Breakfast at hotel's main restaurant.

Depart for the 7000 year old Citadel of Erbil – the oldest continuously inhabited city on earth (There are cities perhaps as old but not continuously inhabited). Erbil Citadel was once a Sumerian City called Urbellum or Arbella (4 gods) and it is believed that Abraham passed through this city on one of his journeys. It once housed the Temple of the Goddess Ishtar and was the city Darius III fled to after facing defeat by Alexander the Great on the nearby plains of Gaugemela. A massive restoration project is currently being undertaken by UNESCO. You will meet the site director who will share fascinating facts about this incredible ancient fortress (subject to availability).

Tour the famous Textile Museum in the Citadel. The museum, housed in a 220 year old residence features ancient Kurdish fighting tools, traditional dresses, handmade rugs from different regions and eras of Kurdish history, jewelry and photos. In addition to Kurdish antiquities there are a number of pieces from Iran and Turkey. Women are taught on site how to weave in traditional style with a goal to preserving the ancient arts of the land. The fascinating art of felt making is also practiced on site. At the Museums’ gift shop you will have an opportunity to acquire a sample of local crafts.

Across from the Museum is a large and well known antique shop where one can acquire a piece of Kurdistan’s history as well as its more modern crafts.

Choli MinaretTake lunch in one of Erbil famous local restaurants joined by Lolan Mustapha the Founder and Director of the Textile Museum who will share the fascinating story of the lost Arts of Kurdistan – now being restored through the efforts of Lolan and his Museum Curator Dr. Anne-Marie Diesser of Belgium.

Time permitting we will take a brief stop at Choli Minaret. The minaret is one of Erbil’s most famous landmarks dating to the Atabag period (12th century). The structure was built from burnt bricks and tiles imported from Egypt – a nation linked to Kurdistan in Antiquity. Due to the long term effect of deterioration, the essential part of the architecture has disappeared and thus the leaning minaret is the last survivor of Erbil’s most famous historical mosque.

Graveyard and Dwins Castle, said to date from the time of Salah al-Din

Depart for Dwin Castle and the surrounding ancient graveyard in the area known as the hometown of Saladin Ayoubi. Saladin was a Kurdish Muslim, who became the first sultan of Egypt & Syria, & founded the Ayoubi Dynasty. He led Muslim & Arab opposition to the Franks & other European Crusaders in the Levant. At the height of his power, his sultanate included Egypt, Syria, Mesopotamia, Hijaz & Yemen. Under his leadership, his forces defeated the Crusaders at the Battle of Hattin, leading the way to the capture of Palestine & Jerusalem. Many have seen famous and better preserved examples of Salahadin fortresses – few have visited the place that gave birth to this incredible historic figure.

 Tonight you will be dinner guests in the home of a local resident where you can interact with both  expatriates living and working in Kurdistan and their Kurdish friends (five guests minimum only; smaller group TBA)

Breakfast in the hotel’s main restaurant.

Visit Al Qush and see the tomb of Nahum the Old Testament Prophet (7th Century BC) which is situated next to the Mar Gorgis Monastery and Mar Mekha Churches (third century AD) and a famous Monastery in the mountains above the tomb. Six hundred monks once inhabited the caves around the Monastery. Rabban Hormizd Monastery is an important site of the Chaldean Church. It is carved out of the mountains about 2 miles from Alqosh, Iraq, 28 miles north of Mosul (ancient Nineveh prophesied against by Nahum). Founded about 640 AD, the monastery has been the official residence of the patriarchs of the Eliya line of the Church of the East from 1551 to the 18th century, and after the union with Rome in the early 19th century, it became a prominent monastery of the Chaldean Church. It is named after Rabban Hormizd (rabban is the Syriac for monk) who founded it in the seventh century and is buried within the sanctuary.

Return to Dohuk and enjoy lunch at the famous Malta Restaurant serving traditional Kurdish fare as well as other dishes.

Travel to scenic Gara Mountain and visit the ruins of one of Saddam’s palaces. There were 10 palaces built in the same region – all of which were opulent complexes where meals were prepared in each three times a day in anticipation that Saddam ‘might” visit at any moment. One of the palaces was venue to extravagant parties hosting the world’s glitterati and a nearby stadium and pool was under construction where Saddam hoped to one day host the Olympics. Almost nothing remains of the palaces as the people of Kurdistan tore them all down when liberated from Saddam in 1991 to express their anger at the genocide he perpetrated against them.

Return to the hotel and relax or enjoy a refreshing beverage in the hotel bar or lounge. Enjoy dinner at the famous local Sadeer Restaurant where you will dine on the finest local, regional and International Cuisine

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast in the Pasha Restaurant.

Morning visit to Bekhal waterfalls & enjoy a picnic lunch along the way.

Visit Bestoon Cave – A fascinating Neanderthal Cave 500 meters deep and adorned with Stalactites & Stalagmites.

Dinner in the hotel’s Pasha Restaurant.

Breakfast in the hotel’s main restaurant.

Depart for Halabja where on March 16, 1988, Saddam Hussein ordered the use of chemical weapons in attacking 24 villages in the Kurdish region beginning with Halabja. At least 5,000 people died as an immediate result of the chemical attack and it is estimated that a further 7,000 people were injured or suffered long term illness. Before the war ended the Iraqis moved in on the ground and completely destroyed the town.

In March 2010, the Iraqi High Criminal Court recognized the Halabja massacre as genocide. Saddam was executed for other crimes just before he was to be tried in Kurdistan for his acts of atrocity – learn why. Today the city lives again – testimony to the Kurds amazing resilience and ability to survive the most brutal assault on their people and culture. The Halabja Museum and Memorial Cemetery is both fascinating and moving. 

Lunch at Sulaymani Culture Centre – Fine local and International cuisine.

Return to the hotel for rest or explore the city. Sulymania is the most modern of Kurdistan’s cities, its cultural capital and home to Kurdistan’s first American University.

After dinner in the hotel’s main restaurant relax and enjoy the spa or a drink in the bar with friends.

Breakfast in the hotel and enjoy a Q & A with one of The Other Iraq Tours owners.

Depart for Erbil International Airport.

Breakfast at hotel's main restaurant

9:00 AM – Depart for the 7000 year old Citadel of Erbil.

Visit Civilization museum and Chooli Minaret

Take lunch at one of the well known local restaurants

Tour the famous Textile Museum in the Citadel. The museum, housed in a 220 year old residence features ancient Kurdish fighting tools, traditional dresses, handmade rugs from different regions and eras of Kurdish history, jewelry and photos. In addition to Kurdish antiquities there are a number of pieces from Iran and Turkey.

Tour of Erbil’s Ancient Citadel – the oldest continuously inhabited city on earth (There are cities as old but not continuously inhabited). Erbil Citadel was once a Sumerian City called Urbellum or Arbella (4 gods) and it is believed that Abraham passed through this city on one of his journeys. It also once housed the Temple of Ishtar.

Depart for Dwin Castle, the ruins of a fortress built by Salahadin

Dinner at a fine local restaurant

Breakfast in the hotel’s main restaurant

Visit Al Qush and see the tomb of Nahum next to the Mar Gorgis Monastery and Mar Mekha Church (third Century) and the third century Monastery (Hormizd) in the mountains above the tomb. Six hundred monks once inhabited the caves around the Hurmizd Monastery.

Enjoy lunch in Duhok’s Malta Restaurant serving traditional Kurdish fare as well as other dishes.

Visit Gara mountain that overlooks amazing touristic towns of Solav, Ashawa, Aneshki, and Bamerni.

Return to Hotel.

Have dinner at the well known Sadeer Restaurant or TBA

Breakfast in the resort’s Pasha Restaurant

Drive through the Hamilton Road, see Bekhal and Gali Ali Beg waterfall

Depart for Sulymani via the beautiful lake Dokan

Lunch at Kosrat restaurant in Dokan

Visit the Sulymani Zamwa Art Gallery and Sulymania Bazaar

Check into Hotel

Dinner at Hotel main restaurant

Depart for the ancient Qizqapan Cave and old Jewish city of Koisinjak en route to Erbil. Old Jewish house and Caravanserai (Hostel on the ancient Silk Road)

Lunch in The Bakery and More restaurant serving Lebanese, local and Int’l cuisine including pizza and various salads (Owned by Lebanese businessmen)

Over night in Erbil

Afternoon: Arrive in Erbil and check-in to the hotel.

Rest, freshen up, and enjoy a drink or dinner at the hotel restaurant.

Business center is available as well as a spa and exercise facilities.

Evening: Dinner.

Morning: A buffet breakfast is served in the hotel’s main restaurant.

Lecture on current political situation or other subjects. Mid morning visit to sites in Erbil.

Afternoon: Lunch at a local restaurant in Erbil.

Visit to the resort town of Shaqlawa.

Evening: Dinner will be at a well known International restaurant serving Italian and local cuisine. Drive a miniature Formula I car after dinner if you like.

Morning: A buffet breakfast will be served in the hotel restaurant.

Visit to the Duhok Museum to see archeological finds.

Afternoon: Lunch at a local restaurant.

After lunch drive a short distance to an ancient cave. Possible visit to Duhok Bazaar.

Evening: Return to the hotel for a rest. Enjoy dinner tonight at one of Duhok’s finest serving local cuisine.

Morning: A buffet breakfast will be served in the main hotel restaurant.

A magnificent drive to the ancient city of Amadiya (dating from Assyrian era) located on a high promontory above a breathtaking landscape and fed by a geothermal spring originating far below the mountain.

Afternoon: Lunch on the way to Barzan.

Tour the Mullah Mustapha Museum (father of modern Kurdistan).

Climb to a cave where discoveries were made of Neanderthal remains - one of the most important Neanderthal sites in the world.

Evening Check into a famous resort. Dinner at the resort’s restaurant. 

There are several “amusement rides” including a Ferris wheel and a wonderful toboggan ride which is not to be missed! 

Morning: After breakfast at the hotel, depart for Sulaimani, driving south through a scenic valley to a famous lake of Dokan.

Afternoon: Arrive at Dokan Lake for lunch.

After lunch visit to the Red House – Saddam's Torture Chamber converted to a museum.

Visit to the market or possible meeting with the president of a major university.

Evening: Check in to the hotel and have dinner with prominent locals (schedule permitting).

Morning: A buffet breakfast will be served in the hotel restaurant before departure forErbil.

Begin the day with a visit to the Sulaymani Museum before we leave the city. After the museum visit, begin the journey back to Erbil with two stops on the way to visit ancient caves and and old Jewish bazaar and houses and other sites on the ancient Silk Road.

Afternoon: Lunch at a local Lebanese restaurant, serving Western cuisine as well.

Evening: Farewell dinner at a local restaurant with Kurdish cultural entertainment.

Afternoon – Arrive at Erbil. 

Evening – A buffet dinner will be served at the hotel.

Morning: Breakfast at the hotel.

Depart for a monastery dating from the 4th century AD and meet the monks that live on the premises.

From here continue on to the the world’s oldest aqueduct. The Assyrian King Sennacharib was the builder of the Aqueduct. Sennacharib is mentioned in the Bible – II Kings 18-19.

Afternoon: Lunch at one of Duhok's finest restaurants.

After lunch drive to Khanis, the site of the headwaters that brought irrigation to Ninevah and Sennacharib’s palace. See ancient Assyrian carvings.

Visit the holiest shrine of the Yezidis, descdants of the Zoroastrians.

Evening - Dinner at the hotel.

Morning: Buffet breakfast.

Depart the hotel this morning on a magnificent drive to Amadiya (several Assyrian connections).

Afternoon: Stop for lunch at a local Kurdistan Restaurant.

After lunch continue to Barzan. Meeting with the director of the new Mullah Mustapha Memorial (if available).

Climb to a cave where discoveries were made of Neanderthal remains - one of the most important Neanderthal sites in the world.

Evening: Check into a resort and enjoy its facilities. Dinner included.

Morning: Breakfast.

Begin the day with a visit to the Sulaymani Museum housing Kurdistan’s finest collection of antiquities  (including a number of Assyrian artifacts).

Visit the Red House torture chambers of Saddam Hussein.

Shop in the local Bazaar.

Afternoon: Lunch.

Drive to Halabja, the most famous site of Saddam’s Anfal and chemical gas campaign against the Kurds for which he was later charged with the crime of genocide.

Evening: Return to the hotel and dine.

Afternoon: Arrive at Erbil’s new International Airport from Vienna and check into the hotel.

Meet with the tour scholar.

Evening: A buffet dinner will be served at the hotel’s restaurant.

Morning: Breakfast.

Depart for a monastery dating from the 4th century AD.  Meet the monks that live on the premises.

From here continue on to the site of Gaugamela and hear a lecture on the famous battle between Alexander the Great and Darius III.

Afternoon: Lunch in Erbil.

After lunch enjoy a general orientation tour of the city of Erbil.

Evening: After dinner, drive a miniature Formula I if you are up for a little excitement.

Morning: Breakfast at the hotel.

Visit the Museum of Antiquities, Kurdistan’s finest collection of antiquities.

Depart for the town of Halabja.

Afternoon: Return to Sulaymani and eat at a well-known local restaurant serving a buffet lunch.

Afternoon – Shop in the Bazaar and see Zamwa Art Gallery (local artists on display).

Evning: Dinner will be at one of Sulaymani’s finest restaurant.

Morning: Breakfast.

Take a scenic drive on the winding rock-cut Hamilton Road to a number of local villages and waterfalls. Spectacular views, warm and welcoming people and pure, clean air make this an extremely attractive part of Kurdistan and a very enjoyable day.

Afternoon: Enjoy a picnic lunch overlooking the dramatic valleys of Gali Ali Beg.

Return to the hotel mid-afternoon and enjoy some of the facilities of the hotel.

Evening: Dinner.

Morning: Breakfast.

Depart for the main pilgrimage site of the world’s Yezidis - descendants of the Zoroastrians.

See caves dating from the time of Sennacharib and located next to the headwaters of the Aqueduct that fed Nineveh and the palaces of the king.

Afternoon: Lunch.

See the oldest aqueduct in the world built by the Assyrian emperor Sennacherib.

Visit an ancient monastery and Nahum's tomb.

Evening: Dinner.