The Topdara stupa, a domed Buddhist monument of stone, seen from a distance among dry mountains

Gateway to the Hindu Kush

Parwan

Topdara, the largest standing stupa in Afghanistan, the vineyards of the Shomali Plain and the Salang road into the Hindu Kush, all within reach of Kabul.

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What is a Parwan tour like?

Short answer

Parwan, just north of Kabul, is home to the Topdara stupa, the town of Charikar and the Salang road into the Hindu Kush. Al Hamid Tour and Travel's Parwan & Salang Road 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 April to October.

Parwan begins where the Shomali Plain meets the Hindu Kush, about an hour and a half north of Kabul. Its capital, Charikar, is known for its pottery and for the grapes of the plain around it, and just outside the town stands Topdara, a Buddhist stupa from the early centuries AD and the largest still standing in Afghanistan. Further north are the palace Amir Habibullah Khan built at Jabal Saraj in 1907 and the Salang road, which climbs to a tunnel at nearly 3,400 metres.

Typical stay1 to 2 days
Best forDay trips, scenery and Buddhist heritage
Best seasonApril to October
Pottery stalls piled with clay pots along a busy street in the bazaar of Charikar
Day 1 Charikar

Drive north across the Shomali Plain to Charikar, see the Topdara stupa and walk the pottery and fruit bazaar, then return to Kabul.

A car driving towards the arched entrance of the Salang tunnel, with a snow-covered mountainside above it
Day 2 Salang road

Drive past Jabal Saraj and Amir Habibullah Khan's palace and up the Salang road into the Hindu Kush, then back to Kabul.

What do you see on a Parwan tour?

On a Parwan tour you see the Topdara stupa, Charikar bazaar, the Shomali Plain, Jabal Saraj palace and the Salang Pass and tunnel. Each is described below.

The Topdara stupa

A Buddhist stupa of the early centuries AD on a hillside west of Charikar, one of the best preserved in Afghanistan.

Charikar bazaar

The provincial capital's bazaar, known for its pottery, its knives and the grapes and raisins of the Shomali Plain.

The Shomali Plain

The vineyard country between Kabul and Charikar, famous for its grapes for centuries.

Jabal Saraj palace

The palace of Amir Habibullah Khan at Jabal Saraj, at the foot of the mountains, from the early 20th century.

The Salang Pass and tunnel

The road climbs to the Salang tunnel, at about 3,400 metres one of the highest road tunnels in the world, opened in 1964.

What is the history and culture of Parwan?

Parwan was the heart of ancient Kapisa. Alexander the Great founded a city in the area, Alexandria in the Caucasus, and at Begram, the summer capital of the Kushan kings in the 1st–3rd centuries, archaeologists found the Begram treasure of Indian ivories, Roman glass and Chinese lacquer.

In 1841 Charikar was the scene of a siege in the First Anglo-Afghan War. The Salang road, built with Soviet help in the 1960s, made Parwan the main gateway from Kabul to the north. The villages of the Shomali Plain are known for their grapes, mulberries and pottery.

What does a Parwan 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 Parwan tours can you book?

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

Set Parwan 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
Parwan & Salang Road2 days · 1 night$300–$440Mountain scenery

Parwan tour questions

How many days do I need in Parwan?

Most travelers spend 1 to 2 days in Parwan. Our one tour here, Parwan & Salang Road, takes 2 days, and it can be shortened or extended around your flights.

How much does a Parwan tour cost?

Parwan trips start from $300 per person. Al Hamid Tour and Travel's Parwan & Salang Road (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 Parwan?

April to October. That is when Parwan is at its best, and when we run most departures there.

How do I get to Parwan?

Charikar, the capital of Parwan, is about 62 km north of Kabul by road, roughly an hour and a half. The Salang Pass is about 90 km north of Kabul, further up the same road toward Mazar-e-Sharif. There are no flights.

Can I visit Parwan as a day trip from Kabul?

Yes. Charikar and the Topdara stupa are about an hour and a half north of Kabul by road, so they fit in one day, and the Salang road makes a second day. Both days start and end in Kabul.

Who is a Parwan tour best for?

Day trips, scenery and Buddhist heritage. An easy addition to a Kabul stay for travelers who want mountain scenery and early Buddhist history without a long journey.

What is included in a Parwan 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 Parwan 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 Parwan?

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

Planning a trip to Parwan: 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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Parwan & Salang Road 2 days

Mountain scenery

Parwan & Salang Road

Two day trips from Kabul: the Topdara stupa and Charikar's bazaar, then Jabal Saraj and the Salang road into the Hindu Kush.

Duration 2 days From $300–$440
Plan This Tour: Parwan & Salang Road