British tour operator launches holidays to dangerous country - despite FCDO warnings against travel

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It’s regarded as one of the most dangerous countries in the world, and the FCDO advises against travelling there.

But travel company Wild Frontiers is giving British tourists the opportunituy to explore Iraq, with its new tour, Iraq: Babylon & Beyond.

Travellers who sign up to the 15-day trip will visit the world’s first city, Uruk, the ancient citadel of Erbil, and Al-Qurnah – believed by many to be the site of the fabled Garden of Eden.

They’ll also explore the iconic city of Babylon and the archaeological museum in Baghdad.

Culture lovers can look forward to sampling Baghdad’s famous sandwiches and discovering its ‘unexpectedly vibrant’ dining scene.

Those brave enough to head on holiday with London-based Wild Frontiers will also get the chance to experience flamingos, pelicans and herons on a boat trip through the Iraqi Marshlands and meet the Marsh Arabs who live there, harvesting reeds and rice, fishing and herding water buffalo.

The FCDO warns against all travel to most of Iraq and all but essential travel to the remainder of the country, including Baghdad.

For this reason, UK visitors will need special insurance for the trip.

Travel company Wild Frontiers is giving 12 adventurous tourists the chance to explore Iraq , with its new tour, Iraq: Babylon & Beyond. Pictured is the Shrine of Hussain in Karbala

Travellers who sign up to the 15-day trip will get the chance to visit the world's first city, Uruk (pictured)

The FCDO warns against all travel to most of Iraq and all but essential travel to the remainder of the country, including Baghdad (pictured). For this reason, UK visitors will need special insurance for the trip.

Wild Frontiers’ Director of Product and Operations Marc Leaderman, said: 'We first started offering trips to Iraq in 2013 but pulled the trip the following year after the security situation deteriorated.

‘Ten years on, Iraq is undergoing a period of increased stability and when I visited recently I found a huge excitement and energy about the future. Iraq is not only the home of ancient Mesopotamia with plenty to offer lovers of archaeological sites such as Ur, Uruk and Babylon, but it is also where you'll find vibrant holy shrines in Najaf, Karbala and Lalish, the atmospheric tea-houses of Baghdad and Erbil, impressive UNESCO reconstruction work in old Basra and Mosul as well as the gentle waterways of the Marsh Arabs and the stunning mountain home of the Kurds.

‘Iraq is not a destination for everyone - and travelling there will require contravening FCDO advice and securing special insurance - but the rewards of visiting this diverse land at this pivotal time make it the perfect destination for the more adventurous traveller.’

For more information about the tour, head to Wild Frontiers’ website. Prices start from £5,495. This is based on two sharing and excludes international flights.