How to visit Lalish in 2025

Alexander
June 20, 2025
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How to Visit Lalish in 2025 – The Holiest Site of the Yazidi Religion

Lalish is the most sacred site of the Yazidi faith. Located in the mountains of Iraqi Kurdistan it’s a destination for pilgrims and unlike other major pilgrimage sites like Mecca, Lalish is open to non-Yazidis Visitors are not only allowed but genuinely welcomed.

That said it can be tough to get here and know how to enter. Before my visit, I found lots of articles about the history and significance of Lalish, but very little practical advice on how to actually visit.

So, let me change that. This guide covers everything you need to know: how to get to Lalish, what to expect when you arrive, and how to respectfully experience one of the most unique spiritual places in the Middle East.

Travelling through Iraqi Kurdistan? Check out:

Iraqi Kurdistan – A Travel Guide

📜 Quick History of Lalish

Yazidism

The Yazidis are a religious and ethnic minority native to northern Iraq, with smaller communities in Syria, Turkey, Armenia, and the diaspora.

Yazidism is a monotheistic faith with roots that predate Islam and Christianity, blending elements of Zoroastrianism, Sufism, and ancient Mesopotamian religions. At the center of their belief is Tawûsê Melek, the Peacock Angel, a divine being created by God to guide humanity. The symbol of the peacock is everywhere in Lalish.

Over the years, the Yazidi people have faced unspeakable persecution, including the horrific genocide by ISIS in 2014. Despite all this, they’ve preserved their culture and Lalish remains their spiritual heart. It’s where every Yazidi hopes to make at least one pilgrimage in their lifetime.

🚕 How to get to Lalish

I personally found it quite tough to get here since there are no shared Taxis going to Lalish. Here’s how you make it:

From Erbil, take a shared taxi to Dohuk. Before hopping in, let the driver know you want to get off at Ain Sifni (also sometimes called Shekhan), which is the closest town to Lalish. It’s located about an hour before Dohuk. Even though you’re not going the full way, you’ll still need to pay the full fare of 25.000 IQDt o Dohuk.

Once arrived in Ain Sifni find a taxi to bring you to Lalish. It’s roughly 20 mins away and a taxi will charge you around 10.000 IQD.

When you get to the lower gate of Lalish, a security guard will check your passport and visa, and write down your details. After that, the taxi will drive you the last kilometer up to the actual site.

⚠️ The first thing you need to do in Lalish is to remove your shoes! Do that already in the taxi.

You are not allowed to touch the holy ground of Lalish with dirty shoes.

Wearing socks is allowed.

🕌 What to do in Lalish

There is no real checklist of sights in Lalish, but rather a place you should experience. As cheesy as it sounds. Your visit might include though:

⚠️ Another important note: Don’t touch the door thresholds.

⛲ Kaniya Spî – The Sacred Spring

Quite close to the entrance of Lalish lies Kaniya Spî, the “White Spring.” From what I learned, it is believed by Yazidis to be one of the holiest places on Earth. Some traditions even describe it as the source of life or the first place where divine essence touched the Earth. If you know more, feel free to correct me in the comments! As a non-yazidi person please don’t touch the water.

If you’re lucky, you might witness a Yazidi baptism here. I was actually invited to the baptism of a one-year-old girl. The family wore traditional clothes and used celebratory sounds made with their tongues.

🕯️Go Inside The Temples

To the right of Kaniya Spî lies the entrance to Lalish’s main temple complex. Before you go in, please remember: never step on door thresholds! It’s considered deeply disrespectful in Yazidi tradition.

Once inside, you’ll find a staircase descending toward the holiest chamber of Lalish, which non-Yazidis are not allowed to enter. I can’t tell you what awaits there either.

If you continue into the cave-like temple area, you’ll reach a small, low-ceilinged room with sacred cloths lying on a stone. Pilgrims make wishes by trying to toss the cloth onto a stone ledge near the ceiling. You get three tries and if it lands, your wish is believed to be fulfilled.

Please only do this if invited by a Yazidi. It’s a religious act and not a tourist challenge.

There is also a sacred room in known as Hesen Dana, where pure olive oil is stored. This oil plays a vital role in Yazidi ritual life and is used to light 365 small lamps, one for each day of the year.

Each day, before sunset, Yazidis ignite these lamps inside and outside the temples. This act symbolizes the eternal light of the sun, which in Yazidi belief represents the divine presence of God. The sun is one of the most sacred symbols in Yazidism, often equated with divine truth and spiritual guidance.

I got asked not to take any pictures here, which is why I can’t show you the inside of the temple area.

⚠️ Note: This is based on what I understood from my conversations with Yazidi pilgrims during my visit. Due to language barriers, I might have misunderstood some details about the traditions. If you notice any mistakes, feel free to let me know in the comments and I’ll happily correct them.

🌳 The Wish Tree

Just outside the temple area, you’ll find a tree known as the “Wish Tree”, which is covered in small cloth strips and threads tied by pilgrims. Visitors hang these offerings while making a personal wish or prayer.

🤝 Talk To The Pilgrims

The Yazidi community is incredibly warm and welcoming. I got invited for tea every 5 meters and after some talking also asked to join a familie’s new born baptism. To my surprise more people here spoke german than english.

🏞️ Hike Up The village

You can hike up the hill behind Lalish in about 15 minutes for a beautiful panoramic view of the valley and temple roofs.

🛏️ How long to stay

You can explore Lalish in just a few hours quite easily. I’ve planned 5 hours here and to be honest it was a little bit too much. I think 3 hours are perfect to get a descent image of this town. There’s no accommodation in Lalish itself, so plan to return the same day.

🔗 A Full Guide to Travel Iraqi-Kurdistan