Quite an amazing adventure to the land that is not on my bucket list. Certainly get a new impression of Erbil from your report. Thank you. Safe travel.

Fantastic report! I've toyed with a trip to this part of the world. Your report certainly convinces me that I should more strongly consider it.

Somewhere I would never consider going in a million years, for numerous reasons.

However, this excellent TR has given me an insight that differs so much from what one might call “Public perception”, and for that I’m very grateful. I need to up the game with my TRs, clearly!! ;)

As others have said, amazing, fascinating, extraordinary TR, Chief ! You are certainly not lacking in courage. I kept wondering what happened at all the mosques that you "couldn't get into". Were you violently ejected? How did you handle communicating in Kurdish? Or does everyone speak English too?

Absolutely fascinating. Thank you very much for documenting this trip here!

Thank you for sharing this adventure.

Made my day to read this report. Thanks for posting!

Fantastic report and really changed my perspective
thanks for posting

Impressive trip report. Makes me want to go!

Thank you for a great TR - I’ve heard good things about Erbil and you’ve really brought it to life :)

Thanks for compiling this report. I had no idea that area of the country was so beautiful, it looks amazing.

Awesome report! I think you might have planted a little seed in my mind for a little side jaunt during a work trio to the region later this year.

A great visit to the Iraqi Kurdistan, ChiefNWA.

A bummer to hear you need a visa now to visit Mosul.

Sad to hear the IDP camps are now full again after the US abandoned the Kurds to the Turks in Northern Syria. Must have been unsettling to hear the Turkish drones above too.

Fantastic

I "think" you have always needed a visa to enter real Iraq. I was able to tag along with Sardar two years back, but at each checkpoint, I just kept my head down and let him do the talking. He said it's 50/50 at best.