Flew to Erbil (Kurdistan part of Iraq). Spend one week in Kurdistab doing a road trip with a rented car, and spend the other week in federal Iraq. Iraq blew me away with its hospitality, millenia of interesting and mostely untouched history, safety, and the most incredible people, all while having basically no other tourists. My highlights were visiting Mosul, Babylon, and driving on the Hamilton road in eastern Kurdistan.
We planned this trip independently without any organized tours. There are multiple facebook and whatsapp groups that offer a vast amount of information that helped us plan our trip.
If you have any questions feel free to ask!
by deadass_b
47 Comments
Judging by the pictures, that is a man’s world…
What’s your realistic assessment of safety in the areas you visited?
Most of the websites just give you a blank “don’t go – not safe” statement, but now that you’ve done the research and actually been there, I’d like to know what you think.
Saw a photo with crystals in it! amazing
Nice pictures. Thank for sharing.
Understand you did a road trip in Kurdistan part of Iraq using a rented car.
May I know
1) is it possible to drive independently to all parts of Iraq in a rental car ( eg Baghdad, Mosul, Basra, Karbala etc) or only limited to Kurdistan?
2) Are there international rental car agencies like Sixt, Avis, Hertz etc in Erbil or just local car rental agency?
3) Will the car rental agency ask for a huge deposit before renting out the car?
Appreciate your kind advice on this
The lack of women is telling
Were you there as a group of males? Does Iraq have the men’s area and family area split in restaurants? What was the infrastructure like?
Is the last pic Babylon?
It has so much potential!
Looks like a sausage fest.
Beautiful pictures! I’ve been wanting to go for a while – do you think it’d be doable for two women without a guide?
Where mah girls at?
Would love to know if a female can travel there (with a fixer of course)
Kind of a sausage fest.
it’s interesting that in all those photos only 4 women appear.
What camera are you using? Great photos.
Can you explain what’s shown in pic 19?
I’d love to visit someday, even if it’s Baghdad, Iraqi Kurdistan & the rest of the Nineveh Governorate alone
Beautiful
Undoubtedly a beautiful country, but I would never visit. No women in any of the pictures that show people out having a good time.
And when you do see a woman, she’s wrapped up so tight she can probably barely see. These cultures are century’s behind when it comes to human rights, and I will not be the one to support their economy.
I was stationed right outside the re-built ziggurat in 2009-2010. Never got to visit (they did offer trips occasionally for soldiers but I was just too busy). Nice to see that it’s a tourist destination again (albeit exotic one).
Did you go alone? My wife and I have been interested in that part of the world for a long time and we’d love to go to Kurdistan. I know I’d be fine but I’m worried about her safety and I’m not sure how much she’d be able to interact with people there since it seems to be mostly men in public spaces.
Not a woman in sight
Be aware. If you fly into Kurdistan (Erbil), you will need another visa to enter the Federal territory of Iraq. But… if you fly into the Federal Terrotory first, only 1 visa is necessary.
Awesome pictures.
I spent 26 months there and always felt it would have been a wonderful place under different circumstances.
Those men look like they are enjoying the freedom of not being women
One of the countries I want to visit at least once. Beautiful pictures.
thank you
Why is there so many sexist comments here
how about for Americans to go there?
Lol
Seems amazing – I’m considering going there as I’d love to explore the middle east more, and I’ve heard Erbil is a safe place. What was your itinerary to get in? It seems like you got some scenic views as well – is it possible to go hiking or is it mainly “drive to a nice spot and take photos”?
The gap between “don’t go – not safe” and that guy peacefully reading a newspaper in what looks like a 1000-year-old cafe is the entire travel industry’s credibility crisis in one photo. This is what real travel content should be – showing places as they actually are, not as cable news says they are. Mesopotamia never disappoints when you actually show up.
I love the city gates in some of your photos. I remember seeing a replica in a museum somewhere. I’d love to visit a real one somewhere. I hate bringing up safety but where would be best to view one please? Not necessarily Iraq but anywhere. Thanks
“Safe”
So you are a man, right?
Super cool pics! Are those gates of ishtar the real one or just a recreation?
Iraq looks so beautiful. It’s on my bucket list, but it’s going to be bucket list for awhile.
Looks like a great place for women
Would love to go. But I’m a woman 🙁
It’s so striking how differently men and women move in public places.
Lots of penises, and some human beings, I suppose women, completely covered.
I don’t think I’m missing anything with the world out there! Maybe in 10 or 20 years 😁
Those are fantastic pictures
Where are all the women ?
Of course there are no women in any of the photos.
Always blows me away how similar Kurdistan’s geography looks to Utah’s mountains and jagged geology.
Looks so lovely
What’s with the propaganda, lately? “The most incredible people” meanwhile all we see in your pictures are men. Oh and two women covered from head to toe. Like wtf, why anyone would want to spend their money in such a place baffles me.