Green-domed shrine and its courtyard path in Kandahar

Historic south route

Kandahar

Ancient bazaars, pomegranate orchards, and a storied city that shaped Afghan identity.

Book

What is a Kandahar tour like?

Short answer

Kandahar is the historic city of the south, where modern Afghanistan was founded in 1747, known for its shrines, bazaars and pomegranates. Al Hamid Tour and Travel runs three set Kandahar tours, 2 to 4 days, from $300 to $880 per person, with an English-speaking guide, private transport and hotels with breakfast. The best season is spring and autumn.

Kandahar is the cultural heartland of southern Afghanistan, known for its sacred shrines, fragrant pomegranates, and deep historical roots.

Typical stay2 to 3 days
Best forCulture and sacred sites
Best seasonSpring and autumn
White mosque with two tall minarets in Kandahar
Day 1 Kandahar

Arrive and explore the central bazaars and historic shrines.

Kandahar pomegranates piled for sale
Day 2 Kandahar

Visit the orchards, old city walls, and a guided heritage walk.

Market street in Kandahar
Day 3 Kandahar

Wrap up with local crafts, food, and a final market visit.

What do you see on a Kandahar tour?

On a Kandahar tour you see the Shrine of the Cloak, the tomb of Ahmad Shah Durrani, Chilzina, the Forty Steps, Old Kandahar, the Arghandab orchards and the bazaars. Each is described below.

The Shrine of the Cloak

The shrine that holds a cloak believed to have belonged to the Prophet Muhammad, brought to Kandahar by Ahmad Shah Durrani. The cloak itself is very rarely shown.

The tomb of Ahmad Shah Durrani

The blue-domed mausoleum of the founder of modern Afghanistan, beside the Shrine of the Cloak.

Chilzina, the Forty Steps

Forty steps cut into a rock outcrop on the western edge of the city on the orders of the Mughal emperor Babur, with his inscriptions at the top. An edict of the Indian emperor Ashoka, in Greek and Aramaic, was found on the same hill in 1958.

Old Kandahar

The ruins of the old walled city below Chilzina, destroyed by the Persian ruler Nader Shah in 1738.

The Arghandab orchards

The green Arghandab valley north-west of the city, famous for its pomegranates, picked in autumn.

The bazaars

The old bazaars of the city centre, for Kandahari embroidery, called khamak, and dried fruit.

What is the history and culture of Kandahar?

Kandahar may have been founded by Alexander the Great as one of his Alexandrias, and around 260 BC the Indian emperor Ashoka had an edict carved here in Greek and Aramaic. The Mughals and the Safavid Persians fought over the city for two centuries, and in 1738 Nader Shah destroyed the old city and built a new one nearby.

In 1747 Ahmad Shah Durrani was chosen king near Kandahar and founded the empire that became modern Afghanistan, with Kandahar as its capital until Timur Shah moved it to Kabul in 1776. Kandahar is the heart of Pashtun culture in the south, known for its poetry, its khamak embroidery and its pomegranates.

What does a Kandahar 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 Kandahar tours can you book?

You can book three set Kandahar tours: the Kandahar City Tour, the Sacred Kandahar and the Kandahar Extended, and one multi-city tour that passes through Kandahar. They take 2 to 5 days and cost $300 to $1,100 per person, with a guide, private transport and hotels with breakfast.

Set Kandahar 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
Kandahar City Tour3 days · 2 nights$450–$660Southern culture
Sacred Kandahar2 days · 1 night$300–$440Heritage
Kandahar Extended4 days · 3 nights$600–$880Slow south
Three Capitals Road5 days · 4 nights$750–$1,100Ghaznavid and Durrani capitals

Kandahar tour questions

How many days do I need in Kandahar?

Most travelers spend 2 to 3 days in Kandahar. Our packages here run from 2 to 4 days, and any of them can be shortened or extended around your flights.

How much does a Kandahar tour cost?

Kandahar trips start from $300 per person. Al Hamid Tour and Travel's set Kandahar packages cost $300 to $880 per person: Kandahar City Tour, 3 days, $450–$660; Sacred Kandahar, 2 days, $300–$440; Kandahar Extended, 4 days, $600–$880. 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 Kandahar?

Spring and autumn. That is when Kandahar is at its best, and when we run most departures there.

How do I get to Kandahar?

Kandahar is about an hour from Kabul by domestic flight, which we book for you. It is also linked to Kabul by the main national highway.

Who is a Kandahar tour best for?

Culture and sacred sites. Best for travelers who want to experience the deep cultural roots of southern Afghanistan.

What is included in a Kandahar 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 Kandahar 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 Kandahar?

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 Kandahar once you land. The visa fee itself is paid by you.

More about Kandahar: read our Kandahar city guide.

Planning a trip to Kandahar: Afghanistan visa & permits · Afghanistan travel permits · 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

Have a question about a Kandahar trip?

Leave a request

Other packages in Kandahar

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

See every private Afghanistan tour, with its price

Kandahar City Tour 3 days

Southern culture

Kandahar City Tour

Shrines, bazaars, and pomegranate orchards on a classic southern route.

Duration 3 days From $450–$660
Plan This Tour: Kandahar City Tour
Sacred Kandahar 2 days

Heritage

Sacred Kandahar

A short focused trip around the sacred landmarks and old city walls.

Duration 2 days From $300–$440
Plan This Tour: Sacred Kandahar
Kandahar Extended 4 days

Slow south

Kandahar Extended

More time for local culture, rural orchards, and a deeper southern experience.

Duration 4 days From $600–$880
Plan This Tour: Kandahar Extended