Apr’23 : 14-day trip Afghanistan and Minaret of Jam

 

14-day trip Afghanistan and Minaret of Jam

Trip assumed to originate from Kabul Airport

No. Of people: 2-10

 

Date: Apr. 10-23, 2023

 

Day 1 Kabul Arrival

Date: Apr. 10, 2023

Arrival and briefing at the hotel and Then you will have time to visit the bird Market known as the oldest part of Kabul where birds from all over the world is exhibited. It’s not only a bird market but a big portion of life like blacksmiths, sellers, old shops etc is out there. You will see various types people from different ethnicities and places of Afghanistan. Then visit an old turquoise-tiled mosque named Sakhi Shrine in the west of Kabul. This place is very sacred to Shia Muslims, who believe it to be the final resting-place of Hazrati Ali, the cousin of the Prophet Muhammad.

 

Overnight at Cedar Guesthouse

 

Day 2 Kabul-Bamyan

Date: Apr. 11, 2023

Early in the morning we will leave hotel hiting the road towards Bamyan and while in Bamyan we will have time to visit Buddha Niches. The Buddha’s of Bamyan were two 6th century monumental statues of standing Buddha carved into the side of a cliff in the Bamyan valley in the peaceful Hazarajat region of central Afghanistan and were dynamited and destroyed in March 2001 by the Taliban

 

Overnight at Noorbandqala Hotel

 

Day 3 Lapis Lazuli Blue lakes of Band-e-Ameer

Date: Apr. 12, 2023

Day five would be a day to visit the blue lakes of Band-e-Amir, a series of six deep blue lakes separated by natural dams made of travertine, a mineral deposit. The name Band-e Amir literally means "Commander's Dam" which is believed by some to be reference to Ali, the first Imam of Muslims (Shias) and the fourth Caliph of Islam (to Sunnis) and The area is dominated by ethnic Hazaras, who make up around 23% of Afghanistan's population. Band-e Amir was to become Afghanistan's first national park in the 1960s but this was delayed due to political crises and the decades of wars. In 2004, Band-e Amir was submitted for recognition as a World Heritage site. In 2009, Band-e Amir was finally declared Afghanistan's first national park. As of 2013 tourists visit the Band-e Amir National Park every year. Journey back to Bamyan.

 

Overnight at Noorbandqala Hotel

 

Day 4 Bamyan to Ghur (Minaret of Jam)

Apr. 13, 2023

Hitting the road as the journey will continue to visit 63 meters Minaret of Jam, the second tallest ancient minaret in the world, coming behind only the Qutb Minar in Delhi.

 

Overnight at a Local GH in Ghur

Day 5 Visit to Minaret of Jam 

Apr. 14, 2023

The tower is covered in elaborate designs: patterns of pentagons, hexagons, and diamonds, and a Kufic inscription in turquoise tiles. The minaret, a feature of Islamic architecture used to provide a vantage point for the call to prayer, is located in the Ghur province of central Afghanistan, at the confluence of the Jam Rud and Hari Rud rivers. It was built in 1194 by the Sultan Ghiyath al-Din Muhammad and is composed of four cylindrical shafts made of fired bricks. The result is an impressive structure, rearing out of an otherwise desolate valley, made all the more intriguing to archaeologists by the fact that the city that must once have surrounded as it is now buried.

Overnight at a Local GH in Ghur

 

Day 6 Drive back to Bamyan 

Apr. 15, 2023

Drive back to Bamyan.

Overnight at Noor-Band Qala Hotel

 

Day 7 Bamyan and around 

Apr. 16, 2023

Shahr-e Gholghola also (City of Screams) is 13th century city in Bamyan, Afghanistan which was conquered by Gengis Khan after months of surrounding. The ruins still remain close to the Bamyan town and Shahr-e Zuhak also known as The Red City is an historic city ruins in Bamyan, Afghanistan which was once home to 3,000 people. This city used to be primary defence for the basin. Another bonus visit to Dragon valley in Bamyan.

Overnight in Noor-Band Qala Hotel

 

Day 8 Bamyan to Mazar-e-Sharif

Date: Apr. 17, 2023

Your journey will continue by drive towards north of Afghanistan passing through Hindukush ranges from Salang a set of Tunnels built by Soviets in mid 1960s once it was the 2nd longest tunnel in the world. You will reach to Mazar-e-Sharif in the evening passing through 5 provinces Bamyan, Parwan, Bghlan, Samangan and Balkh and you will see alot.

 

Overnight at Arsalan Hotel

 

Day 9 Mazar-e-Sharif –Balkh

Date: Apr. 18, 2023

Journey to Balkh, an ancient city and centre of Buddhism, Sufism and Zoroastrianism in what is now northern Afghanistan. While in Balkh, you visit   Haji Piyada Mosque (the walking pilgrim) Tomb of Rabia Balkhi, a semi legendary figure of Persian literature and was possibly the first woman poet in the history of New Persian poetry,  Khoja Parsa Mosque and Bala Hisar, the ancient citadel build by Alexander the Great when he destroyed the Kurush (Persian empire) and crossed Amu Darya (Auxus River) in early  330, then married Rukhshana (Ruxana) in Bacteria (Balkh) and Ummul - Bilad (Mother of the cities) to Arabs.                                            

In the afternoon it is time to visit the Blue Tiled Mosque of Ali in Mazar-e-Sharif and the shrine of Hazrat Ali. This is one of the most famous, and most beautiful sacred sites in the Islamic world. The exquisitely-patterned decoration of the shrine, is set in an expansive white marble courtyard. Add the great flocks of white doves, and a dazzling blue sky, and you have one of the best photo locations in all of Central Asia.

 

Overnight at Arsalan Hotel

 

Day 10 Mazar-e-Sharif and Samangan

Date: Apr. 19, 2023

Journey to visit Takht-i Rustam (Haibak), literal meaning the throne of Rustam, named after Rustam, a king in Persian mythology, is a hilltop settlement, well-known archaeological site in Afghanistan, in the Takth i Rostam and the adjacent Buddhist caves and stupas on top of a hill, north of Hindu Kush passes. At this location, caves were hewn out of rocks and inhabited by Buddhists. The Buddhist stupa here is in the form of a mound. It represents the earliest link to the evolution of Buddhist architecture in Afghanistan.

 

Overnight at Arsalan Hotel

 

Day 11 Kabul and around

Date: Apr. 20, 2023

Flight to Kabul in the morning. Visit to Shah Do Shamshira (the king with two swords) Mosque at the heart of Kabul city built by the King Amanullah khan in the memory of the Arab King who forced Kabul people in to Islam in the early 683 with his two swords. In the Afternoon, The Gardens of Babur, locally called Bagh-e Babur is a historic park in Kabul and also the last resting-place of the first Mughal emperor Babur. The gardens are thought to have been developed around 1528 when Babur gave orders for the construction of an ‘avenue garden’ in Kabul, described in some detail in his memoirs, the Baburnama. Then we will take you for an overall view of Kabul city at Bibi Mahro Hills. Flight to Herat in the afternoon.

 

Overnight at Istiqlal Hotel

 

Day 12 Herat and Around

Date: Apr. 21, 2023

First thing we do is to visit the Masjidi Jami or Friday Mosque, built by the Ghurid ruler Ghiyas ad-Din Ghori in 1200 (597 AH), and, after his death, the building was continued by his brother and successor Muhammad of Ghor and a short visit to the Tile factory of Herat. We will have time for Herat citadel, dates back to 330 BC, when Alexander the Great and his army arrived to what is now Afghanistan after the Battle of Gaugamela. Many empires have used it as a headquarters in the last 2,000 years, and was destroyed and rebuilt many times over the centuries. A look around Herat Bazaar in the afternoon.

 

Overnight at Istiqlal Hotel

 

Day 13 Herat –Kabul

Date: Apr. 22, 2023

Tomb of Goharshad and Minarets of Herat, a much larger complex the Mosque and Madrassa of Gawharshad. However, those architectural monuments were dynamited by officers of the British Indian Army in 1885, to prevent its use as a fortress if a Russian army tried to invade India. But hopefully, the Tomb and minarets are still standing. In the afternoon we will guide you to Guzargah Mosque and Puli Malaan, the fine old 22-arched bridge, believed to have been constructed by the Seljuks in the early 12th century. Local believe it is built by two sisters named Bibi Hur and Bibi Noor. Flight to Kabul in the late afternoon.

 

Overnight at Cedar Guesthouse

 

Day 14 Fly back (Good-bye)

Date: Apr. 23, 2023

We will make sure to drop you at the airport on-time in order to

make your flight back home.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

-      Local clothing: (Hijab for women) will be very helpful as it doesn’t only blend you in, respect to culture and our traditional outfit etc. but it creates a happy friendly atmosphere while locals see you wearing Afghanistan like attire.  

-      Locations safe: Normally the locations you will be visiting are safe and pre security assessed. Although you always cooperate with your guide in case of any emergency cases while the guide asks you to leave or jump in the car and s/he can always explain later.

-      People praying at the mosque: you will visit mosques during your visit and you might find people praying. Please never cross from the front of the person praying as it ruins the prayer. Sides and behind the person praying is fine.

-      Some students and young people ask questions: At the sites you will find some people trying to approach intending to talk to you. They normally ask questions like who you are, why you are in Afghanistan. It’s always OK to talk to them, tell them what your name is, you are a tourist and you coming from any country you are but please always keep your address, hotel, and itinerary secrete with you. Sometime they will ask for Facebook, WhatsApp etc. You can share just to keep the conversation smooth or friendly but it’s up to you reject them later.

-      Drink bottled water: Please always feel free to ask your guide for bottled water. The water from the tub in your hotel room is OK to take a shower, rinse your mouth, etc.

-      No photos of women, big military walls with barbed wires, security cameras etc. Women don’t like cameras in Afghanistan. You can always ask for permission if you wanted to photograph people and ask your guide if you are at the right place for photography.

-      No money for beggars: You will see beggars coming to you. You might want to help them and try to be kind to them but soon you will see loads of them trying to mob you. Please never offer anything to beggars and not promote beggism anymore in Afghanistan.

-      Change local money: You can always ask your guide to change local currency for you. Any time needed. 

-      Local time: Make sure you have the local time.

-      Question: Feel free to ask any questions any time from your guide, as much as you want.

 

Visas:

We can send you a Letter of Invitation (LoI) from our company to help with your visa application. Though not strictly speaking a requirement for a tourist visa, most Afghan Embassies and Consulates will ask for this when you you make your application. We will also send you a copy of our Registered Licence as an Afghan Governement approved Tour Operator.

Insurance:

For your travel insurance whilst in Afghanistan, contact any of the following High-Risk Destination/Activity Travel Insurance Providers:

 

Clements Travel Insurance 

https://www.clements.com/?fbclid=IwAR2ve4K72ecohJE2tOno7xQ6tweVHTDz1HMUJRw3u8oKHM7BINvQ-XpuWDM

 

New York International Group http://www.nyig.com/ 

 

Global Underwriters Travel Insurance https://www.globalunderwriters.com/

 

Global Rescue https://www.globalrescue.com/ 

 

Our tours are “all-inclusive”. Included in the trip:

 -   All accommodation.

 -   English-speaking local guide.

 -   All transportation.

 -   All meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner).

 -   All drinks (water and soft drinks).

 -   Round-trip domestic airfares Kabul-Herat/Mazar-e-Sharif to Kabul.

 -   All site entries.

 -   All pick-ups and drop-offs.

You will not need to spend any additional money whilst in Afghanistan.

 

Tour Guide:

There will be a local English-speaking guide accompanying you throughout the whole tour.

 

Accommodation:

All accomodation is based on you having a private room in a standard, secure hotel or guest house. All the accomodation we use has armed 24/7 security.

 

Transportation:

We use our own very experienced drivers and their well-maintained vehicles, for all your transfers and road trips. They will expertly navigate the often-challenging road conditions and traffic of Afghanistan and ensure you have a safe and comfortable journey.

 

Looking forward to welcoming you to our beautiful and fascinating country!