Discover Afghanistan in this 14 days journey surrounded by mountains, mosques, friendly and authentic people and so much more…probably the most complete experience in this amazing country.
Day 01: Arrival to Kabul
Arrival and briefing at the hotel and a visit to Darrulaman Palace. The Palace was built in the early 1920s as a part of the endeavors of King Amanullah Khan to modernize Afghanistan. It was to be part of the new capital city that the king intended to build, connected to Kabul by anarrow gauge railway. Then we will have time for Kabul National Museum. Its collection had earlier been one of the most important in Central Asia, with over 100,000 items dating back several millennia. With the start of the civil war in 1992, the museum was looted numerous times resulting in a loss of 70% of the 100,000 objects on display. Since 2007, a number of international organizations have helped to recover over 8,000 artifacts.
Day 02: Kabul
We will visit Omar Landmine Museum and Shah Do Shamshira(the king with two swords) Mosque at the heart of Kabul city built by the King Amanullah khan in the memory of the Arab King who forced Kabul people in to Islam in the early 683 with his two swords. In the Afternoon, The Gardens of Babur, locally called Bagh-e Babur is a historic park in Kabul and also the last resting-place of the first Mughal emperor Babur. The gardens are thought to have been developed around 1528 when Babur gave orders for the construction of an ‘avenue garden’ in Kabul, described in some detail in his memoirs, the Baburnama. Then we will take you for an overall view of Kabul city at BibiMahro Hills.
Day 03: Kabul-Panjshir
Journey to Panjshir and Tobm of Ahmad Shah Masood. Panjshir literally meaning “Five Lions”, refers to five Wali (literally, protectors), spiritual brothers who were centered in the valley. Local legend has it that the five brothers built a dam for Sultan Mahmud of Ghaznawi in the early 11th century. Later, It was the site of the Panjshir offensives fought between the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan and the Soviets against the Mujahidin during the Soviet war in Afghanistan from 1980 to 1985. The valley again witnessed renewed fighting during the civil war in Afghanistan (1996-2001) between Taliban and the Northern Alliance under command by now national hero Ahmad Shah Masood. Lunch at the river bank and Journey back to Kabul.
Day 04: Kabul-Bamyan
Early in the morning we will leave hotel to Kabul Airport aiming to fly to Bamyan and while in Bamyan we will have time to visit Buddha Niches. The Buddha’s of Bamyan were two 6th-century monumental statues of standing Buddha carved into the side of a cliff in the Bamyan valley in the peaceful Hazarajat region of central Afghanistan and were dynamited and destroyed in March 2001 by the Taliban. There will be time to have a lookaround Bamyan Bazar and time for Photography at the best photo spots will be showing to you.
Day 05: Band-E-Ameer
We will visit the blue lakes of Band-e-Amir, a series of six deep blue lakes separated by natural dams made of travertine, a mineral deposit. The name Band-e Amir literally means “Commander’s Dam” which is believed by some to be a reference to Ali, the first Imam of Muslims (Shias) and the fourth Caliph of Islam (to Sunnis) and The area is dominated by ethnic Hazaras, who make up around 23% of Afghanistan’s population. Band-e Amir was to become Afghanistan’s first National Park in the 1960’s but this was delayed due to political crises and the decades of wars. In 2004, Band-e Amir was submitted for recognition as a World Heritage Site. In 2009, Band-e Amir was finally declared Afghanistan’s first National Park. As of 2013, about 6,000 local tourists visit the Band-e Amir National Park every year. Journey back to Bamyan.
Day 06: Bamyan-Kabul
Shahr-e Gholghola also (City of Screams) is 13th century city in Bamyan, which was conquered by Gengis Khan after months of surrounding. The ruins still remain close to the Bamyan town and Shahr-e Zuhak also known as The Red City is an historic city ruins in Bamyan, which was once home to 3,000 people. This city used to be primary defense for the basin. Then, we will have some time to visit the natural landscapes of the Darre Ajdaha (Dragon valley). Locals believe that Ali, killed a dragon and divided it in two pieces.
Day 07: Bamyan – Kabul – Herat
There is an early flight back to Kabul and then the breakfast. Then it will be the time to have a look at souvenir bazar in Kabul (Chicken Street). Then there will be time to visit the Western Cemetery in Kabul before going to the airport. The area was a British military camp or Cantonment and the site of the 1879 Siege of the Sherpur Cantonment in the Second Anglo-Afghan War. The cemetery houses memorials and graves for many fallen western soldiers who fought in various conflicts throughout the history of Kabul. It is managed by an Afghan father and son. In the aftermath, flight to Herat will happen in the afternoon.
Day 08: Herat
First thing we do is to visit the Masjidi Jami or Friday Mosque, built by the Ghurid ruler Ghiyas ad-Din Ghori in 1200 (597 AH), and, after his death, the building was continued by his brother and successor Muhammad of Ghor and a short visit to the Tile factory of Herat. We will have time for Herat citadel, dates back to 330 BC, when Alexander the Great and his army arrived to what is now Afghanistan after the Battle of Gaugamela. Many empires have used it as a headquarters in the last 2,000 years, and wasdestroyed and rebuilt many times over the centuries.
The crazy game of Buzkashi will be in afternoon. A look around Herat Bazaar
Day 09: Herat
Tomb of Goharshad and Minarets of Herat, a much larger complex the Mosque and Madressa of Gawharshad. However, those architectural monuments were dynamited by officers of the British Indian Army in 1885, to prevent its use as a fortress if a Russian army tried to invade India. But hopefully, the Tomb and minarets are still standing. In the afternoon we will guide you to Guzargah Mosque and PuliMalaan, The fine old 22-arched bridge, believed to have been constructed by the Seljuks in the early 12th century. Local believe it is built by two sisters named BibiHur and Bibi Noor.
Day 10: Herat-Kabul-Istalif
Stālif,a village 29 kilometers northwest of Kabul. The village was destroyed during the long-lasting wars around Kabul. It is famous for its handmade glazed potteries. Its name might derive from Greek staphile (“bunch of grapes”) or Parachi estuf (“cow-parsnip”). Istalif was always renowned as one of the most beautiful places in Afghanistan – the Emperor Babur fell in love with it in the 16th century and used to hold parties in his rose garden and summer house there.
Birds Market will be shown to you in the afternoon
Overnight at local hotel.
Day 11: Road to Mazar-E-Sharif
Journey to Mazar e Sharif will pass through Salang. The pass crosses the Hindu Kush Mountains but is now bypassed through the Salang Tunnel, which runs underneath it at a height of about 3,400 m. It links Charikar and Kabul in the south with Baghlan, Mazar-i-Sharif and Kunduz in the north. Before the road and tunnel were built, the main route between Kabul and northern Afghanistan was via the Shibar Pass, a much longer route which took three days. Now a series of tunnels built by the Russians in 1942 makes this an exciting way to cross the Hindu Kush.
Day 12: Mazar-E-Sharif and Balkh
Journey to Balkh, an ancient city and center of Buddhism, Sufism and Zoroastrianism in what is now northern Afghanistan. While in Balkh, you visit Haji Piyada Mosque (the walking pilgrim) Tomb of Rabia Balkhi, a semi-legendary figure of Persian literature and was possibly the first woman poet in the history of New Persian poetry, Khoja Parsa Mosque and BalaHisar, the ancient citadel build by Alexander the Great when he destroyed the Kurush (Persian empire) and crossed Amu Darya (Auxus River) in early 330, then married Rukhshana (Ruxana) in Bacteria (Balkh) and Ummul – Bilad (Mother of the cities) to Arabs. In the afternoon it is time to visit the Blue tiled Mosque of Ali.
Day 13: Mazar-E-Sharif– Samangan, Kabul
Journey Back to Kabul and on the way we will have time to visit Takht-iRustam (Haibak), literal meaning the throne of Rustam, named after Rustam, a king in Persian mythology, is a hilltop settlement, well-known archaeological site in Afghanistan, in the TakthiRostam and the adjacent Buddhist caves and stupas on top of a hill, north of Hindu Kush passes. At this location, caves were hewn out of rocks and inhabited by Buddhists. The Buddhist stupa here is in the form of a mound. It represents the earliest link to the evolution of Buddhist architecture in Afghanistan.
Overnight at local hotel.
Day 14: Depart Kabul
Final departure transfer to airport for flight back to home.
|
City |
Night (s) | Hotel |
| Kabul | 03 | Hotel Intercontinental Kabul |
| Bamyan | 03 | Bamyan Royal Hotel |
| Herat | 03 | Sadaf International Hotel |
| Kabul | 01 | Hotel Intercontinental Kabul |
| Mazar e Sharif | 02 | Baran Hotel |
| Kabul | 01 | Hotel Intercontinental Kabul |
– Meeting and assistance by our representative.
– Welcome with fresh flower garlands.
– 13 Nights accommodation hotel
– Daily Breakfast, Lunch and Dinners.
– Local English-speaking guide
– All transfers, sightseeing, excursions as per the program by private vehicle.
– Entrance fees to monuments as per mentioned in the program.
– Transport, Parking, Gasoline & Toll ways.
– All present government taxes.
– International Airfare.
– Tips, gratuities, Portage, laundry, telephone calls, table drinks, camera/ video camera charges, or any other expenses of a personal nature.
– Visa fees, personal insurance.
– Any item not specified under cost includes.
– Accommodation in good hotels.
– Check-in / out time is 12 noon at most of the hotels.
– Extension to other places is also possible with a minimal extra cost.
– Additional nights are available at each place with minimal supplement.
– A visa is required and must be obtained prior to your departure from your Country.
– If quoted hotel is not available, we will provide one of a similar category and standard.
– Small deviations in the tour program are sometimes necessary, depending on weather, road conditions, flight schedules and room availability.
– In case the government changes presently applicable taxes, increase in airlines prices, fuel surcharge our rates will need to be adjusted accordingly.
– Sometimes, there is no relevance between the distance and time of travelling, as it depends upon the condition of the roads and congestion of the traffic.
– While every effort will be made to maintain the itinerary, in view of local strikes etc that are beyond our control all schedule and itineraries are subject to last moment changes.
– Clients must be fully insured, as the company cannot accept liability for loss or damage to client’s property, medical emergencies or any other loss suffered by them whilst on tour.
– In Case of issuing Domestic or International air tickets, SGV is not responsible for any refund if the flight is delayed or cancelled, as it is the responsibility of airline.