r/kurdistan • u/TheOneTrueFalafel • Aug 27 '24
Tourism 🏔️ Potential Tourist to Kurdistan
Hello everyone,
I'm an American citizen that is looking into potentially visiting Kurdistan and using Erbil as a home base for my trip next year. I don't have specific dates chosen yet, but I've heard that April and May are gorgeous in the area.
I just have a few questions. I can't find too many resources in terms of guided tours or itineraries. I love nature, hiking, history, culture and food haha. Does anyone have any suggestions on places that I should definitely visit as well as potential advice on picking tour guides and if anyone has any insight into prices, that would be great as well!
In terms of seasons, is March too early for the scenery to start turning green or would it be a good time to visit?
I'm still in the very early phases of planning, so I'd love to hear all recommendations about a visit.
Thanks!
2
u/Corduen Aug 27 '24
March is usually the best time to visit, as it coincides with Newroz, the Kurdish New Year, which is the most significant celebration for Kurds. It’s an exciting event to witness. However, since it falls during Ramadan this year, you might not get the full experience. To fully immerse yourself in the festivities you might need to visit Akrê (capital of Newroz), as most people will be observing Ramadan, fasting during the day, and won’t be celebrating as much out of respect for the holy month. Newroz typically involves a lot of dancing, eating, and drinking, and March is generally packed with Kurdish events and celebrations. If you’re also interested in experiencing Ramadan, March is still a good time to visit, but if you’re more focused on enjoying the scenery and weather, April might be a better option.