Founder/Director of the Adventure companies Hann Overland and Hinterland Travel, Geoff Hann is an experienced overland traveller and adventurer. Since the mid-1960s he has travelled extensively in the Middle East and Asia taking many groups from London to Kathmandu. More recently he has led groups to Afghanistan, India, Pakistan and Iraq. His love of history and taste for exploring little-known routes has led him to travel extensively in Iraq, and during the Iraq-Iran conflict his groups were often the only travellers there.

Tina Townsend-Greaves was born in Huddersfield and worked for many years in the Civil Service before taking up her current role at Overgate Hospice, Elland. She has travelled very extensively throughout the Middle East and Afghanistan and has visited Iraq many times in recent years. A lifelong enthusiast for learning, her degrees in Law and Security Management have often come in useful on her travels.

Introduction

PART ONE GENERAL INFORMATION

Chapter 1 Background Information

Geography and climate, Natural history and conservation, Government and politics, Economy, People, Language, Religion, Education, Culture

Chapter 2 History

Early Mesopotamia, Before Sumer, The Sumerians, Babylon and Hammurabi, The Assyrians, Babylon revisited, Persian conquest, Alexander the Great, The Umayyads, The Abbasids, The Mongols, The Ottomans, Modern times

Chapter 3 Archaeology

Introduction, The history of archaeology in Iraq, Archaeology in Iraq today

Chapter 4 Practical Information

When to visit, Highlights, Suggested itineraries, Tour operators, Red tape, Police and military, Getting there and away, Health, Safety, Women travellers, Travellers with disabilities, LGBTQ+ travellers, Travelling with kids, What to take, Money, Budgeting, Getting around, Accommodation, Eating and drinking, Public holidays and festivals, Shopping, Media and communications, Cultural etiquette, Travelling positively

PART TWO BETWEEN THE TWO RIVERS

Chapter 5 Baghdad and Environs

History, Getting there and away, Getting around, Tourist information and tour operators, Where to stay, Where to eat and drink, Arts and entertainment, Shopping, Other practicalities, What to see and do, Around Baghdad

Chapter 6 East and West of Baghdad

Baquba, Around Baquba, The international border crossing in Diyala Province to Iran, Fallujah, Around Fallujah, Ramadi, Around Ramadi, The international border crossings in Anbar Province to Syria and Jordan, Rutba, Balad, Samarra, Tikrit (Saladin), Around Tikrit, Bayji

Chapter 7 Kirkuk and Mosul

Kirkuk, Around Kirkuk, Mosul, Around Mosul, To the north of Mosul, To the east of Mosul, To the west of Mosul, To the south of Mosul

Chapter 8 The Road South

History, Kerbala, Around Kerbala, Ukhaider, Around Ukhaider, Al-Hilla, Babylon, Around Babylon, Ancient Borsippa (Birs Nimrud), Al-Kifl or Chifal, Kufa, Najaf, Around Najaf, Al-Hira, Heading further south, Diwaniyah, Nippur (Niffar), Isin, Samawah, Around Samawah, Uruk, Larsa (modern Tel Senkereh), Tel Ubaid, Eridu (Tel Abu Sharein), Ur, Nasiriyah

Chapter 9 Return from Basra

Basra, Around Basra, Al-Qurna, The Marshes, Al-Uzair, Al-Amarah, Al-Kut, Al-Hiba (Lagash), Wasit

PART THREE IRAQI KURDISTAN

Chapter 10 Practicalities in Kurdistan

General information, Practical information, Highlights, Suggested itineraries, Tour operators and guides, Red tape, Embassies and other representation, Getting there and away, Health, Safety, Women travellers, LGBTQ+ travellers, Travellers with disabilities, Travelling with kids, What to take, Money, Getting around, Accommodation, Eating and drinking, Public holidays, Shopping, Arts and entertainment, Media and communications, Business, Cultural etiquette, Travelling positively

Chapter 11 Erbil and Environs

History, Getting there and away, Getting around, Where to stay, Where to eat and drink, Entertainment, Shopping, Other practicalities, What to see and do, Around Erbil

Chapter 12 Duhok and Environs

History, Getting there and away, Getting around, Tourist information, Where to stay, Where to eat and drink, Entertainment, Shopping, Other practicalities, What to see and do, Towards Turkey, South of Duhok, Northeast of Duhok

Chapter 13 Sulaymaniyah and Environs

History, Getting there and away, Getting around, Where to stay, Where to eat and drink, Shopping and entertainment, Other practicalities, What to see and do, Around Sulaymaniyah

Appendix 1 Language

Appendix 2 Further Information

Appendix 3 Bibliography

Index