Women’s Tour to Afghanistan 2026

Monday 13^th July – Islamabad, Pakistan

• Arrive at your convenience into Islamabad, the capital city of Pakistan, which is well connected with many countries in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
• Airport transfer and check into the Grand Islamabad Hotel
• 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 female YPT guide.
• We’ll head out for dinner and your chance to experience the nightlife in Pakistan’s capital
• Overnight in Grand Islamabad Hotel.

Tuesday 14^th July – Islamabad – Peshawar

Morning

• Breakfast at hotel
• Depart at 7:00am on our 180km drive northwest to Peshawar – Pakistan’s sixth largest city and located near the border of Afghanistan.
• Arrive directly at the Afghanistan consulate in Peshawar to submit your visa applications

Afternoon

• Stop by an authentic Pakistani restaurant to grab a local lunch and soak in the atmosphere. You’ll notice the heavy Afghani influence on this unique Pakistani city.
• Head to the Old City centre to explore the busy Qissa Khwani Bazaar where local clothing can be purchased for us to better blend in to both Pakistan and Afghanistan.
• Visit Clock Tower Square – this tower belongs to a pair of clock towers that were presented by the U.K.’s Queen Elizabeth. The other tower being in England.
• Explore Mohabbat Khan Mosque – a 17th-century Mughal-era mosque built in 1630. An elegant mosque and fantastic for photos.
• Return to the Afghanistan consulate to collect passports and visas.
• Check into our Peshawar hotel to freshen up.
• Head to the town markets to purchase and prepare local clothing (abaya) for your journey onwards from here. It is expected of women to dress with local attire in Afghanistan.
• Head out to Habibi restaurant famous for local dishes.
• Overnight in Peshawar.

Wednesday 15^th July – Peshawar – Islamabad – Kabul, Afghanistan

Morning

• Breakfast at hotel and morning departure back to Islamabad and head straight to the airport.
• On the way stopping at a truckyard where incredible traditional artwork is painted and installed on the trucks for blessing.

Afternoon

• Board our 1-hour direct flight to Kabul departing 4:30pm on Kam Air 928 – the capital of Afghanistan.
• On arrival meet our Afghanistan guide at the airport and be transferred to our guest house.
• At our guest house you’ll have a briefing with our guide.
• It may be required to visit the tourism ministry in Kabul to meet directly with the Taliban to receive our permit to allow the group to travel outside of the capital.
• Head out for dinner and overnight in Kabul.

Thursday 16^th July – Kabul – Bamyan

Morning

• Heartily breakfast at our guesthouse followed by an early departure, 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 Bamian.
• 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 Bamian. 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 Bamian.

Friday 17^th July – Bamyan – Band-e-Amir National Park – Bamyan

Morning

• Wake up early and head to Hindu Kush and to the remains of the Buddhas of Bamyan for stunning sunrise photos.
• Head back to the hotel for breakfast and a great chance to catch locals doing their morning routines.
• 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

• Picnic lunch outdoors and return to Bamian
• 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

Saturday 18^th July – Bamyan – 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
• Visit Darul Aman Palace – built during the reign of Amanullah Khan in the 1920s, it has over 150 rooms and offers stunning views of Kabul.
• Walk around the Garden of Babur – developed in 1528 it’s a historic park which holds the tomb of the first Mughal emperor Babur.
• 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 at hotel.

Sunday 19^th July – Kabul – Mazar-I-Sharif

Morning

• Breakfast at guest house 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. Whilst women cannot enter the mosque you will take a stroll with other local women around it learning about its significance to the country.
• We’ll take you to a spot where you’ll have the chance to sample sheer yakh or kulfi (Afghan ice-cream) from a view point on the second floor.
• Explore Mazar bazaar – this baazar is not only the rug production of Afghanistan but considered the rug hub of Central Asia.
• Dinner and overnight in Mazar-I-Sharif

Monday 20^th July – Mazar-I-Sharif – Kabul

Morning

• Breakfast at guest house and head to the airport to board the morning flight back to Kabul
• First stop visit the National Museum of Afghanistan – it holds manuscripts, miniatures, weapons and art objects belonging to the former royal families.
• Visit the War Museum and meet the fine folk that run OMAR – an Afghani NGO dedicated to removing land mines leftover by decades of war dating back to the Soviet occupation.

Afternoon

• Grab an Afghani lunch in town
• 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 the Women’s Market, a rare section of the city where you will find female merchants!
• Swing by the curiosity shops of Chicken Street where you can purchase Afghani souvenirs such as tshirts, old currency, flags, fridge magnets, and postcards.
• Visit the famous box camera man – Hajimir Zaman – for a self portrait on a 50 year old camera!
• Farewell dinner with our local guides and overnight in Kabul

Tuesday 21^st July – Kabul

Morning

• Breakfast at hotel
• For any sites missed in Kabul at the beginning of the tour it may be arranged today according to availability.

Afternoon

• Tour concludes – YPT is able to arrange airport transfers and advice for flights out.
• Optional board Kam Air flight 901 departing Kabul 5:25pm and arriving into Dubai 8:00pm.