JOIN MY IRAQ TRIP; October 2023

Back due to popular demand, I’m organising another Iraq trip. This time in October 2023. It’s short, and sweet. I have great contacts in Iraq, and I can manage everyone’s visa in advance (yes including Americans!) without having to send your passport off or visit an embassy. Pretty cool huh? So if you have a dream to visit every country in the world, or you just want to see a place that most tourists never venture, then join me. And besides, who doesn’t want to sit in Saddam Hussein’s bathtub for a quick photo huh?

Iraq trip
Saddam Hussein’s bath tub on my last Iraq Trip

Why Visit Iraq?

Good question. For me personally, originally it was two things, one was to see the real side of a place that I’ve heard about in the news since I was a kid. I’m fed up hearing about Baghdad and not truly understand what’s happening. So I want to check it out for myself. Secondly, I had visited Erbil in Iraqi Kurdistan as part of my ‘every country in the world’ thing’, and I knew that wasn’t the ‘real’ Iraq. So I wanted to put that right.

Of course, Iraq is a beautiful country too. Misunderstood for sure, but full of so much history, culture and warmth. The Iraqi people are so grateful to see tourists, to share their food, their traditions. It’s truly a magical experience. And to know you’re one of just a handful of tourists each year makes it all the more special.

martyrs monument baghdad iraq
My last group of legends at the beautiful Martyr Monument in downtown Baghdad

Is it Safe to visit Iraq?

Safer than you think. That’s for sure. There is no need to travel with a security detail, Baghdad and Babylon are in the ‘safe’ areas of Iraq under full control of the new Iraqi government.

It’s much, much safer than my trip to Mogadishu, Somalia, or that stupid time I took my mum to Afghanistan! Our guides are local, trustworthy professionals who work with all the large multinationals when they send people to Baghdad. You’re in safe hands.

Also, the last time I took my mum! So that should vouch for how safe I think it is 🙂

iraq trip
My mum and I in a local coffee shop in Baghdad on our last Iraq trip

IRAQ TRIP DATES

4 Days/3 Nights.

October 14-17, 2023.

IRAQ TRIP COST

$2299USD

Price based on per person sharing. Don’t worry, you can book and come alone, I’ll pair people up based on gender. Also, if you prefer your own room, a single supplement option is available.

What’s Included

  • Iraqi Letter of Invitation
  • Iraqi Visa Assistance (we essentially get your visa for you ahead of time, and you collect at the airport)
  • All accommodation
  • 3 Breakfasts
  • Local guide
  • Western Guide (me!)
  • All entrance fees
  • All transport
  • Airport transfers

What’s not included

  • International flights in and out of Baghdad, Iraq (I’m flying from Beirut, cost me about $150 one-way).
  • Travel Insurance (I recommend THESE GUYS)
  • Tips for the local staff
  • Lunches and Dinners
  • Iraqi Visa fee ($80 cash payable at the airport)

IRAQ ITINERARY

DAY 1:

Arrive into Baghdad airport where my team will pick us up and transfer us to the hotel. We’ll have an evening tour of the Karadda district and a group dinner.

I’ll be flying in from Beirut, Lebanon. We can all meet there and take the same flight if that makes you feel more comfortable (and Beirut is a super cool city anyway!).

Iraqi trip
Iraq trip

DAY 2:

Time to explore Baghdad properly! We’ll hop in our private transfer with our lovely Iraqi guide and head to down town Baghdad for our city tour. We’ll hit up the the copper market, the bustling Almutanabi street, chill in some of the old Sheeshah coffee shops. And take a stroll through the alleys of Baghdad. This is what travel is all about.

baghdad trip
Wandering the streets on our last baghdad trip
Downtown Baghdad
Downtown Baghdad on my last Iraq Trip

DAY 3:

One of the Ancient wonders of the world beckons us today, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. We’ll make our way south of Baghdad, towards Hilla. Where we will explore the old historical city of Babylon, the base of the hanging gardens. We’ll also get to explore Saddam Hussain ransacked palace. A real sight to behold. We’ll head back to Baghdad for dinner and overnight there.

Iraq trip
Hanging Gardens of Babylon
The site of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon

DAY 4:

Our flights leave Baghdad today, but depending on your personal flight time, we’ll see a different site of Iraq this morning and head to the new, modern Baghdad. Including the shiny Baghdad mall. It’s important to see how Baghdad is transforming, with a new hope for a new future. I find this day fascinating.

Babylon iraq

NOTE: I’ll be in Beirut a day or two before the trip. I’ll then fly into Baghdad from Beirut. You can join me there in advance if you want (I’ll be working and excercising too though, still probably time for a few Lebanese beers though!).

HOW TO JOIN THE IRAQ TRIP!

As always, you can contact me and pay directly if you’d like. I can take bank transfers to my UK, Revolut or Thai accounts. Or Paypal.

Or, you can click through and pay via credit card HERE

Kiss me I'm Irish
Kiss me I’m Irish

CAN ANYONE JOIN?!

In theory, yes. However, if you’re from a country other than the 38 countries listed below, then you’ll have to get separate permits AND visit an Iraqi embassy. Possible, but expensive (and time consuming!). Message me if you’d like to discuss.

Also, with arrivals, visas and airport transfers in Baghdad being a sensitive issue, we need people to arrive in Baghdad on one of these flights:

Boarding the plane on October 14th:

  • Via Beirut: ME322 12.30-15.00 (THIS IS THE FLIGHT I’M ON)
  • Via Istanbul: TK7692 @ 23.55 or TK302 @ 21.55 (the second one will require a wait in Baghdad airport, no probs there though)
  • Via Doha (boarding the flights on October 15th): QR458, 01.15 to 03.15

*Note, if you fly via Istanbul or Doha you’ll miss the briefing, dinner, and city walk on Day 1. Not the end of the world, but please be aware.

And then depart on one of these flights on October 17:

  • To Beirut: ME323, 15.00 TO 16.35
  • To Istanbul:TK7693 @ 04.30 or TK803 @ 05.50
  • To Doha: QR459 @ 04.15

If you really need to fly on a different airline, or at a different time, please message me. We can possibly facilitate it at an additional cost.

Applicable Countries:

  1. Bahrain
  2. Kuwait
  3. Lebanon
  4. Oman
  5. Qatar
  6. Saudi Arabia
  7. United Arab Emirates Citizens
  8. European Union European Union citizens
  9. United States
  10. United Kingdom
  11. Russia
  12. China
  13. Japan
  14. South Korea
  15. New Zealand
  16. Canada
  17. Australia
  18. Switzerland
  19. Kuwait

Remember, never travel without travel insurance! And never overpay for travel insurance!

I use HeyMondo. You get INSTANT quotes. Super cheap, they actually pay out, AND they cover almost everywhere, where most insurance companies don't (even places like Central African Republic etc!). You can sign-up here. PS You even get 5% off if you use MY LINK! You can even sign up if you're already overseas and traveling, pretty cool.

Also, if you want to start a blog...I CAN HELP YOU!

Also, if you want to start a blog, and start to change your life, I'd love to help you! Email me on johnny@onestep4ward.com. In the meantime, check out my super easy blog post on how to start a travel blog in under 30 minutes, here! And if you just want to get cracking, use BlueHost at a discount, through me.

Also, (if you're like me, and awful with tech-stuff) email me and my team can get a blog up and running for you, designed and everything, for $699 - email johnny@onestep4ward.com to get started.

Do you work remotely? Are you a digital nomad/blogger etc? You need to be insured too.

I use SafetyWing for my digital nomad insurance. It covers me while I live overseas. It's just $10 a week, and it's amazing! No upfront fees, you just pay week by week, and you can sign up just for a week if you want, then switch it off and on whenever. You can read my review here, and you can sign-up here!

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So if you’re ready to…..

1) Change your life
2) Travel the world
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