Kurdistan Tourism

When you’re looking for a little excitement, to heck with the normal exciting places – you should go to Kurdistan. Not only are many guidebooks telling people to not head there under any condition, but there are state department warnings that are repeating the same advice. How could you resist? With possible bad guys around every corner, this may just be the vacation you’ve always dreamed of, assuming you’re Jason Bourne.

Watch Out Brave Traveler

Yes, there are safety warnings about Kurdistan, and these warnings should be taken seriously. But you might also want to keep this in mind – every place in the world has some sort of hint of danger. There’s always the possibility of problems in a country. What’s more reasonable to say about Kurdistan is that you should avoid Kirkuk for the time being as this seems to be the hotspot of less than vacation worthy events. You might also want to go in a larger group of people so that you have a better chance of being safe. A protective detail would also be nice, but heck, you need one of those in Detroit too.

Where to Go

When you’re already in Kurdistan, you will stick out less if you have some places to go. Here are the major regions of the country:

• Hawler
• Sulamaniya
• Dahuk
• Zakho
• Lalish
• Kirkuk
• Ruwanduz
• Raniya
• Xanaqen
• Qaladze

If you’re stuck on where to go, start with the smaller regions first as these will be easier to visit quickly and then move onto the larger and more populated areas. Again, it’s said that Kirkuk is a place to avoid for now. So, just stand at the border and peek in.

Places to Visit in Kurdistan

When you’re ready for your adventure, you might want to visit some of the most popular tourist spots:

• Hawler Citadel
• Parastaga Zardasht
• Chemi Rezan
• Kirkuk Citadel
• Haj Omaran
• Gali Ali Bag
• Bexal
• Jinokan
• Zakho Bridge
• Dokan Lake
• Lalish Gondik
• Amedi

What’s fascinating about Kurdistan is that it not only has a number of waterfalls, but it also includes many ruins that might be perfect for learning about the history prior to the many wars and troubles. This is an area of great turmoil, and perhaps a place that may never be out of the spotlight in terms of war.

While Kurdistan might not be a hot spot for spring break, it is an area that is often overlooked because it isn’t as glamorous as other areas. In that respect alone, why not give the country a chance?