Afghanistan By Motorbike Tour

Wednesday April 14th – Kabul

• Arrive at your convenience into Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan, which is well connected with many countries in Asia, and the Middle East.
• On arrival, you will be picked up by our local team after clearing customs.
• Pre-tour meeting will be held 6:00pm in the lobby of our hotel to discuss tour itinerary and to meet your fellow travellers and YPT guide.
• We’ll head out for dinner and your chance to experience the first taste of Afghan cuisine!
• Overnight in Kabul

Thursday April 15th – Kabul

Morning:

• After breakfast, we will begin a city tour of Kabul by car. We will first visit the National Museum of Afghanistan – it holds manuscripts, miniatures, weapons and art objects belonging to the former royal families. 
• Next we will 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.
• We will walk through the bazaars and explore the old city of Kabul! 
• Visit the famous box camera man – Hajimir Zaman – for a self portrait on a 50-year-old camera!

Afternoon:

• We will have lunch at one of the best restaurants in the city! We recommend you try Kabuli Palaw – a steamed rice dish famous across Central Asia with a local twist. This is Afghanistan’s national dish and is a must-try!
• Walk around the Garden of Babur – developed in 1528 it’s a historic park which holds the tomb of the first Mughal emperor Babur.
• Swing by the curiosity shops of Chicken Street where you can purchase Afghan souvenirs such as t-shirts, old currency, flags, fridge magnets, and postcards.
• Head to the markets to browse through unique custom-made items made by local jewellers that include semi-precious stones known to the region such as emeralds, rubies, lapis lazuli, garnets, and tourmalines.
• Dinner and overnight in Kabul

Friday April 16th – Kabul – Panjshir

• After breakfast, we will begin our first day of riding! After getting geared up, we will begin riding north from Kabul into the beautiful and peaceful Panjshir Valley. Known as one of the places where Soviet tanks went to die, Panjshir Valley is a beautiful but historically important and impenetrable valley in Afghanistan.
• We will stop along the way for breaks and for photo opportunities

Afternoon:

• On the way, we will stop at a local restaurant for lunch. Think chicken, lamb and beef kebabs or Kabuli Palaw!
• Once we arrive in Panjshir, there will be some paperwork and permissions we have to wait for as this is one of the most Taliban security dense regions in the country. After all approvals have been given, we will visit the tomb of Ahmad Shah Massoud (known as the Lion of Panjshir). He was one of the leading Mujahadeens in the battle against the Soviets and for a period of time, became the Defense Minister for Afghanistan. He was well loved by many people and preached for a united Afghanistan. He was unfortunately assassinated in 2001 during a fake interview. His grave is in the middle of a park with a beautiful view of the Valley
• In the evening, we will check into our local guesthouse. This is by no means luxury, but is a comfortable place to spend the night
• We will head out for dinner and return back to our accommodation
• Overnight in Panjshir

Saturday April 17th –  Panjshir Valley – Bamiyan

Morning:

• After breakfast, we will hit the road again on route to Bamiyan!
• On our way, we will take photo stops, bathroom breaks and will stop to pick up some delicious Bamiyan honey!
• The route we will take will be through rolling hills, agricultural fields, small villages and rivers along the way. The road is almost fully paved, making it an easy ride

Afternoon:

• We will stop for lunch along the way before continuing our journey to Bamiyan.
• On arrival to Bamiyan, we will stop to view the Red City in Bamiyan for photos. The Red City (also known locally as Shahr-e Zuhak) was a city in the mountains around Bamiyan home to 3,000 people. This is the city where Mutukhan, the grandson of Genghis Khan was killed in battle. In retaliation, Gengis Khan came to Bamiyan and destroyed everything in his path in revenge. He pillaged all cities in the area.
• We will also stop at a small library – funded by donations and a local guide, for local kids. The library is full of all kinds of books in all different languages and serves as an education hub for the villages in the area. Kids come everyday to read and learn.
• We will check into our hotel for some rest.
• Just before sunset, we will depart the hotel and drive north to Dragon Valley -also known as‘Darya Ajdhahar’ – this massive rock formation is alleged to be the remains of a dragon that persecuted the villagers until Imam Ali, the cousin and son- in-law of the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH), killed it. The story is reminiscent of St George and the Dragon.
• We will head out to dinner and then return to the hotel
• Overnight in Bamiyan

Sunday April 18th – Bamiyan – Band-e-Amir – Bamiyan

Morning:

• Wake up early and head to Hindu Kush and to the remains of the Buddhas of Bamyan for stunning sunrise photos.
• Enjoy breakfast before we gear up for one of the tour highlights!
• Begin the drive 80km west to Band-e-Amir National Park, a breathtaking chain of turquoise lakes set high in the Hindu Kush mountains at an altitude of 2900 metres.
• Recognised as Afghanistan’s first national park, Band-e-Amir is one of the country’s most spectacular natural wonders. Under current Taliban restrictions, women are not permitted to visit the lakes directly, but you’ll still be taken to an incredible viewpoint offering panoramic views of the entire area.

Afternoon:

• Return to Bamiyan for lunch
• We will drive 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 Bamian. The people resisted and Genghis’s grandson was killed. Genghis besieged and destroyed Golgola in revenge.
• 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.
• Dinner in town and overnight in Bamiyan

Monday April 19th – Bamiyan – Kabul

Morning:

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

Afternoon:

• In the afternoon, we will arrive back to Kabul and have lunch at a nice restaurant!
• We will say goodbye to our bikes and swap back into a van
• We will check into our hotel and have some rest time.
• In the evening, we will visit Maranjan Hill, the burial palace of the last King of Afghanistan and a popular city view point where kids come to fly kites and play!
• In the evening, we will head out for our farewell dinner!
• Overnight in Kabul

Tuesday April 20th – Kabul

• Morning departure from Kabul. We recommend Turkish Airlines TK707 departing Kabul at 08:50am and arriving in Istanbul at 12:55pm