Handcrafted Experiences in the Cradle of Civilization
Unlocking a door to the beautiful people and places of Iraq
“Key Treks opened my eyes to the hidden beauty and untapped historical frontier in Kurdistan and Iraq.”
- Anna, after a recent experience
Stunning Natural Beauty
The backdrop for all our tour experiences is the natural beauty of Kurdistan and Iraq. From ancient caves to drastic mountainscapes, from secret springs with cascading waterfalls to family orchards bearing the fruit of generations of cultivation—this region testifies to its name: the Fertile Crescent. Our Trekkers would love to show you the off-the-beaten path treasures we’ve discovered recently.
Historical Treasures
As the birthplace of civilization, Iraq has one of the richest historical legacies on the planet. In addition, as a modern nation Iraq is second (only to Israel) in the number of biblical events taking place within. Our Trekkers can show you Nahum’s tomb, take you on hike up to a 4th century monastery, or unlock for you the treasures of Neo-Babylonia or Assyria— including the world’s first aqueduct with inscriptions in the first written language!
Cultural Experiences
This region’s cultural heritage is the oldest on earth—and any guest of a home here can tell you it’s still the warmest and friendliest culture. Our experiences unlock cultural connections for travelers, such as: exploring thousand year-old bazaars to try regional delicacies, learning from local craftsmen and handiworkers, and stepping foot into Middle Eastern homes to experience hospitality handed down for millenia.
Key Questions
Is Iraq really safe for tourism?
In general, yes. While one needs to exercise caution when traveling in most parts of the world, this region has higher safety ratings that most major cities in Europe and the United States. We’ve facilitated tours for clients from all over the world and no one has ever felt unsafe (in fact, most have commented on how much safer they feel here than elsewhere in their travels). Our Trekkers are happy to talk further about safety with potential travelers.
Iraq isn’t known for tourism… Is this for real?
We can guarantee you will not ask this question after coming with us on one of our experiences. We can rival the historical and biblical sites you would find in Israel, bring you to landscapes that could remind you of the Alps, and uncover you an ancient heritage you will find no where else in the world. But when you come along on a Key Treks Experience, there is no fighting against buses of tourists and no selfie sticks blocking your view—we’re unlocking the frontier of travel.
Our Concept
What Makes Us Different
Story-Based, Offbeat Tourism
With us, you’re not just a tourist, but a participant in an authentic cultural exchange. Our local trekkers can guide you through remote villages to historical gems most have never heard of—where you’ll hear stories of an age-old heritage. Our tours will bring you along old Assyrian roads where you can dive into turquoise waters that were used to source the Assyrian King Sennacherib’s famous gardens in Ninevah. You can look at the stars while imagining what it would have been like for Zoroastrian astrologers to see a Christmas star in the west, leave through an ancient gate, and voyage for weeks.
The places we’ll show you are great in themselves, but the stories you’ll hear from your guide and the local people bring history and culture to life.
Sustainable, Personalized Travel
Our tours are tailored to your taste, level of difficulty, and preferred time. From solo adventurers to groups, to family trips, we offer customized packages that suit your needs.
At the same time, all our exploration of this region is aimed to responsibly showcase its treasures while pouring investment into in order to develop local economies. All our treks are designed with respect and deepest appreciation for local customs and traditions and our hope is to lead the way in helping Iraqi people further protect and preserve their natural and historical heritage.
Our staff lives and works (and goes on adventures) in the regions we want to show you and we’re eager to leave them better than we found them (click here to check out our blog to read about our latest treks!).
How Key Treks Works
Let Us Build You An Adventure from Scratch
If you have a particular experience in mind, an area or location you’d like to explore, or specific needs for your taste or size of group, then our Trekkers are eager to work with you to create a hand-crafted, bespoke experience. We’re a small and nimble company with a passion for unlocking new things and we’d love the chance to work with your specific needs. Just reach out to us directly at info@keytreks.com to start the conversation!
Browse Our Expertly Designed Experiences
We have worked tirelessly to build half-day, one-day, and multi-day experiences that unlock this region. Our curated experiences are designed by Trekkers who love to combine culture, history, and nature into an adventure you will never forget. While every experience at Key Treks is personalized, we have tremendous confidence in the experiences designed and perfected by our staff. Click here to check out our experiences and begin daydreaming with us.