Saturday 16th March – Erbil

• Arrive at your convenience into Erbil – the capital and most populated city in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq which is well connected from many countries within the Middle East and most of Europe.
• Those who arrive early can use this time to check out Erbil’s bazaar or visit the Erbil citadel, one of the oldest continuously inhabited settlements in the whole world, with an opportunity to shop for souvenirs.
• Pre-tour meeting will be held at the lobby of Karwan Saray Hotel at 6:00pm once the Southern Iraq group members arrive to discuss tour itinerary and to meet your fellow travellers and YPT guide.
• Dinner and drinks will be in Erbil’s Christian neighbourhood.
• Overnight in Erbil.

Sunday 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.

Monday 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.

Tuesday 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

Wednesday 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 and a spectacular fireworks performance.
• Late in the evening, we’ll head back to Erbil.
• Overnight in Erbil.

Thursday 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!
• 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

Friday 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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