Iran & Iraq Ziyarat
The shrine of Imam Reza in Mashhad, then Najaf and Karbala in Iraq, linked by flights, subject to current government travel advice for both countries.
Trip at a glance
- Duration10 days / 9 nights
- Starts inMashhad
- RouteMashhad · Najaf · Karbala
- Places3 destinations
- CountryIran
- Ideal forPilgrimage tours, Multi-country tours
- Trip stylePrivate, customisable
- Package codeNX-1HU9UF
Best time to visit: March to May; September to November
Trip overview
The shrine of Imam Reza in Mashhad, then Najaf and Karbala in Iraq, linked by flights, subject to current government travel advice for both countries.
The route spends 3 nights in Mashhad, 3 nights in Najaf and 3 nights in Karbala, so you get time for the main sights without changing hotels every day. It suits pilgrimage tours and multi-country tours, and every day can be shortened, swapped or extended.
Highlights
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1Arrive in Mashhad
- Arrive via Mashhad Shahid Hasheminejad International Airport (MHD) and transfer to your hotel
- Check in and settle in
- Later: Goharshad Mosque: 15th-century mosque inside the shrine complex
Day 2Mashhad: Astan Quds Razavi Museum and Ziyarat at the Imam Reza shrine
- Astan Quds Razavi Museum: Manuscripts, carpets and art of the shrine
- Ziyarat at the Imam Reza shrine
Day 3Mashhad: Visit the shrine museums and Tomb of Ferdowsi, Tus
- Visit the shrine museums
- Tomb of Ferdowsi, Tus: Poet of the Shahnameh, 25 km away
Day 4Mashhad to Najaf
- Fly from Mashhad to Najaf and cross into Iraq (flight timings confirmed in your quote)
- Check in at your Najaf hotel
- Imam Ali Shrine: Golden-domed shrine of Imam Ali
Day 5Najaf: Great Mosque of Kufa and Masjid al-Sahla
- Great Mosque of Kufa: One of the oldest mosques in the world
- Masjid al-Sahla: Historic mosque in Kufa
Day 6Najaf: Ziyarat at the Imam Ali shrine and Visit Kufa's mosques
- Ziyarat at the Imam Ali shrine
- Visit Kufa's mosques
Day 7Najaf to Karbala
- Travel from Najaf to Karbala by private vehicle
- Check in at your Karbala hotel
- Hazrat Abbas Shrine: Shrine of Abbas ibn Ali
Day 8Karbala: Bain-ul-Haramain and Ziyarat at both shrines
- Bain-ul-Haramain: Walkway between the two shrines
- Ziyarat at both shrines
Day 9Karbala: Tal al-Zainabiya and Camp of Imam Hussain
- Tal al-Zainabiya: Hill linked to Sayyida Zainab
- Camp of Imam Hussain: Site of the camp at Karbala
Day 10Depart from Karbala
- Breakfast and hotel check-out
- Transfer to Najaf International Airport (NJF) for your journey home
How this version is planned
- Darshan and aarti timings planned around temple hours
- Online darshan or registration booked through official channels where available
- Comfortable pace and short walks planned for elders
- Dress codes and rules for each shrine shared before you go
- Visa applications sequenced for each country
This is a suggested itinerary. Sightseeing order may change with opening days, weather and local conditions; your final plan is in your written quote.
Good to know
- Mashhad: Visit the shrine at night as well as by day; the lit courtyards are unforgettable.
- Najaf: Stay near the shrine so you can return for night prayers when the courtyard is calmest.
- Karbala: For Arbaeen, book hotels months ahead and plan to walk the route over two or three days.
Questions about this trip
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IranMashhad
Mashhad grew around the shrine of Imam Reza, the eighth Shia Imam, whose golden dome stands at the centre of the Haram-e Razavi, a city of courtyards, mosques, libraries and museums.
IraqNajaf
Najaf is the city of the Imam Ali shrine, whose golden dome rises over one of the holiest places in Shia Islam, and of Wadi-us-Salaam, among the largest cemeteries in the world.
IraqKarbala
Karbala holds the shrines of Imam Hussain and his brother Hazrat Abbas, facing each other across the open walkway of Bain-ul-Haramain.
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