Day 1
Fly London Heathrow/Erbil
Iraqi Kurdistan
Iraqi Kurdistan Highlights
Little visited, as yet, Iraqi Kurdistan is an absorbing destination of sheer beauty, warm and friendly people and a rich history. Although situated in the northern part of Iraq, it is in many ways a world apart.
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Day 1
Fly London Heathrow/Erbil
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Day 2
Erbil
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Day 3
Erbil to Dohuk
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Day 4
Dohuk
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Day 5
Dohuk / Amadiya / Rawanduz
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Day 6
Rawanduz / Dukan / Suleimaniyeh
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Day 7
Suleimaniyah
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Day 8
Suleimaniyah / Qizqapan / Koisinjak / Erbil
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Day 9
Fly Erbil/London Heathrow
Day 2
Erbil
Day 3
Erbil to Dohuk
Day 4
Dohuk
Day 5
Dohuk / Amadiya / Rawanduz
Day 6
Rawanduz / Dukan / Suleimaniyeh
Day 7
Suleimaniyah
Day 8
Suleimaniyah / Qizqapan / Koisinjak / Erbil
Day 9
Fly Erbil/London Heathrow
More Details
Erbil
Sprawling outwards into the desert, with the ancient Citadel of Erbil at its heart, Erbil is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Still as relevant now as it was in ancient times, the city remains an important business hub in the region.
Originally known as ‘Arba llu’ – meaning ‘the city of four gods’ – Erbil was religious capital of the Assyrian Kingdom. It was during this period that the city developed into an integral part of the Assyrian Empire.
Dohuk
Originally an Assyrian town named ‘Beth Nuhadra’, Dohuk is surrounded by rocky hills and lies below a dammed valley. With few tourist sites, many of Dohuk’s main attractions lie outside of the city.
These include the tomb of Nahum, the Rabban Hormizd Monastery and the beautiful Gara Mountain.
Rawanduz
Derived from the Kurdish for ‘castle of the Rawends’, Rawanduz sits above the steep-sided Rwandz Gorge, said to be one of the finest in Asia. The town first rose to prominence during the time of the Neo Assyrian Empire, due to its position on an important trading route to Nineveh, the Assyrian Capital.
Since then the town has passed from ruler to ruler, enjoying a period of stability as the capital of the Soran Emirate for almost 500 years. Unfortunately, it is also known for the actions of its genocidal ruler in the 19th century and the bloody massacres of its Muslim population – by Russian forces – in the 20th century.
Sulaymaniyah
Considered the cultural capital of Northern Iraq, Sulaymaniyah is famed for its Kurdish singers, poets, writers and academics. Founded by a Kurdish prince in the 18th century, the city is much younger than many of its contemporaries. However, it has quickly developed into an important economic hub and cultural centre for Sorani Kurds.
Beautifully situated in mountainous surroundings, Sulaymaniyah is dotted with green parks and bustling bazaars. Of the many foods on offer on the city’s streets, Yaprax – meat and rice wrapped in a delicate vine leaf – is the most famous.
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