10-Day Afghanistan Heritage Tour with Bamyan, Herat and Band-e Amir

1

Day 01

Arrival in Kabul and First City Discoveries

• Pick up from Kabul International Airport.
• Arrival, arrangements, and check-in at the hotel.
• Visit a tailor to have a local Afghani outfit made (optional).
• Visit the old bird market, which is more than 100 years old, walk around Mandavi Bazaar, and talk to local people.
• Enjoy a short visit to Shah do Shamshera Mosque and the Ethnographic Research Museum - flexible.
• Visit one of the beautiful blue mosques in Kabul, the Shrine of Sakhi, as well as BiBi Mehro Hill (the Taliban big white flag).
• Overnight in the hotel.

2

Day 02

Journey to Bamyan and Ancient Ruins

• Start the trip to Bamyan; it is around 3 and a half hours of driving time.
• Arrival, permit arrangements, and check-in at the hotel.
• Visit the ruins of Gholghola City, the "City of Screams," the Buddha statues - the 6th-century monumental Buddhist statues carved into the cliffs of the Bamyan Valley - and Zuhak City, also known as the Red City.
• Walk around Bamyan city and enjoy the warm hospitality of the local people - flexible based on the time.
• Arrange local Bamyan food, Kolokhi - potato and chicken meals - if interested.
• Overnight in the hotel.

3

Day 03

Band-e Amir Blue Lakes Excursion

• Continue the tour to one of the most stunning and beautiful places in Afghanistan, the country's first national park - the Band-e Amir blue lakes.
• Walk around the lakes, with boat riding, horse riding, and swimming available as optional activities.
• Visit Dragon Valley / Shah Foladi Valley (optional).
• Overnight in the hotel.

4

Day 04

Scenic Drive from Bamyan to Mazar-i-Sharif

• Start the early morning trip to Mazar-i-Sharif.
• It will be around 10-11 hours of driving time with beautiful views.
• Arrival, arrangements, and check-in at the hotel.
• Overnight in the hotel.

5

Day 05

Mazar-i-Sharif and Ancient Balkh

• Visit the Blue Mosque (Shrine of Hazrat Ali - one of the most important religious sites in Afghanistan), then walk around the city and explore people's daily life.
• Continue the tour to Balkh district, visiting the ruins of Nuh Gunbad Mosque - one of Afghanistan's oldest Islamic monuments - the mausoleum of Rabia Balkhi, known as one of the first female poets of Persian literature, the Green Mosque, Balkh ancient city, and the ruins of Burj Ayaraan, the defensive wall of Balkh ancient city.
• Overnight in the hotel.

6

Day 06

Samangan Heritage Sites and Return to Kabul

• Start the early morning trip to Samangan Province.
• Visit the ruins of Jahan Numa Palace, Takht-e Rustam Stupa, and Takht-e Bano.
• Continue the land trip to Kabul, crossing the Salang Pass, one of Afghanistan's high-altitude mountain routes through the Hindu Kush mountain range.
• It will be around 10-12 hours of touring and driving time with beautiful views.
• Overnight in the hotel.

7

Day 07

Flight to Herat and Old City Landmarks

• Flight to Herat (9:30-11:00 AM, Kam Air).
• Arrival, permit arrangements, and check-in at the hotel.
• Visit the Citadel of Herat, also known as Arg-e Herat, with origins dating back to the time of Alexander the Great around 330 BC, the Friday Mosque, the Tile Factory, and walk around the handicraft shops if interested in shopping.
• Visit Bam-e Herat - Takht-e Safar for views over Herat city.
• Overnight in the hotel.

8

Day 08

Herat Monuments and Return to Kabul

• Visit the Musalla Complex, including the Minaret of Herat, the Tomb of Gowher Shad Begum, and Amir Ali Shir Navai, as well as the Jihad Museum and the Shrine of Khawja Abdullah Ansari.
• Visit the Old Herat Bazaar, including the ancient city, Mukhtar Zara Caravanserai, and Attarbashi House, an old Herat house.
• Visit the Malan Bridge, then drive to the airport.
• Flight to Kabul (14:15-15:30 PM, Ariana Airline).
• Overnight in the hotel.

9

Day 09

Kabul Museums, Gardens, and Valley Views

• Visit the National Museum of Afghanistan.
• Go to Darul Aman Palace, Babur Garden, and Toop Hill for a stunning view of the houses on the mountains.
• Walk around the city and talk to local people, if interested.
• Visit Chicken Street, the handicrafts center, for souvenir shopping if interested - flexible.
• Visit Qargha Lake, then continue the tour to the beautiful Paghman Valley and palaces, based on the remaining time.
• Overnight in the hotel.

10

Day 10

Departure from Kabul

• Drop off at Kabul International Airport. Your drop-off will be arranged based on your departure flight time.