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Iraq8 daysMax 12 travellersSolo-friendly

Iraq – Highlights of Kurdistan

Explore the ancient citadels, sacred Yazidi shrines and haunting memorials of Iraqi Kurdistan on a small-group tour of up to 12 travellers.

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As Featured In

The TelegraphCulture TripThe TimesLonely PlanetThe GuardianIndependentNational GeographicThe TelegraphCulture TripThe TimesLonely PlanetThe GuardianIndependentNational Geographic
About this journey

What to expect on this trip

Iraqi Kurdistan is a fascinating place of sheer beauty, warm and friendly people and a rich and challenging history. Although situated in the northern part of Iraq , it is in many ways a world apart. Largely unknown or traditionally avoided by Western tourists, we believe this region is an absolute gem in the making and that now is the time to visit before the crowds discover this hidden world.

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The journey

Iraq – Highlights of Kurdistan

What makes this trip special

Drawn from the full tour dossier — the standout days, encounters and views our specialists keep coming back to.

Your route
map

The highlights

  • Ancient Civilisations and Archaeological Wonders

    Iraqi Kurdistan sits atop some of the oldest layers of human history on Earth. From the 7,000-year-old Citadel of Erbil and the Neanderthal Shanidar Cave to the ancient Jirwana aqueduct and the Gaugamela battlefield, this tour traces the sweep of human presence across millennia.

  • Faith, Tradition and Sacred Sites

    Kurdistan is home to a remarkable tapestry of religious communities and ancient beliefs. This journey visits the sacred Yazidi village of Lalish, the fourth-century St Matthew's Monastery, the Hormizd Monastery of Al Qush, a third-century synagogue in Amadiya, and the ancient Egyptian Madrasa — offering rare and respectful encounters with living and historical faith traditions.

  • Kurdish Culture, Identity and Resilience

    The tour immerses travellers in Kurdish cultural life through Erbil's Textile Museum, the Qaysari Bazaar, Suleimaniyah's Sha'ab teahouse, and the Barzan ancestral homeland. Encounters with the Barzani heritage and the legacy of Kurdistan's most famous leaders provide a vivid sense of a culture that has survived against extraordinary odds.

  • Bearing Witness — Memorials and the Legacy of Saddam's Regime

    A defining and profoundly moving thread of this itinerary is the honest confrontation with the horrors inflicted upon the Kurdish people. Visits to the Barzan Memorial Museum, the Halabja Museum and Memorial Cemetery, and the infamous Amna Suraka (Red House) ensure travellers leave with a deep and lasting understanding of modern Kurdish history and the ongoing pursuit of justice and remembrance.

  • Landscapes and Mountain Scenery

    Kurdistan's dramatic terrain forms a constant backdrop to the journey, from the mountain town of Amadiya and the breathtaking scenery around Barzan and Rawanduz to the descent through Dokan and the lush Ahmed Awa waterfall near Halabja. These natural highlights provide a sense of scale and grandeur to complement the cultural depth of the tour.

Trip highlights for Iraq – Highlights of Kurdistan

Full itinerary · 8 days

Prefer a PDF? Get the printable dossier
Dates & prices

Choose your departure

Reserve your place with a £350 per-person deposit; the balance is due 70 days before departure. Prefer your own space? A single room is available on every departure.

  • Departure
    29 Oct 2026 → 5 Nov 2026
    Available
    From
    £2,845 pp
    Single supp. +£385
    Book now
  • Departure
    28 Oct 2027 → 4 Nov 2027
    Available
    From
    £2,845 pp
    Single supp. +£385
    Book now

Can’t find the right fit?

Every one of our Iraq journeys can be rebuilt around your dates, pace and interests — or we’ll design something entirely new.

Tailor my trip
What's included

What your tour price covers

Included in the price

  • Arrival and departure transfers
  • Overland transport throughout with professional driver
  • All accommodation
  • Services of English-speaking guide / tour leader
  • Meals as listed
  • Entrance fees for sites listed as part of the itinerary

Budget separately for

  • International flights (, contact , us, for expert advice and a quote)
  • Any airport taxes (except when prepaid with any domestic flights)
  • Travel Insurance
  • Visa – when required
  • Drinks
  • Items of personal nature
  • Tips (Discretionary)
Before you go

Essential information

Shared across all tours that visit this destination. Read alongside your individual tour dossier for trip-specific details.

Foreign Office travel advice

We constantly monitor official travel advice, including the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) Iraq Travel Advice, and will always advise clients of any warnings before departure. At the time of writing, there are no specific warnings against travel to the parts of Iraqi Kurdistan that we visit on our tours.

Please contact us if you have any specific concerns or would like to understand what measures are in place to ensure your trip remains safe and trouble-free.

For additional official guidance, travellers may also refer to:

Please note this information applies primarily to British citizens — nationals of other countries should check the current position with their respective government travel authority.

Voices from the road

What travellers say about us

Independently verified reviews from travellers who joined Iraq – Highlights of Kurdistan. Rated 4.9 Excellent on AITO by 250+ reviewers.

“Shayaan and the rest of the team were welcoming, fiedle, helpful, and knowledgable. I felt secure at all times. ”
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Andrew Sneddon, UK

“Dylan our guide was excellent, very attentive, informed and made our trip enjoyable and fun.”
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Traveller from the UK

“UD has some very good trips and in particular, we really enjoyed this trip to Kurdistan. Dylan was an excellent guide. It was his first trip that he had run on his own and I wouldn't have realised that if he hadn't told us. He was professional and everything ran smoothly. He was also great fun and made the trip very enjoyable. His level of English was amazing, probably the best of any guide we have had before. ”
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Traveller from the UK

“Shayan is a particularly skilled guide - extremely knowledgeable and has a fun interactive personality.”
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Mark Langston, UK

“Jason was very helpful and the booking process was quick and easy. UD offers itineraries that many competitors do not. I thoroughly enjoyed both trips I've taken with them. While they may not suit everyone, I have happily recommended the Senegal tour to fellow travellers.”
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Bernice Hird, UK

Helped by Jason van der Wath

“Excellent customer service, reliable itineraries and ability to solve local issues when they arise”
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Gustavo Musto, Uruguay

“I like the small size of groups, the range of destinations and excellent itineraries. This is my third holiday with your company and I have found your itineraries really good.”
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Traveller from the UK

“Excellent company to book with. Complex tour mostly delivered as per itinerary with professional and pleasant local representatives. ”
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Adam Choonara, UK

“I really appreciated Jason's help in answering all of my many questions re: Senegal trip in December 2025. I have a physical disability and I had a lot of accessibility questions for Jason! He was a true professional and was very supportive, warm and friendly and helped me a lot in making my decision to go ahead with the Senegal trip. I would like to thank Jason particularly for this service. I truly appreciate it and I am very thankful.”
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Ramnit Bassi, UK

Helped by Jason van der Wath

“Undiscovered Destinations is able to find wonderful support staff and will go to the far corners of the earth.”
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Patricia Taylor, UK

Want to customise this tour?

Make Iraq – Highlights of Kurdistan your own — adjust the route, dates, pace or who travels, or start from a blank page with a specialist. We'll bring the details of this trip straight into your enquiry.

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Start planning your Iraq adventure

Join a small-group departure, or let our Iraq specialists craft a private journey shaped around your dates and interests.

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Common questions

Things travellers usually ask

  • How many travellers will be in my group?

    Maximum 12 travellers — that's the cap on every Undiscovered Destinations small-group tour. Small enough to eat in a local family home; large enough to share the wonder with other like-minded travellers.

  • Can I travel solo?

    Yes — there's no compulsory single supplement on our small-group tours. You get your own room at no extra cost. About 60% of UD travellers come solo, so you'll be in good company.

  • How fit do I need to be?

    Fitness requirements vary by itinerary, from gentle to demanding. The day-by-day tour dossier sets out walking distances, terrain and any altitude so you know what to expect. If you have specific concerns, speak to our team before booking — they can talk you through a typical day.

  • When are the next departures?

    The next available departures are 29 October 2026; 28 October 2027. See the "Choose your departure" table further up the page for the full schedule and per-departure pricing.

  • What's included in the tour price?

    Included items vary by tour — see the full list above. On this trip, expect: Arrival and departure transfers; Overland transport throughout with professional driver; All accommodation; and more. International flights and travel insurance are not included.

  • Where exactly does this trip go?

    This tour visits Iraq. Each destination has its own page with practical information, climate, and the attractions our specialists recommend — linked from the itinerary above.

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