Iraq Guide
Most Iraq Ziyarat trips are built around four cities: Najaf, Karbala, Kadhimiya in Baghdad, and Samarra, plus a stop in Kufa. Knowing which Imam is buried where, and a sensible order to visit them in, helps you plan a trip of any length from a short weekend to a full two-week pilgrimage.
Najaf is home to the shrine of Imam Ali (A.S.), one of the most visited sites in Shia Islam, along with Wadi-us-Salaam, one of the largest cemeteries in the world. Najaf International Airport is the closest gateway for most Ziyarat itineraries and sits roughly 80 kilometers from Karbala. A short trip to nearby Kufa adds Masjid Kufa, Masjid Sahla and the House of Imam Ali to the same leg of the journey.
Karbala holds the shrine of Imam Hussain (A.S.) and, close by, the shrine of his brother Hazrat Abbas (A.S.). This is the focal point of the Arbaeen pilgrimage and draws enormous crowds during Muharram and Safar. Many itineraries base pilgrims in Karbala for several days to allow repeated Ziyarat visits at different times, since the shrine complex is busiest in the evening.
Kadhimiya, a district of Baghdad, holds the shrine of Imam Musa al-Kadhim (A.S.) and Imam Muhammad al-Taqi (A.S.). A day trip north to Samarra covers the shrine of Imam Ali al-Hadi (A.S.) and Imam Hasan al-Askari (A.S.). These two stops are usually grouped together since Baghdad is the practical base for both, and many pilgrims add them at the start or end of a Najaf-Karbala itinerary.
Common questions
Najaf International Airport (NJF) is the most common gateway for Ziyarat trips since it sits closest to both Najaf and Karbala. Baghdad International Airport (BGW) is a better fit if Kadhimiya and Samarra are a bigger part of your itinerary, or if your flight options are better through Baghdad.
Seven to ten days is a comfortable range to cover Najaf, Kufa, Karbala, Kadhimiya and Samarra without rushing between cities. Shorter trips of four to five days are workable if you focus only on Najaf and Karbala, which are about 80 kilometers apart.
Many operators run Kadhimiya as part of a Baghdad city stop and Samarra as a separate day trip from Baghdad, since Samarra involves additional travel time. Confirm the plan with your group leader, since road conditions and security clearances can affect the exact schedule.
