Afghanistan Spring Tour

Friday 21st May – Kabul, Afghanistan

Morning

• Arrive at your convenience in Kabul – the capital city of Afghanistan, which has regular flights from Dubai, Istanbul, Islamabad, and Tashkent.
• On arrival meet your Afghanistan guide at the airport and be transferred to your hotel.
• At your hotel you’ll have a briefing with your guide, we’ll then head out and acquire traditional Afghani clothes.
• Our first visit is to the War Museum and meet the fine folk who run OMAR – an Afghan NGO dedicated to removing land mines leftover by decades of war, dating back to the Soviet occupation

Afternoon

• Grab an Afghani lunch in the city
• Explore Ka Faroshi Bird Market – located in the heart of Kabul’s old city; this narrow laned market is packed with small, mud-walled shops festooned with bird cages and birds.
• Continue exploring old town markets – good spot to buy any afghani goods.
• Visit Abdur Rahman Khan Mausoleum – Abdur Rahman Khan was Emir of Afghanistan between 1880 and 1901. He was a strong ruler and gained the name of the ‘Iron Amir’. His tomb sits in the Mausoleum in Zarnegar Park which translates as the park adorned with gold.
• Visit outside the Shah-Do Shamshira Mosque and hear the tragic details of the murder of Farkhunda Malikzada
• Head up to the TV Towers Mountain where you’ll have a great view of Kabul city below.
• Head out for dinner and overnight in Kabul.

Saturday 22nd May – Kabul – Bamiyan

Morning

• After breakfast at our hotel we’ll begin our 180km journey to Bamiyan – also referred to as Bamian or Bamyan. Your road trip will take you north across the Shomali Plains passing over the Shibar Pass (3285m).
• We’ll make stops along the way to pick up supplies and stretch our legs and of course to enjoy the breath-taking scenery.

Afternoon

• We’ll stop for lunch and refreshments
• Pass by the watershed of the Indus and Oxus River systems before finally reaching Bamiyan.
• A genuine highlight of our tour will be visiting the Buddhas of Bamiyan – magnificent monumental statues carved directly into the cliffs around the 6th century. These towering figures stood as silent witnesses to centuries of changing empires and cultures that passed through Afghanistan, embodying the region’s rich Buddhist heritage. In March 2001, the statues were destroyed by the Taliban. Today, the empty niches remain a powerful symbol of resilience.
• Drive a short distance to the base of the Shahr-E-Golgola also known as the ‘City of Screams’ – this was destroyed by Genghis Khan in 1221. Genghis had destroyed Balkh and sent his teenage grandson with an army to capture Bamiyan. The people resisted and Genghis’s grandson was killed. Genghis besieged and destroyed Golgola in revenge.
• Check into our hotel, head out to the bazaar for dinner and overnight in Bamiyan.

Sunday 23rd May – Bamiyan – Band-e-Amir National Park – Bamiyan

Morning

• Wake up early and head to Hindu Kush and to the remains of the Buddhas of Bamiyan for stunning sunrise photos.
• Head back to the hotel for breakfast and a great chance to catch locals doing their morning routines.
• Begin driving 80km west to Band-e-Amir National Park – a stunning group of turquoise lakes located high in the Hindu Kush at an altitude of 2900m. It was also the first registered national park in Afghanistan. Hike around the area for picturesque photos and amazing views.

Afternoon

• Picnic lunch outdoors and return to Bamiyan
• Drive out to the Valley of the Dragon ‘Darya Ajdhahar’ – this massive rock formation is alleged to be the remains of a dragon that persecuted the villagers until Hazrat Ali, the cousin and son- in-law of the Prophet Mohammed killed it. The story is reminiscent of St George and the Dragon.
• Dinner in town and overnight

Monday 24th May – Bamiyan – Kabul

Morning

• Breakfast at guest house and begin drive back to Kabul
• Stop for photos, and rest breaks along the way.

Afternoon

• Lunch on arrival in Kabul
• Our first stop will be to the National Museum of Afghanistan – it holds manuscripts, miniatures, weapons and art objects belonging to the former royal families.
• After exploring the museum, we will take a walk around the Garden of Babur – developed in 1528 it’s a historic park which holds the tomb of the first Mughal emperor Babur.
• Close to sunset, we will visit Wazir Akbar Khan, also known as Bibi Mahru Hill or ‘Flag Hill’. This elevated park in the Green Zone offers stunning views of Kabul and hosts the largest national flag of Afghanistan in the country.
• Dinner and overnight at hotel

Tuesday 25th May – Kabul – Balkh – Mazar-I-Sharif

Morning

• Breakfast at the hotel and head to the airport to depart on a morning Kam Air flight to Mazar.
• On arrival head 25km out towards the ancient town of Balkh – this town is believed to be the centre of the Bactrian Empire, even before the arrival of Alexander the Great. It was destroyed many times over by the likes of Ghengis Khan and Timur-i-lang.
• Visit the Shrine of Khoja Abu Nasar Parsa and Dargah of Rabia Balkhi
• Visit the old town of Balkh where the US military were briefly stationed as they were withdrawing from the area.

Afternoon

• Return to Mazar and lunch on arrival
• Visit the Blue Mosque or ‘Shrine of Hazrat Ali’ – the most famous building in Afghanistan. The mosque is located in the heart of Mazar-I-Sharif and is one of the reputed burial places of Ali ibn Abi Talib, cousin and son-in law of Prophet Muhammad.
• Explore the Mazar bazaar – this bazaar is not only the rug production of Afghanistan but considered the rug hub of Central Asia.
• Dinner, ice-cream dessert and overnight in Mazar-I-Sharif

Wednesday 26th May – Mazar-I-Sharif – Kabul

Morning

• Breakfast at the guest house and head to the airport to board the morning flight back to Kabul.

Afternoon

• On arrival we’ll check back into our hotel and have lunch nearby
• This afternoon will be spent to catch up on any activities previously missed on the itinerary
• Swing by the curiosity shops of Chicken Street where you can purchase Afghani souvenirs such as t-shirts, old currency, flags, fridge magnets, and postcards.
• Farewell dinner with our local guides and overnight in Kabul.

Thursday 27th May – Kabul

Morning

• Breakfast at hotel
• Tour concludes – airport transfers are arranged according to your flight out of Kabul