Iraq small group vacation, 15 days

Planet

CARBON REDUCTION

Throughout our time in Iraq, our small group (max 12) travels overland taking an open-jaw route from Basra to Irbil by coaster bus and small motorboats, eliminating the need for any domestic flights. 

We enjoy many meals in locally owned and run restaurants and cafes, enjoying locally sourced food throughout the tour, from the Baghdad’s famed sandwiches to lunch in the village of Rezan, with its delectable fish cuisine.


ENVIRONMENT 

We take a small boat into the heart of the Iraqi Marshlands, one of the world’s largest ecosystems which has undergone a recovery after being drained to just 10% of their size. Now listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the vital wetlands in southern Iraq are rich in biodiversity and cultural heritage as the home of the Marsh Arabs.

We visit several other UNESCO World Heritage Sites on this tour, including the distinctive 9th century Malwiya Mosque in Samarra, with its iconic spiral minaret as well as its smaller nearby neighbour at Abu Dulaf; Iraq's first UNESCO site, Hatra and the Erbil Citadel, whose ancient walls have witnessed the rise and fall of Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians and Ottomans.

We recognise the environmental issues and challenges around single-use plastic in many countries we visit and are actively working with our partners on the ground to reduce plastic waste on our tours and within the hotels and restaurants we visit. We encourage our clients to reduce their personal plastic waste by taking a refillable, filtered water bottle on the trip. Filtered water bottles can be refilled from water sources including your hotel room and restaurant taps, drinking fountains and refill stations.

People

LOCAL ECONOMY

With markets and bazaars at the heart of Iraqi culture, we enjoy visits to the bustling market in the City of Najaf, the copper market in Baghdad, the central bazaar at Sulaymaniyah and the Qaysari bazaar in Erbil offering the opportunity to witness daily life, and make a few purchases along the way.

While many meals are taken in local restaurants and we stop in traditional teahouses to quench our thirst, we also enjoy a local speciality lunch of grilled fish with one of the local Marsh Arab families we meet along the way, and dinner hosted by a Kurdish family in Erbil.

EMPLOYMENT, INCLUSIVITY AND DIVERSITY 

Local hosts, guides and drivers are employed throughout the trip, offering not only employment opportunities but a wealth of knowledge of their regions and country, including an in depth look into the life and traditions of the Marsh Arab with members of the community and specialist guides at the many UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

A donation is made on behalf of every traveler to our foundation, which supports education and community empowerment projects worldwide.