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Voykit pocket guide · Iraq
Sinjar
شنگال
Sinjar is a half-day stop for the Yazidi memorial and Chermera temple, not a base. One night if you want to hike Mount Sinjar at dawn.
Sinjar (Shingal) sits at the foot of Mount Sinjar, sacred to the Yazidi faith. The town was devastated by ISIL in 2014 and is slowly rebuilding. Most visitors come for the Yazidi Genocide Memorial (opened 2023) and the Chermera temple on the mountain peak. Security remains the main concern: check your government's travel advice before planning a trip.
- Country
- Iraq
- Local name
- شنگال
- Best months
- Mar–May, Oct–Nov
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (extreme heat), Dec–Feb (cold on the mountain)
- Stay
- 0–1 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- IQD
- Money
- Cash in dinars and US dollars covers almost everything: see Insurance & payments above.
- Daily spend
- Budget IQD 30,000–50,000 excl. bed · Mid IQD 50,000–80,000 excl. bed · High IQD 80,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- Emergency
- Police 104 · Fire and ambulance 115
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Private taxi Erbil–Sinjar (one way) | IQD 60,000–80,000 |
| Local meal (kebab or rice dish) | IQD 5,000–10,000 |
| Bottled water (1.5 L) | IQD 500–1,000 |
| Guide for Chermera temple | IQD 20,000–40,000 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- EBL · Erbil International Airport
- About 2 h 30 min drive; the most practical gateway for Sinjar.
- OSM · Mosul International Airport
- About 1 h 15 min drive, but check current security and flight schedules.
Typical fares
- Erbil Airport → Sinjar (private taxi)
- about IQD 60,000–80,000, about 2.5 h (check)
- Sinjar town → Chermera temple (taxi)
- about IQD 20,000–30,000, about 20 min (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Private taxi or hired driver is the only practical way. The town is walkable, but the temple and memorial are on the mountain, about 10 km (6.2 mi) north of the centre.Private taxi or hired driver is the only practical way. The town is walkable, but the temple and memorial are on the mountain, about 6.2 mi (10 km) north of the centre.
See and do
Known for
- Yazidi Genocide Memorial
- Chermera Temple (40 Men)
- Mount Sinjar
- Yazidi culture and history
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Mosul | Taxi, about 1 h 15 min east | About 1.5 h |
| Tal Afar | Taxi, about 50 km (31 mi) east on the Mosul roadTaxi, about 31 mi (50 km) east on the Mosul road | About 1 h |
| Hatra | Taxi via Mosul, about 2 h | About 2.5 h |
Sleep
- Sinjar town centre
- A handful of basic guesthouses; book through a local contact or your driver.
- Mosul
- More accommodation options, 1 h 15 min east; day-trip to Sinjar from there.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | سڵاوsllaw |
| Thank you | سوپاسsupas |
| How much? | بە چەندە؟ba chanda? |
| I don't understand | تێناگەمtênagem |
| Where is the toilet? | توالێت لە کوێیە؟twalet la kwêya? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Scams and watch-outs
- Security situation can change quickly: read your government's travel advisory and register with your embassy.
- No ATMs or banks reliably serving foreigners: bring enough Iraqi dinars or US dollars in cash.
- Mount Sinjar roads are unpaved in sections; a 4x4 is recommended for Chermera temple.
- Yazidi Genocide Memorial may have limited opening hours; check locally.
Sinjar is in a region with a volatile security situation. Travel is only for those with experience in conflict-zone or post-conflict areas. Always travel with a local driver or guide, and keep your embassy's contact details handy.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Sinjar yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Yazidi Genocide Memorial
- Chermera Temple (40 Men)
- Mount Sinjar
- Yazidi culture and history
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Sinjar, revision 5100964 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5100964
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/sinjar). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.