Major city · Iraq
Gundik
Spend half a day at Gundik cave; stay in Duhok if you need a night.
Gundik is a tiny village in Iraqi Kurdistan known for its third‑millennium B.C. cave engravings. The site is reachable by a 1.5 h taxi ride from Duhok, making a half‑day visit realistic. Overnight stays require lodging in Duhok.
advisory country
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More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- IQD
- Best months
- check
- avoid check
- Airport
- DHK
- Nights
- 0 (half-day visit; sleep in Duhok)
Not a trip line yet
Rules in force · 5Security advice in this region can change within a dayCheck your own government travel advice for Iraq before a…
- Middle East ↗Security advice in this region can change within a day; re-read your government's page before departure and again before any border or regional flight.
- Middle East ↗Public drunkenness, public displays of affection and offensive gestures or online posts can lead to arrest in the Gulf states and Iran; dress modestly outside beaches and hotels.
- Iraq ↗Check your own government travel advice for Iraq before any booking; advice depends on your passport and changes without notice.
- Iraq ↗Federal Iraq and the Kurdistan Region run separate entry rules; check both if relevant.
- Iraq ↗Confirm that your travel insurance and medical evacuation cover apply to Iraq before you rely on it.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Gundik104 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Gundik, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Cash in dinars and US dollars covers almost everything: see Insurance & payments above.Iraq-wide
- SafetyGundik is a small village and the cave is an unguarded site: go with a local driver, tell someone your plan, keep cash and documents on you…
- Emergency numbers104 police (iraq) · 115 ambulance and fire (iraq) · 112 Kurdistan Region emergency line (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportDHK Duhok International Airport (Taxi to Gundik about 1.5 h).
- Getting aroundNo public transport to the village.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week10,000–25,000 IQD
- Budget bedHotel room in Duhok (double), a night, per roomIQD 30,000
- Mid-range bedHotel room in Duhok (double), a night, per roomIQD 50,000
- High-end bedHotel room in Duhok (double), a night, per roomIQD 80,000
A day, not counting the bed: Budget IQD 15,000 · Mid IQD 25,000 · High IQD 40,000
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- DHK Duhok International Airport (Taxi to Gundik about 1.5 h)
Weather and climate
Gundik: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
11 rd
Feb
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
11 rd
Mar
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
11 rd
Apr
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
9 rd
May
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
6 rd
Jun
37°C (99°F)99°F (37°C)
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
1 rd
Jul
41°C (106°F)106°F (41°C)
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
0 rd
Aug
41°C (106°F)106°F (41°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
0 rd
Sep
37°C (99°F)99°F (37°C)
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
1 rd
Oct
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
5 rd
Nov
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
8 rd
Dec
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
10 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
No public transport to the village. Hire a taxi or driver in Duhok for the round trip (about 1.5 h each way) and agree the waiting time; the last stretch to the cave is on foot uphill.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Aqre
goDoor to door: About 2 h round-trip
Taxi from Duhok, about 1 h
Closest town to Gundik; pair it with the cave in one half-day.
Dahuk
goDoor to door: About 3 h round-trip
Taxi from Gundik, about 1.5 h
Regional capital and the base for this trip.
Batifa
cautionDoor to door: About 4 h round-trip
Taxi via Duhok, about 2 h
Mountain village; only worth it with your own driver.
Amedi
overnightDoor to door: 5–6 h round-trip
Taxi via Duhok, about 2.5–3 h
Too far for a same-day return from Gundik.
Zakho
overnightDoor to door: About 5 h round-trip
Taxi via Duhok, about 2.5 h
Border town; better as its own stop.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Duhok
The practical base: hotels and guesthouses, about 1.5 h by road from Gundik.
Aqre
Closest town to the village; very limited lodging, so check before relying on it.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- 15,000–25,000 IQD excl. bed
- Mid
- 25,000–40,000 IQD excl. bed
- High
- 40,000+ IQD excl. bed
Trip budget
| Hotel room in Duhok (double)1 × 1 night × IQD 30,000 | IQD 30,000 |
| Food, local transport, entries1 × 1 day × IQD 15,000 | IQD 15,000 |
| Taxi Duhok ↔ Gundik (round-trip)1 × IQD 40,000 · check | IQD 40,000 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | IQD 8,500 |
| Trip total≈ IQD 93,500 per person per day, bed included | IQD 93,500 |
prices per night, IQD
2026 estimate; flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Taxi Duhok → Gundik, round-trip with waitingcheck | 40,000 IQD |
| Bottle of water | 500–1,000 IQD |
| Simple lunch in Aqre or Duhok | 5,000–10,000 IQD |
| Hotel double room in Duhok, per night | 30,000–80,000 IQD |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | 10,000–25,000 IQD |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- The cave sits on the hill behind the village: a steep walk up, no facilities, no fixed opening hours.
- Confirm the taxi fare and the return pickup time before you leave Duhok.
- Summer afternoons reach 40 °C (104 °F)+; go in the morning.Summer afternoons reach 104 °F (40 °C)+; go in the morning.
- Bring cash: card payment is unreliable outside Duhok.
Emergency numbers
- Police (Iraq)
- 104
- Ambulance and fire (Iraq)
- 115
- Kurdistan Region emergency line
- 112
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
GundikGundik
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
بۆ ئەم ناونیشانە، تکایەTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police (Iraq)104
- Ambulance and fire (Iraq)115
- Kurdistan Region emergency line112
Embassy
No embassies in Gundik; the nearest consulates are in Erbil, and some countries keep a consulate in Duhok (check).
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Duhok → Gundik taxi: about 40,000 IQD round-trip, 1.5 h each way (check)
Say or show
- ببورە — Excuse me / Sorry (bibure)
- سوپاس — Thank you (spas)
- چەندە؟ — How much is it? (çende?)
- ئەمە، تکایە — This one, please (eme, tikaye)
- بە کارتەوە بدەم؟ — Can I pay by card? (be karteve bidem?)
- توالێت لە کوێیە؟ — Where is the toilet? (tuwalêt le kwêye?)
Print or screenshot this card: mobile data is patchy around Gundik.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Gundik. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: check · avoid check
- 1 airport and 2 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 5 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Add Duhok hotel options and taxi booking tips.
Sources
Ask about Gundik
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