Upon arrival at Erbil International Airport, in the capital of
Kurdistan, you will be transferred to your hotel by special taxi which will
await you just outside the Customs Hall with a sign bearing your name or that
of the company with which you booked. You will meet your guide at the hotel who
will assist you with check-in and brief you on the schedule for the day to
come. (Note: Late arrivals will meet their guide in the morning at
breakfast. Your reservation will be awaiting you at the front desk.
If you arrive early, enjoy a drink in the lounge while receiving a
briefing on your stay in Kurdistan and then enjoy a welcome dinner. (Note:
Those arriving late will have a briefing over breakfast in the morning.
Accommodation: TBA
Welcome Drink and Briefing
Meals: Dinner
Buffet Breakfast 6:30 AM in the Lobby Restaurant / Checkout 7:15
AM / Departure 7:30 AM.
Depart Erbil for Gaugamela, site of the famous battle between King
Darius III and Alexander the Great.
Then visit the fourth century Dayro d-Mor Matay Monastery (St.
Matthew's Monastery) and tour of one of Christendom’s most important ancient
sites in almost continuous operation for nearly 2000 years.
Then continue to behold amazing Jirwana, the world's oldest-known
bridge and aqueduct (from 690 BC). Learn the secrets of one of Assyria’s most
famous kings, Sennacharib.
After lunch of traditional Kurdish fare, visit holy Lalish -
pilgrimage site of the mysterious and fascinating Yazidi people. Experience a
unique culture amidst its famous shrines and welcoming residents.
Arrive in Duhok in time for dinner.
Accommodation: TBD
Transportation: 4 (+/-) hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Buffet Breakfast 6:30 AM in the Hotel Breakfast Restaurant / Departure
7:15 AM.
In the beautiful region of Sarsinc near Gara Mountain, explore the
ruins of one of Saddam Hussein's ten palaces, once replete with man-made lakes
and miles of sandstone steps alongside streams that led into the mountains
where rocket emplacements guarded the valley.
Then visit Alqosh, the tomb of Old Testament prophet Nahum
(7th-century BC), and ancient monasteries and churches carved into the
mountains, including Rabban Hormizd Monastery, founded around 640.
Lunch at a well-known eatery in Dohuk.
Afternoon we will visit the ancient Zoroastrian site, Chwar Stoon
near the scenic Dohuk Dam.
Time permitting, we will visit the one of two amazing sites:
Khanis (a site linked to the Assyrian King Sennacharib) or Halamata Reliefs (requires
advanced hiking) also related to Sennacharib.
Return to hotel for dinner
Accommodation: TBD
Transportation: 3 (+/-) hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Buffet Breakfast 6:00 AM in the Hotel Restaurant / Checkout 7:00
AM /Departure 7:15 AM.
Visit the ancient fortress city of Amadiya and its 100-foot-high
minaret, pass by a third-century synagogue, and visit an ancient Egyptian
madrassa reportedly founded by the University of Cairo centuries ago.
Lunch in Rezan beside the Great Zab River where fresh fish and
other delicacies are served.
Pass - and, if you choose (time permitting), climb to - the famous
Shanidar Cave, where Neanderthal remains were discovered in the 1950s.
Depending on the time of year, we will travel on the incredible
Hamilton Road to Rawanduz – one of the greatest engineering feats of the 20th
Century. (Note: In winter we will stop in Barzan and see Rawanduz the following
day).
Accommodation: Rubar Hotel in Barzan (winter) and Korek
Resort (summer) TBA
Transportation: 4 (+/-) hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner: TBA
Breakfast 7:00 AM / Departure 7:15 AM
Today enjoy hiking in the stunning Barzan region or Rawanduz
Gorge. Walk along a trail that through one of the most scenic regions in
Kurdistan – you will be led by one of Kurdistan’s best-known hiking guides.
Enjoy a picnic lunch along the way.
In the afternoon, we will return to the Resort to relax or explore
the area. Perhaps visit some of the nearby towns, resorts, and villages.
Enjoy dinner at the resort's restaurant, an incredible blend of
culture and cuisine.
Accommodation: TBA
Activity: 3hours /3 miles (+/-)
- “moderate” hiking
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch (picnic), Dinner: TBA
Breakfast 6:30 AM / Checkout 7:00 AM / Departure 7:15 AM
Travel to Sulymaniya, stopping in the beautiful town of Dokan for
lunch and, if you wish, some pleasant Kayaking. Proceed to Sulymaniya.
Time permitting, we will enjoy the sunset from Goizha Mountain
high above the city.
We will dine at a famous “Suly” Restaurant
Accommodation: TBA
Transportation: 3.5 (+/-) hours
Activity: 2 hours kayaking (optional)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Dinner: TBA
Buffet Breakfast 7:00 AM / Departure 8:00 AM.
Depart for Halabja, one of the Kurdish villages attacked by
Saddam's chemical weapons in 1988 that killed at least 5,000 people and injured
an estimated 10,000. Today the city lives again - testimony to the Kurds'
amazing resilience - and the Halabja Museum and Memorial Cemetery is both
fascinating and moving. Then walk up a winding pathway in beautiful Ahmed Awa to
a waterfall and enjoy shopping for crafts along the way. Ride a horse, if you
wish, in the village below. Ahmed Awa was the village below the trail where
several hikers got lost, wandered into Iran, and were jailed for several years. Please stay with your guide.
Time permitting, we will then visit a village (Byara) on the
Iranian border where you can straddle two countries. (Note: pay close attention to your
guide at this village regarding where you can walk and where you cannot).
Return to Sulymaniya and lunch in Sulymaniya at one of the city’s
well-known local eateries.
Visit the infamous Sulaymaniyah's Amna Suraka, or Red House. The
cavern-like entrance of this prison turned museum is covered with tiny mirrors
representing the more than 182,000 Kurds who Saddam Hussein
"disappeared" during his bloody reign of terror and lights
representing the 4500 villages he destroyed.
Dinner will be taken in one
of Suly's finest dining establishments.
Accommodation: TBA
Transportation: 4 (+/-) hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Breakfast at the hotel 7:00 AM / Checkout 8:00 AM / Depart 8:15 AM.
Visit the Sulymaniya Museum, Kurdistan's largest and Iraq's
second-largest antiquities collection. Learn of issues around preserving
Kurdistan's antiquities.
Depart for Zarzi Cave – an ancient site of the culture who first
settled and domesticated animals between 18,000-8,000 BC. It is also the site
of a Median burial tomb ca. 550 BC.
Stop in Koi Sinjaq, an ancient caravanserai (hostel on the ancient
Silk Road). It is currently undergoing a massive reconstruction.
Usually, we eat lunch at a famous fish restaurant near Lake Dokan
– we will call ahead with orders. The restaurant also serves other local
cuisine if fish is not to your taste. (TBA)
Upon arrival in Erbil, check into the hotel.
Afternoon,
possibly visit the Erbil International Equestrian Club – If you desire, you can
ride one of the amazing horses – Kurds are the most famous horsemen in the
Middle East. You can also spend the
afternoon shopping in the Bazaar, an antique shop or just wandering around the
city.
Dinner at one of the most luxurious restaurants in the Middle East.
Accommodation: Erbil International Hotel-Erbil, Iraq
Transportation: 3 (+/-) hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner: TBA
Breakfast 7:00 AM / Departure 8:00 AM.
After breakfast, tour the 7,000-year-old Erbil Citadel - the
oldest continuously inhabited city on earth, currently under UNESCO-funded
restoration. Once a Sumerian city, journeying Abraham allegedly passed through
here, and Darius III fled here after facing defeat by Alexander the Great.
Explore the citadel's famous Kurdish Textile Museum and then browse the Qaysari
Bazaar for jewelry, carpets, antiques, and delicacies.
Time permitting, briefly visit 12th-century Choli Minaret, one of
Erbil's most famous landmarks.
Lunch at a well-known restaurant.
Return to hotel and prepare for a wonderful farewell dinner.
Accommodation: TBA
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner: TBA
After breakfast at the hotel, have one final opportunity for a
Q&A before departing for the airport and your flight home.
Meals: Breakfast
As
we say in Kurdistan, “You will be upon my eyes!”
Unfortunately, the Guide to Kurdistan is no longer available. Only a few of the 20,000 copies originally printed remain.
The exciting news is that we are introducing two unique guides-a revised edition of the Kurdistan Guide and the first ever full-color Guide to the Republic of Iraq. These two volumes will not only cover more than 500 archeological sites but also delve into the fascinating cultures of Iraq, such as the Yezidis and the Marsh Arabs.
The guides will be published initially in three languages, along with an electronic version, and will feature the latest mapping technology and other innovative features. While there are a few smaller guides to the region, none have ever presented Iraq in the manner in which these elegant two-volume guides will.
Upon completion, the Guides will be launched in several locations worldwide, including London, Washington DC, and locally in Erbil and Baghdad, Iraq. The launches will be coordinated with a public relations campaign aimed at bringing the wonders of Iraq to the world and the world to the wonders of Iraq.
The new set of Guides will be published in late 2025. Much of the production work has been completed, and we are now at a crucial stage of obtaining sponsors for this approximately two million USD project. Please sign up below if you wish to be notified when the Guide is available. t box. Click again or double click to start editing the text.
