Buzkashi Season Tour — 5 days
The Buzkashi Season Tour is Al Hamid Tour and Travel's 5-day private tour to watch buzkashi, Afghanistan's national horseback game, in Mazar-e-Sharif, the game's home city, after two days in Kabul. It costs $1,000 to $1,350 per person, with an English-speaking guide, a private vehicle and driver, hotels with breakfast, and help with the visa letter and permits. Domestic flights between the regions are extra.
Buzkashi is Afghanistan's national game. Dozens of riders on horseback fight to grab a goat carcass, carry it clear of the pack and drop it in a scoring circle. It is played in winter, when it is cool enough for the horses, and the big games are on Fridays. Mazar-e-Sharif is the home of the game and the easiest place in the country to watch it.
Buzkashi Season Tour at a glance
- Length: 5 days
- Price: $1,000 - $1,350 per person
- Provinces: Kabul and Mazar-e-Sharif
- Starts and ends: Kabul
- Focus: Buzkashi and northern culture
The Buzkashi Season Tour, stage by stage
Days 1–2: Kabul
Kabul is where most international flights land and where the tour starts, with two days in the city before the flight north. In winter the flight is the reliable way to Mazar-e-Sharif: snow can close the road over the Salang Pass.
You see Kabul's museums and old streets, at an unhurried pace. This stage is our Kabul Heritage Walk (2 days). Kabul is where most trips through Afghanistan begin. We meet you at Kabul airport; airport pick-up and drop-off are included in every package.
Days 3–5: Mazar-e-Sharif
Mazar-e-Sharif is the home of buzkashi. On a winter Friday the riders and crowds gather for the week's big game.
You see a Friday buzkashi game, the Blue Mosque, old Balkh and calm courtyard walks. This stage is our Spiritual Route (3 days). 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.
How the Buzkashi Season Tour price is worked out
The price is the two stage packages added together:
- Kabul Heritage Walk (Kabul): 2 days, $350 - $500
- Spiritual Route (Mazar-e-Sharif): 3 days, $650 - $850
What the Buzkashi Season Tour price includes
- 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 can book the domestic ones for you), lunch and dinner, and the visa fee.
When to take the Buzkashi Season Tour
Buzkashi is a winter game, played from about November to March. Games are usually on Fridays and are not announced far ahead, so we set the dates so that a Friday falls during your days in Mazar-e-Sharif. Bad weather or local events can call a game off; the rest of the tour runs either way.
Buzkashi Season Tour: questions and answers
How long is the Buzkashi Season Tour?
5 days: Kabul (2 days), Mazar-e-Sharif (3 days). The days can be moved around your flights.
How much does the Buzkashi Season Tour cost?
$1,000 to $1,350 per person with Al Hamid Tour and Travel: the two stage packages added together. The final figure depends on group size and travel dates. Domestic flights between the regions are extra.
Where does the Buzkashi Season Tour go?
Kabul, where the tour starts; Mazar-e-Sharif, the home of buzkashi, with the Blue Mosque and old Balkh.
When is the best time for the Buzkashi Season Tour?
Buzkashi is a winter game, played from about November to March. Games are usually on Fridays and are not announced far ahead, so we set the dates so that a Friday falls during your days in Mazar-e-Sharif. Bad weather or local events can call a game off; the rest of the tour runs either way.
Is buzkashi still played in Afghanistan?
Yes. Buzkashi has carried on since 2021 and is played across the north every winter. Mazar-e-Sharif is the main place to watch it, usually on a Friday.
What is it like to watch buzkashi?
At the Friday games you stand with the crowd around the edge of the field; there is no seating. A game lasts a few hours. The riders sometimes charge toward the crowd, so stand back when play comes your way and follow your guide on where to stand. Dress warmly: it is outdoors, in winter.
What does the Buzkashi Season Tour price include?
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 can book the domestic ones for you), lunch and dinner, and the visa fee.
Do you arrange the Afghanistan visa?
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. It also handles the provincial travel permits for every stage once you land. The visa fee itself is paid by you.
Want to see buzkashi? Send us your dates and we will confirm the price and plan the route around the flights.