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The war may be officially over, but Iraq remains one of the most dangerous places on the planet. Well, that is, most of Iraq. The northern enclave of Kurdistan is, in contrast with the rest of the country, relatively peaceful and safe for travelers (we emphasize the word ‘relatively’). As of today, the State Department describes the Iraqi Kurdistan Region as ‘more stable relative to the rest of Iraq in recent years’, but threats remain.

Naturally, Iraqi Kurdistan’s challenging nature makes it attractive to the adventurous traveler. The absence of foreigners and western culture as a whole, the bemusement of locals upon seeing a foreigner, the myriad of security checkpoints, the sense of discovery – all these are reasons why a traveler might be willing to take on the marginal risks of exploring this region of Iraq.

What makes Kurdistan different from the rest of Iraq?
The Kurdistan enclave in northern Iraq is semi-autonomous. Ruled independently by its own government, the three provinces of Iraqi Kurdistan gained de facto independence after an uprising in 1991. The region’s autonomy is now enshrined in the Iraqi federal constitution.

Arabs largely populate Iraq, but this portion of the country is populated by Kurds, a different society marked by its own language, culture and approach to religion. Kurdish people inhabit not only Iraq, but also portions of southern Turkey, Syria and northwestern Iran. Many Kurdish people claim the sum of the territories as a Kurdish State.

Given its de facto independence, the region was untouched by the 2003 conflict that enveloped the rest of the nation.

What’s there to see and do in Kurdistan?
Beautiful mountainous landscapes, ancient cities (there are settlements dating more than 9,000 years, and the city of Erbil is said to be one of the oldest inhabited cities in history), bustling bazaars and incredibly friendly, curious and welcoming Kurds.

How to get there?
Independent travelers can keep costs down by crossing the border from Turkey (see this well-written, albeit slightly dated account, by an American on Lonely Planet’s forum. We highly recommend reading travel blogger Wandering Earl’s extensive guide covering visas, accommodation, food, transportation, fees and internet service.

Alternatively, adventure travel companies have begun are offering expensive all-inclusive tour packages to the region.

Warning
Kurdistan does still experience pockets of violence, particularly in disputed territories. Independent travelers should do detailed research into which areas are safe before travelling.

Always consult with the State Department website before traveling anywhere in Iraq or other dangerous territories.

Written by insider city guide series Hg2 | A Hedonist’s guide to…

(Image: Kurdistan Photo كوردستان)

About the author

Brett AckroydBrett hopes to one day reach the shores of far-flung Tristan da Cunha, the most remote of all the inhabited archipelagos on Earth…as to what he’ll do when he gets there, he hasn’t a clue. Over the last 10 years, London, New York, Cape Town and Pondicherry have all proudly been referred to as home. Now it’s Copenhagen’s turn, where he lends his travel expertise to momondo.com.

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