Bright green fields and lines of trees in the Logar River valley, below bare brown mountains

Buddhist archaeology

Logar

Mes Aynak: a Buddhist city of monasteries and stupas built over a copper mountain, about 40 km south-east of Kabul.

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What is a Logar tour like?

Short answer

Logar, directly south of Kabul, is home to Mes Aynak, a Buddhist city of the 3rd to 7th centuries built over a copper deposit; visits need a special permit. Al Hamid Tour and Travel's Kabul & Mes Aynak takes 2 days and costs $300 to $440 per person, with an English-speaking guide, private transport and hotels with breakfast. The best season is spring to autumn.

Logar is the farming valley of the Logar River, directly south of Kabul. Its best-known site is Mes Aynak, a Buddhist settlement of the 3rd to 7th centuries with monasteries, stupas and statues, found on top of one of the world's largest copper deposits. Conservation work there is still going on, and the site can only be visited with a special permit from the authorities, which we apply for; if it is not granted for your dates, we change the plan before you travel.

Typical stay1 day
Best forBuddhist archaeology
Best seasonSpring to autumn
Terraced garden with a stone water channel and pavilion in Kabul
Day 1 Kabul

Arrive in Kabul and see the old city and Babur's Gardens with your guide.

Headless Buddha statues, one seated and one standing, with traces of gold paint, in the ruins at Mes Aynak
Day 2 Mes Aynak

Drive about an hour south into Logar for Mes Aynak, with the permit we arrange, and back to Kabul by evening.

What do you see on a Logar tour?

On a Logar tour you see Mes Aynak, the Logar River valley, Pul-e Alam and the village qalas. Each is described below.

Mes Aynak

A Buddhist city of the 3rd to 7th centuries, with monasteries, stupas and painted statues, built over one of the world's largest copper deposits. A visit needs a special permit.

The Logar River valley

Farmland, orchards and villages along the Logar River, which flows north to join the Kabul River.

Pul-e Alam

The provincial capital, about 60 km south of Kabul on the road to Gardez.

The village qalas

Large mud-brick qalas, the walled family compounds of the Afghan countryside, among fields and poplars.

What is the history and culture of Logar?

Copper has been mined at Mes Aynak since ancient times, and between the 3rd and 7th centuries a Buddhist city grew up there, rich from the copper trade, with monasteries, stupas and workshops. A Chinese company won the right to mine the deposit in 2007, and archaeologists have been excavating the site since 2009.

Logar is a farming valley that has long fed Kabul with grain, fruit and vegetables. Its people are Pashtun and Tajik, and its villages of mud-brick qalas and orchards line the river.

What does a Logar 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 Logar tours can you book?

You can book one set Logar tour, the Kabul & Mes Aynak. They take 2 days and cost $300 to $440 per person, with a guide, private transport and hotels with breakfast.

Set Logar 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
Kabul & Mes Aynak2 days · 1 night$300–$440Buddhist archaeology

Logar tour questions

How many days do I need in Logar?

Most travelers spend 1 day in Logar. Our one tour here, Kabul & Mes Aynak, takes 2 days, and it can be shortened or extended around your flights.

How much does a Logar tour cost?

Logar trips start from $300 per person. Al Hamid Tour and Travel's Kabul & Mes Aynak (2 days) costs $300 to $440 per person. 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 Logar?

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

How do I get to Logar?

Mes Aynak is about 40 km south-east of Kabul and Pul-e Alam, the capital of Logar, about 60 to 70 km south, so Logar is visited as a day trip from Kabul. Mes Aynak needs a special permit, which we apply for when you book.

Can I visit Mes Aynak?

Only with a special permit. Mes Aynak is an archaeological site on a copper mine and is not open to the public. Al Hamid Tour and Travel applies for the permit when you book; if it is not granted for your dates, we tell you before you travel and change or drop the Logar day.

Who is a Logar tour best for?

Buddhist archaeology. For travelers with a strong interest in archaeology who are happy to plan around a permit.

What is included in a Logar 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 Logar 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 Logar?

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

Planning a trip to Logar: 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

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Kabul & Mes Aynak 2 days

Buddhist archaeology

Kabul & Mes Aynak

A day in Kabul, then a day trip south into Logar to the Buddhist city of Mes Aynak, with the special permit we apply for.

Duration 2 days From $300–$440
Plan This Tour: Kabul & Mes Aynak