Discovering Afghanistan

Itinerary

Day 1 – Kabul

• Coming from our South Pakistan Tour in April? We recommend to arrive in Kabul in the late afternoon one day before the tour via a direct flight from Islamabad.
• Otherwise, we reccomend to arrive early in the morning with connecting flights from Dubai or Islamabad with Kam Air, FlyDubai, or Turkish Airlines.
• Have a pre-tour meeting at 10:00 a.m. to meet your fellow travellers and get briefed on local customs and laws.
• Visit the unique museum of OMAR Landmine Museum, displaying 51 unique types of landmines used in the country.
• Start off a full day of Kabul sightseeing by visiting the Kabul Museum, home to many unique ancient artifacts.
• Visit the Darulaman Palace, the former royal palace in Kabul.
• Lastly, Bibi Mahru Hill, a popular gathering place with a large Afghan flag and swimming pool.
• Overnight stay in Kabul.

Day 2 – Kabul – Herat

• Early breakfast before our morning flight departure to Herat.
• Highlight: Sightseeing around Herat.
• Visit the Great Mosque, Jihad Museum, Old Town, and the traditional caravanserais from the Silk Road era.
• Overnight stay in Herat.

Day 3 – Herat

• Visit the Herat Citadel (Citadel of Alexander), one of the most iconic landmarks in the city. 
• Afterwards, visit the Musalla Complex, dating back to the 15th century, with 5 towering minarets still standing.
• Explore the Gawhar Shad Mausoleum (Tomb of Baysunghur), built in the 15th century.
• Highlight: Visit one of Afghanistan’s holiest sites, the Shrine of Khwaja Abd Allah, locally known as Gazur Gah.
• Overnight stay in Herat.

Day 4 – Herat – Kandahar

• Early departure in the morning to Kandahar, the largest city in southern Afghanistan. This drive is a long journey, but there will be several stops along the way to stretch our legs and enjoy the scenery.
• Evening dinner and free time to relax.
• Overnight stay in Kandahar.

Day 5 – Kandahar

• Highlight: Enjoy a city tour of Kandahar, the second largest city founded by Alexander the Great.
• Visit The Forty Stairs, caved into a mountain peak at the western boundary of Old Kandahar.
• After, The Ahmad Shah Durrani Shrine, the most important historical monument in Kandahar.
• Lastly, the Mirwais Khan Hotak Shrine, the founder of the Hotak dynasty.
• Overnight stay in Kandahar.

Day 6 – Kandahar – Kabul

• Enjoy a leisurely morning before our flight back to Kabul.
• After arriving in Kabul, visit the Bird Market of Kabul.
• Explore Babur’s Gardens, an oasis of tranquility in the business of Kabul.
• See Sakhi Shah-e Mardan Shrine, where Prophet Mohammed’s cloak is said to have been brought.
• Overnight stay in Kabul.

Day 7 – Kabul – Bamiyan

• After an early breakfast, begin the 180km journey to Bamiyan. We’ll make stops along the way to stretch our legs and enjoy the scenery.
• Stop for a photo at the watershed of the Indus and Oxus River systems.
• Arrival in Bamiyan.
• Visit Soviet-era tanks abandonded in the withdrawal of the Red Army in the late 1980s.
• Highlight: Drive out to the Valley of the Dragon ‘Darya Ajdhahar’, a massive rock formation which are allegedly the remains of the dragon that was killed by the Prophet Mohammed.
• Overnight stay in a hotel in Bamiyan.

Day 8 – Bamiyan

• Begin the day with a short drive to the base of Shahr-E-Golgola, also known as the ‘City of Screams’.
• Climb the remains of Shah-e Zohak, where you can get an amazing view overlooking the valley.
• Highlight: Visit the Buddhas of Bamiyan, magnificent monumental statues carved directly into the cliffs around the 6th century.
• Head to the Bazaar for some souvenir shopping and interactions with the local community.
• Overnight stay in a hotel in Bamiyan.

Day 9 – Bamiyan – Band-e-Amir National Park – Kabul

• Early morning departure to Band-e Amir.
• Highlight: Visit the Band-e Amir lakes, beautiful deep blue lakes set between high peaks. You can take a calming walk or rent a paddleboat (for an additional fee).
• Journey back to Kabul, making photo stops on the way.
• Arrival in Kabul.
• Visit Chicken Street, a famous “hippie street” known for its souvenirs.
• See the famous Bookseller of Kabul.
• Overnight stay in Kabul.

Day 10 – Kabul – Mazar-e Sharif

• Airport drop-off for Group A (end of tour).
• Group B departs in the early morning to Mazar-e Sharif by plane.
• On arrival, we’ll head out to the Blue Mosque, or ‘Shrine of Hazrat Ali’. This is the most famous building in Afghanistan.
• Overnight stay in a hotel in Mazar-e Sharif.

Day 11 – Mazar-e Sharif – Balkh – Mazar-e Sharif

• Begin the day with a drive to Balkh, a unique town with tons of archaeological heritage.
• Highlight: Visit the Noh Gumbad Mosque, one of the oldest mosques in all of Afghanistan.
• Visit the Shrine of Khwaja Abu Nasr Parsa, a unique shrine built in 1598.
• Make the drive back to Mazar-e Sharif.
• Visit the Old Town before dinner in the evening. Also take the chance to see the Blue Mosque in a nightly setting.
• Overnight stay in Mazar-e Sharif.

Day 12 – Mazar-e Sharif – Kabul

• Early departure for the epic road trip back to Kabul.
• Make a stop at Tashkurgan, the ancient town known for it’s trading of sheep and wool.
• Visit Zahir Shah, the last king of Afghanistan hunting lodge.
• Along the journey, visit Takht-e Rostam, a Buddhist monastery with several cave complexes constructed in the 3rd and 4th century AD.
• See the Salang Tunnel, a 3363 meter high tunnel built by the Soviets to transport their tanks to advance on Kabul.
• Arrival in Kabul and have one final farewell dinner.
• Overnight stay in a hotel in Kabul.

Day 13 – Kabul

• Airport drop off.
• End of the tour.