Iraq: a journey through Mesopotamia

Arrival at Baghdad International Airport and welcome, then the journey begins in Babylon, the capital of Hammurabi and Nebuchadnezzar: we walk the Processional Way, see the Ishtar Gate and the palace foundations, and recall the Code of Hammurabi. We continue to the Ziggurat of Borsippa, dedicated to the god Nabu, and stop at the Shrine of Prophet Job.

In the evening we reach Karbala to visit the shrines of Imam Hussein and Al-Abbas, with their golden domes, fine tile work and deeply spiritual atmosphere. Overnight in Karbala.

A day devoted to the pillars of Islamic history in Iraq. In Kufa we visit the Great Mosque of Kufa, one of the oldest in the world and a seat of early Islamic government, the House of Imam Ali and the Shrine of Maytham al-Tammar.

We then walk through Wadi al-Salam, the largest cemetery on Earth, stretching back more than a thousand years, and end in Najaf at the Shrine of Imam Ali, with its vast golden dome and pilgrims from across the world. Overnight in Najaf.

We head south to Uruk, the world's first true city and the birthplace of writing, the land of the Epic of Gilgamesh. We then continue to Basra, the "Venice of the East".

We watch the sunset over the Shatt al-Arab, where the Tigris and Euphrates flow together towards the Gulf, walk through old Basra among houses with carved wooden shanasheel balconies, and end the day in the Grand Bazaar among spices, dates and fabrics. Overnight in Basra.

We leave Basra for Qurna, where the Tigris and Euphrates meet, to see the legendary Adam's Tree. We then enter the UNESCO-listed Mesopotamian Marshes, gliding by traditional boat among reeds, water buffalo and mudhif guest houses built entirely of reeds.

We continue to the Ziggurat of Ur, a Sumerian masterpiece that has stood for over four thousand years, and in the afternoon drive north to Baghdad, arriving in the evening. Overnight in Baghdad.

We head north to Samarra, capital of the Abbasid Caliphate in the 9th century. Its icon is the Malwiya, the spiral minaret of the Great Mosque, whose ramp offers views over the ancient city and the surrounding desert.

We visit the Al-Askari Shrine with its gleaming golden dome, then continue to Mosul, with a chance to discover the cuisine and traditions of the north. Overnight in Mosul.

We begin in Old Mosul on the banks of the Tigris, with its traditional markets, stone houses and the al-Nuri Mosque with its al-Hadba minaret. We then visit Nimrud, capital of the Assyrian king Ashurnasirpal II.

The highlight of the day is Hatra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site whose temples blend Hellenistic and Roman styles with Eastern traditions, its walls standing in the open desert. We return to Baghdad in the evening. Overnight in Baghdad.

Our last day is a tribute to Baghdad, the "City of Peace". We begin at the Al-Kadhimiya Shrine, then take a walking tour of old Baghdad: historic tea houses, markets and Al-Mutanabbi Street, the heart of Arabic literary life for centuries, with tea by the Tigris near the Qishla.

In the afternoon we visit the Kassite Ziggurat of Aqar Quf, built about 3,400 years ago and still rising above the plain, followed by a transfer to Baghdad International Airport for your flight.

Arrival at Basra International Airport, welcome and transfer to the hotel. After lunch the program opens in Iraq's great port city with the Armenian Church of the Holy Virgin Mary, a testimony to Basra's long history as a meeting place of communities, and the Basra Museum, set in a former palace on the river, whose galleries trace the south from Sumer and Babylon to the Islamic era.

In the evening we walk through the centre and along the Shatt al-Arab and watch the sunset over the palm groves. Overnight in Basra.

An early start takes us to the UNESCO-listed Mesopotamian Marshes: reed islands, water buffalo and still waterways where the Marsh Arabs have lived for thousands of years, building their arched mudhif guest houses entirely from reeds.

We continue to Ur, the Sumerian city of the 3rd millennium BC, and climb the Great Ziggurat, standing for over four thousand years. In the afternoon we drive north to Najaf. Overnight in Najaf.

In Najaf we visit the Shrine of Imam Ali, its golden dome surrounded by courtyards filled with pilgrims from across the world, and nearby Wadi al-Salam, one of the largest cemeteries on Earth. In Kufa we see the Great Mosque, one of the oldest mosques in the world.

We then drive to Karbala (80 km) to visit the shrines of Imam Hussein and Al-Abbas, facing each other across a wide esplanade with their glittering domes and fine tile work. Overnight in Karbala.

A short drive (55 km) brings us to Babylon, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most famous cities of the ancient world. We walk the Processional Way, see the reconstructed Ishtar Gate and the foundations of Nebuchadnezzar's palaces, and recall the Code of Hammurabi.

At Borsippa we stand before the Ziggurat of Nabu, god of wisdom, then stop at the Shrine of Prophet Job. In the afternoon we continue to Baghdad (115 km) and end the day with an evening walk in the capital. Overnight in Baghdad.

A full day in the capital. We walk through the historic centre of old Baghdad along Al-Rashid Street to Al-Mutanabbi Street, the city's book market, and the Ottoman Qishla clock tower by the Tigris. We visit the Martyrs' Monument with its split turquoise dome and the golden Al-Kadhimiya Shrine, one of the most beautiful in Iraq.

In the afternoon we drive to the edge of the city to the Ziggurat of Aqar Quf, built by the Kassites about 3,400 years ago and still rising above the plain. Free evening. Overnight in Baghdad.

An early departure north to Samarra (130 km), capital of the Abbasid Caliphate in the 9th century and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its icon is the Malwiya, the 52-metre spiral minaret of the Great Mosque, and we also see the golden dome of the Al-Askari Shrine.

We continue to Hatra, a fortified caravan city of the Parthian era whose temples blend Hellenistic, Roman and Eastern styles in the open desert. We reach Mosul in the evening; this is the longest driving day of the program. Overnight in Mosul.

We begin in the Old City of Mosul on the banks of the Tigris, with its traditional markets, stone houses and the Great Mosque of al-Nuri with its famous leaning minaret, al-Hadba. We then drive to Nimrud (40 km), capital of the Assyrian king Ashurnasirpal II, whose palaces were once guarded by winged lamassu.

Our next stop is Mar Mattai, a Syriac monastery founded in the 4th century high on Mount Alfaf, with sweeping views over the Nineveh Plain. In the late afternoon we continue to Erbil. Overnight in Erbil.

A day in the capital of the Kurdistan Region. We walk through the historic centre and climb to the Erbil Citadel, a UNESCO World Heritage Site on a mound inhabited for thousands of years. At its foot lies the Qaysari Bazaar, a covered market of spices, sweets, fabrics and local crafts.

We visit the Erbil Civilization Museum and relax in Shanadar Park. The evening is free to enjoy the city's cafés and restaurants. Overnight in Erbil.

Breakfast at the hotel, check-out and transfer to Erbil International Airport for your flight home. Farewell to the Land Between the Rivers.