Small GroupSeasonalKabul · Bamiyan · Band-e Amir · Herat
Classic Afghanistan
Kabul's gardens, the cliffs of Bamiyan, the lakes of Band-e Amir and Timurid Herat.
10 days2–10 people
Sample price from
$2,950
Bamiyan Province
Bamiyan
A high valley of sandstone cliffs, ancient niches and golden poplars.
Set at 2,500 metres in the central highlands, Bamiyan was once a great stop on the Silk Road. Its cliffs are honeycombed with monastic caves, and its valleys open onto farmland ringed by the Koh-i-Baba range.
History & culture
Between the 3rd and 10th centuries Bamiyan flourished as a Buddhist centre where Indian, Persian and Hellenistic art met. The cultural landscape is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Highlights
- The Buddha niches and cliff caves
- Shahr-e Gholghola, the City of Screams
- Shahr-e Zuhak, the Red City
- Village walks among poplar groves
Best time to visit
May to October
Journeys
Tours including Bamiyan
Questions
How do travellers reach Bamiyan?
Typically by domestic flight or a full-day overland drive from Kabul, depending on current conditions.
How cold does it get?
Nights are cool even in summer; winters are very cold and snowy.
Keep exploring
