Highlands and blue lakes
Buddhas and Blue Lakes
A day in Kabul, then the road over the central highlands to the Buddha niches of Bamyan and the six blue lakes of Band-e Amir.
- Kabul1 night
- Bamyan3 nights
- Kabul1 night
$900–$1,320 per personall by road
Private tours · any date · from Kabul
Every route we run, with its length and price. All of them include an English-speaking guide, a private vehicle and driver, hotels with breakfast, and help with the visa letter and provincial permits. Not included: international and domestic flights (we book and ticket both for you), lunch and dinner, and the visa fee. Tell us your dates and we will fit any of these around your flights.
Prices checked on 2026-09-30 and quoted per person, in US dollars.
Our most asked-for routes, each with its days and nights, where you sleep and what it costs. Prices are per person, for a private tour on your dates.
Highlands and blue lakes
A day in Kabul, then the road over the central highlands to the Buddha niches of Bamyan and the six blue lakes of Band-e Amir.
$900–$1,320 per personall by road
Two historic cities
Kabul's gardens and old city, then an hour's flight west to Herat for the Great Mosque, the citadel and the leaning minarets of the Musalla.
$600–$880 per personflights extra
Ghaznavid and Durrani capitals
Kabul, a day on the Kandahar highway to the minarets and tombs of Ghazni, and a flight south to Kandahar's shrines, bazaars and orchards.
$750–$1,100 per personflights extra
Highlands and Timurid Herat
Bamyan's Buddha niches and the lakes of Band-e Amir by road, then a flight west to the mosques and bazaars of Herat.
$1,050–$1,540 per personflights extra
Highlands, the Salang and the north
Bamyan and Band-e Amir, then over the Salang Pass to Takht-e Rostam, the Blue Mosque of Mazar-e-Sharif and ancient Balkh.
$1,200–$1,760 per personflights extra
The best of Afghanistan
Kabul, Bamyan and Band-e Amir, the Salang Pass to Mazar-e-Sharif and Balkh, and Herat in the west: Afghanistan's best-known sights in eleven days.
$1,650–$2,420 per personflights extra
Published prices for similar routes, per person, from Afghan and international operators we checked in October 2026. Theirs sometimes include meals or flights; ours include the guide, a private vehicle and driver and hotels with breakfast, and leave out flights, lunch and dinner.
| Tour | Days and nights | Our price | Others, published |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buddhas and Blue Lakes | 6 days · 5 nights | $900–$1,320 | $850–$2,350 (4–6 days) |
| Gardens and Minarets | 4 days · 3 nights | $600–$880 | $836–$1,324 (4 days) |
| Three Capitals Road | 5 days · 4 nights | $750–$1,100 | $995–$1,395 (3 days) Their price includes the flights; ours does not. |
| Cliffs and Citadels | 7 days · 6 nights | $1,050–$1,540 | $1,500–$1,900 (7 days) |
| Hindu Kush Crossing | 8 days · 7 nights | $1,200–$1,760 | $1,100–$2,590 (7 days) |
| Heart of Asia Grand Tour | 11 days · 10 nights | $1,650–$2,420 | $2,200–$3,200 (8–10 days) |
Every tour we run, single provinces and multi-city routes. Choose a length, an interest or a region to narrow the list.
Our 6 multi-city tours are at the top of this page; choose a length, an interest or a region and they appear here too.
Highlands and blue lakes
A day in Kabul, then the road over the central highlands to the Buddha niches of Bamyan and the six blue lakes of Band-e Amir.
$900–$1,320 per person
Two historic cities
Kabul's gardens and old city, then an hour's flight west to Herat for the Great Mosque, the citadel and the leaning minarets of the Musalla.
$600–$880 per person
Ghaznavid and Durrani capitals
Kabul, a day on the Kandahar highway to the minarets and tombs of Ghazni, and a flight south to Kandahar's shrines, bazaars and orchards.
$750–$1,100 per person
Highlands and Timurid Herat
Bamyan's Buddha niches and the lakes of Band-e Amir by road, then a flight west to the mosques and bazaars of Herat.
$1,050–$1,540 per person
Highlands, the Salang and the north
Bamyan and Band-e Amir, then over the Salang Pass to Takht-e Rostam, the Blue Mosque of Mazar-e-Sharif and ancient Balkh.
$1,200–$1,760 per person
The best of Afghanistan
Kabul, Bamyan and Band-e Amir, the Salang Pass to Mazar-e-Sharif and Balkh, and Herat in the west: Afghanistan's best-known sights in eleven days.
$1,650–$2,420 per person
Silk Road history
The five provinces the Silk Road ran through in Afghanistan, from the Kabul crossroads to Bamyan, Herat, Balkh and the Badakhshan road toward China.
$2,300–$3,400 per person
Buzkashi and northern culture
Two days in Kabul, then three in Mazar-e-Sharif, the home of buzkashi, planned so that a Friday game falls during the stay.
$750–$1,100 per person
Kabul · City rhythm
Old city lanes, bazaars, gardens, and easy cafe time for a balanced city break.
$450–$660 per person
Kabul · History first
A shorter route with museums, old streets, and clear sightseeing without rushing.
$300–$440 per person
Kabul · Family-friendly
More time for food, shopping, and relaxed city planning for family travelers.
$600–$880 per person
Panjshir · Scenic drive
A quick escape along the emerald river with key viewpoints and village stops.
$300–$440 per person
Panjshir · Valley trekking
Trek deeper into the valley, camp by the river, and photograph the peaks.
$600–$880 per person
Panjshir · Photography
Built around the best light, angles, and viewpoints along the valley corridor.
$450–$660 per person
Parwan · Mountain scenery
Two day trips from Kabul: the Topdara stupa and Charikar's bazaar, then Jabal Saraj and the Salang road into the Hindu Kush.
$300–$440 per person
Logar · Buddhist archaeology
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.
$300–$440 per person
Bamyan · Nature first
The lakes, cliffs, and valley views at an easy pace for scenic travel lovers.
$750–$1,100 per person
Bamyan · Slow travel
A quiet route with open scenery, photography stops, and flexible time.
$600–$880 per person
Bamyan · Valley culture
Shorter package with local stories, gentle movement, and strong mountain views.
$450–$660 per person
Ghor · UNESCO expedition
Kabul, Bamyan and Band-e Amir on the way to the 12th-century Minaret of Jam, by 4x4 across the central highlands.
$1,120–$1,499 per person
Balkh (Mazar) · Pilgrimage
Blue Mosque, Balkh, and calm courtyard walks with a reflective pace.
$450–$660 per person
Balkh (Mazar) · Heritage loop
A broader route through northern heritage with more time for local sites.
$750–$1,100 per person
Balkh (Mazar) · Easy escape
Short stay with food, reflection, and a gentle introduction to the city.
$300–$440 per person
Samangan · Buddhist heritage
The carved stupa and monastery caves of Takht-e Rostam in Samangan, with the Blue Mosque of Mazar-e-Sharif and old Balkh.
$450–$660 per person
Herat · Architecture
Mosques, workshops, and old city lanes built around Herat's visual character.
$450–$660 per person
Herat · Deeper route
A longer west route with more time across heritage sites and cultural stops.
$1,050–$1,540 per person
Herat · City loop
Compact option with the citadel, bazaar life, and a clean short-trip feel.
$300–$440 per person
Ghazni · Compact history
A short trip that concentrates on the key monuments and old city story.
$300–$440 per person
Ghazni · Markets
A balanced route for history, local markets, and easy trip pacing.
$450–$660 per person
Ghazni · Longer route
More stops, more views, and extra time for the heritage landscape.
$600–$880 per person
Kandahar · Southern culture
Shrines, bazaars, and pomegranate orchards on a classic southern route.
$450–$660 per person
Kandahar · Heritage
A short focused trip around the sacred landmarks and old city walls.
$300–$440 per person
Kandahar · Slow south
More time for local culture, rural orchards, and a deeper southern experience.
$600–$880 per person
Helmand · Ghaznavid heritage
The 11th-century arch of Qala-e Bost and the palace ruins of Lashkari Bazar, from Kandahar to Lashkar Gah on the Helmand River.
$450–$660 per person
Nangarhar · River valley
River banks, orange groves, and the warm city pace of Jalalabad.
$300–$440 per person
Nangarhar · Nature and city
Add the dam, bazaars, and a longer riverside walk to the route.
$450–$660 per person
Nangarhar · East Afghanistan
A broader eastern route with Nangarhar as the centerpiece stop.
$600–$880 per person
Nuristan · Mountain trek
Cedar trails, ridge views, and overnight stays in traditional wooden guesthouses.
$640–$960 per person
Nuristan · Cultural immersion
A deep dive into village life, local traditions, and untouched mountain scenery.
$800–$1,200 per person
Nuristan · Quick entry
Reach the valley, see the forests and villages, and return on a guided short trip.
$320–$480 per person
Kunar · River valley
Up the green Kunar valley from Jalalabad to Asadabad, with a day along the river and its villages.
$450–$660 per person
Badakhshan · Expedition
The full Wakhan route — remote valleys, nomad encounters, and some of the world's most dramatic highland scenery.
$1,400–$1,800 per person
Badakhshan · Heritage and gems
Faizabad city, the historic lapis lazuli mines, and Kokcha River valley stops.
$800–$1,200 per person
Badakhshan · Mountain culture
A shorter introduction to the highlands, village stays, and alpine scenery.
$640–$960 per person
No tour matches all three. Clear a filter, or tell us what you want to see and we will plan it.
Not included: international and domestic flights (we book and ticket both for you), lunch and dinner, and the visa fee.
Al Hamid Tour and Travel's 36 set packages cost $300 to $1,800 per person. The least expensive start at $300 (Kabul Heritage Walk, Herat Bazaar & Citadel, Mazar Calm Escape, Ghazni Heritage Dash, Sacred Kandahar, Jalalabad River Route, Panjshir Valley Drive, Parwan & Salang Road, Kabul & Mes Aynak); the most expensive is the Wakhan Corridor Expedition at up to $1,800. Every price includes an English-speaking guide, a private vehicle and driver, hotels with breakfast, and help with the visa letter and provincial permits. Beyond single provinces, the 15-day Afghanistan Silk Road Journey combines five provinces for $2,300 to $3,400 per person; the 5-day Buzkashi Season Tour combines two provinces for $750 to $1,100 per person.
From 2 to 7 days: 10 of 2 days, 11 of 3 days, 8 of 4 days, 4 of 5 days, 3 of 7 days. Any of them can be shortened or extended around your flights, and several provinces can be combined into one trip, as the 15-day Afghanistan Silk Road Journey and the 5-day Buzkashi Season Tour do.
Kabul, Bamyan, Herat, Balkh (Mazar), Ghazni, Kandahar, Nangarhar, Nuristan, Panjshir, Badakhshan, Samangan, Ghor, Parwan, Helmand, Kunar, Logar.
Buddhas and Blue Lakes, 6 days · 5 nights, $900 to $1,320 per person; Gardens and Minarets, 4 days · 3 nights, $600 to $880 per person; Three Capitals Road, 5 days · 4 nights, $750 to $1,100 per person; Cliffs and Citadels, 7 days · 6 nights, $1,050 to $1,540 per person; Hindu Kush Crossing, 8 days · 7 nights, $1,200 to $1,760 per person; Heart of Asia Grand Tour, 11 days · 10 nights, $1,650 to $2,420 per person. Each is a private tour on your dates, with a guide, a private vehicle and driver and hotels with breakfast.
Not sure which one? Send us how many days you have and what you want to see, and we will suggest a route.
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