Overview
Required number to run this tour: 2 or 2+ people
January 22-28, 2025 February 5-11, 2025
This is a 7-day tour to KABUL – MAZAR E SHARIF – BAMYAN and BAND E AMIR blue lakes, which starts and ends at the Kabul airport. The date is open for someone who can not join this tour on these dates. The tour is suitable for both solo and group travelers.
Buzkashi is an Afghan national sport which is played between two teams of horsemen, competing to throw a goat carcass into a scoring circle. Buzkashi is played only on Fridays in Winter (December, January and February).
Beside visiting Buzkashi, being part of daily life and visiting sacred and historical places and tourist attractions are some of the experiences this trip will bring you along with tasting the best local delicacies.
Included/Excluded
- Invitation Letter
- Permit Costs and Taxes
- Pick up and Drop off
- English-Speaking Tour Guide
- All Road Transportation
- All Accommodation
- All Site Entries
- All Meals (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)
- Bottled Water
- Visa Fee
- Flights
- Afghan Clothing
Tour Plan
Day 1 Arrival in Kabul
Kabul, capital of Afghanistan since 1776.
- Pick up by the tour guide and driver. Hotel check-in and a short briefing of the tour by the guide. Breakfast or lunch if needed
- Money exchange and going to a tailor shop for the local outfit/shirt
- Touring Kabul depending on what time remains: First of all, we will take you to BiBi Mahroo hill (the big flag) to have a bird’s eye view of Kabul city
- Visiting the oldest market, Mandawi bazaar and the Bird market. Walking around Pul-e-Khishti Mosque (1793-1800), Nadir Pushtun Wat, Chahar Chatta bazaar and Pul-e-Bagh-e-Omumi to catch the atmosphere of Kabul. Visiting Mandawi Bazaar in Kabul, is an experience as it is not only a market but an amazing insight into life here – you will find blacksmiths, many street traders, butchers, bakeries, Banjara, fresh and dried fruits. You will visit the little Afghanistan there
- Visiting the Shah-Do-Shamshira Mosque (1544) relates to an early legend concerning the arrival of Islam in Kabul
- Kabuli Paluo, the best local meal in Afghanistan will be served
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Accommodation: Khyber Hotel
Day 2 Towards Mazar e Sharif Passing Hindu kush Mountain
- We will leave Kabul for Mazar e Sharif. This is a 12-hour drive passing through Salang Tunnel (Hindu Kush mountains). Altitude of 3363 m: 11034 ft. and 2,7 km: 1,7 mi. long. Work began in August 1958 and was officially opened in November 1964.
Note: Sometimes in winter, due to heavy snowfall, the Salang pass is closed to traffic for 12 to 24 hours. This doesn’t happen often, but it can occur at any time. Driving in the Hindu Kush during the winter can be risky, exciting and adventurous but if you wish, we can change this drive to a flight.
- You will pass through Parwan and Baghlan (Pul-e-Khumri) and Samangan provinces
- Many stops on the way for photography and lunch
- Kabab, the most popular local meal will be served
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Accommodation: Arsalan Hotel- Mazar e Sharif
Day 3 Mazar-e-Sharif and Buzkashi Game
- Registration at the Afghan Tour department and city tour
- Visiting the Blue Mosque of Mazar-e-Sharif, built in 1136 by the great Seljuk Sultan, Sanjar. Genghis Khan destroyed it in 1221, having heard there was great treasure beneath its pillars. The reign of the Timurid Sultan Husain Baiqara rebuilt it in 1481.
- Mantu and Ashak, the most popular local meals in Mazar-e-Sharif will be served
- After lunch, we will drive to the Buzkashi gymnasium to visit Buzkashi. Traditionally, buzkashi is played with the headless body of a goat. Today, more often a 30kg (66lb) leather sack stands in for the carcass that riders try to pull from a fray of horses and drop in a “circle of justice” traced on the ground after doing a lap of the arena at full gallop with competitors in hot pursuit.
- We will walk around the horses and talk to the Chapandazes (Buzkashi players). You will enjoy the gathering and excitement of the spectators around the arena.
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Accommodation: Arsalan Hotel- Mazar e Sharif
Day 4 Towards Kabul by a flight- Drive to Bamyan
- Back to Kabul by a flight and drive to Bamyan after lunch in Kabu. This is a 4-hour beautiful drive, traveling through the fascinating Hajigak Pass (3700 m: 12,140 ft.), with stops at picturesque rest areas to refresh and take unforgettable photos
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Accommodation: Noorbandqala Hotel
Day 5 Bamyan and Band e Amir blue lakes
- Registration with the Provincial Afghan Tour Department
- Visiting the ruins of Buddha Statues (once tallest standing Buddhas in the world), the Large Buddha, 55 m: 180 ft high (late 5th to the early 7th centuries A.D.). The Small Buddha, 38 m: 125 feet high (the 3rd or very early 4th centuries A.D.). Both were demolished by the Taliban in 2001
- Visiting the ruins of Gholghula City (The City of Screams), one of the eight UNISCO Heritage Sites in Bamyan. Build by Ghaznavids (977-1186) and demolished by Genghis Khan in 1221
- Hiking and sightseeing around Band-e-Amir Blue Lakes. Altitude: 2916 m: 9567 ft. There are five lakes in all. The largest lake, Band-e-Zulfiqar is four miles long and…
- Visiting the people who live in caves
- Lamb Roosh, one of the most popular local meals in Bamyan will be served
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Accommodation: Noorbandqala Hotel
Day 6 Back to Kabul- Kabul Around
- After breakfast, we will drive back to Kabul.
- A visit to the ruins of Zuhak City (The Red City) on our way. The fortress is believed to have been founded between 500-600 A.D. by the Hephthalites, around the same time as the Buddhas of Bamyan were created and demolished by Genghis Khan in 1221
- After lunch in Kabul, a visit to the UNISCO Heritage Site, iconic Babur Garden built by the Mughal Emperor Babur Shah (1528 CE). There are a beautiful marble mosque build by the Moghul Emperor Shah Jahan (1646) and the modest tomb of Babur, founder of the Moghul dynasty of India. A son, Mirza Hindal, and a a grandson, Mohammad Hakim Mirza, lie beside him. A daughter, Nawab Gawhar Nisa Begum, lies to the west of the emperor: a grand-daughter, Roqia Sultan Begum, daughter of Mirza Hindal, lies on the upper terrace.
- A visit to Ziarat-e-Sakhi or Sakhi Shrine. This is a beautiful and important shrine of Kabul where the Cloak of the Prophet was kept for a few days as it was conveyed from Badakhshan to Kandahar during the reign of Ahmad Shah Durrani (1747-1772
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Accommodation: Khyber Hotel
Day 7 Back Home
- We will visit more of Kabul depends on what time remains.
- We will take you to Chicken Street (antique market). You will find all kinds of handicrafts, Afghan handmade Rugs, gemstones, calligraphy, glass miniatures and oil paintings, antique and ornamental works in Chicken Street.
- Finally, after a 7-day tour to Afghanistan with lots of unique experiences and heart touching stories we will drop you at the Kabul airport for your flight back home.
Brdakfast and lunch
End of the tour.
Tour Map
From
$ 1,200 $ 1,500
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