{"id":46764,"date":"2025-12-10T15:44:02","date_gmt":"2025-12-10T14:44:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastplaces.com\/?post_type=viajes&p=46764"},"modified":"2026-01-16T07:59:47","modified_gmt":"2026-01-16T06:59:47","slug":"cultural-trip-iraq-october-2026","status":"publish","type":"viajes","link":"https:\/\/lastplaces.com\/en\/trips\/cultural-trip-iraq-october-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Cultural trip to Iraq: Archaeology, landscapes and ethnography"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Saddam Hussein\u2019s regime, the US invasion followed by sectarian conflict and the rise of Islamic State have kept Iraq isolated from tourists for decades. The visit of Pope Francis in 2021 put Iraq once again in the sights of tourism interested in the oldest history of Humanity. Cultural wealth has inevitably been impacted by the jihadist occupation. However, the archaeological and architectural heritage has been restored or is in the process of recovery. Iraqis welcome foreigners with open arms, and there is security in the regions to visit. This cultural trip to Iraq will reveal to the traveller the archaeology, landscapes and ethnography of the country.<\/p>\n

This will allow us to see mythical places of past and recent history such as the Sumerian cities of Ur and Uruk, Baghdad, the capital of Al Mansur and Harun Al Rashid, the ancient capital Samarra, the Basra of Arab sailors and merchants, as well as unique natural reserves such as the Mesopotamian marshes with their inhabitants and their millennial way of life, or places of growing religious importance in the Islamic world of the East, such as the pilgrimage centers of Karbala (Hussein and Abbas mausoleums), Najaf (Ali mausoleum ), Wadi Salam (the largest cemetery in the world) or Kufa.<\/p>\n

Also, we will explore the \u2018country of the Kurds\u2019, a world apart that is worth discovering on this cultural trip to Iraq, which will be accompanied by the political, social and religious reality of the country. We will travel in a comfortable coaster bus, and we will stay in good hotels.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Download the itinerary for this cultural trip to Iraq<\/a><\/h3>\n

Using the form below, you can download the detailed itinerary for this cultural trip to Iraq. Click here to easily reach the form.<\/b><\/a><\/u><\/p>\n

Discover the highlights of this cultural trip to Iraq<\/h2>\n

Baghdad: Gateway to Ancient Mesopotamia<\/h3>\n

We will begin our cultural trip to Iraq in Baghdad, a city where past and present coexist in a vibrant and surprising way. Here, we will discover the National Museum of Iraq, home to one of the richest Mesopotamian collections in the world. We will see cuneiform tablets, sculptures, and artefacts that tell more than five thousand years of history.<\/p>\n

Also, we will visit the Martyrs\u2019 Monument, an imposing work of contemporary architecture symbolising memory and resilience. From this point onwards, we will start a deep immersion into Iraq\u2019s cultural heritage.<\/p>\n

Samarra and Mosul: Abbasid Legacy and Reconstruction<\/h3>\n

We will continue our cultural trip to Iraq towards Samarra, one of the great centres of the Abbasid Caliphate. Here, we will contemplate the famous Malwiya Spiral Minaret, a unique masterpiece of Islamic architecture. Also, we will visit a second minaret in the surrounding plains, offering wide-open views of the landscape.<\/p>\n

Later, we will arrive in Mosul, a city that is experiencing a remarkable rebirth. As we walk through its old town, we will observe ongoing restoration work at emblematic sites such as the Al-Nuri Mosque. Finally, we will explore Hatra, the first Iraqi city ever declared a World Heritage Site.<\/p>\n

Alqosh and Lalish: Christian Spirituality and Yazidi Tradition<\/h3>\n

Next, we will travel through the north of the country, a region marked by religious diversity. In Alqosh, we will visit the Monastery of Rabban Hormizd, carved into the rock since the 7th century, as well as the Tomb of the Prophet Nahum.<\/p>\n

We will then continue to Lalish, the spiritual heart of the Yazidi people. This sacred valley preserves ancestral rituals that remain alive within the community. This stage will bring a deeply spiritual dimension to our cultural trip to Iraq.<\/p>\n

Ctesiphon and the Power of Ancient Persia<\/h3>\n

We will continue our route southwards to visit Ctesiphon, the capital of the Sasanian Empire. Here, we will admire the celebrated Arch of Ctesiphon, the largest brick vault in the world. This monumental structure will reveal the architectural grandeur of ancient Persia.<\/p>\n

Babylon and Karbala: Legendary History and Shia Spirituality<\/h3>\n

We will proceed with our cultural trip to Iraq by exploring Babylon, one of the most iconic cities of Antiquity. There, we will walk among ruins associated with Hammurabi and Nebuchadnezzar II and learn about the remains of the legendary Ishtar Gate. From the nearby hill, we will also view Saddam Hussein\u2019s former palace towering above the site.<\/p>\n

We will then continue towards Karbala, one of the main spiritual centres of Shia Islam. There, we will visit the Shrine of Imam Hussein, a profoundly revered place.<\/p>\n

Najaf and the Tomb of Ezekiel: Pilgrimage and Memory<\/h3>\n

We will then head to the Tomb of the Prophet Ezekiel, a site important to several religious traditions. Afterwards, we will travel to Najaf, where we will visit the Shrine of Imam Ali, one of the most ornate sanctuaries in the Islamic world. Alos, we will walk through the vast Wadi Al-Salam cemetery, considered the largest on the planet.<\/p>\n

Uruk, Deserts, and Bedouin Culture<\/h3>\n

We will move further south to meet a Bedouin family and learn about their ancestral traditions. Later, we will explore Uruk, one of the first cities in human history. Here, we will contemplate archaeological remains linked to King Gilgamesh and observe cuneiform tablets, temples, and ziggurats. This stage will reinforce the historical depth of our cultural trip to Iraq.<\/p>\n

Mesopotamian Heritage in this cultural trip to Iraq<\/h3>\n

We will continue towards Ur to admire its impressive ziggurat, one of the most emblematic monuments of Mesopotamia. Afterwards, we will enter the Mesopotamian Marshes, an ancient ecosystem and UNESCO World Heritage Site. We will navigate through reeds and visit a traditional mudhif, a house built using Sumerian techniques that have survived to this day.<\/p>\n

Basra: Rivers, Cultures, and Farewell<\/h3>\n

We will end our cultural trip to Iraq in Basra, where the Tigris and Euphrates meet before flowing into the Persian Gulf. Here, we will meet members of the Afro-Iraqi community and learn about their musical and cultural heritage. Finally, we will rest beside the Shatt al-Arab before beginning our journey back home.<\/p>\n

\u00a9 Photos by Bego\u00f1a Fern\u00e1ndez-Colmeiro<\/a> and Xavi de las Heras taken during a cultural trip to Iraq.<\/p>\n

\u25ba Download the itinerary for this cultural trip to Iraq<\/a><\/h3>\n

Click on the button below to easily access the download form for this cultural trip to Iraq.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":15577,"template":"","etiquetas_viajes":[],"categorias_viajes":[180,401],"mes_viajes":[201],"ano_viajes":[455],"destacado_viajes":[],"guias_viajes":[],"viajes_a_medida":[],"class_list":["post-46764","viajes","type-viajes","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","categorias_viajes-asia-en","categorias_viajes-ethnographic-trips-iraq","mes_viajes-october","ano_viajes-2026-en"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nCultural trip to Iraq \u25ba Archaeology, landscapes and ethnography<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A cultural trip to Iraq focused on the country's archaeology and landscapes, as well as getting to know different peoples and cultures.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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