Afghanistan: A torn paradise on earth

On vacation to Afghanistan. It sounds a bit crazy to many people. But Afghanistan has been a crossroads of different cultures for centuries. It was an important stopping place for travellers along the Silk Road. And that is still reflected in today’s culture and traditions. During a trip through Afghanistan, you will look beyond the hectic contemporary world and experience a beautiful country with a rich cultural history. In addition, you will be hospitably received by a curious people who are open to contact with the rest of the world.

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FAQ Afghanistan

Is it safe in Afghanistan?

Travel to Afghanistan is of course different from most other trips. We aim to give everyone the best possible tour experience, however the local guide always has the last word regarding changes in the tour schedule.
The areas in Afghanistan that we visit are places where we feel comfortable and where we feel are safe to bring people. If the situation changes, we will also respond immediately. We therefore ask for a certain flexibility from our travellers.

Do I need a visa for Afghanistan?

Yes. You must apply for the visa for Afghanistan yourself at the nearest embassy. Make sure you start on time, because it takes at least one working week to obtain. You need an LOI to apply for the visa, we will send it to you.

Is there internet access and can I make calls in Afghanistan?

Internet is available at most hotels (if it works). However, don’t expect a fast and stable connection. There is generally mobile coverage everywhere in Afghanistan. You can also choose to take a local SIM card. Your guide can help you with this.

How do I pay for things in Afghanistan?

Bring cash with you, there are no ATMs. Debit/Credit cards (Visa, Mastercard etc) do not work in Afghanistan. Bring Euros, Dollars or Pounds. You can either convert into Afghani in your home country or at the airport in Kabul. You can also ask the local tour guide to help with currency conversion upon arrival.

Food and drinks in Afghanistan

Afghan cuisine is a rich cuisine. Most dishes are based on garlic and onion. In addition, ginger, tomato sauce, turmeric and dried fruits are often used.

A typical Afghan meal consists of a large amount of rice (pulao) with a lot of meat (lamb, chicken or goat) and vegetables (qorma). The rice consists of a mix of nuts, raisins and carrot. Some well-known dishes are mantu (kind of ravioli), tandoori , shorwa (soup) and kebab.

Afghanistan is not an easy country for vegetarians, however there are vegetarian options and the guide will certainly help you. Alcohol is prohibited in Afghanistan.

What do I wear in Afghanistan?

Out of respect for the local culture and that we don’t stand out among the Afghans, we wear local clothing.

Afghanistan is a strict Islamic country. It is therefore very important to respect local customs and rules. Women should wear loose-fitting long-sleeved clothing and a headscarf that covers the head and shoulders. Men should wear long trousers. We also recommend that you bring warm clothes for the evening. It can sometimes be chilly. In most hotels in the big cities you will be able to do laundry if there is time.

On tour we will make sure that everybody gets local clothes upon arrival.

Other destinations in South Central Asia

Pakistan

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Tajikistan

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Turkmenistan

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Blog posts about Afghanistan

Our reviews

    
 
 
        
   Jason Affolder 
 11 April 2024
 
 
  Rik and Culture Road arranged a fantastic tour for me in Syria...  Everything went off without a hitch; a week of incredible ancient sights, sobering ruins, friendly people, and delicious food.  Syria has a degraded reputation in the media but it remains a spectacular and satisfying place to visit, and Culture Road is a great organization to make such a trip happen.
  
 
       
   Murathan Arslancan 
 30 March 2024
 
 
  I did South Sudan tour in March 2024. It was one of the best experiences I had. Everything was well planned and went smoothly. I had a great time. The visit to Mundari tribe excited me a lot. Many thanks to my guides Ryan and Mayom. This trip wouldn’t have happened without their support.
  
 
       
   Brian Smith 
 17 March 2024
 
 
  Awesome trip to the DRC, Rwanda and Burundi.  It was well organised, packing in so many great experiences in a short time.  Ryan, the main guide, was superb and a great guy.  The local guides were excellent to maximise the experience and minimise the inevitable challenges in a fascinating region. Many thanks for the great memories!
  
 
       
   Jennifer Stewart 
 17 March 2024
 
 
  Well organised and well run trip to Burundi, DRC, and Rwanda. Ryan was an excellent, highly personable guide supported by local drivers and guides. Good camaraderie and varied itinerary with an eye to the local culture. Highly enjoyable trip, would recommend to those interested in the (bumpy) road less travelled.
  
 
       
   Monty Ghosh 
 13 March 2024
 
 
  Davide and Culture Road tours was amazing. I could not have asked for a better guide. I ended up getting travelers Diarrhea and Davide provided both medical support with some back up meds and helped me navigate the complexities of toilet use while on the African road. Davide was kind, knowledgeable, and organized. He was pleasant and easy going. I would definitely considering to do a tour with him. Thank you Davide for the memories and good times my friend !
  
 
       
   anne holvast 
 26 February 2024
 
 
  Ada en ik (76 en 78) hebben een reis van drie weken gemaakt door Venezuela. Het reisplan is in goed overleg samengesteld en de begeleiding ter plekke was uitstekend! De lokale organisatie was goed bereikbaar en soepel en adequaat in het aanpassen vd reis ter plekke toen we daarom vroegen. Er was verder dagelijks een zeer vriendelijke en attente begeleiding, ofschoon de kennis van het Engels wel eens te kort schoot. Al met al: Een prachtige reis door een mooi land met een vriendelijke bevolking. Een aanrader!!   Anne Holvast
  
 
       
   Fern Miu 
 14 January 2024
 
 
  I joined the December Syria and this is definitely the most fun and stereorype-breaking journey I had in my life! The cultureroad guide Xavier (so young but knows Syria and the Middle East so well, and speaks fluent Arabic!) and the local guides from Golden Team are very helpful, kind, and interesting. I really enjoyed the journey with them XDD
  
 
       
   Gerhard Kaufmann 
 13 January 2024
 
 
  Great tour operator which takes really care about his clients
  
 
       
   Angèle Trommelen 
 12 January 2024
 
 
  Thanks for booking me on yet another great trip! Turkmenistan is a difficult country to get visa to, and booking with Culture Road made going there so easy.
I enjoy the diversity of the groups tremendously. Also the variety of the program and the knowlegde of the guides is fantastic. You make the whole world feel like a safe place, no matter what is being said in the media.
I will definitely travel with you again!
  
 
       
   Carel Schutte 
 2 November 2023
 
 
  Recent heb ik gebruik gemaakt van Culture Road i.v.m. een individuele reis naar Afghanistan. Mijn ervaringen met deze reisorganisatie en de locale gidsen zijn alleen maar positief. Erg onder de indruk van de professionele en eerlijke houding van de locale gidsen. Ik heb daardoor nagenoeg alles kunnen doen wat ik als fotograaf wilde. De Afghaanse gastvrijheid voelde als een warm welkom in dit straatarme land met zijn ingewikkelde sociale en politieke problematiek. Hopelijk kunnen door dit soort contacten nieuwe kansen voor de locale  bevolking ontstaan.