Welcome

This is an online resource for travellers to the Kurdish region of Iraq. Here you will find practical information and places to visit and stay. It is also a space for people to share experiences and photos. If you have a question or helpful information please post in the forum.

Iraqi Kurdistan is safer than the rest of Iraq and the local people are extremely welcoming to visitors. Tourism is steadily increasing as more people discover this fascinating destination. It is rich in history and culture and has stunning mountain scenery. It is easily accessed by air, or overland from Turkey and Iran. Enjoy your visit!

Caution: The political situation in Iraqi Kurdistan is always changing. Before travelling to Iraqi Kurdistan, independently check the situation by reading news articles and consulting your home country's travel advisory for travel warnings. View safety precautions for more information.

*The green area is a rough indication of the boundary of Iraqi Kurdistan.

Experiences

Iraq (Kurdistan Region)

by Joe Scarangella

No other single country has been mentioned in the news more in the last 20 years than Iraq. The name has become synonymous with terrorism, suicide bombers and war. The mere thought of tourism in such a region should be considered absolute ludicracy. Or should it? I've certainly never been one to take CNN or BBC as my only source of information. Or dare I say a reliable source of information. And I have a tendency to ignore Foreign Affair office warnings. It couldn't be any worse than Afghanistan. So, with some time off work in Azerbaijan for th ...read more

Doublin' Up on Dohuk

by Joe Scarangella

During my first visit to Iraqi Kurdistan several years ago, the city of Dohuk was where i broke ground. Although the town was nice enough, i remember a feeling of under-whelm-ment. Recently, with few viable options to get out of Erbil for a day or two, i opted to revisit the city. I'm glad i did. I was shocked at how much the city has grown, although i guess i shouldn't be. With development running amuck all over Kurdistan at the moment, it should not have been a surprise to see the town expanding to the horizon. But there is still no question ...read more

More of Dohuk

by Jeremy Star

I set out to see more of Dohuk and discovered a promenade along a waterway cutting through the city. I followed it upstream, passing weathered picnic tables and closed vending booths. The path was deserted and littered with leaves but it provided a shady haven from the bustling streets above. It featured a sculpture with its head removed and an oddly out of place and vandalized amphitheatre. Money had obviously been put into its creation but little into its maintenance or promotion. The promenade ended abruptly, under an empty wooden structure ...read more

Duckin' into Dukan

by Joe Scarangella

In a country largely devoid of any significant bodies of water, it seems even a puddle can be treated with disproportionate reverence among the locals. Such is the case in Iraq, especially so in Kurdistan. Sure the country has a few rivers (ie the Tigris and Euphrates) and even waterfalls, but it is hardly what one might call swimming in major lakes. Lake Dukan is the largest lake in Iraqi Kurdistan. But it's not even natural. Regardless, this man-made watering hole is about as close as you're going to get to beach action in the region. I wish ...read more

Amna Suraka

by Joe Scarangella

While the details may be a little fuzzy, pretty much everyone is now aware that Saddam Hussein was not a nice guy. While the global focus remains on his threat on regional security, it is his domestic policies that should be in the spotlight. While many lived in fear during the regime's reign, it is the Kurdish population of Northern Iraq that suffered the greatest. Mass killings like the one at Halabja are most likely to garner media attention, but it is the day-to-day atrocities that are perhaps the most disturbing. And nowhere in Iraq is thi ...read more

Amna Suraka (Red Security)

by Jennifer Martin

Our visit to Amna Suraka spanned over two days, and it was my best visit during the trip. Also known as the "Red Security" museum because of its red-colored walls, Amna Suraka served as the northern headquarters of the Iraqi Intelligence Service, or Mukhabarat. Doesn't sound too bad yet? This prison operated as a facility for the imprisonment, torture, and death of thousands of Kurds under Saddam Hussein's regime. Amna Suraka operated from 1979 until 1991, at which point the Kurdish Peshmerga (armed Kurdish fighters) attacked and won contro ...read more

Travel Iraqi Kurdistan

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Travel information for the Kurdish region of Iraq

Welcome

Experiences

Iraq (Kurdistan Region)

Doublin' Up on Dohuk

More of Dohuk

Duckin' into Dukan

Amna Suraka

Amna Suraka (Red Security)