Join YPT as we travel on one of our signature trips to Iraqi Kurdistan to celebrate the Newroz festival!
A prospective new nation protected by the Peshmerga which were at the forefront of the fight with ISIS, Kurdistan offers not only safety, but beautiful scenery, famed in Middle Eastern literature as a paradise on earth, with more than 3500 archaeological sites. Despite its significance and proximity to probably the tensest area in the world, it is home to some of the most friendly and welcoming people on earth.
The trip takes you to the second major city of Sulamaniyah, onwards to the beautiful gorge of Rawanduz, and then heading north to Duhok, Saddam’s Palace, Amadiya and the world’s only Yazidi shrine at Lalish before heading back to the UNESCO World Heritage city of Erbil, checking out lots of cool sights in between.
We will also be lucky enough to be in the country to take in all the festivities surrounding the Newroz holiday in the city of Akre. Newroz, the new year, celebrates the beginning of spring, represents new beginnings and is considered the most important Kurdish Festival on the calendar every year. The atmosphere in Iraqi Kurdistan during this holiday is fantastic with special local delicacies on sample, fireworks performances, live music, dance, and for good luck, smashing pottery!
Iraqi Kurdistan offers visa on arrival or e-visa for many nationalities, so there is really no excuse not to go!
You can make the most out of your visit to Kurdistan by combining our Southern Iraq tour as well as our Iran Revolutionary tour.
Sunday 16th March – Erbil
Monday 17th March – Erbil – Sulaymaniyah
Morning
Afternoon
Tuesday 18th March – Sulaymaniyah – Rawanduz
Morning
Afternoon
Wednesday 19th March – Amadiya – Dohuk
Morning
Afternoon
Thursday 20th March – Dohuk – Lalish – Akre: Newroz Festival – Erbil
Morning
Afternoon
Friday 21st March – Erbil
Morning
Afternoon
Saturday 22nd March – Erbil
“Dig a hole in Kurdistan”, our local guide said, “and you will find a mass grave, oil or antiquities.” Iraq’s Kurdish citizens, who number approximately five million in this self-governing region, are not Arab and do not speak Arabic. The Kurds are th …
Read MoreIraq (Iraq proper, Baghdad Iraq or Southern Iraq, as you might call it) and Iraqi Kurdistan are destinations that are dear to our heart, having been doing tours there for years now. While the people of those two regions have the same passport, use the …
Read MoreWith Iraqi government troops and Kurdish Peshmerga forces currently conducting hand-to-hand urban warfare with ISIS in Mosul, you might think that Iraqi Kurdistan is a no-go war zone. You’d be very wrong. Last October, Young Pioneer Tour’s Shane landed …
Read MoreHistory of Nowruz in Central Asia Nowruz in Central Asia has been celebrated for thousands of years – at least three thousand based on historical evidence, but possibly even longer, and the celebration shares many of the same attributes that are usuall …
Read MoreThe Kurdish people have been going through a saddening series of strife and atrocious struggles for decades now. During the rule of Saddam Hussein up until recently and on the forefront of the war against IS, the Kurds have suffered many casualties. On …
Read MoreThe Yazidi religion and Yazidi people came on the world’s spotlight during the ISIS invasion of Iraq on the 3rd of August 2014 as they were forced to flee their villages, escape death, sex-slavery or become stranded on Mount Sinjar. Before those events …
Read MoreSo you had a great trip with us in Iraqi Kurdistan and you are now looking for the next adventure? While Erbil International Airport has all the international connections around the world you might need, and it is not recommended to cross into Southern …
Read MoreWhat is Nowruz? If somebody talks about New Year, your mind probably goes to January 1st. However, all around the world many other populations count years differently. For us at Young Pioneer Tours, Chinese New Year – or Spring Festival – is of great i …
Read MoreI’m sure we’ve all daydreamed about owning a time machine, and wondering where we’d go if we had Dr Who’s Tardis for a week. Obviously, first off would be a quick jaunt to the Jurassic age to bother some dinosaurs, followed by a trip to the year 3000 t …
Read MoreWant to extend your YPT adventure? Join one of our great tour extensions
• Visa support
• Accommodation on twin share basis
• Breakfasts
• Transport to complete the itinerary
• English speaking local guide and YPT guide
• Entrance fees & travel permits
• Kurdistan visa on arrival or e-visa $75
• Single supplement ($300)
• International flights to and from Erbil
• Entrance fee of Newroz venue (approx $30)
• Lunches, dinners and personal spending
• Tips for the local guide and drivers
• Travel insurance
We have expert guides ready to help answer any questions you may have.
©YoungPioneerTours.com 2024. All rights reserved.