Discovering Afghanistan

Itinerary

Day 0 – Kabul

• Coming from our South Pakistan Tour in April? We recommend to arrive in Kabul in the late afternoon 1 day before the tour via a direct flight from Islamabad.
• Not joining the South Pakistan Tour? In that case, we can assist you with picking up your Afghan tourist visa in Dubai, the day before the start of the tour (September 21 or April 15). After collecting your visa, we recommend taking Kam Air flight RQ902, which departs from Dubai at 3:00 AM and arrives in Kabul at 6:15 AM on September 22 or April 16.
• Upon arrival in Kabul, we’ll be there to pick you up from the airport.
• Overnight stay in Kabul.

Day 1 – Kabul

• Meeting with the guide and the group at 9:30 AM.
• Briefing on traveling in Afghanistan, including on the local customs & dress.
• Sakhi Shrine, a well-known mosque, where Mohammed’s cloak is said to have been brought.
• Visit Chicken Street, the famous hippie street with souvenirs.
• See the famous Bookseller of Kabul.
• Highlight: We’ll visit the Bibi Mehro Hill, a place where many Afghans come together to relax. On top of the mountain is a large swimming pool with a giant Afghan flag.
• Overnight stay in Kabul.

Day 2 – Kabul – Herat

• Morning flight to Herat.
• Upon arrival in Herat, we’ll start our sightseeing tour of Herat.
• The Great Mosque of Herat, is also known as the Friday Mosque.
• Visit Jihad Museum. It was built in 2010 as a place for Afghans to understand past conflicts and their history. 
• Highlight: Walk through the old town of Herat.
• Traditional Caravanserais, this is where people came together at the time of the Silk Road.
• Overnight stay in Herat.

Day 3 – Herat

• We’ll check out the Herat Citadel (also known as Citadel of Alexander), one of the most iconic landmarks in Herat.
• Highlight: Musalla Complex, dating back to the 15th century, with five towering minarets still standing.
• Gawhar Shad Mausoleum, also known as the tomb of Baysunghur, was built in the 15th century.
• Shrine of Khoja Ansari, a famous sufi poet/writer from the 11th century.
• Evening dinner and time to relax in Kandahar.
• Overnight stay in Kandahar.

Day 4 – Herat – Kandahar

• Departure by car to Kandahar, the largest city in the South of the country. It’s a long journey and along the way we make a few stops to stretch our legs and to enjoy the scenery.
• Evening dinner and time to relax in Kandahar.
• Overnight stay in Kandahar.

Day 5 – Kandahar

• Highlight: City tour of Kandahar. We will visit the following spots:
• Fort Stairs. Carved into a mountain peak at the western boundary of what was “Old Kandahar”, this monument was an imposing symbol etched upon the natural defense formed by Kandahar’s western mountains. 
• Ahmad Shah Durani Shrine. It is the most important historical monument in Kandahar. Ahmad Shah Durrani, fondly known as Ahmad Shah Baba, Father of Afghanistan, ruled an empire from Kandahar from 1747-1772.
• Mirwais Hotak Shrine. Mirwais was an Afghan ruler from the Ghilji tribe of Pashtuns of Kandahar, Afghanistan, and the founder of the Hotak dynasty.
• Overnight stay in Kandahar.

Day 6 – Kandahar – Kabul

• At 11:00AM we take our flight back to Kabul.
• Highlight: We visit the famous Bird Market of Kabul.
• OMAR Landmine Museum. It contains a collection of 51 types of land mines out of the 53 that have been used in that country.
• Overnight stay in Kabul.

Day 7 – Bamian

• Morning departure by car to Bamian. An area that has been quite isolated in Afghanistan, but is known for its incredible scenery.
• Highlight: After arrival, we’ll visit the mountains where once monasteries and giant Buddha statues stood. These statues were blown up by the Taliban.
• Dragon Valley and its beautiful landscape.
• Shah-e Zohak (Red Fort), historical ruins destroyed by Genghis Khan.
• Shah-e Golghola, a historic site destroyed in 1221, but from here you’ll still have an amazing view over the valley.
• Overnight stay in Bamian.

Day 8 – Bamian – Band-e Amir

• Drive to Band-e Amir.
• Highlight: Visit the Band-e Amir lakes, beautiful deep blue lakes between high peaks.
• Cruise over the lakes in a paddleboat swan (optional).
• Walk along the lakes, in the background you’ll see the high peaks of the Hindu Kush.
• We return to the city of Bamian.
• Short hike to a viewpoint for a good view of the statues.
• Walk through Bamian, a city that has always been quite different then the rest of the country due to its isolation and the Hazara population.
• Highlight: Visit the local market, a great place for photos.
• Overnight stay in Bamian.

Day 9 – Bamian – Kabul

• Drive back to Kabul via the majestic mountains and valleys. Driving here is not just a drive, it’s a whole experience with incredible landscapes.
• Kabul Museum, it’s the national museum where you’ll still find ancient artifacts.
• We will visit Darulaman Palace, the former palace of the king of the country.
• Highlight: Babur’s Gardens, an oasis of tranquillity in busy Kabul. Here people get together for games and to relax.
• Overnight stay in Kabul.

Day 10 – Kabul

• Airport drop off.
• Group A: End of the tour.
• Group B: Afternoon flight to Mazar-e Sharif.
• Highlight: The famous blue tomb of Hazrat Ali, the Blue Mosque. One of the most famous sights of Afghanistan. 
• Overnight stay in Mazar-e Sharif.

Day 11 – Mazar-e Sharif – Balkh

• Drive to Balkh.
• No Gombad Mosque, one of the oldest mosques in Afghanistan. Nowadays a lot of excavations are done here.
• Visit the shrine of Khwaja Abu Nasr Parsa shrine and Dargah Of Rabia Balkhi, a famous lecturer from Herat. The shrine was built in 1958.
• Check out the Bala Hissar Fortress, a large wall that once enclosed the city. 
• Drive to Mazar-e Sharif.
• Visit the old town for souvenirs and carpets. 
• Overnight stay in Mazar-e Sharif.

Day 12 – Mazar-e Sharif – Samangan – Kabul

• Today we’ll take a long drive back to Kabul. Along the way we’ll make various short stops to break up the ride. 
• The first stop is Jahan Palace in Samangan. Also known as the Old King’s Hunting Lodge, the King’s old loot and palace.
• Continue through Tashkurgan, also known as Choelm. Here we drive through deep ravines.
• Highlight: Visit the Takht-e Rostam, a Buddhist monastery, a complex of different caves.
• We’ll continue our drive via the Soviet Tunnel (Salang) towards Kabul.
• Overnight stay in Kabul.

Day 13 – Kabul

• Airport drop off.
• End of the tour.