Modern Mesopotamia

Itinerary

• Days 1-4: Basra (Iraq), Nasiriyah, Ur, and Uruk
  

  Begin the journey in Basra, a purported site of the Biblical Garden of Eden near the Persian Gulf. Explore some of the Mesopotamian Marshes from a small boat, and later see where the Euphrates and Tigris meet to form the Shatt al Arab. Stop in Nasiriyah to view its bustling markets, and make a day trip to visit the UNESCO-listed ruins of ancient Sumerian city-states of Uruk and Ur.

  HIGHLIGHTS

  • View Ottoman-era Shanasheel houses along the canals of Basra, largely in disrepair now but still evocative of a bygone era, and the subject of UNESCO-supported efforts to revive the traditional carpentry techniques used to build them
  • See where the Euphrates and Tigris meet to form the Shatt al Arab, a purported site of the Biblical Garden of Eden, and then later head out on the Shatt al Arab to see Basra from a new perspective
  • Glide through the waterways of the Marsh Arabs’ reed-thatched domains on a traditional boat. Learn about their culture and recent history as you explore the waterways
  • Step back in time exploring the millennia-old Sumerian city-states of Ur and Uruk, both included on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, walking where the earliest cities sprang to life
• Days 5-6: Babylon, Karbala
  

  Cross through the ancient heartland of Mesopotamia to view Babylon, both the ancient ruins and one of Saddam Hussein’s palaces. Babylon was for millennia an important city in southern Mesopotamia, and modern Babylon is a UNESCO World Heritage-listed archaeological site. Then continue to Karbala, an important pilgrimage site for Shia Muslims and the location of the historically important Battle of Karbala.

  HIGHLIGHTS

  • Contemplate the history of Shia Islam at the spectacular pilgrimage sites of southern Iraq, especially the Imam Husayn Mosque in Karbala
  • Wander the ruins at Babylon, one of the most famous of Iraq’s many ancient cities.
  • Explore the fortress at Ukhaidir, described by Gertrude Bell in the early 1900s.
• Days 7-10: Baghdad, Samarra, Mosul
  

  Continue through Mesopotamia towards Baghdad, Iraq’s capital and largest city. Explore the local culture in the souqs and streets and get acquainted with the country’s ancient history while browsing the exhibits at the national museum. Head out of town on a day trip to view the Great Mosque of Samarra and its impressive Malwiya Minaret. Then head to Mosul, a good base for day trips to the UNESCO-listed ancient sites of Nineveh, Ashur, Nimrud, and Hatra.

  HIGHLIGHTS

  • Acquaint yourself with the daily life and everyday people in contemporary Baghdad as you browse the booksellers and markets on Mutanabbi Street
  • Explore the many galleries and hundreds of thousands of artifacts housed at the Museum of Iraq, one of the world’s best museums, especially for ancient Mesopotamian civilizations and Islamic history
  • Take in the 9th-century Malwiya Tower in Samarra, one of the world’s oldest and largest minarets, rising like a beached seashell above its surroundings
  • Take day trips to the UNESCO-listed ancient sites of Nineveh, Ashur, Nimrud, and Hatra
• Day 11-13: Lalish (Kurdistan), Erbil
  

  Crossing into Kurdistan, discover the spiritual Mar Mattai Monastery and meet with a Syriac Orthodox monk here. Visit the sacred Yazidi temple at Lalish before ending in Erbil, Kurdistan’s largest and best connected city. Visit the city’s UNESCO-listed citadel and the Qaysari Bazaar below, along with other important  sights like the 12th-century Choli Minaret.

  HIGHLIGHTS

  • Meet with a Syriac Orthodox monk at the ancient Monastery of St. Matthew, learning more about this little understood sect of Christianity and taking in sweeping views of northern Mesopotamia from the scenically perched compound
  • Explore Lalish, the religious and cultural focal point for the Yazidi people, who were brutally persecuted by the Islamic State during their occupation of nearby areas
  • Gaze out across the ancient city of Erbil from atop its UNESCO World Heritage-listed citadel, now preserved and home to a textiles museum
  • Enjoy a meal of traditional, home-cooked cuisine at the home of a local family in Erbil, chatting with them to learn about their lives and place in modern Kurdistan, accompanied by a performance of Kurdish folk music