Feb’23 : 05-day trip: Buzkashi Tour

Suggested 05-day trip: Buzkashi Tour

Trip assumed to originate from Kabul Airport

No. Of people: 2+

Date: Feb. 23-27, 2023

Price: USD 950 / pers

Day 1 Kabul arrival and city tour

Date: Feb. 23, 2023

Arrival and briefing at the hotel and then we will take a walk around the town. We will visit an 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 Flight to Mazar-e-Sharif and Buzkashi

Date: Feb. 24, 2023

Flight to Mazar in the morning and Buzkashi. Visit the Majestic Blue Tiled Mosque of Ali in Mazar-e-Sharif and Buzkashi in the afternoon. Buzkashi is the national sport and a "passion" in Afghanistan where it is often played on Fridays and matches draw thousands of fans. Whitney Azoy notes in his book Buzkashi: Game and Power in Afghanistan that "leaders are men who can seize control by means foul and fair and then fight off their rivals. The Buzkashi rider does the same". Buzkashi (literally "goat pulling" in Persian), is the Central Asian sport in which horse-mounted players attempt to place a goat or calf carcass in a goal. It is played predominantly by Turkic peoples.

Day 3 Balkh and Historical Minaret of Dawlatabad

Date: Feb. 25, 2023

We will start the day with a visit to the masterpiece of engineering from 11th century Menaret of Junban in Dawlatabad. 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 built 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.

Overnight at Arsalan Hotel

Day 4 The Historical gate of Charkent

Date: Feb. 26, 2023

Journey to visit the historical Gate of Charkent from 12th century. A agate that stopped Ghinghiz khan army while they wanted to invade the mountains of Charkent, Russian in 1988 and Taliban in 1998. You will have a walk through the villages and greet people. Then hit the road towards the airport to make the Flight to Kabul.

Overnight at Arsalan Hotel

Day 5 Sunday, Fly back (Good-bye)

Date: Feb. 27, 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) to easily process your visa through our company. But, it is not a requirement for the tourist visa when you fill the form in the Afghanistan embassy. Most of the time they don’t even ask for a LoI.

Insurance:

Better to visit: www.firstalliedtravelinsurance.com for your insurance in Afghanistan.

Included in the trip: (All inclusive)

-   All accommodations.

-   English speaking local guide.

-   Transportations.

-   Meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner).

-   Drinks (water and soft drinks).

-   Round trip flight tickets from Kabul to Mazar-e-Sharif and back.

-   All site entries.

-   All pick-ups and drops.

Tour Guide:

There will be an Afghan English speaking guide for you during the whole trip.

Accommodation:

Comfort, location, character and historical interest is considered and it will be based on you having a private room.

Transportation:

As your comfort and enjoyment of the journey is the first priority, we choose our vehicles and drivers based on local acceptance, road conditions and the length of journey.