Places to Visit in Afghanistan
Al Hamid Tour and Travel runs guided trips to ten provinces of Afghanistan: Kabul, Bamyan, Herat, Balkh (Mazar), Ghazni, Kandahar, Nangarhar, Nuristan, Panjshir and Badakhshan. Set packages start at $350 per person and every one includes an English-speaking guide, a private vehicle and driver, hotels with breakfast, and help with the visa letter and provincial permits.
Visiting Kabul
Historic neighborhoods, modern cafes, and bustling local bazaars in one easy guide. Kabul is the best place to start if you want city energy, history, and easy access to guided travel support.
- Best for: Culture and city life
- Best season: Spring to early autumn
- Tours: 3 set packages, 2 to 4 days, $350 to $1,050 per person.
Visiting Bamyan and Band-e-Amir
Wide valleys, dramatic cliffs, and a deep connection to Silk Road history. Bamyan is calm, scenic, and perfect for visitors who want slower travel, clear landscapes, and a strong nature focus.
- Best for: Nature and slow travel
- Best season: Late spring to early autumn
- Tours: 3 set packages, 3 to 5 days, $650 to $1,250 per person.
Visiting Herat
Majestic mosques, artisan workshops, and old citadels with a strong cultural rhythm. Herat is a beautiful pick for architecture, craftsmanship, and classic city streets with a rich historic identity.
- Best for: Art and history
- Best season: Spring and autumn
- Tours: 3 set packages, 2 to 7 days, $420 to $1,700 per person.
Visiting Mazar-e-Sharif and Balkh
A calm travel route centered around the Blue Mosque and timeless city architecture. This route combines spiritual landmarks, open courtyards, and a softer pace that feels welcoming and reflective.
- Best for: Pilgrimage and architecture
- Best season: Spring and autumn
- Tours: 3 set packages, 2 to 5 days, $420 to $1,350 per person.
Visiting Ghazni
Medieval monuments, hilltop ruins, and a compact route with deep historical character. Ghazni is a strong choice for short heritage trips, with old monuments and a direct route that is easy to plan.
- Best for: History and quick escapes
- Best season: Spring and autumn
- Tours: 3 set packages, 2 to 4 days, $350 to $1,000 per person.
Visiting Kandahar
Ancient bazaars, pomegranate orchards, and a storied city that shaped Afghan identity. Kandahar is the cultural heartland of southern Afghanistan, known for its sacred shrines, fragrant pomegranates, and deep historical roots.
- Best for: Culture and sacred sites
- Best season: Spring and autumn
- Tours: 3 set packages, 2 to 4 days, $400 to $1,100 per person.
Visiting Nangarhar and Jalalabad
Lush river valleys, the warm city of Jalalabad, and a gateway to eastern Afghanistan. Nangarhar offers a warmer climate year-round, with green river banks, orange groves, and a relaxed city pace centered in Jalalabad.
- Best for: Nature and city life
- Best season: Winter to early spring
- Tours: 3 set packages, 2 to 4 days, $350 to $1,050 per person.
Visiting Nuristan
Dense cedar forests, wooden villages, and a mountain culture unlike anywhere else in the country. Nuristan is one of Afghanistan's most isolated and pristine provinces, with ancient wooden architecture, cedar-covered slopes, and a unique tribal heritage.
- Best for: Off-the-path adventure
- Best season: Late spring to early autumn
- Tours: 3 set packages, 2 to 5 days, $500 to $1,400 per person.
Visiting the Panjshir Valley
A breathtaking emerald river, snow-capped peaks, and a valley of legendary natural beauty. The Panjshir Valley is Afghanistan's most scenic corridor — a crystal-clear river running between towering white mountains, with welcoming villages along the way.
- Best for: Scenery and valley trekking
- Best season: Spring to early autumn
- Tours: 3 set packages, 2 to 4 days, $380 to $1,100 per person.
Visiting Badakhshan and the Wakhan Corridor
The Wakhan Corridor, lapis lazuli mines, and some of the most remote highland scenery in all of Central Asia. Badakhshan sits at the far northeast of Afghanistan, bordering Tajikistan, China, and Pakistan. The Wakhan Corridor is one of the world's great expedition routes — high-altitude valleys, nomadic Wakhi communities, and silence unlike anywhere else.
- Best for: Expedition and remote travel
- Best season: June to September
- Tours: 3 set packages, 4 to 7 days, $850 to $1,800 per person.
Several provinces in one trip: the Afghanistan Silk Road Journey
The Silk Road was never one road, and it was not founded in one place. It was a network of trade routes, and Afghanistan sat at its crossroads: caravans from China, India, Persia and Central Asia met here. This journey follows its five main waypoints inside the country. The 15-day Afghanistan Silk Road Journey visits Kabul, Bamyan, Herat, Balkh and Badakhshan for $3,120 to $4,130 per person.
Several provinces in one trip: the Buzkashi Season Tour
Buzkashi is Afghanistan's national game. Dozens of riders on horseback fight to grab a goat carcass, carry it clear of the pack and drop it in a scoring circle. It is played in winter, when it is cool enough for the horses, and the big games are on Fridays. Mazar-e-Sharif is the home of the game and the easiest place in the country to watch it. The 5-day Buzkashi Season Tour visits Kabul and Mazar-e-Sharif for $1,000 to $1,350 per person.
Questions about visiting Afghanistan's provinces
Which parts of Afghanistan can you visit on a tour?
Al Hamid Tour and Travel runs trips to ten provinces: Kabul, Bamyan, Herat, Balkh (Mazar), Ghazni, Kandahar, Nangarhar, Nuristan, Panjshir and Badakhshan. Each has its own page with its set packages and prices, and several provinces can be combined into one trip.
When is the best time to visit each province?
Kabul: spring to early autumn. Bamyan: late spring to early autumn. Herat: spring and autumn. Balkh (Mazar): spring and autumn. Ghazni: spring and autumn. Kandahar: spring and autumn. Nangarhar: winter to early spring. Nuristan: late spring to early autumn. Panjshir: spring to early autumn. Badakhshan: june to September.
How much does a tour to each province cost?
Set packages per person: Kabul $350 to $1,050; Bamyan $650 to $1,250; Herat $420 to $1,700; Balkh (Mazar) $420 to $1,350; Ghazni $350 to $1,000; Kandahar $400 to $1,100; Nangarhar $350 to $1,050; Nuristan $500 to $1,400; Panjshir $380 to $1,100; Badakhshan $850 to $1,800. Prices include an English-speaking guide, a private vehicle and driver, hotels with breakfast, and help with the visa letter and permits.
Every package, with its length and price, is on the tours page. For safety, visas and when to go, see the travel guides.
Can't choose? Tell us how many days you have and what you want to see, and we will suggest a route.
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