Day 9.

Our last day in Iraq, with Charlie flying to Beirut, Andreas flying to Istanbul, and Julian, Harry, Alastair and Danny flying back to Baghdad to catch a connecting flight back home.

My flight wasn't until the afternoon, but as everyone elses flights were in the morning and as well as Raad and Amad having to start the long drive back to Baghdad, I opted to just head to the airport early with everyone else.

As with Baghdad Airport, we had to disembark at a carpark far away from the airport, get our bags scanned, pass through security and then catch an approved (and expensive $30) taxi for the short, 5 kilometre drive to the terminal.


Outside departures at Basra International Airport. I then said farewell to everyone as they went through to security to check-in for their early morning flights.


The first time I have seen an air raid shelter at an airport before!


After bingeing on some Netflix on my iPad for a few hours, I headed through to check-in for my flight to Amman and onto Dubai.


Boarding the Royal Jordanian Embraer.


Looking out to the former Royal Air Force base used during the British occupation of Basra from 2003 to 2009.


And the end of an amazing trip through Iraq from Baghdad to Basra!