.

Afternoon

• Lunch in Yazd and then we hit the road for a 5 hour drive to Shiraz located south central of Iran.
• On arrival we’ll visit the citadel within the centre of the city to mingle with locals.
• Have free time to walk around or relax with tea and shisha at a tea house.
• Dinner in Saray E Mehr restaurant in the middle of bazaar for traditional Di Zi dish
• Overnight in Parsian hotel.

Thursday March 9th – Persepolis – Shiraz

Morning

• Wake up bright and early to visit the colour stained mosque when the morning light shines through spectacularly.
• Drive to Persepolis, the ancient capital of the Persian Empire during the Achemaenian era and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, burned to the ground by Alexander the Great but the ruins are one of the top sights in the whole of Iran.
• Lunch at traditional restaurant called “Paradise” on the way to Necropolis tombs – a collection of ancient Iranian rocks cut into the face of the mountain which contains the final resting place of four Achaemenid kings.

Afternoon

• Persepolis covers a vast area and we will explore the palaces, forts and treasury along the way.
• We’ll head back to Shiraz where we will visit the botanic gardens of Shiraz.
• Stop for traditional Shiraz ice cream at a famous local shop.
• Visit a famous Hafeizieh Iranian poet’s park and tomb. Great opportunity to mingle with locals and take photos.
• Dinner at hotel or out to a fast food joint for burgers, falafel, and sambusas.
• Overnight in Parsian hotel.

Friday 10th March – Shiraz – Baghdad, Iraq

Morning

• Head to airport and catch our flights to Baghdad and continue on!
• Transfer to Baghdad Hotel using registered Airport taxis that can be arranged at the airport.
• The group will meet at the lobby of Baghdad hotel to discuss tour itinerary and to meet your fellow travellers and YPT guide.
• We begin the tour by visiting Al-Mutanabbi street located near the old quarter – this particular street is well known for bookselling and has often been referred to as the very heart of the Baghdad literacy and intellectual community.
• Visit Tahir Square which translates to Liberation Square – it’s Baghdad’s largest and most central square which commemorates the 1958 establishment of the Republic of Iraq.

Afternoon

• Lunch break in town to try local popular Iraqi dishes such as Kubba and Manti
• Explore Firdos Square – named after the Persian word “paradise”, this was the very square where the Coalition forces toppled Saddam’s statue in 2003.
• Al Shaheed Monument – the most iconic structure in Baghdad commemorating all the wars held in Iraq.
• Former Camp Al-Adala – where the execution of Saddam Hussein took place in 2006, and the execution of his cousin Ali Hassan al-Majid, most famously known as Chemical Ali. The camp is known these days as Camp Justice.
• We finish off today’s tour by seeing the Victory Arch – also known as the Hands of Victory or the Crossed Swords. Built to commemorate the Iran–Iraq War and approved by Saddam himself, this monument stands 40 meters high and is located on the very edge of the green zone.
• Dinner in town and overnight at the high security “Baghdad Hotel” – complete with a swimming pool, gym and bar.

Saturday 11th March – Baghdad – Ctesiphon – Baghdad

Morning

• Breakfast at hotel
• Visit the Iraq Museum which contains precious relics from the Mesopotamian, Persian and Islamic civilization. The museum was looted during and after the 2003 Invasion of Iraq but despite international efforts, only some of the stolen artefacts have been returned.
• Visit the incredible and well renovated Al – Mustansariya School – this is commonly known as the oldest school in the world.
• Walk through the adjoining copper market. A wonderful place for souvenirs and photography

Afternoon

• Lunch break in town – we recommend falafels as it’s quite popular amongst the locals
• Begin an hour drive outside of Baghdad  to the ancient city of Ctesiphon. These days all that’s left is the palace archway which is the largest single span vault of unreinforced brickwork in the world.
• Visit to the Unknown Soldier Monument in Baghdad, an impressive spot to visit.
• We head back to Baghdad stopping for dinner in a local restaurant on the way
• Overnight and drinks at Baghdad Hotel

Sunday 12^th March – Samarra – Agargouf Ziggurat – Karbala

Morning

• This morning we head out straight after breakfast for the drive north to Samarra. We pass through multiple checkpoints along the route driving by many villages recently destroyed during fighting against ISIS.
• Trip highlight – Samarra is famous for its Minaret (also known as the Great Mosque of Samarra). We will climb the spiralling staircase all the way to the top for the 360 degree view. Not for the faint hearted!

Afternoon

• Continue 100km southwest of Baghdad to Iraq’s holiest city of Karbala – the shrines of Imam Husayn and Al Abbas are considered incredibly holy for Shi’ite Muslims, the same way as Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem.
• Before arriving at Karbala we’ll stop at Abu Ghraib – not to be mistaken as the prison which is long gone, but it’s abandoned and ancient site of Agargouf Ziggurat.
• Dinner and overnight at Karbala.

Monday 13^th March – Karbala – Babylon – Najaf

Morning

• Breakfast at hotel and begin our day by visiting the Al Abbas mosque and Iman Husayn shrine – rens of millions of Shi’ite Muslims visit this sacred site twice a year, rivalling Mecca and Mashhad by the number of pilgrims annually.
• Drive further east to Babylon – once the largest and most important city in the world. Here we’ll tour the ancient ruins with our local expert and explore what’s left of the hanging gardens.

Afternoon

• Lunch break on the way
• Explore Saddam Hussain’s Palace – Perched right on top of Babylon, the dictator made sure he had the best view of the site. Here you’ll be able to walk through the abandoned palace and discover the looted remains of one of his many former palaces.
• Continue driving to Najaf – the third holiest city in Shia Islam. We’ll take in its most important site – the Imam Ali shrine.
• Dinner and overnight in Najaf

Tuesday 14^th March – Najaf – Ur – Marshes – Basra

Morning

• Breakfast at hotel and begin walking tour of Najaf, including Imam Ali’s house, the very spot where Imam Ali was killed, the Kufa Mosque and the UNESCO heritage site of the Wadi-e-salam cemetery (Valley of the Peace) – the largest cemetery in the world with over 8 million corpses.
• Drive south to visit the Moon Ziggurat of Ur, a neo-Sumerian construction first built over in the year 2000 BCE and which has gone through various restorations throughout history.

Afternoon

• Visit to the Mesopotamian Marshes – we’ll take a bout trip through the maze of marshes stopping by local villages for lunch and tea. The marshes once engulfed the whole swathe of Southern Iraq with numerous floating villages. Today the receding waters have led most families to change their livelihoods but we’ll still see and experience the few that remain.
• Continue driving onto Iraq’s southernmost city of Basra – most famous for its port.
• Dinner and overnight in Basra

Wednesday 15th March – Basra – Baghdad

Morning

• Breakfast at hotel
• Visit the Ashar and Shanashil Al Basra area to catch a glimpse of the old Basra: traditional style merchant houses with balconies leaning over the narrow streets.
• Take a cruise across the Shatt Al Arab river to see some shipwrecks from the Iran-Iraq War from the 1980s as well as Sadam’s Yacht which at the time of being built in 1980 was the largest in the world.
• Here we’ll also have another opportunity to see yet another Saddam Hussain’s palace in Basra.

Afternoon

• After lunch in town we’ll begin our longest drive of the tour back north to Baghdad with plenty of rest stops along the way for refreshments, toilet breaks and photos.
• Before arriving in Baghdad, we’ll visit the vast Basra British War Memorial – the memorial commemorates over 40,000 Commonwealth forces members who died during the Mesopotamian Campaign, from 1914 to 1921.
• Arrive in Baghdad and check into your hotel room
• Farewell dinner and overnight at Baghdad Hotel

Thursday 16th March – Baghdad

Morning

• Breakfast at hotel
• Depending on the flight schedule we may have a morning to squeeze in any extras in Baghdad.
• Head to Baghdad International Airport and depart on our flight to Erbil International Airport, Iraqi Kurdistan.
• Welcome meal and drinks in Erbil and meet up with those joining us in Erbil for the Kurdistan adventure.
• Overnight in Erbil..

Friday 17th March – Erbil – Sulaymaniyah

Morning

• We begin the day by taking a scenic drive of around 3.5 hours to the second major city of Iraqi Kurdistan, and the most important regarding tourism, Sulaymaniyah.  We will be stopping along the way for refreshments and picture opportunities.
• Visit the Red Prison. Here, Saddam’s regime imprisoned and tortured Kurds suspected of being anti-baath. We can visit the prisons and torture cells used at the time. There is also a new part of the museum dedicated to the very recent war against ISIS.
• Visit Sulaymaniyah Museum, the second largest in Iraq and featuring artefacts from the prehistoric era all the way to the Ottoman period, even featuring a tablet from the ancient Epic of Gilgamesh.

Afternoon

• Sulaymaniyah has a great street food scene to try some of the local specialities for lunch.
• After lunch we will walk through the busiest and most hectic Bazaar in Iraq where you can purchase and browse some Kurdish traditional clothes or other antiques as a souvenir.
• Visit to the very top of Goizha Mountain overlooking Sulaymaniyah for a stunning sunset.
• In the evening, we take a walk around this historical city, visiting its parks and bazaar.
• Dinner at a local restaurant serving Sulaymaniyah’s best and overnight at hotel in Sulaymaniyah.

Saturday 18th March – Rawanduz

Morning

• We make our way to Rawanduz but on the way we’ll drive the famously scenic Hamilton Road built by A.M. Hamilton in the early 1930’s for what he hoped would unify the peoples of the region. In fact, the road had been fought over many times, especially during the war with Iran.
• We continue our journey stopping at various waterfalls and mountains for pictures. These include the ‘Geli Ali Beg’, so famous that it’s on the 5000 Iraqi dinar note, as well as stopping by the Dokan lake for a swim if weather permits.

Afternoon

• Lunch at a countryside restaurant.
• We will pass through the town of Shaqlawa where you can buy locally made Kurdish wine most famous for being made by one particular woman who’s been doing it for decades.
• Once arriving in Rawanduz we’ll do an evening walking tour before we head for dinner and drinks.
  Overnight in Rawanduz at the Pank Resort or similar.

Sunday 19th March – Amadiya – Dohuk

Morning

• In the morning, we head to Amadiya, an ancient Jewish city and also home to one of Saddam Hussein’s former mountaintop palaces and is truly an amazing site.
• We spend a few hours exploring and admiring the breathtaking views and possibly getting to chat with some of the armed Peshmerga guards who keep the area safe from would-be invaders.

Afternoon

• Visit a locally famous fish restaurant along the river for a traditional Kurdistan lunch.
• Continue our drive onwards to Duhok, which is a pleasant old town for our overnight stay.
• Dinner at one of our most favourite restaurants of the tour for the best selection on lamb and chicken
• Overnight in Duhok

Monday 20th March – Lalish – Akre: Newroz Festival – Erbil

Morning

• Head to Lalish – this is the most sacred town for the Yazidi people and is extremely interesting as it is now maintained by only a few families, waiting for the Yazidi refugees spread out all over the world to come back.
• Visit the fourth century Dayro d-Mor Matay Monastery (St. Matthew’s Monastery) and explore of one of Christendom’s most important ancient sites in almost continuous operation for nearly 200 years.
• Trip highlight – We hit the road, this time heading to the city of Akre, famed for its celebrations of the Newroz festival which just happens to be today! The city is believed to have been continuously inhabited since at least the 7th century. Here we’ll get to see the old fortress and the grand Mosque, one of the oldest in Iraq.

Afternoon

• Lunch at the 30-meter high Sipa waterfall, just a mile outside of Akre.
• Newroz is the most important holiday of the year for Kurds and we will be joining in celebrations where possible and appropriate
• In the early afternoon we will make our way through the gathering crowds to situate ourselves in at the best location for viewing the evening festivities of Newroz. Thousands of people from throughout Kurdistan visit Akre for this festival. We will watch as a long procession makes it way up a mountain across the valley to light the traditional fire at the top of the mountain.
• Late in the evening, we’ll head back to Erbil.
• It is fair to say you do not know a country until you have done a bar crawl, so we finish our time in Iraqi Kurdistan by seeing it off with a last night celebration
• Overnight in Erbil.

Tuesday 21st March – Erbil

Morning

• We will visit the 7000 year old Citadel of Erbil – the oldest continuously inhabited city on earth. Erbil Citadel was once a Sumerian City called Urbellum or Arbella and it is believed that Abraham passed through this city on one of his journeys.
• Visit the Textile Museum within the Citadel. The museum features ancient Kurdish fighting tools, traditional dresses, handmade rugs from different regions and eras of Kurdish history, jewellery, and photos.

Afternoon

• Explore the food market and covered Qaysari Bazaar as well as many interesting items as well as tasty sweets and delicacies.
• Meet up for dinner and go to one of the most famous rooftops bars in the Christian district for a farewell event!

Wednesday 22nd March – Erbil

• Breakfast at hotel
• Tour concludes – YPT is also able to arrange post-tour accommodation or advice for flights.

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