The chance to truly blaze a tourist trail is a rare opportunity - this is one of them. Ski touring in Iraq is as exciting as it is unusual for skiers looking to truly get off the beaten track
A journey for the truly intrepid. Skiing in Northern Iraq is perhaps not the most obvious place for your next ski adventure, but it should be! This group ski trip heads to the semi-autonomous, Kurdistan region of Iraq.
For a country more associated with deserts, Iraq has some great mountainous terrain and skiing territory, near the border with Iran, and you can explore it with a qualified international ski guide.
Using the experience built up over many years on skiing and climbing trips to Iraq, your hosts have identified areas that offer some great ski touring routes. Participants should have some prior experience of ski touring and be able to make their turns in all conditions to make the most of this rare chance to ski Iraq. Starting in Erbil and you’ll head straight to the peaks around the town of Choman near the Iranian border. Here you can expect to find the best and most reliable snow.
In addition to the ski touring, the trip is being timed to coincide with the Choman Winter Festival and Iraq Ski Rally. The Winter Festival started in 1952, but was stopped under Saddam, however it has restarted and now includes a fun ski touring race designed for people of mixed abilities.
A truly adventurous skiing trip to an area where few foreigners have chance to take to the slopes.
Check out a post and inspiring video from a past journey here.
Why you'll love this adventure
- A truly unusual place to ski tour
- Challenge your mindset and perceptions of Iraq and its people
- A chance to take part in the Choman Winter Festival and Iraq Ski Rally.
Dates
This trip can be tailor made for your perfect travel dates. Please make a booking enquiry for more information.
Itinerary
Starting off in the Kurdish regional capital in Erbil, you will explore the city, before heading north into the mountains. Your destination will be the town of Choman, but the route there, along the famous and beautiful Hamilton Road, will carve through incredible mountain passes and be an adventure in itself. On this route you will pass the Korek Ski Resort and if conditions are right, we will stop and ski the slopes of the region (it can be unpredictable though). We will continue north to Choman and it's here you will ski the slopes of Iraq's tallest mountain, Mt Halgurd, and take part in the Iraq Ski Rally ski race. You will spend a number of days skiing in this beautiful part of Iraq, before then returning back to Erbil, where the trip will finish.
What's included
- All accommodation
- Breakfast
- Lunch when skiing
- All ground transport
- Guiding
- Entry to the Iraq Ski rally (worth US$100)
Not included
- Visas
- Insurance
- International Flights
- Entrance fees
- Lunch & Dinner
- Drinks
- Tips
- Ski equipment
Trip notes
Price
Min age
Accommodation
There is not a uniform accommodation standard on this itinerary. The reality is that standards and costs in Erbil cannot be compared to a homestay in Choman. The organisers consider comfort, location, design, character, security, historical interest and whether the money being spent will go into the pockets of the local community when making choices of where to stay.
The accommodation will be based on 2 people sharing a room in Erbil. A single supplement in Erbil can be arranged for $60.
In Choman guests will stay in a communal room.
Meals
Breakfast is provided every day and lunch when skiing. The organisers know plenty of places in Erbil. From traditional kebab houses to international restaurants at international prices. When there is an option, you have the choice of how much you want to spend and where.
Additional notes
Equipment:
Guests should bring their own equipment – details will be provided.
Guides:
You will be accompanied by a European ski guide for the length of the trip. There will also be a local Iraqi guide to translate when not on the slopes.
Visas:
For most nationalities, a visa is available on arrival in Erbil airport. The visa is valid for Iraqi Kurdistan only and NOT for southern Iraq.
Security:
Trips to Iraq do create dangers of their own and whilst we want you to have as much freedom as possible we must state that the tour leader has the final word with regards to changes in the itinerary for safety reasons. Whilst the route we have chosen passes through areas which we consider to be relatively stable things can change and we may have to alter the route or cancel sections of the trip at short notice.
In Iraq, areas away from the roads do have a risk of landmines. We have experience in the region and access to maps and information about where to ski and where to avoid.
As with off-piste skiing in the rest of the world, there is a small but serious avalanche risk.
Tour operator
Working with small groups of a maximum of 12 people and using specialist local guides throughout, their aim is to provide authentic and original experiences for all guests. This small number allows for greater security, flexibility and access to local people and places. Each set itinerary trip is individually designed to coincide with local events or to visit the area at the best time of year be it a ski festival or marathon event!
Enquire today
Ski Iraq
Please complete the enquiry form above with as much detail as you can and we will send you all the trip information and connect you with the operator so you can make a booking directly.
If you have queries and questions about the trip include those in your form and we’ll personally reply to you within 24 hours.
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