Kabul has more to offer than just being somewhere to arrive and depart from. Not only are there some of the most famous sights such as the Babur Gardens, Kabul Museum, British Cemetery, the Bird Market, Chicken Street and several mosques. There is also an increasingly cosmopolitan feel as young people grow in confidence, reclaiming their city with hip cafes, modern fashion and trendy restaurants.
Known for its natural beauty, Bamiyan was once home to the largest Buddha statues in the world, until they were blown up by the Taliban (first time around). Parts of the statues still remain, and the beauty of the sight more than makes up for the statues no longer being there.
Mazar has always been a favourite for tourists visiting Afghanistan as it is one of the safest parts of the country. It also has the country’s most famous sight – the famous Blue Mosque, the Shrine of Ali. It's also a great springboard for the ancient city of Balkh and the Buddhist caves at Samangan.
Herat is famous for its citadel. It is also in the part of the country where the culture, cuisine and architecture are mostly Persian influenced.
Previously difficult and dangerous to travel to, Kandahar is the spiritual home of the Taliban and the former Taliban capital. Before the recent takeover, Kandahar was also the kidnapping capital of Afghanistan and was the riskiest part of the country to go to, but now is as safe as other cities in Afghanistan to visit.
At Afghan Expeditions we are passionate for culture. One of Afghanistan’s most attractive assets is its different peoples. In the dry South we find the mighty Pashtun tribes with many nomadic herders known as Kuchi. Deeper south we can find nomadic Baloch tribes living in the desert. In Central Afghanistan we find the Hazara tribes, descendants of Mongolian nomadic tribes. In the northern plains we can meet Uzbek and Turkmen tribes, famous for their traditionally woven carpets. Finally, in the remote mountains of Eastern Afghanistan we find the Nuristani ethnic minority, living from agriculture and wood carving.