Iraq & Kurdistan

Day 01: Kuala Lumpur – Baghdad via Sharjah
Depart from KLIA 2:50 am. Transit in Sharjah 3:25hrs. Continuing flight to Baghdad at 9:50 am and arrival Baghdad at 11:25 am. Clearance at Baghdad Immigration and collect luggage. Transfer to the coaster and stop for lunch. Moving to the hotel and check in. After a short rest, sightseeing around Baghdad. Visit to Tahrir Square, Martyrs Monument and Mutannabi Street. Dinner and rest. Overnight in Baghdad.

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Day 02: Baghdad – Babylon - Karbala (B)
Early breakfast at the hotel and check out. Drive to Babylon about 2 hours. You will have tour the ancient ruins and what’s left of the hanging gardens. Then explore the looted ruins of Saddam Hussein’s former palace – perched on top of the ancient city. After extensive tour in Babylon will continue drive 1 hour to Karbala. In Karbala will visit the famous Al Abbas Mosque and Iman Husayn shrine. Best view in the evening that will be full of lights all over the mosque. Dinner and overnight stay in Karbala.

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Day 03: Karbala – Najaf - Baghdad (B)
Morning after breakfast, check out and drive to Najaf town about 1 hour from Karbala. Visit the most important site of Najaf – the Imam Ali shrine. Nearby, visit Wadi as Salam Cemetery which is the biggest cemetery in the world. Drive back to Baghdad and en-route visit Taq Kisra. Taq Kisra, is a Sasanian era Persian monument that built 3rd-6th century and known as Archway of Ctesiphon. Continue driving to Baghdad arriving in the evening. Dinner and overnight stay in Baghdad.

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Day 04: Baghdad – Samarra - Mosul (B)
Morning after breakfast, move to Samarra about 2 hours’ drive. Pass through multiple checkpoints along the route driving by many villages destroyed during the fighting against ISIS. Visit the incredible Great Mosque of Samarra and its iconic spiral minaret. Climb all the way to the top if you dare and take good photo here. After spending some time, continue drive to Mosul about 3-4 hours Dinner and overnight stay in Mosul.

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Day 05: Mosul – Duhok (B)
Morning after breakfast, will have short and brief city tour around Mosul city. Drive 45km from Mosul to Alqush and visit Rabban Hormizd Monastery. Established in the 7th century, it is one of the most ancient Christian monasteries in Iraq. Carved out in the mountain range that lines antique Assyria and runs along the international borders of Iraq, Turkey and Iran, the monastery of Rabban Hormizd is the symbol of the unstable history of Christianity in Mesopotamia. Drive to Duhok 1 hour. Dinner and overnight stay in Duhok.

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Day 06: Duhok (B)
Morning after breakfast, sightseeing around Duhok. Visit to Matrys Tea Shop, Saddam Palace Viewpoint, Inishki Cave, Amedi, Solav, Qubahan School and Duhok Dam. Dinner and overnight stay in Duhok.

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Day 07: Duhok – Lalish – Erbil (B)
Morning after breakfast, drive 1 hour to Lalish and visit to the ancient Yazidi religion’s temple. In Lalish, nature and architecture combined in one unique sacred space where every stone, every building and every plant has a spiritual meaning. A fundamental spiritual hub, Lalish has become the qibla, the place all Yazidi face when praying. Then continue 2 hours’ drive to Mar Matti Monastery. Mar Matti Monastery, established in 4th century, is one of the oldest existing Christian monasteries in the world. Continue drive to Erbil – the capital city of Iraq Kurdistan. Dinner and overnight stay in Erbil.

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Day 08: Erbil - Choman (B)
Morning after breakfast, drive to Hamilton Road. En route visit Bekhal and Ali Baig Waterfalls. Next stop at the scenic Rawanduz Canyon. We have some free time around the canyon. Then continue drive to Choman. Tonight, we will stay in Kurdish traditional house and have opportunity to taste the real homecooked Kurdish food here. Dinner and overnight in traditional house in Choman.

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Day 09: Choman - Erbil (B)
Morning after breakfast, sightseeing around Choman and Khanzad Castle. Then return to Erbil. Dinner and overnight stay in Erbil.

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Day 10: Erbil – Kuala Lumpur via Sharjah (B)
Breakfast at the hotel. Today is free and easy before departing for Erbil Airport at 12pm. Arrival Sharjah at 3:45pm, transit 5:55hrs. Depart for Kuala Lumpur at 9:40pm.

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Day 11: Arrival Kuala Lumpur
Arrival KLIA 9:10am.