18421 E. Nine Mile Rd. Eastpointe, MI 48021
PH: 586 775 9550
FAX: 586 775 9556
Iraq… ancient
Mesopotamia
March 14 to 25, 2017
Led by Professor Dorothy Keller,
Art Historian at University of St. Joseph, CT.
Mesopotamia—the land between the great rivers
Tigris and Euphrates—was the home to the
world’s earliest civilization. To walk on such sites
as Eridu, Uruk, Ur of the Chaldees and Babylon is
to trace the history of the first cultures to build
cities, invent writing, develop the wheel, and to
rule the known world. Some have claimed that the
Garden of Eden was located in Iraq, and biblical
history touches this land too. When it became an
independent country in 1932, Iraq had been home
to ancient Sumer, Babylonia, and Assyria, and had
been conquered by Persians, the Macedonian
army of Alexander the Great, the armies of the
Islamic conquest, the Mongol hordes, and the
Ottoman empire of Turkey. At many points in its
history, Iraq could be said to have been at the
center of the civilized world, and you will see
elements of this ancient history along with
remnants of more recent times, including the
regime of Saddam Hussein and the Coalition
occupation.
Ihab Zaki
Managing Director, Spiekermann Travel
Tuesday - Wednesday,
Mar 14 to 15
USA to (Basra) Iraq
Depart your hometown arriving in your connecting
city the next morning. Transfer to your flight to
Basra, arriving very late evening or early morning the
following day (Mar. 16). You will be met and
transferred to your hotel for check-in and dinner (if
arrival time is reasonably early) (D)
Thursday, Mar 16
Basra
After a late breakfast to allow you to rest a bit, head
out for sightseeing in the old city, along the stretch
of the canal lined with the Ottoman Shenashil
Houses. It is a sad shadow of Basra’s former glory.
Most of them are unoccupied and falling apart and
possibly visits one of them which were owned by a
wealthy Greek merchant in the 19th century. Then
ride in a boat on the Shatt Al-Arab, which is the
river following the merge of the Euphrates and the
Tigris, to view the sunset. Dinner and overnight in
Basra. (L,D)
Friday, Mar 17 Basra to Marshes to Nasiriya
In the morning, depart to the Marshes for a full day
tour with a canoe ride. Have a day-long excursion to
the Tigris and canoe excursion into the Marshes. It is
one of the largest ecosystems in the world and one
of its strangest aquatic environments, where man
lives alongside animals, birds and fish. The region is
currently being rehabilitated after the dramatic and
aggressive drainage policy conducted under the
regime of Saddam Hussein. This immense body of
water at the entrance to the Shatt-el-Arab, covered
with reeds and dotted with lake-dweller villages, is
home to the Marsh Arabs. This region was already
inhabited 5,000 years ago, as witnessed by the
Sumerianbas-reliefs. Since then, the population has
retained a lifestyle built essentially around fishing,
buffalo breeding and reed weaving. Proceed to
Nasiriya, the capital of the province of Dhi-Qar, near
the ruins of the ancient city of Ur on the Euphrates
River. In the afternoon, continue to Nasiriya for a
stroll in its bustling souk before dinner.(B,L,D)
Saturday, Mar 18 Nasiriya to Al-Shatrah city,
Tello & Ur
In the morning, drive to visit the nearby ancient site
of Girsu (today Tello), former capital of the State of
Lagash. The city developed mainly between the
archaic dynastic period and the end of the Ur III
dynasty (that is at the end of the 3rd millennium BC).
The major interest of the city is not the architectural
remains, but rather the important archives and the
objects discovered on the site, the 2,000 tablets from
the archives of the domain of the goddess Ba‘U and
above all the famous Stele of the Vultures. Come
back to Nasiriya, visit the Ziggurat built with similar
characteristics as the Tower of Babel mentioned in
the Bible and the towers of a temple complex
dedicated to the lunar god Nanna. Tour the
archeological city of Ur, believed to be the birthplace
prophet Abraham. Stroll in Nasiriya bustling souk
before dinner. (B,L,D)
Sunday, March 19 Nasiriya to URUK to Najaf
Depart for Samawa, settled on both sides of the
Euphrates River by the Himyarite tribe of
BanuQuda'a around the 3rd century AD. Tour the
archaeological city of Uruk founded about 7000
years ago during the Ubaid Period when the main
urbanization of Ancient Mesopotamia was taking
place. In the afternoon, depart for Najaf an Islamic
holy city and home to the shrine of Imam Ali,
Prophet Mohammad's cousin and son-in-law and the
fourth caliph (656-661).
Check into the hotel and in the evening visit the
souk around the glittering shrine complex. Return to
the hotel for dinner and overnight. (B,L,D)
over succession of the caliphate, distinguished the
Shia from the Sunni sects of Islam. Dinner and
overnight. (B,L,D)
Monday, March 20 Najaf to Kifl, Kufa & back
Begin your day with a visit to Al-Najaf Sea. Continue
touring the old city of Al-Najaf and stop at the
mausoleum of Imam Ali, Then visit the town of Al
Kifl with its shrine dedicated to prophet Ezekiel, and
in the afternoon, proceed to Kufa to view the
Mosque which contains the tombs of Muslim ibn
‘Aqil, Hani ibn ‘Urwa, and Mukhtar al-Thaqaf. Also
visit the Al-Imara Fort and palace as well as the
outside of Imam Ali’s house before returning to your
hotel for dinner and overnight. (B,L,D)
Wednesday, March 22 Karbala to Babylon to
Baghdad
Depart after breakfast for the city of Babylon. Upon
arrival tour the ancient city and one of the largest of
Mesopotamia. Totally rebuilt under Saddam who
practically resurrected a site which was nothing but
crumbling hills. The entire central palace of Babylon
shines in 20th century fired bricks and yes, it is
impressive to walk through these vast courts and to
think that on the reconstructed platform of the
throne room Alexander the Great died, surrounded
by his mourning generals. The famed Ishtar Gate is
displayed at the same Pergamon Museum in Berlin
but here you can see the original layer of the
processional way with the magnificent carvings.
Right behind Babylon with gorgeous views over the
Euphrates and the ruins towers one of the most
impressive Palaces of Saddam. This one is open for
people to roam around in. It has been looted to the
last light bulb and filled with graffiti. The sheer size
and cost of this palace and the fact that he most
likely never ever even was there, indicates the
magnitude of his madness and waste. Continue to
Baghdad for dinner and overnight. (B,L,D)
Tuesday, March 21 Najaf to Ukhaider to
Karbala
In the morning, drive to visit Ukhaider Palace, an
Abbasid fortress located roughly 50 km south of
Karbala, Iraq. It is a large, rectangular fortress
erected in 775 AD with a unique defensive style.
Constructed by the Abbasid caliph's As-Saffah's
nephew Isa ibn Musa, Ukhaider represents
architectural innovation in the structures of its
courtyards, residences and mosque and was an
important stop on the regional trade routes.
Excavations at Ukhaider were conducted in the late
19th century by the famous Gertrude Bell. Proceed
to Karbala, a holy city for Iraqi Shia because it holds
the shrine of the martyred Imam Husayn Ibn Ali,
who died here in 680 and the subsequent conflict
Thursday, March 23
Baghdad and
Ctesiphon
In the morning, visit the Archaeological Museum of
Iraq. Afternoon visit Ctesiphon, ancient city located
on the left (northeast) bank of the Tigris River about
20 miles southeast of Baghdad, in east-central Iraq. It
was served as the capital winter of the Parthian
empire and later of the Sasanian Empire. The site is
famous for the remains of a gigantic valued hall, the
Taq Kisra, which is traditionally regarded as the
palace of the Sasanian king Khosra I (reined AD
241-272).
Afternoon head to Al-Mutanabi Street named after
the 10th century classical Iraqi poet and explore
Souk al-Safareen, the famous copper market. Then
visit El-Mustansariyya school (Madrassah), one of
the oldest Islamic institutions of higher learning in
the
world,
established
in
1227
by
the Abbasid Caliph al-Mustansir and located on the
left bank of the Tigris River. In 1235, an early
monumental size water-powered alarm-clock that
announced the appointed hours of prayer and the
time both by day and by night was completed in the
entrance hall. The Madrasah is still functioning in a
new building, and is now part of the Al-Mustansiriya
University, following an expansion and restructuring
of the original madrasah in 1927 as part of a
program of modernization. Back to the your hotel
for dinner and overnight. (B,L,D)
Friday, March 24
Baghdad to USA
After breakfast transfer to airport for flight back to
the US through your connecting city, (possibly
arriving the next day). (B)
“We (STS) reserve the right to change hotels, restaurants or
the order of activities if/as needed.”
Trip Grade: III Challenging: Parts of the
trip are physically challenging, involve hiking
on rough terrain or in sand or climbing to
sites. There will be long drives on some bumpy
rough roads; weather conditions with high heat
or humidity, presence of insects. You may
have simple picnic lunches, primitive
bathroom facilities along the road and
remoteness from modern towns or cities.
Lodging Level:  Delightful:
Comfortable yet on the Spartan side, usually
small but usually with private facilities. Some
stays in private homes or small inns that may
lack western style amenities. (2 or 3 stars)
Airline options: We may use Turkish Airlines,
Emirates Airlines, Qatar Airways or Etihad
and you can make stop overs in any of the
connecting cities if you wish.
About your lecturer...Prof. Dorothy Keller… She is a Professor of Fine Arts at the University
of Saint Joseph in CT and studied at the University of Hartford Art School where she earned an M.Ed.
degree. In addition, she holds an M.A. and C.A.G.S. in Religious Studies from the University of Saint Joseph.
She has received more than 10 awards and had at least five radio and T.V. interviews in the past eight years
related to the discoveries she has made throughout the years. Professor Keller has traveled extensively
throughout Europe, the Mid-east, and Asia and has participated in numerous archaeological digs. She says:
"It is my experience that traveling is important in order to understand the cultural context of the Art in
question. I will not teach anything that I haven't seen in person hence our field trips to art museums and
galleries. It is also through travel that one makes interesting discoveries about themselves." Professor Keller
will gladly share her knowledge of key archaeological, religious, and historical sites in Iraq. Using critical
thinking and insight she will make valuable connections between the worlds of art, philosophy,
religion, science, politics, technology, etc. Professor Keller has not only studied the amazing sites of Iraq but she has recently visited
Iraq and explored first hand all its ruins and sites and museums to further her gain knowledge.
Per person sharing in double occupancy
(Air and Land): $6,995.00
Single Supplement: $700.00
Price based on group size minimum of 5 participants
and maximum of 8 participants
Credit for not using our included airfare $750.00
Trip Grade: III
Price includes
 All transfers with assistance and luggage porterage.
 Airfare from the East Coast (options are via Istanbul, Doha,
Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Amman)
 Transportation within country using A/C motor coach.
 All mentioned accommodations in best (and safest) hotels
available.
 All meals are included (B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner) and
Bottled water on the bus and at meals.
 All entrance fees to visited sites (mentioned in the itinerary).
 Service of professional local guide/escort.
 Accompanying security personnel in Iraq (if and when needed).
 All gratuities to guides, porters, drivers, hotel and restaurant
staff etc.
Lodging Level: 
Price does not include
 Airline taxes, fuel surcharges and security fees
(approx. $500.00).
 Iraq Visa (Currently obtainable from embassy in DC
for $40 fee plus shipping.
 Beverages with meals and meals not noted.
 Any flights from hometown to your gateway airport.
 Items of a personal nature, i.e. souvenirs, camera fees,
laundry, phone calls, emails, etc.
 Dayroom or extra hotel nights necessitated by airline
flight schedule changes or misconnections.
 Travel insurance (VERY highly recommended for
your own peace of mind).
Important Notes about travel to Iraq:
The US Department of State has warnings for travel to Iraq and by joining this trip; you are accepting and admitting awareness to
such warnings. Please visit their web site at www.travel.state.gov/travel
Iraq offers no frills, so no fancy elegant accommodations, no super highways and comfortable roads but you will be immersed in
Mesopotamia and its sites and the historical value is stunning. The trip will be faced with a big number of check points (daily
between a couple of them up to possibly 5 or 6); some will be quick ones and others will entail up to an hour wait, hence absolute
patience is paramount, and questioning or complaining about such conditions will not be appreciated!
Amazingly internet is available almost everywhere in Iraq but service can be very frustrating, sporadic, slow, and interrupted, same
like their electric service, which will be cut multiple times a day for a few minutes at a time.
Everyone joining must be in good state of health, with an open mind and a sense of adventure. Please note that although this trip is
not necessarily physically demanding by way of exertion, the remoteness of some sites, the back roads we sometimes have to take,
the delays, the security arrangements, the sudden changes in itinerary or hotels due to unforeseen conditions and sometimes even
the heat, can take its toll and participants must be open-minded and prepared for all eventualities.
Southern Iraq is comparatively very safe and we do not anticipate any security problems or concerns though we reserve the right to
alter the program or change the routing or sequence of visits depending on any unforeseen events.
Spiekermann Travel Service, Inc.
18421 East Nine Mile Road, Eastpointe, MI 48021
Phone: 1-800-645-3233
Fax: 586-775-9556
www.mideasttrvl.com
[email protected]