Two decades after the devastating invasion of Iraq, Mesopotamia is reopening to travellers. This journey to the heart of our civilisation connects the remains of history with the challenges of contemporary geopolitics and offers a unique opportunity to visit some of the holiest places in Shia Islam.
Twenty years after the invasion of Iraq, Mesopotamia is once again open to travellers.
Iraq, return to Mesopotamia
Iraq, cradle of ancient Mesopotamia, is essential to understanding civilisation’s origins. Beyond its impressive monuments, it is central to today’s geopolitics and a cultural mosaic where Arabs, Kurds and Assyrians coexist.
We will explore ancient archaeological sites, landscapes such as the legendary Mesopotamian marshes and some of Islam’s most important pilgrimage centres. Visiting these sacred shrines is a rare privilege and a deeply memorable experience.
Highlights of the trip
Mausoleums and Mosques
In Najaf and Karbala, religious fervour fills every corner. Mass prayers are deeply moving. For those who witness them, spirituality becomes tangible, enveloping and unforgettable.
Tigris and Euphrates
Mesopotamia’s two great rivers still pulse between reeds and calm waters. Sailing through the marshes reveals an ancient, fragile ecosystem full of beauty and resilience, every bend seeming to whisper stories waiting to be heard.
The Martyrs
The Baghdad Memorial honors those who fell, but the memory of the martyrs lives beyond its architecture. It is found in the streets, in everyday gestures, in the faces that carry memory. A whole country holds its history in silence and reverence
Best time to travel to Iraq
November is an excellent time to travel because temperatures begin to fall, offering a cooler and more pleasant climate. It is ideal for exploring without the extreme heat of summer. In addition, there are fewer tourists, allowing you to enjoy the destinations with greater tranquility.
| Month | Baghdad Max (°C) | Baghdad Min (°C) | Nasiriya Max (°C) | Nasiriya Min (°C) | Mosul Max (°C) | Mosul Min (°C) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 16 | 5 | 17 | 6 | 12 | 3 |
| February | 19 | 7 | 20 | 8 | 14 | 5 |
| March | 24 | 11 | 25 | 12 | 19 | 8 |
| April | 30 | 17 | 31 | 17 | 25 | 12 |
| May | 37 | 22 | 38 | 23 | 33 | 18 |
| June | 42 | 26 | 41 | 26 | 39 | 24 |
| July | 44 | 28 | 44 | 27 | 42 | 27 |
| August | 44 | 27 | 44 | 26 | 42 | 26 |
| September | 40 | 23 | 42 | 24 | 37 | 21 |
| October | 33 | 18 | 35 | 19 | 29 | 16 |
| November | 24 | 11 | 25 | 12 | 20 | 9 |
| December | 18 | 7 | 19 | 7 | 14 | 5 |
Is it safe to travel to Iraq?
For decades, we have waited for the possibility of visiting one of the most significant destinations to understand the origins of civilization. And today, finally, Mesopotamia reopens its doors.
Twenty years after the invasion, Iraq still faces the aftermath of dictatorship, successive wars and the brutal impact of Islamic State jihadism (2014–2018), which reached Baghdad’s outskirts barely a decade ago. Despite ongoing social, political and economic instability, violence has receded, and the areas on this route offer sufficient safeguards for a safe visit.
This journey explores iconic ancient and modern sites: the Sumerian cities of Ur and Uruk, legendary Babylon and lively Baghdad, the historic capital of Al Mansur and Harun Al Rashid and now a metropolis of over 8 million. We also visit Samarra, a former imperial capital, and Basra, once home to Arab sailors and merchants and now an oil hub. In Mesopotamia’s marshes, the Marsh Arabs preserve an ancestral way of life nearly extinguished under Saddam Hussein.
Iraq also holds a key place on Islam’s religious and political map. Its population is mainly Shia, unlike many other Muslim countries, and it contains Shiism’s principal shrines. Karbala, site of the battle that caused the Islamic schism in 680, houses the mausoleums of Imam Hussein and his half-brother Abbas. Najaf’s tomb of Ali – father of both, the first Shia imam and Islam’s fourth caliph – draws thousands of pilgrims. Nearby lies Wadi al-Salam, the world’s largest cemetery and the most sacred to Shia believers
Next trip to Iraq
Iraq✔️ Departure 20 NOV 2025
✔️ Price from 2950 €
