This cultural journey through Iraqi Kurdistan, a semi-autonomous and relatively stable region in northern Iraq, begins in Erbil, one of the world’s oldest cities, where travelers explore the 6,500-year-old UNESCO-listed citadel, wander the colorful bazaar, and visit the Kurdish Textile and Cultural Museum to admire regional weavings. This trip is ideal for travelers with moderate fitness. The trip features light hikes, daily walks, and scenic drives through varied terrain. Travelers head to Lalish, the sacred valley of the Yazidi people, whose unique religious traditions trace back to ancient Mesopotamia. The tour continues to the Rabban Hormizd Monastery near Alqosh, carved into cliffs and central to Assyrian Christian heritage for over a thousand years. In the towns of Dohuk, Amedi, and Soran, travelers encounter cliff-top villages, waterfalls, and the Hamilton Road, an early 20th-century engineering feat that winds through the dramatic Rawanduz Canyon. In Sulaymaniyah, known for its cultural scene, guests visit Amna Suraka, or Red Prison, a former intelligence headquarters turned museum documenting Saddam Hussein’s repression of the Kurds. The city's archaeological museum and Goizha Mountain also offer a deeper historical and visual context. A stop in Halabja honors the victims of the 1988 chemical attack, offering a sobering but essential part of the region's story. Back in Erbil, the journey concludes with visits to the Erbil Civilization Museum, the Syriac Heritage Museum in Christian Ankawa, and the grand Jalil Khayat Mosque. The trip reveals Kurdistan’s stunning landscapes, resilient cultures, and deep historical layers, making for a profound and eye-opening experience.
This 7-day trip costs $1,950 per person. Untamed Borders is an adventure travel company specializing in some of the world’s most interesting and inaccessible places. They run cultural tours as well as adventure sports, including skiing, trekking, marathons, and more. Whenever possible, proceeds from the trip are directed back to the communities visited, and the trips are always led by local guides.