Iraq…Mesopotamia & the Jewels of Assyria
October 20 - November 03, 2024
Led By Dr. Micki Pistorius and Local Guide
Mesopotamia-the land between the great rivers Tigris and Euphrates-was the home to the world’s earliest civilization. To walk on such sites as Eridu, Uruk, Ur of the Chaldees, and Babylon is to trace the history of the first cultures to build cities, invent writing, develop the wheel, and rule the known world. Some have claimed that the Garden of Eden was located in Iraq, and biblical history touches this land too. When it became an independent country in 1932, Iraq had been home to ancient Sumer, Babylonia, and Assyria and had been conquered by Persians, the Macedonian army of Alexander the Great, the armies of the Islamic conquest, the Mongol hordes, and the Ottoman empire of Turkey. At many points in its history, Iraq could be said to have been at the center of the civilized world, and you will see elements of this ancient history along with remnants of more recent times, including the regime of Saddam Hussein and the Coalition occupation. For the first time in our history selling tours to Iraq, we are now pleased to visit sites that we have never been able to see before the Assyrian ancient cities of the north: Nimrud, Nineveh, Hatra, and Khorsabad. With many of them having suffered heavily under the occupation of ISIS in the last few years, and now that ISIS has been mostly pushed out of this region, there are multiple international projects focusing on restoring part of the glory of those ruins.
This tour is offered in collaboration with ANCIENT ORIGINS TOURS,
a branch of Ancient origins, the number ONE website worldwide in History and Archeology, with over 3 million page views per month and 1.5 million followers on Facebook, Titter, Instagram and other social media.
Tour Cost (Land Only): $7,995.00
per person sharing in double occupancy
Single Supplement: $850.00
Price based on group size minimum of 8 participants and maximum of 12 participants
Trip Grade: II Lodging Level: ***
Tour Includes
Airport/Hotel/Airport transfers.
Accommodation at mentioned hotels or similar in centrally located area.
Meals as per the itinerary (B: Breakfast, L: Lunch and D: Dinner).
Travel by private modern & air-conditioned car.
4-wheel drive for the Eridu, Tell Al Ubaid & Larsa visits.
Mineral water in vehicle during tours.
Entrance fees to all mentioned sites and museums mentioned.
All activities as described in the tour.
English Speaking guide.
Gratuities to guide, drivers, and porters.
Tour Does Not Include
International airfare USA - Basra / Erbil - USA.
Iraq Visa (obtainable upon arrival for approx. $77.00- to be paid in cash - subject to change).
Items of personal nature (camera fees at sites, laundry, excess luggage, etc.).
Beverages or any alcoholic drinks with or without meals and any meals not mentioned.
Transfers if not arriving/departing on tour dates.
Dayroom/overnights necessitated by changes in airline schedules or misconnections.
Travel protection insurance. (Highly recommended).