The Blue Mosque of Mazar-e-Sharif lit up at dusk

Spiritual route

Balkh (Mazar)

A calm travel route centered around the Blue Mosque and timeless city architecture.

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What is a Balkh (Mazar) tour like?

Short answer

Mazar-e-Sharif is the main city of the north, known for the Blue Mosque, with the ancient city of Balkh nearby. Al Hamid Tour and Travel runs three set Balkh (Mazar) tours, 2 to 5 days, from $300 to $1,100 per person, with an English-speaking guide, private transport and hotels with breakfast. The best season is spring and autumn.

This route combines spiritual landmarks, open courtyards, and a softer pace that feels welcoming and reflective.

Typical stay2 to 3 days
Best forPilgrimage and architecture
Best seasonSpring and autumn
Historic shrine with a tall arched portal in Balkh
Day 1 Balkh (Mazar)

Visit the mosque and nearby heritage points with a calm start.

Turquoise ribbed dome of a historic shrine in Balkh
Day 2 Balkh (Mazar)

Explore old Balkh, local streets, and the best open courtyards.

Blue and turquoise tilework around an arched doorway, with a bench in front
Day 3 Balkh (Mazar)

Use the final day for photos, reflection, and an easy return route.

What do you see on a Balkh (Mazar) tour?

On a Balkh (Mazar) tour you see the Blue Mosque, the walls of Balkh, the Green Mosque, Noh Gonbad Mosque, the tomb of Rabia Balkhi and Buzkashi. Each is described below.

The Blue Mosque

The shrine at the centre of Mazar-e-Sharif, where many Afghans believe the Caliph Ali is buried. The present building dates from 1481 and is covered in blue tiles; thousands of white doves live in its courtyard.

The walls of Balkh

The massive mud-brick walls of the ancient city, the "Mother of Cities", about 20 km west of Mazar-e-Sharif.

The Green Mosque

A 15th-century shrine in Balkh with a ribbed turquoise dome, built for Khwaja Abu Nasr Parsa, a Sufi teacher of the Timurid era.

Noh Gonbad Mosque

The "Nine Domes" mosque near Balkh, from the 8th or 9th century, thought to be the oldest Islamic building in Afghanistan. Its domes have fallen, but its carved stucco columns survive.

The tomb of Rabia Balkhi

The grave of the 10th-century poet Rabia Balkhi, the first woman known to have written poetry in Persian.

Buzkashi

In winter, usually on Fridays, the fields around Mazar-e-Sharif host buzkashi, Afghanistan's national horseback game.

What is the history and culture of Balkh (Mazar)?

Balkh, the ancient Bactra, is one of the oldest cities in the world. It was the capital of Bactria, where Alexander the Great married Roxana, and a great Buddhist centre with the Nava Vihara monastery, and it was called the "Mother of Cities". Tradition places Zoroaster here, and the poet Rumi was born in Balkh in 1207. Genghis Khan destroyed the city in 1220.

Mazar-e-Sharif grew up around the shrine of Ali, rebuilt in 1481, and in the 19th century it replaced Balkh as the main city of the north. It is the home of buzkashi. Nowruz, the Persian new year, was long celebrated at the shrine by raising a sacred banner, the Jahenda; in recent years the celebrations have been much smaller.

What does a Balkh (Mazar) tour include?

Guides

English-speaking tour guides who know everything about the destination

Flights

Domestic and international air tickets, booked and ticketed for you. Airlines and fares

Transfers

From the airport to the hotels and all locations

Hotels

Comfortable accommodation, 2 people per room, breakfasts included

Which Balkh (Mazar) tours can you book?

You can book three set Balkh (Mazar) tours: the Spiritual Route, the Northern Heritage Loop and the Mazar Calm Escape, and two multi-city tours that pass through Balkh (Mazar). They take 2 to 11 days and cost $300 to $2,420 per person, with a guide, private transport and hotels with breakfast.

Set Balkh (Mazar) tours with Al Hamid Tour and Travel. Prices are per person, in US dollars, and include a guide, private transport and hotels with breakfast.
TourLengthPrice per personFocus
Spiritual Route3 days · 2 nights$450–$660Pilgrimage
Northern Heritage Loop5 days · 4 nights$750–$1,100Heritage loop
Mazar Calm Escape2 days · 1 night$300–$440Easy escape
Hindu Kush Crossing8 days · 7 nights$1,200–$1,760Highlands, the Salang and the north
Heart of Asia Grand Tour11 days · 10 nights$1,650–$2,420The best of Afghanistan

Balkh (Mazar) tour questions

How many days do I need in Balkh (Mazar)?

Most travelers spend 2 to 3 days in Balkh (Mazar). Our packages here run from 2 to 5 days, and any of them can be shortened or extended around your flights.

How much does a Balkh (Mazar) tour cost?

Balkh (Mazar) trips start from $300 per person. Al Hamid Tour and Travel's set Balkh (Mazar) packages cost $300 to $1,100 per person: Spiritual Route, 3 days, $450–$660; Northern Heritage Loop, 5 days, $750–$1,100; Mazar Calm Escape, 2 days, $300–$440. The exact figure depends on group size and travel dates — send us your dates on WhatsApp and we will quote it.

When is the best time to visit Balkh (Mazar)?

Spring and autumn. That is when Balkh (Mazar) is at its best, and when we run most departures there.

How do I get to Balkh (Mazar)?

Mazar-e-Sharif is about an hour from Kabul by domestic flight. Overland, the road crosses the Salang Pass and tunnel through the Hindu Kush, a dramatic drive in good weather.

Can I visit Balkh (Mazar) as part of the Afghanistan Silk Road Journey?

Yes. Balkh (Mazar) is days 8 to 10 of Al Hamid Tour and Travel's 15-day Afghanistan Silk Road Journey, which runs through Kabul, Bamyan, Herat, Balkh and Badakhshan and costs $2,300 to $3,400 per person.

Can I watch buzkashi in Mazar-e-Sharif?

Yes, from late October to about March, usually on Fridays. The first game of the 2026–27 season is on Friday 23 October 2026. Balkh (Mazar) is days 3 to 5 of Al Hamid Tour and Travel's 5-day Buzkashi Season Tour, which runs through Kabul and Mazar-e-Sharif and costs $750 to $1,100 per person.

Who is a Balkh (Mazar) tour best for?

Pilgrimage and architecture. Ideal for travelers who want a more reflective trip with iconic landmarks and gentle pacing.

What is included in a Balkh (Mazar) tour?

An English-speaking guide who knows the region; private vehicle and driver, including airport transfers; hotels with breakfast, two people per room; help with the visa invitation letter and the provincial permits. Not included: international and domestic flights (we book and ticket both for you), lunch and dinner, and the visa fee.

Is it safe to travel to Balkh (Mazar) with a guide?

Conditions differ from province to province and change over time, so Al Hamid Tour and Travel does not give a blanket answer. Every trip has a registered guide and a private driver, the visa letter and any provincial permits are arranged before you travel, and the road and local conditions are checked before each departure. If they are not right for your dates, we change the route or the date. Our safety guide explains the wider picture.

Do you arrange the visa and permits for Balkh (Mazar)?

Yes. Al Hamid Tour and Travel issues the invitation letter for every guest and walks you through the application, whether you use the online e-Visa or an embassy, and handles the provincial travel permits for Balkh (Mazar) once you land. The visa fee itself is paid by you.

More about Balkh (Mazar): read our Mazar-e-Sharif guide.

Balkh (Mazar) is also days 8–10 of our 15-day Afghanistan Silk Road Journey.

Balkh (Mazar) is also days 3–5 of our 5-day Buzkashi Season Tour.

Planning a trip to Balkh (Mazar): Afghanistan visa & permits · Afghanistan travel permits · Buzkashi in Afghanistan · Is Afghanistan safe to visit? · Tour prices explained · Money and payments in Afghanistan · Best time to visit · Flights to Afghanistan · What to wear in Afghanistan · Afghanistan for women travellers · Afghan food guide

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Other packages in Balkh (Mazar)

Choose a package that matches your pace, then open booking with the details already prepared.

See every private Afghanistan tour, with its price

Spiritual Route 3 days

Pilgrimage

Spiritual Route

Blue Mosque, Balkh, and calm courtyard walks with a reflective pace.

Duration 3 days From $450–$660
Plan This Tour: Spiritual Route
Northern Heritage Loop 5 days

Heritage loop

Northern Heritage Loop

A broader route through northern heritage with more time for local sites.

Duration 5 days From $750–$1,100
Plan This Tour: Northern Heritage Loop
Mazar Calm Escape 2 days

Easy escape

Mazar Calm Escape

Short stay with food, reflection, and a gentle introduction to the city.

Duration 2 days From $300–$440
Plan This Tour: Mazar Calm Escape