16-Day Afghanistan Cultural Tour through Kabul, Herat and Bamiyan

Arrive in Kabul. Spend your first afternoon visiting the historic Babur Gardens (Bagh-e Babur), the resting place of the first Mughal Emperor. Walk up to Bibi Mahro Hill for a panoramic sunset view of the sprawling city.

Dive into history at the National Museum of Afghanistan. Afterward, explore the sensory overload of the Ka Faroshi Bird Market, a narrow, ancient alleyway unchanged for centuries.

Drive east from Kabul through the dramatic Kabul Gorge (Tang-e Gharu) down to the warmer plains of Nangarhar Province. Explore Jalalabad city, known for its lush orange groves and parks. Visit the Mausoleum of King Amanullah Khan and take a relaxing late afternoon walk near the Darunta Dam. Return to Kabul for the night.

Depart Kabul early and head south along the highway to Ghazni. Marvel at the 12th-century Minarets of Ghazni, decorated with intricate terracotta geometry. Walk through the imposing ruins of the Ghazni Citadel (Ghaznain) and pay your respects at the Tomb of Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni. Overnight in Ghazni.

Continue south to Kandahar Province, the historic cultural heart of the Pashtun region. Visit the Shrine of the Cloak of the Prophet Muhammad (Kherqa Sharif) and the beautiful tiled Mausoleum of Ahmad Shah Durrani, the founder of modern Afghanistan.

Explore the hilltop Baba Wali Shrine, offering sweeping views over the Arghandab River Valley. Spend your afternoon exploring the bustling local markets famous for pomegranates and traditional Khamak embroidery.

Take a long travel day across the western highway, or opt for a domestic flight if available, to Herat. Spend the evening seeing the exterior of the Great Mosque of Herat (Jami Masjid) illuminated at night.

Spend a full day exploring Herat's rich Persian-influenced architecture. Tour the massive Herat Citadel (Qala Iktyaruddin), visit the tile-making workshop at the mosque, and see the tilting Musalla Minarets built by Queen Gawhar Shad.

Travel from the west into the peaceful central highlands of Bamiyan. Stand before the massive Buddha Niches where the giant statues once carved into the cliffside stood. Climb the ruins of Shahr-e Gholghola (The City of Screams) for an incredible 360-degree view of the valley.

Take a day trip to the breathtaking Band-e Amir National Park. Walk along the shores of these six naturally formed, deep-blue volcanic lakes trapped within towering canyon walls.

Head north via the dramatic, high-altitude Salan Pass, or through the scenic road from Bamiyan, into Balkh Province. Arrive in Mazar-i-Sharif.

Spend the day at the magnificent Blue Mosque (Shrine of Hazrat Ali), the spiritual center of the north, famous for its thousands of white doves and dazzling blue tile mosaic work. In the afternoon, visit the nearby ancient ruins of Balkh city (Mother of Cities), including the 9th-century Haji Piyada Mosque.

Drive south from Mazar-i-Sharif into neighboring Samangan Province. Explore Takht-i Rustam, an incredible and unique 4th-century Buddhist stupa carved completely out of a solid rock hilltop, along with an adjacent cave monastery complex. Drive back toward Kabul or overnight nearby.

Drive into the stunning Panjshir Valley, famous for its dramatic mountain peaks, roaring Panjshir River, and emerald mines. Visit the Mausoleum of Ahmad Shah Massoud, which sits prominently overlooking the valley. Stop by old rusted Soviet tanks lining the roads - remnants of the valley's heavily contested history. Return to Kabul for your final nights.

Spend your final full day in Kabul visiting the grand, restored Darul Aman Palace. Do your final souvenir shopping for world-famous Afghan rugs, lapis lazuli jewelry, and saffron on Chicken Street.

Transfer to Kabul International Airport for your departure flight home.