visit Kurdistan

[Baziyan_qendil]

is it safe to visit Kurdistan for the moment?
i would really like to visit my birthtown. i have not been there for 12 years

[Vladimir]

Depends on which part. In May the ceasefire of the PKK ends. Then we will see more violence in the southeast of Turkey.

[Piling]

As said Vladimir it depends on where is your birth town

[Baziyan_qendil]

my birthtown is Qendil
whats yours??

[Parsi]

my birthtown is Qendil
whats yours??

Kak qendil, there is a thread about that under "Shout Room" section of the forum

[Diri]

Well keko - if you wanna travel to Duhok, Hewlêr or Sulêmanî, you shouldn't worry about safety too much... But if you are going to Qendîl - you should... Since that is where the Turks and Iranians are bombing... Because of the PKK...

[Jeroendf]

So starting from may you should avoid Turkish Kurdistan at all? I'm planning a trip (well world travel) and also would like to include the middle east and Kurdistan. How reall is it for me to be targetted in these dangerous parts (2 meter tall white guy with long hair... i guess i don't really blend in the picture here)?
I also read here somewhere that even the iraq part is safe enough to go, but would it be even possible to get a visa if your getting in from iran?
Tips on any other middle eastern country's would be great to (places to avoid or must see).
*edit* apperantly only in Jordan i should be able to get a visa but ones i get to Jordan i won't be getting back into Iraq so thats a no go (except if things change allot between now and when i leave).

[Diri]

@Jeroendf

You should be safe in any part of Kurdistan... Just take precautions...

Try not stealing too much attention... Even though it may be hard for you to blend in... But just remember: if you look like a tourist it will be even easier to see you're foreign...

You can cross into Iraqi Kurdistan from Turkiyeli Kurdistan - through the border check-point: Khabour/Habur...


You can cross into Syrian Kurdistan if you do not have an Israeli stamp in your passport... And you can cross into Iranian Kurdistan if you do not have an Israeli stamp in your passport...

You can buy "visa" at the border check-points... Mostly these are just bribes you give the guards to get through...

[Jeroendf]

Thanks for the info Diri.
It's a great help.

[Diri]

Thanks for the info Diri.
It's a great help.

You are welcome bro...

You can travel to Iraqi Kurdistan, by plane from Frankfurt, Wien and some other airports... Directly to Hewlêr (Erbil) airport and also to Sulêmanî airport...

But if you are backpacking etc. it won't be a problem for you to enter any part of Kurdistan, as long as you don't have an Israeli stamp, and as long as you have got the required amount of money... Because it might cost you a bit in bribing the check-point officers and guards... They'll take their money in dollars and they want it in cash... So make sure you bring that with you - and also because in Iraqi Kurdistan, there is only one or two banks... Which are not operational at European level...