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HOMEIraq (Kurdistan)> tips


Iraq travel tip


DOCUMENTS

If you land in Erbil or enter from Turkey (at the border point between Silopi and Zakho) you can get the visa directly at the border almost for free. If you enter Iraq from the Arab border points, I mean the ones not controlled by the Kurdish Peshmerga (for instance from Jordan or Syria), you need a hard-to-be-gotten visa in advance. It isn't clear what you need if you pass from the Kurdish region to the Arab one (for instance going from Erbil to Baghdad).
On the Kurdish visa is written that by 10 days you must register at the "Residence Office", I didn't do it and at the border they didn't seem to be interested in it

 

MONEY

The currency is the Iraqi Dinar (1$= 1300dinar). US$ seems still to be the most convenient currency to be changed, but also euros are well known.

 

HEALTH

I had the usual vaccinations: ephatite A, B, typhus and tetanus but I took nothing against malaria. I hadn't any problem with the food or the drink, anyway I never drank tap water.

 

GUIDE BOOKS

Forget having your Lonely Planet of Iraqi Kurdistan! The only dedicated guide existing is the Iraq Bradt guide written in 2002 and reprinted with amendments in 2003. I've bought it and I can tell you that is useless, unless you want some archeological info about south iraq. So far all the best info are the ones I collected in the net and travelling; I wrote a wiki document so it can be updated by anyone. Don't worry, it's for free!!! PRINT IT!!!!

 

GENERAL TIPS

The mountains region bordering with Turkey isn't the best for trekking since it's a relevant militarised area

Speaking arab can turn out useful, but meanwhile, due to the past imposed "arabisation", it's unconvenient. So better avoid.

Kurdistan is a moderate islamic country, but still sensitive as concern the women: don't forget it when you take pictures

The Kurdish soldiers work to keep the stability in the region, so be patient when they'll stop, question, search you tens times per day. I never experienced any form of estorsions, just the needding to know who I'm and where I go.

When passing the Turkish border point never pronunce the word "Kurdistan", but always "Iraq". They are extremely sensitive concerning this and surely you aren't eager to spend the day at that sihtty border.

 

 

 

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