ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - The Zagros Mountain Trail (ZMT) has been named “Best Wider World Tourism Project” by the British Guild of Travel Writers (BGTW), marking a groundbreaking moment for sustainable and community-based tourism in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

The award celebrates not only the beauty of Kurdistan’s mountains but also the dedication of the communities, guides, and local hosts who have built the trail from the ground up.

Launched as a small idea between local and international partners, the ZMT began with a single walk in 2016 and has since grown into a 215 km-long hiking route connecting more than 30 villages and towns across the breathtaking Zagros Mountains. Along the way, hikers experience Kurdish hospitality firsthand—sharing meals, stories, and traditions with the families who call these mountains home.

“This recognition is a huge honor for everyone involved,” said Barzi Bakir, the Executive Director of the Kurdistan Trails Organization (KTO), which manages the project. “What began as a dream to connect communities has now become a symbol of pride for Kurdistan. Every family along the trail is thrilled to know that the guests they once welcomed into their homes now see their land as a global travel destination.”

The award also signals a new chapter for tourism in the Kurdistan Region—one built on sustainability, authenticity, and community empowerment.

“Kurdistan has always had the potential to be a world-class destination,” the KTO director added. “This recognition shows that people around the world value our nature, our culture, and our warmth. If visitors can fall in love with one mountain, imagine how much they’ll enjoy exploring the many more wonders our region holds. This is more than an award—it’s an invitation to rediscover Kurdistan.”

Looking forward, the KTO sees this milestone as both motivation and responsibility.

“Winning this award means we’re on the right track—but it also challenges us to go further,” Bakir continued. “Our focus now is to make the trail more accessible, expand local participation, and strengthen partnerships that enhance the visitor experience while preserving the trail’s authenticity. We want to see the same success replicated in other parts of Kurdistan, turning one trail into a movement that connects people, cultures, and nature.”

Photo: BGTW

The Zagros Mountain Trail’s win at the BGTW Awards highlights the growing recognition of Iraq’s Kurdistan Region as an emerging hub for responsible and community-driven tourism—a destination where visitors can experience connection, culture, and peace through the simple act of walking.

The director answered further questions from The New Region regarding the winning of the award:

What does this journey—from a small idea by both local and external partners—to becoming a worldwide tourism winner mean to the founding team?

It means the world to us. What began as a simple walk and a shared idea between local and international partners has grown into something far beyond what we imagined—a 215 km trail that connects communities, cultures, and hearts across the mountains. To see this vision recognized on a global stage is an incredible honor, not just for our team, but for every family along the trail. The same families who once opened their homes, shared meals, and guided guests through their villages now proudly see their land celebrated as a true destination—a place that the world recognizes for its warmth, beauty, and hospitality. This award feels like a collective victory for everyone who believed in the power of walking together.

How will the ZMT project and this international award fundamentally change the trajectory of tourism for the Kurdistan Region?

This award is a milestone not just for the Zagros Mountain Trail, but for the entire tourism story of Kurdistan. For so long, Kurdistan has had everything a world-class destination needs—breathtaking nature, deep history, and a culture of warmth and hospitality—but it simply needed the world to notice. This recognition puts Kurdistan on the global tourism map and proves that sustainable, community-led travel can thrive here. It highlights that tourism can be more than seasonal—it can become a real source of pride and livelihood for local people. If international visitors are already captivated enough to celebrate one mountain trail, imagine the potential when we invest more in the many untouched landscapes and cultural treasures across the region. This is the beginning of a new era—where both visitors and locals can see Kurdistan not as a place to live, but as a destination to explore, cherish, and grow.

What is the most immediate, tangible change you expect to see in the ZMT project or its future now that you have won this major endorsement?

This recognition raises the bar for us—in the best possible way. Winning such an award means the Zagros Mountain Trail has already proven its worth, but it also challenges us to go further, dream bigger, and deliver more. Our immediate focus is to make the trail more accessible and engaging for both local and international visitors—through new partnerships, digital tools, and on-the-ground improvements that enhance the experience while preserving its authenticity. We’re also working to deepen community involvement so that every village along the route benefits and takes pride in hosting travelers from around the world. This isn’t the finish line—it’s the beginning of an even greater journey. Our goal now is to build on this success, strengthen the model we’ve created, and eventually replicate it across other breathtaking regions of Kurdistan, turning one trail into a movement for sustainable tourism and cultural connection.