Afghanistan – Grand Afghanistan Tour

Itinerary

Thursday 28 September – Pretour day

• Continuning from the Pakistan Karakoram Highway Tour, take the 2:40pm KamAir RQ930 flight from Islamabad to Kabul via Mazar.
• Overnight stay in Kabul.

Friday 29 September – Kabul

• Airport pick-up. We advise you to take the 3:05am KamAir RQ902 flight from Dubai.
• Meeting with the guide and the group.
• 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.
• 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.

Saturday 30 September – Kabul – Kandahar

• 6:00am early departure before the traffic 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.
• Highlight: If time permits we will visit the Minarets of Ghazni.
• Arrival in Kandahar before darkness.
• Overnight stay in Kandahar.

Sunday 1 October – Kandahar

• City tour of Kandahar.
• Highlight: We’ll visit famous sights as the Forty Stairs, Ahmad Shah Durani Shrine, Mirwais Hotak Shrine and the colourful bazar.
• Overnight stay in Kandahar.

Monday 2 October – Kandahar – Herat

• Early departure for Herat.
• Upon arrival in Herat we’ll start our sightseeing tour of Herat.
• Gawhar Shad Mausoleum, also known as the tomb of Baysunghur, was built in the 15th century.
• Highlight: Musalla Complex, a place built in the 15th century. Today there are 5 large minarets still standing.
• Shrine of Khoja Ansari, a famous sufi poet / writer from the 11th century.
• Overnight stay in Herat.

Tuesday 3 October – Herat – Kabul

• The Great Mosque of Herat, also known as the Friday Mosque.
• Highlight: Walk through the old town of Herat.
• Traditional Caravanserais, this is where people came together at the time of the Silk Road.
• Jihad Museum.
• Midday flight to Kabul.
• Highlight: We visit the famous Bird Market of Kabul.
• Chicken Street, the famous hippie street with souvenirs.
• OMAR Landmine Museum.
• Bala Hissar Park, with a beautiful view over the city.
• Overnight stay in Kabul.

Wednesday 4 October – Kabul – 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.
• Overnight stay in Bamian.

Thursday 5 October – Bamian

• 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.
• Short hike to a former Taliban lookout post.
• Dragon Valley and its beautiful landscape.
• Shah-e Zohak (Red Fort), historical ruins destroyed by Genghis Khan.
• Shah-e Golghola, historic site destroyed in 1221, but from here you’ll still have an amazing view over the valley.
• Overnight stay in Bamian.

Friday 6 October – 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.
• Overnight stay in Bamian.

Saturday 7 October – 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.
• 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.
• Kabul Museum, the national museum where you’ll still find ancient artifacts.
• Overnight stay in Kabul.

Sunday 8 October – Kabul

• Airport drop off.
• End of the tour. We advise you to take the 5:25pm KamAir RQ901 flight to Dubai.
• OR: extension to Mazar-E Sharif – with a local guide.
• Afternoon flight to Mazar-e Sharif.
• Overnight stay in Mazar-e Sharif.

Monday 9 October – Mazar-e Sharif – Bakh

• Highlight: The famous blue tomb of Hazrat Ali, the Blue Mosque. One of the most famous sights of Afghanistan.
• Drive to Bakh.
• Khwaja Abu Nasr Parsa shrine, a famous lecturer from Herat. The shrine was built in 1958.
• No Gombad Mosque, one of the oldest mosques in Afghanistan. Nowadays a lot of excavations are done here.
• Drive to Mazar-e Sharif.
• Overnight stay in Mazar-e Sharif.

Tuesday 10 October – Mazar-e Sharif – Samangan – Kabul

• Ride to Samangan.
• Tashkurgan, also known as Choelm. Here we drive through deep ravines.
• Old King’s Hunting Lodge, the King’s old loot and palace.
• Highlight: Buddhist monastery, a complex of different caves.
• We continue our drive via the Soviet Tunnel (Salang) towards Kabul.
• Overnight stay in Kabul.

Wednesday 11 October – Kabul

• Airport drop off.
• End of the tour. We advise you to take the 5:25pm KamAir RQ901 flight to Dubai.