pakistan tour afghanistan

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A Journey Through Afghanistan and Pakistan (A Premium Tour)

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• Christmas & New Year

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Enjoy a tour focused solely on your travel group

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• Introduction
• Day 1 Islamabad Arrival
• Day 2 Afghanistan Visa Processing & Taxila Museum
• Day 3 Katas Raj temple and Khewra
• Day 4 Islamabad - Kabul
• Day 5 Guided tour to Kabul
• Day 6 Kabul - Bamyan
• Day 7 Band e Amir Lake
• Day 8 Return to Kabul
• Day 9 Mazar-e-Sharif
• Day 10 Mazar e Sharif
• Day 11 Kabul
• Day 12 Jalalabad
• Day 13 Jalalabad
• Day 14 Return to Kabul
• Day 15 Herat Valley
• Day 16 Explore Herat
• Day 17 Fly back to Kabul
• Day 18 Fly back to Islamabad Pakistan
• Day 19 Fly to Skardu
• Day 20 Explore Skardu
• Day 21 Road trip to Gilgit city
• Day 22 Road trip to Hunza Valley
• Day 23 Explore Hunza Valley
• Day 24 Explore Upper Hunza
• Day 25 Fly back to Islamabad
• Day 26 Fly back to your home country :)

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What's Included

• Accommodation
• Additional Services

Where You'll Stay

Accommodation details are subject to availability and may change

Reviews About This Operator

• Tour Operator Exploria 4.9
• Asif · 15th December 2023 I visited Skardu with my friends this Autumn on a 5 day tour. The experience was so Amazing. Exploria was very good... Show more
• Bruno · 4th October 2023 I went to Pakistan with my daughter in September 2023 and the trip was very well organized. They sorted out a guide... Show more
• Talha · 2nd October 2023 Great service by Exploria tours, they took care of everything from flights, accommodation, an itinerary for our 3 day... Show more

Dates & Availability

Pay-by-instalments

Take advantage of our 0% interest instalment plan on selected departures. Learn More

• Upcoming departures
• August 2024
• September 2024
• October 2024
• November 2024
• December 2024
• January 2025
• February 2025
• Get Instant Confirmation Thursday 1 Aug, 2024 Monday 26 Aug, 2024 English Multiple Room Types €8,748 Confirm Dates
• Get Instant Confirmation Sunday 1 Sep, 2024 Thursday 26 Sep, 2024 English Multiple Room Types €8,748 0% Interest Instalments Confirm Dates
• Get Instant Confirmation Tuesday 1 Oct, 2024 Saturday 26 Oct, 2024 English Multiple Room Types €8,748 0% Interest Instalments Confirm Dates
• Get Instant Confirmation Friday 1 Nov, 2024 Tuesday 26 Nov, 2024 English Multiple Room Types €8,748 0% Interest Instalments Confirm Dates
• Get Instant Confirmation Sunday 1 Dec, 2024 Thursday 26 Dec, 2024 English Multiple Room Types €8,748 0% Interest Instalments Confirm Dates
• Get Instant Confirmation Wednesday 1 Jan, 2025 Sunday 26 Jan, 2025 English Multiple Room Types €8,748 0% Interest Instalments Confirm Dates
• Get Instant Confirmation Saturday 1 Feb, 2025 Wednesday 26 Feb, 2025 English Multiple Room Types €8,748 0% Interest Instalments Confirm Dates
• Get Instant Confirmation Saturday 1 Mar, 2025 Wednesday 26 Mar, 2025 English Multiple Room Types €8,748 0% Interest Instalments Confirm Dates
• Get Instant Confirmation Tuesday 1 Apr, 2025 Saturday 26 Apr, 2025 English Multiple Room Types €8,748 0% Interest Instalments Confirm Dates
• Get Instant Confirmation Thursday 1 May, 2025 Monday 26 May, 2025 English Multiple Room Types €8,748 0% Interest Instalments Confirm Dates

Frequently Asked Questions

We are there for you! If you have any questions about this tour, then please don't hesitate to contact us 24/7 and we will get back to you latest within 2 hours!

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Good to Know

• Currencies ؋ Afghani Afghanistan ₨ Pakistan Rupee Pakistan

As a traveller from USA, Canada, England, Australia, New Zealand you will need an adaptor for types C, E, F, D, M. As a traveller from South Africa you will need an adaptor for types C, E, F.

• These are only indications, so please visit your doctor before you travel to be 100% sure.
• Typhoid - Recommended for Afghanistan and Pakistan. Ideally 2 weeks before travel.
• Hepatitis A - Recommended for Afghanistan and Pakistan. Ideally 2 weeks before travel.
• Cholera - Recommended for Afghanistan and Pakistan. Ideally 2 weeks before travel.
• Tuberculosis - Recommended for Afghanistan and Pakistan. Ideally 3 months before travel.
• Hepatitis B - Recommended for Afghanistan and Pakistan. Ideally 2 months before travel.
• Rabies - Recommended for Afghanistan and Pakistan. Ideally 1 month before travel.
• Yellow fever - Certificate of vaccination required if arriving from an infected area for Afghanistan. Yellow fever - Certificate of vaccination required if arriving from an area with a risk of yellow fever transmission for Pakistan. Ideally 10 days before travel.
• Japanese B encephalitis - Recommended for Pakistan. Ideally 1 month before travel.
• Unfortunately we cannot offer you a visa application service. Whether you need a visa or not depends on your nationality and where you wish to travel. Assuming your home country does not have a visa agreement with the country you're planning to visit, you will need to apply for a visa in advance of your scheduled departure.
• Here is an indication for which countries you might need a visa. Please contact the local embassy for help applying for visas to these places.
• For any tour departing before 6th July 2024 a full payment is necessary. For tours departing after 6th July 2024, a minimum payment of 20% is required to confirm your booking with Exploria. The final payment will be automatically charged to your credit card on the designated due date. The final payment of the remaining balance is required at least 60 days prior to the departure date of your tour. TourRadar never charges you a booking fee and will charge you in the stated currency.
• Some departure dates and prices may vary and Exploria will contact you with any discrepancies before your booking is confirmed.
• The following cards are accepted for "Exploria" tours: Visa, Maestro, Mastercard, American Express or PayPal. TourRadar does NOT charge you an extra fee for using any of these payment methods.
• Insurance Unless otherwise mentioned, TourRadar does not provide travel insurance. We do however recommend purchasing it through our tried and trusted partner, World Travel Nomads .
• Accessibility Some tours are not suitable for mobility-restricted traveller, however, some operators may be able to accommodate special requests. For any enquiries, you can contact our customer support team , who are ready and waiting to help you.
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PAKISTAN, AFGHANISTAN AND IRAN OVERLAND EXPEDITION

This 43 day overland tour takes us on a journey through northern Pakistan and the beautiful Karakoram Highway, crosses over the famous Khyber Pass and cuts across the historical heart of Afghanistan before entering Iran and visiting the highlights of the Persian Empire. This tour will break new ground as we become the first overland truck to visit Afghanistan in over 30 years! Adventure awaits us at every turn on this immersive trip that takes you off the beaten path and gives you a deeper understanding of these dynamic regions. Along the way you will get to explore iconic places such as Islamabad, Peshawar, Kabul, Bamyan, Mashhad and Isfahan.

The accommodation on this trip is 100% hotels and the transport will be a mixture of travelling in our custom-built overland expedition vehicle as well as local 4×4 jeeps on the smaller tracks. You can link this tour with many of our other Asian overland journeys.

ESSENTIAL INFORMATION, DATES & BOOKING

Price: £2674 Expedition Payment + $2000 Local Payment (£62 + $46 per day) 

Length: 43 days, 42 nights

Accommodation: 100% local hotels, guest houses and hostels

Transport:  90% custom-built Madventure overland truck, 10% local jeeps and buses

Meals:  42 breakfasts provided

Crew: 1 tour leader, 1 driver

Age restrictions: none, all ages are welcome

Group size: 25 is average, minimum is 15, maximum is 36

Start Lahore, Pakistan 30 Sep 2024   E nd Shiraz, Iran 11 Nov 2024

Start Lahore, Pakistan 29 Sep 2025 E nd Shiraz, Iran 10 Nov 2025

ROUTE MAP & TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

PROPOSED ITINERARY

Our proposed itinerary is here to give you an idea of where we will be going and what we will be doing during this expedition. This itinerary is the ideal route we would like to take providing all political and natural situations are acceptable during the time of our travels. Situations sometimes change during an expedition so please be prepared to take an alternative route in the event we encounter any problems. It’s all part of the adventure!

If you can’t do the whole tour you are welcome to do a shorter section of your choice so please get in touch and we will be happy to work out a bespoke itinerary and reduced price for you.

DAY 1, LAHORE FORT - BADSHAHI MOSQUE - LAHORE MUSEUM

Our tour begins in Lahore, a blend of modern city chaos and historical tranquillity where you have the option to explore the Old Walled City’s impressive Lahore Fort, get the perfect sunset picture at Badshahi Mosque and wander through the galleries of the superb Lahore Museum.

Please note that this tour departs Lahore the day after it starts so if you would like more time here we advise you to arrive a few days early

DAY 2, RAWALPINDI - ROHTAS FORT - TRUCK DECORATION WORKSHOPS

After a short stop at the imposing Rohtas Fort we arrive in Rawalpindi where a highlight is a visit to the truck workshops where you can watch artists decorate local vehicles with the vibrant art that typifies Pakistani road transport. We also have an evening here to sample traditional Pakistani cuisine.

DAY 3 & 4, KARAKORAM HIGHWAY - KAGHAN VALLEY - BESAL - DUDIPAT LAKE TREK

We now start our drive along the spectacular Karakoram Highway and follow the alpine Kaghan Valley route into Lulusar-Dudipatsar National Park where keen hikers have the option to do an 18 km day trek to Dudipat Lake which is spectacularly encircled by snow-clad peaks.

DAY 5, 6 & 7, LULUSAR LAKE - RAIKOT BRIDGE - FAIRY MEADOWS - NANGA PARBAT VIEW

The road winds its way past the impressive Lulusar Lake and continues over Babusar Pass (4170 m) before dropping down to Raikot Bridge where we swap our truck for jeeps small enough to take us along the narrow roads to the beautiful Fairy Meadows offering unsurpassed views of Nanga Parbat (8120 m). Here we have a free day for hikers to explore the area on foot.

DAY 8 & 9, TARISHING - ASTORE VALLEY - HERRLIGKOFFER TREK - DEOSAI NP

Our jeeps now take us along the scenic Astore Valley to the tiny village of Tarishing on the opposite side of Nanga Parbat from where you have the option to trek to Herrligkoffer base camp.

Travelling through the high altitude Deosai National Park we have the chance of spotting brown bear, marmot, fox and ibex on the world’s 2nd highest plateau before arriving at Satpara Lake and its famous rock carved Buddha.

DAY 10 & 11, SKARDU - SHIGAR VALLEY - AMBORIK MOSQUE - KHARPOCHO FORT

From our base in the town Skardu we have a day to explore the fertile Shigar valley and visit the Amborik Mosque and Shigar Fort. A hike up to Kharpocho Fort at sunset will give you an impressive view over the town.

DAY 12, GILGIT - RAKAPOSHI VIEW

The lively town of Gilgit is situated amongst spectacular peaks offering us an amazing view of Rakaposhi (7780 m) as well as a first taste of Hunza cuisine and it is here that we rejoin our Madventure truck and say goodbye to the jeeps.

DAY 13 & 14, KARIMABAD - ALTIT FORT - EAGLES NEST - HUNZA VALLEY

The quaint town of Karimabad is a real gem in this area from where you can visit Altit and Baltit forts, hike up to Eagles Nest for an incredible view of the surrounding 7000 metre peaks as well as take a trip to the nearby village of Duiker for a sunset view of the stunning Hunza Valley.

DAY 15, PASSU GLACIER - SOST - KHUNJERAB PASS

We continue our journey up the KKH and visit Passu where you have the opportunity to hike alongside the Passu Glacier to reach a beautiful viewpoint. Nearby the Hussaini Suspension Bridge offers a thrilling walk high above a raging river to anyone who dares cross!

We continue north along the world’s highest paved road to Sost where we will seek permission to travel to the iconic Chinese border gate at Khunjerab Pass, the highest border in the world. Please note that this is a sensitive area and permission is never guaranteed but we will do our best.

DAY 16 & 17, LAKE ATTABAD - CHILAS - PETROGLYPHS - BESHAM - TAXILA

We now turn around and head south where our route takes us to Lake Attabad which was formed by a massive landslide in 2010 and is now considered by locals to be the bluest lake in the world.

During the next couple of days of our descent down the KKH we will stop at the junction of the world’s 3 highest mountain ranges (Himalayas, Karakoram and Hindu Kush), visit over 700 petroglyphs near Chilas and stop off at Taxila (City of Cut Stone) for a wander around this 3000 year old archaeological site.

DAY 18 & 19, ISLAMABAD - SHAH FAISAL MOSQUE - LOK VIRSA MUSEUM

In the modern city of Islamabad you have the chance to explore attractions such as the beautiful Shah Faisal Mosque, the National Pakistan Monument and cultural Lok Virsa Museum.

DAY 20 & 21, PESHAWAR - KHYBER PASS

Our final destination in Pakistan is Peshawar, a frontier town with a rich tapestry of history, vibrant markets and wild-west atmosphere standing as a testament to the endurance of tradition in the face of modernity.  Explore its streets, savour its flavours and immerse yourself in the unique charm of this ancient city.

We now continue up and over the iconic Khyber Pass heading towards Afghanistan.

DAY 22, 23 & 24, KABUL - BIRDS MARKET - SAKHI SHRINE - OLD TOWN

Kabul is a city filled with a storied history and resilient spirit. We have 2 full days to explore this amazing city giving you time to haggle at the Birds Market, marvel at the Sakhi Shrine and wander the timeless streets of the old city.

DAY 25 & 26, BAMYAN - BUDDHIST CARVINGS - BANDI AMIR LAKES

We continue to Bamyan, a picturesque province in central Afghanistan renowned for its stunning natural beauty, rich cultural heritage and historical significance. Nestled within these central highlands you will discover a landscape containing many caves where the remnants of monasteries and Buddhist carvings can be found.

We now have the opportunity to visit the Bandi Amir Lakes, a series of stunning alpine lakes surrounded by the dramatic Hindu Kush mountains. Known for their vivid blue colour these lakes form one of Afghanistan’s first national parks.

DAY 27 & 28, CHAGHCHARAN - MINARET OF JAM

We continue west to Chaghcharan via the Minaret of Jam, a 65m tall soaring structure dating back to the 12th century.

DAY 29 & 30, HERAT - FRIDAY MOSQUE - TOMB OF GOWAR SHAD - MASULLAH COMPLEX

Our last stop in Afghanistan is Herat where you will find the largest collection of ancient buildings in Afghanistan. Here we take a full day to explore the city and its surroundings including the Friday Mosque, Tomb of Gowar Shad, the Masullah Complex and the atmospheric shrine of Khoja Ansari at Gazar Gah.

We now continue to the Iranian border.

DAY 31, 32 & 33, MASHHAD - GOHARSHAD MOSQUE - VILLAGE OF KANG

Our first destination in Iran is Mashhad, one of the world’s holiest cities with a captivating blend of religious significance and cultural richness. Here you have the option of visiting the stunning Imam Reza Holy Shrine, dazzling Goharshad Mosque and the ancient village of Kang.

DAY 34, 35 & 36, YAZD - WIND TOWERS - PERSIAN SOUQ

We continue to the small town of Yazd where wandering the atmospheric alleyways will reveal unique wind-towers, picturesque blue-tiled Mosques and lively Persian souqs.

DAY 37, 38 & 39, ISFAHAN - SHAH MOSQUE - KHAJOO BRIDGE

Isfahan is the crowning jewel in Islam’s crown with an impressive city square full of intricately decorated mosaic Mosques, leisurely tea-shops and lavish carpet emporiums. Plenty of bargains can be found in the myriad of bazaars that lead off from the square and the city’s gorgeous bridges deserve all the time you can spare.

DAY 40, PERSEPOLIS - ZAGROS MOUNTAINS

The Zagros mountains provide a stunning backdrop on our trip to the intriguing ruins of Persepolis. Once the summer capital of the Persian Empire, this is the site where Alexander the Great famously conquered the Persian army’s stronghold.

DAY 41, 42 & 43, SHIRAZ - NASIR OL MOLK MOSQUE - DELGOSHA GARDEN

Once famed for its vineyards Shiraz is now the celebrated heartland of Persian culture where echoes of the revered poet Hafez linger amongst the splendid gardens and exquisite mosques that make this town such a pleasure.

Our tour will end  after breakfast on the last day of the trip so you can make your onward travel arrangements from Shiraz which has an international airport.

WANT TO EXTEND YOUR TRIP?

Before the start of this tour our truck travels through China, Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and India so you are able to add on any of those places to this tour should you wish to. 

After this tour ends our truck continues to the UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, so you can add on any of those places to this tour should you wish to.

We are happy to create a bespoke itinerary and price for you so please feel free to contact us to discuss all options.

WANT TO SHORTEN YOUR TRIP?

If you can’t do the whole tour you are welcome to do a shorter section of your choice so please get in touch and we will be happy to work out a bespoke itinerary and reduced price for you. A popular alternative starting point on this tour is Islamabad which reduces the trip length by 18 days and concentrates the journey on Afghanistan and Iran.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Booking & payment.

HOW TO BOOK

To make a booking please fill in our online booking form and then pay a £300 deposit by Bank Transfer, Paypal, Wise or Credit/Debit Card. 

Once we receive your online booking form and deposit we will confirm your booking by email and send you all relevant information necessary for your expedition preparations.

EXPEDITION PAYMENT

The Expedition Payment of £2674 is the main bulk payment for your expedition and is payable in the UK in GBP (£ Sterling). In order to reserve a place on this expedition you must pay a £300 deposit. Eight months prior to departure a further payment of £1100 must be paid to secure your booking. The final balance of your Expedition Payment £1274 must then be paid in full at least four months prior to the expedition start date. If you book between 4 to 8 months prior to the departure date a deposit of £1400 should be paid upon booking. If you book within 4 months of the departure date the full Expedition Payment of £2674 should be paid upon booking.

The Expedition Payment can be paid by Bank Transfer, Paypal, Wise or Credit/Debit Card.

Bank Details for Direct Transfers

Please use your full name as a reference when paying by direct transfer.

Account name: Madventure Ltd.

Sort code: 400810

Account number: 91618415

IBAN : GB14HBUK40081091618415

Swift/Bank BIC: HBUKGB4B

Branch BIC: HBUKGB4116A

Bank address: HSBC Bank, 6 High Street, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX14 5AZ, United Kingdom

Please use your full name as a reference when paying by Paypal.

Paypal account name: [email protected]

Don’t have a Paypal account? Create one now – www.paypal.com

Please use your full name as a reference when paying by Wise.

Wise offers a cheap and fast international money transfer service where you can choose to make a payment using either your bank account or credit/debit card.

Don’t have a Wise account? Create one now – www.wise.com

Credit/Debit Card Payments

Call us on +44 7712 225 438 in order to make a Credit/Debit Card payment over the phone.

LOCAL PAYMENT

This is a cash payment of USD $2000 that must be paid to your expedition leader at the beginning of your trip and will be used to pay for all expenses while you are on the road.

Please bear in mind that this is not a kitty and is not refundable. The local payment is simply a way for us to get cash to the expedition leaders so they can run the trip.

Please bring your local payment in new unmarked $100 bills if possible.

Although all local payment amounts are advertised in USD you can bring the equivalent amount in either EUROS or GBP.

WHAT’S INCLUDED & WHAT’S NOT

Services of your expedition leader and driver

Transportation in custom-built Madventure overland truck and jeeps

Use of all equipment on overland truck

Diesel, mechanics, shipping and any other costs relating to the vehicle

Ferry tickets (when travelling together as a group)

42 breakfasts

All accommodation costs (100% hotels, guest houses and hostels)

National Park entry fees when we enter as a group with our vehicle

Local transportation costs (if required)

NOT INCLUDED

International and domestic flights (no domestic flights expected during tour)

Airport transfers

Personal travel insurance

Personal spending money (£120 – £150 per week recommended)

Visas and Letters of Invitation (approximately £600 depending on nationality)

Lunch and evening meals

Accommodation upgrades

Entrance fees to optional sites and national parks

Any optional activities and excursions

Tips (USD $100 per crew member recommended)

OPTIONAL EXCURSIONS

Below is a list of the most popular optional excursions along with the most recent prices. Prices can of course change and are not controlled in any way by Madventure so please use the list below as an approximate guide only.

Lahore Fort £1

Lahore museum £2

Badshahi Mosque £1

Rohtas Fort £3

Truck workshop Free

Dudipat day hike guide fee £10

Nanga Parbat base camp hike guide fee £25

Herrligkoffer base camp hike guide fee £15

Shigar Fort £1

Kharpocho Fort £1

Altit Fort £3

Baltit Fort £3

Duiker Hunza Valley sunset trip £10

AFGHANISTAN

Sakhi Shrine Free

Buddhist carvings £5

Minaret of Jam £15

Friday Mosque £1

Tomb of Gowar Shad Free

Masullah Complex Free

Khoja Ansari Free

Goharshad Mosque Free

Yazd city tour £7

Isfahan city tour £7

Khajoo bridge Free

Persepolis ruins £4

Persepolis museum £4

TRANSPORT & EQUIPMENT

We will be travelling in a custom-built Madventure overland vehicle 90% of the time on this tour. The other 10% of the time we will be travelling in local jeeps, buses.

The overland vehicle we use is a custom-built expedition truck which can accommodate up to 36 people although most of our expeditions travel with approximately 25 people.

Comfort and safety is of course a big factor during expeditions of this length and nature so all our vehicles have high-backed coach seats with safety belts. The seating is on the upper level of the vehicle giving you an almost 360° view of the surrounding scenery.

Our vehicles are designed to allow sufficient luggage storage and are also equipped with lockers to keep all your gear safe.

Our long range diesel and water tanks ensure our self sufficiency in remote areas and the equipment we take with us is also of vital importance. In case of a breakdown we are equipped with a good selection of spare parts as well as a comprehensive tool kit to undertake any necessary repairs on our own as and when we need to.

There may also be times when we get stuck in the sand or mud when travelling off road so all necessary recovery equipment such as sand mats, cables, ropes, shovels and pickaxes are also on board our overland truck.

We usually carry at least 400 litres of treated drinking water and we are equipped with a good kitchen which includes all cutlery, plates, cups, pots, pans, utensils, gas cooker, BBQ grate, etc. should we ever need to prepare a meal on the vehicle.

Our vehicle is also equipped with a small fridge which is used for food only. For personal drinks we have cooler boxes for everyone to use.

Comfortable fold up chairs are provided for outdoor seating and we also have a large tarpaulin to keep us dry on those rainy days.

Our vehicles are equipped with USB charging points only so try and bring all of your important electronic devices such as telephone, tablet and head-torch to charge from a USB socket. We do not have a 120V or 240V power supply on the vehicle but you will have the opportunity to charge your 120/240V electronic equipment at the campsites we stay at.

We carry a comprehensive first aid kit for emergencies but we do recommend you bring your own for general use.

Eating well is a very important factor on our expeditions and good food is vital for everyone’s health and well-being. When staying in hotels, guest houses and hostels we always strive to provide you with one healthy, wholesome and plentiful meal every day, usually breakfast at the hotel. For lunch we usually stop at a cheap local restaurant giving you a chance to taste the local fare. In the evenings after you are checked into the hotel you are free to choose where you want to eat. Local food is generally very cheap so if you are on a budget then eat what the locals eat. Western restaurants tend to be more expensive. 

42 breakfasts are provided during this expedition.

ACCOMMODATION

You will spend 100% of your time on this expedition staying in local hotels, guest houses and hostels.

We always try to use decent, clean budget hotels, guest houses and hostels, however, taking into consideration the sometimes unpredictable nature of this expedition and the remoteness of some of the areas we visit, please be aware that in some circumstances we just have to take what we can get, good or bad. When staying in hotels, guest houses and hostels you can expect to share your room with other expedition members of all genders.

There is usually an opportunity for anyone to upgrade to a single room or a superior room if they so wish. All accommodation upgrades are at your own expense.

You will have a crew of 1 tour leader and 1 driver on this tour. On some tours we may also have a cameraman who is there to help market our tours and update our social media.

Your tour leader will be in charge of routes, itineraries, food and accommodation and will ensure the smooth running of the tour. Your tour leader is not a tour guide and will not be giving you the history and facts of every place we visit, you can look up that information yourself or hire a local guide when you want to. Apart from the odd optional excursion that needs to be organised in advance, we leave most of that for you to arrange yourselves, this way ensuring you get to do what you want at the price you are happy to pay.

Your driver will drive and maintain the vehicle to a high standard but he/she is not a tour guide and may not know all the facts about the countries we travel through.

Your crew will be hand-picked and trained by Madventure and will have experience of overland travel but they may or may not have done this tour before. They will, however, have detailed notes from previous tours and backup from the office in the UK.

Tipping the crew at the end of your expedition is always appreciated if you feel they have done a good job. As this is a budget tour we recommend you tip your crew a minimum of $100 each at the end of the tour. Thank you.

TERMS & CONDITIONS

1. Your contract is with Madventure Limited, a company registered in England and Wales (Company No. 6809461) whose office is at 10 Ablett Close, Oxford, OX4 1XH, United Kingdom.

2. A deposit of £300 is payable at the time of booking. The deposit is non-refundable unless Madventure is unable to offer you a place or you cancel within 14 days of the initial booking date. Madventure guarantees not to increase the tour price once the deposit has been received.

3. A booking is made in the name of the client and is not transferable to another person. You are only permitted to transfer your deposit once to a future tour, after that a further £300 non-refundable deposit will be required to book another tour. Please note that you will be affected if you have transferred and there is a price increase as you will have to pay the current tour price at the time that the tour balance payment is due.

4. Eight months prior to departure a further payment must be received to cover 50% of the total tour price in order to secure your booking. This payment is non-refundable unless we can not provide the tour. The final 50% balance of your tour payment must then be paid in full at least four months prior to the tour start date at which time the tour will be confirmed to run. Once the tour is confirmed to run you will not receive any refunds of any monies paid. If the full payment is not received 4 months prior to departure Madventure may deem the booking cancelled and all monies paid will be forfeited. If you book within the 4 to 8 month period prior to departure a non-refundable 50% deposit of the total tour price should be paid upon booking. If you book within the 4 month period prior to departure the full non-refundable 100% tour payment must be paid upon booking.

5. Cancellation of a booking must be notified in writing and when received by Madventure any monies paid will be forfeited. You acknowledge that payment for the tour is an intrinsic part of the tour’s income and contributes towards the overall costs of equipment, vehicle running costs, staff administration, travel permits, etc. and Madventure will have incurred a large part of its costs before the actual departure date. You will not receive a refund of any amount after the tour has been confirmed to run (which will usually happen no later than 4 months prior to the tour departing). We therefore recommend you take out your travel insurance from the date you make your final tour balance payment, 4 months prior to departure, so you are insured if you have to withdraw off the tour. If the reason for your cancellation is covered under the terms of your insurance policy you may be able to reclaim these charges but it is your sole responsibility to do so and we accept no liability for any acts or omissions of your insurance company.

6. It is unlikely that we will have to make any changes to your tour, but we do plan all tours many months in advance. Occasionally, we may have to make changes and we reserve the right to do so at any time. Most of these changes will be minor and we will advise you of them at the earliest possible date. We also reserve the right in any circumstances to cancel your tour. For example, if the minimum number of clients required for a particular tour is not reached, we may have to cancel it. However, we will not cancel your tour less than 4 months before your departure date (except for reasons of Force Majeure). If we are unable to provide the tour for any reason you can either have a full refund of all monies paid within 14 working days of the tour being cancelled or accept an offer of an alternative tour of comparable standard from us, if available (we will refund any price difference if the alternative is of a lower value). In the event of the tour being cancelled prior to departure, all monies paid by you towards the tour cost only will be refunded. In the event of a cancellation Madventure is not responsible for reimbursing equipment, flights, visa costs, vaccinations, medication, etc. purchased by yourself so we therefore recommend you have suitable travel insurance to ensure these types of expenses are covered under the terms of your insurance policy as you may be able to reclaim these charges but it is your sole responsibility to do so and we accept no liability for any acts or omissions of your insurance company.

7. In the unlikely event of a Force Majeure situation that forces us to cancel the tour within 4 months of the planned departure date because of unusual or unforeseeable circumstances beyond our control, you can either have a full refund of all monies paid within 14 working days of the tour being cancelled or accept an offer of an alternative tour of comparable standard from us, if available (we will refund any price difference if the alternative is of a lower value). In the unlikely event of a Force Majeure situation that forces us to cancel or change the tour while it is underway because of unusual or unforeseeable circumstances beyond our control we will not refund you or pay you compensation, so we therefore recommend you have suitable travel insurance as if the reason for the tour cancellation while underway is covered under the terms of your insurance policy you may be able to reclaim these charges but it is your sole responsibility to do so and we accept no liability for any acts or omissions of your insurance company. Force Majeure situations can include, for example, war, riot, industrial dispute, terrorist activity and its consequences, natural or nuclear disaster, fire, epidemics, pandemics, health risks, closed or congested airports, ports or stations, poor local infrastructure, changes imposed by rescheduling or cancellation of transport by the transport supplier such as flights by airlines or main charterer, the alteration of transport or transport types, adverse weather conditions (actual or threatened), avalanche and technical failure with transport, Foreign & Commonwealth Office advice changing and advising against travel to the tour destination.

8. If you choose to leave the tour for any reason on your own accord once the tour is underway you will not receive any compensation from Madventure including any refunds of the tour payment and/or the local payment. We therefore recommend you have suitable travel insurance as if the reason for your departure is covered under the terms of your insurance policy you may be able to reclaim these charges but it is your sole responsibility to do so and we accept no liability for any acts or omissions of your insurance company.

9. We reserve the right at any time prior to the departure date, without prior consultation with yourself, to merge your tour with one or more other tours travelling at the same time. This will not constitute a major change and would usually just mean swapping vehicles.

10. The tour payment and local payment cover transport, accommodation, some related ferry and train tickets, meals and national park entry fees as specified on the website, repair of our expedition vehicle as well as repair and replacement of camping equipment including stools, cooking equipment & utensils.

11. The tour leader has sole responsibility for the local payment. Any local payment monies or stock remaining at the tour end are non-refundable.

12. You undertake to comply with the laws and regulations, whether in respect of health, immigration, currency exchange control, dress or any other matter of all the countries visited during the tour.

13. You undertake to obtain a valid passport and have enough blank pages in the passport for the tour and your specific passport and visa requirements. Immigration requirements are your responsibility and you should confirm these with the relevant embassies and/or consulates. We do not accept any responsibility and shall not be liable if you cannot travel or cannot participate in any part of the tour because you have not complied with any passport, visa or immigration requirements. You are responsible for obtaining and having available the necessary documents (including but not limited to full, current passport with enough blank pages to complete the trip and valid for at least 9 months from the last day of the tour and visas for all periods, countries and territories within the tour) enabling you to participate in the tour and shall comply with all local legislation and regulations of the countries in which the tour takes place (including immigration requirements, customs regulations and currency exchange). You shall indemnify us against any loss or expense that we may incur or suffer as a result of breach of this condition by you. We cannot guarantee visa prices and availability of visas. Ultimately visas are your own responsibility to obtain.

14. Madventure reserves the right to deviate from the advertised tour route if in their reasonable opinion such deviation is necessary for the safety or well-being of any or any one of the members of the tour or for the satisfactory progress of the tour. In the event of it becoming necessary to fly over a country or countries in order to satisfactorily and safely continue the tour, all costs of your flights will be borne by yourself.

15. Madventure accepts no responsibility for matters arising out of political disputes, border closures, epidemics, pandemics, natural disasters, climate, armed robbery, terrorism, etc. Should it become necessary to abandon a tour because of such an event Madventure will be entitled to retain all monies paid. We therefore recommend you have suitable travel insurance as if the reason for cancellation is covered under the terms of your insurance policy you may be able to reclaim these charges but it is your sole responsibility to do so and we accept no liability for any acts or omissions of your insurance company.

16. You accept that owing to the nature of countries visited, all tours involve an element of personal risk and are of a potentially hazardous and unpredictable nature. In many countries we visit, the basic infrastructure, such as roads, is very poor and therefore less safe than that familiar to people from many western countries. In particular, lack of road markings or warning signs, unmarked speed bumps, seasonal flooding of roads and bridges, local vehicles which are poorly maintained and driven and which are hazardous to other road users etc. are factors beyond the control of Madventure. You accept that in some areas we drive off-road and that this involves personal risk when the expedition vehicle can be negotiating rough terrain. Madventure owns and operates many of its own expedition vehicles and employs its own crew. Where stated, locally arranged transport and crew, including trains, ferries, buses or coaches are used. Where Madventure’s own vehicles and/or crew are not used for the above services, you agree that the obligation of Madventure to yourself is to select normally competent, independent subcontractors to provide the necessary services related to the tour and to exercise reasonable care in selecting such suppliers to provide these. You also accept that you undertake this tour at your own risk and your participation is your own decision and does not form any part of your contract with Madventure. Madventure does not take responsibility for cancellations, unreliability of services or safety of operators, agents or contractors.

17. You accept that local emergency facilities are usually of a very limited nature. Hospitals outside of large cities often have no accident and emergency facilities and emergency transport facilities can be non-existent.

18. If you have a problem during your trip please inform the tour leader immediately who will endeavour to put things right. If your complaint is not resolved locally please follow this up by emailing or writing to our office giving all other relevant information and, where possible, evidence. We must receive any such complaint no later than 28 days from the date of completion of your tour in order to take appropriate action. Please keep your letter concise and to the point. This will assist us to quickly identify your concerns and speed up our response to you.

19. We do not accept any liability or responsibility for any personal possessions (including but not limited to cameras, jewellery, valuables and money) which is carried on or in our vehicles, carried on public transport or transport supplied by independent subcontractors, left in accommodation provided by us or our suppliers during a trip or left in our care during a tour. Such items are carried and/or left at your own risk.

20. Excursions or other tours that you may choose to book or pay for whilst you are on our tour are not part of your tour arrangements provided by us. For any excursion or other tour that you book your contract will be with the operator of the excursion or tour and not with us. We are not responsible for the provision of the excursion or tour or for anything that happens during the course of its provision by the operator. You accept that the prices quoted for optional activities are approximate as local prices can and do change. Any of the optional activities listed are not necessarily endorsed or recommended by Madventure. You also accept that you undertake any activity at your own risk and your participation is your own decision and does not form any part of your contract with Madventure. Madventure does not take responsibility for cancellations, unreliability of services or safety of operators, agents or contractors.

21. Whilst a tour is in progress you will at all times be expected to act in accordance with all reasonable instructions from us and/or the tour leader. We may exclude you from the tour or any part thereof at any time (including during the tour itself) if we are of the opinion that you are likely to prejudice the good order, discipline or safety of the tour, including as a result of failing to comply with the tour leader’s instructions, breaking any law or regulation of any country where the tour takes place or failing to adhere to the tour code of conduct, provided that we exercise our discretion reasonably in this regard. In such an event you shall reimburse to us any reasonable costs, losses or expenses which we incur or suffer as a result of our decision to exclude you from the tour, and Madventure shall cease to have any responsibility to/for you. No refund will be given for any unused services.

22. By completing the booking form you confirm that you appreciate the risks involved in the tour and that you do not suffer (or have ever suffered) from any pre-existing medical condition that may prevent you from actively participating in the tour other than those that have been declared to us. It is your responsibility to ensure that you are medically fit enough to undertake the tour and to ensure that you have received the necessary vaccinations and medications (and taken them as prescribed by your doctor) relevant to the destination country. Unless informed otherwise in writing we will assume that you are in good health and are not aware of any reason why you may be unsuitable to take part in the tour. We recommend that you consult your doctor before making a booking to ensure that you are medically fit and are fully aware regarding the immunizations and medical issues related to your destination countries. If you have any pre-existing medical condition, illness or disability, are undergoing medical treatment or, since entering into the contract, develop any medical condition, illness or disability or undergo any medical treatment; you will give us full particulars at the earliest opportunity and at the latest sixty (60) days before the departure date. If it is later discovered that a pre-existing condition was not declared within the specified time, and such condition would, if we had knowledge of it, have led to our refusal to accept or to cancel your booking, we reserve the right to withdraw you from the trip without any refund or recompense. In such an event, you shall reimburse to us any reasonable costs, losses or expenses which we incur or suffer as a result. In the event of you being withdrawn from a tour, no refunds will be given and we will not be responsible for (and you agree to indemnify us against) any costs, claims, losses and expenses arising including costs of repatriation, eg. flights and legal expenses. By agreeing to these conditions, you provide your consent to us and our insurers obtaining your medical records should we consider it necessary. You will be responsible for any charges for the provision of the information. We reserve the right to inspect your vaccination book at any time and to withdraw you from the tour in the event that you have not received and/or taken all the requisite inoculations and/or medication. If the information provided by you is incorrect and we discover that the correct information affects your suitability to take part in the tour, we may terminate the contract and withdraw you from the tour without refund or recompense, including during the trip. You agree and acknowledge that certain activities undertaken whilst you are on the tour may be inherently hazardous and have risks associated with them. You agree to abide by all instructions given to you whilst you are on the tour and you acknowledge that we cannot be held responsible for any injuries that may arise as a result of you failing to comply with such instructions.

23. You must be covered by personal travel insurance to undertake any Madventure tour. We recommend you take out a travel insurance policy that covers you fully against the cost of tour cancellation by you or by Force Majeure, medical care and repatriation should you become too ill to continue and above all covers you against the cost of air evacuation should sickness or injury necessitate such a course of action. You should also note that passenger liability insurance covering vehicles, particularly in third world countries, may be inadequate. It is therefore important that your travel insurance cover makes sufficient provision for your dependents in the event of an accident. Please note however that we have no control over the availability or standard of medical and repatriation services and facilities in the areas we visit and these do not form any part of our contract with you. Please remember that many of the areas we visit are not as developed as the UK and the availability and standard of such services may well be lower. Please read your travel insurance policy details carefully and take them with you when you travel. It is your responsibility to ensure that the insurance cover you purchase is suitable and adequate for your particular needs. We do not check individual insurance policies for suitability.

24. It is understood that on the Madventure tours where we use our own expedition vehicles the sections of the tour that travel through Europe, USA, Canada and Mexico are provided to you free of charge. You will not have to pay any additional fee to travel through Europe, USA, Canada and Mexico with us but it is understood that we do not operate for hire and reward in these areas. We do this purely as a legality in order to operate our specialised overland vehicle in these areas legally.

25. Privacy & Data Protection – we shall ensure that appropriate security measures are in place to protect your personal data (as defined in the European GDPR act 2018 and the UK Data Protection Act 2018) and we do not store our customers financial details. When you make a booking, you do however consent to all the information you provide being passed on to our suppliers, agents, subcontractors, employees or volunteers whether based inside or outside of Europe for the purposes of us providing you with the tour.

26. By agreeing to these terms and conditions you consent (unless otherwise stated on your application form) to our staff taking photographs and or video footage of you during the tour and that these images may be used by us for publicity and training purposes including, but not limited to, brochures, websites, marketing material and in the media.

27. We shall be entitled to novate or assign the contract or any part of it to any third party. You shall not be entitled to assign the contract or any part of it. This contract is made on the terms of these conditions, which are governed by English law, and subject to the provisions of condition you agree to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts. If any of these conditions is found by any court or other competent authority to be wholly or partly unfair or unenforceable the validity of the rest of the booking conditions and the rest of the condition in question shall not be affected and shall remain valid and enforceable to the extent permitted by law. A reference in these conditions to a statute, convention or regulation shall be as a reference to that statute convention or regulation as amended, re-enacted or extended at the relevant time. The headings in these conditions are for convenience only and shall not affect their interpretation. Where the context otherwise requires, words importing the singular meaning shall include the plural meaning and vice versa and words denoting the masculine gender shall include the feminine and neuter genders. Where the context so admits, words denoting persons shall include natural persons, companies, corporations, firms, partnerships, limited liability partnerships, joint trips, trusts, voluntary associations and other incorporated and/or unincorporated bodies or other entities (in each case, whether or not having separate legal personality) and all such words shall be construed interchangeably in that manner.

28. The information given on the website, on social media, in newsletters, in the brochure and other literature supplied is given in good faith but no warranty is given that it is correct.

29. No servant, agent or authorised representative of Madventure has authority to commit Madventure to any liability whatsoever and Madventure will not be bound by any statement or representation unless it is in writing and signed by one of the directors.

30. ABTA – We are members of ABTA, membership no. Y6801. We are obliged to maintain a high standard of service to you by ABTA’s Code of Conduct. We can also offer you ABTA’s scheme for the resolution of disputes which is approved by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute. If we can’t resolve your complaint, go to www.abta.com to use ABTA’s simple procedure. Further information on the Code and ABTA’s assistance in resolving disputes can be found on www.abta.com

31. Financial Protection – In accordance with the UK Package Travel & Linked Travel Regulations 2018, Directive (EU) 2015/2302 or the local applicable law in the country of residence of the passenger(s) booking with Madventure Ltd are fully protected for the initial deposit and subsequently the balance of all monies received by us, including repatriation costs and arrangements, arising from cancellation or curtailment of your travel arrangements due to the insolvency of Madventure Ltd.

The respective laws according to the country of residence of the passenger(s) usually only requires us to provide cover for Package & Linked Travel Arrangements, there is no requirement for Financial Protection of day trips or single elements, and none is provided unless the local law requires such. If you have questions on this then please contact Madventure Ltd. Madventure Ltd has taken out an insurance provided by International Passenger Protection Ltd (IPP) with Liberty Mutual Insurance Europe SE (LMIE) trading as Liberty Specialty Markets, a member of the Liberty Mutual Insurance Group. LMIE’s registered office: 5-7 rue Leon Laval, L-3372, Leudelange, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Registered Number B232280 (Registre de Commerce et des Sociétés). LMIE is a European public limited liability company and is supervised by the Commissariat aux Assurances and licensed by the Luxembourg Minister of Finance as an insurance and reinsurance company. This insurance is only valid for passengers who book and pay directly with/to Madventure Ltd. In the event of our insolvency please make contact as soon as practically possible giving full details of what has happened quoting the name of your Travel Operator:

For UK & Worldwide excluding EU Passengers

IPP Claims at Sedgwick

Telephone: +44 (0) 345 266 1872

Email: [email protected]

or online at http://www.ipplondon.co.uk/claims.asp

For EU Passengers

Telephone: +31 103120666

Email: [email protected]

or online at https://www.ipplondon.co.uk/claims.asp

PRE-DEPARTURE INFORMATION

Personal budget & travel money.

PERSONAL BUDGET

We recommend a budget of £120 – £150 per person per week to live comfortably during this expedition. This budget should cover day to day things like lunch, evening meals, snacks, soft drinks, etc.

Budget approximately £600 for your visas, security clearances and letters of invitation.

Souvenirs are something that can be very cheap or very expensive so if you are going to be buying things like silk carpets you should budget for it.

Please also have a look at our Optional Excursions list as you may want to budget for a few of those activities too.

TRAVEL MONEY

We recommend you bring all of your money in cash US Dollars and have a credit/debit card for the odd time when you are able to use it. 

They generally accept all major currencies for exchange but US Dollars are accepted everywhere.

ATM’s are not widely available so cash is the best option on this tour.

To keep your money/credit cards/ipad/camera/laptop safe we recommend you purchase a ‘Pacsafe Travelsafe’ product. They offer various size portable anti-theft bags that can be attached to the vehicle when travelling and also attached to the toilet/bed/closet in your hotel room when off the vehicle.

VISAS & PASSPORTS

Below is general information and recommendations regarding visas and passports. Visas are ultimately your own responsibility to obtain and visa requirements may vary according to your nationality and place of application, so use the information below as a guide only. Madventure is in no way responsible for obtaining your visas or passports.

Pakistan visa can be obtained online.

Afghanistan visas will be obtained in Pakistan.

Iran has a system whereby you need to apply for an Authorisation Code prior to applying for the actual visa. Our agent in Iran can apply for the code for you for a fee. Currently all nationalities including American, Canadian and British citizens are being issued Authorisation Codes so everyone should be able to get a visa. We will apply for the Iran visa once we are in Islamabad or Kabul.

Approximately 3 months prior to departure you will be sent the information required in order to apply for your visas and complete your application forms (there are often time restrictions on visas so you can not apply earlier). We recommend that you make your passport available 2 months before departure in order to obtain your visas comfortably.

Budget approximately £600 for all your visas and letters of invitation.

Please ensure you have 3 free pages in your passport in order to accommodate all the visas and ensure your passport is valid for at least 6 months after the expedition end date.

You will need approximately 4 passport photos for the duration of the expedition.

You will need a digital colour copy of your passport, a digital colour passport photograph and Covid 19 vaccinated travellers will need a digital colour copy of your Covid 19 vaccination certificate with QR code (all 5 – 100 Kb in size) downloaded onto your phone/tablet/laptop in order to apply for some visas and to cross some borders.

VACCINATIONS & MEDICAL

VACCINATIONS

V accination requirements are constantly changing so we recommend you seek the latest professional medical advice at least 8 weeks before departure to ensure you allow yourself enough time to obtain all necessary vaccinations. Nomad Travel’s website has up-to-date information on vaccinations, malaria and other general medical advice for all the countries we will be visiting and they also administer vaccinations at their Travel Clinics in various locations in the UK.

www.nomadtravel.co.uk  

Alternatively speak with your local health professionals for current accurate information. You will need to make an appointment with your doctor or travel clinic and take a list of the countries you are visiting with the approximate dates when you will be there.

It is not necessary to be vaccinated against covid to join this tour but if you are vaccinated against covid please have a digital colour copy of your Covid 19 vaccination certificate with QR code (5 – 100 Kb in size) downloaded to your phone/tablet/laptop.

An up to date Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate should be brought with you as it is sometimes required to enter certain countries on this tour.

MEDICALLY FIT & ABLE

You need to be in good general health for this expedition and be reasonably fit and able. You need to be able to carry your bags from the vehicle to the hotels, do the short walks to the sites we visit, etc. You do not need to be super-fit by any means and all ages are welcome. We always attract a very broad age range on these expeditions, from people in their 20’s through to people in their 70’s.

Please inform us of any medical conditions that you have before departure so that your crew know how to deal with a medical situation if it should arise. All information will be kept confidential unless you request us to inform your fellow travellers. For example, it may be wise to inform fellow travellers if you are allergic to something like bee-stings so they know what to do if you get stung.

FIRST AID KIT

We carry a comprehensive first aid kit aboard the vehicle but it is recommended that you bring your own basic first aid kit for general use.

TRAVEL INSURANCE

It is compulsory that every person who travels with Madventure obtain travel insurance for the complete duration of the tour. Proof of travel insurance must be shown before joining a tour.

You may be covered under your credit card’s travel insurance so it might be worth checking with your credit card provider first.

There are various travel insurance companies to choose from and a Google search will bring up a vast selection but for a comprehensive reliable policy that includes Covid Cover and Medical Repatriation we recommend a London based company named Campbell Irvine, +44 20 7938 1734,

https://microsite.campbellirvinedirect.com/madventure/

Campbell Irvine are familiar with what we do so if you mention Madventure and the tour you are travelling on they should be able to provide excellent cover for you.

For people based in North America a company called Allianz offers good cover, +1 866 884 3556,

www.allianztravelinsurance.com

If you choose to obtain your travel insurance through another company please ensure you read the small-print and make sure your policy includes Covid Cover and Medical Repatriation.

WHAT TO BRING

Backpack/sports bag/suitcase: We recommend you carry your luggage in a backpack but irrespective if you prefer a sports bag or a suitcase you are restricted to a maximum 100 litre volume. 

Day bag:  You are also permitted to bring a day bag with a maximum 40 litre volume that you can carry in the overhead luggage rack or under your seat on the vehicle with you.

Pacsafe: In order to keep your valuables safe we recommend a Pacsafe product. They make a range of anti-theft bags which vary in sizes and can accommodate your money, credit cards, passport, camera, laptop, etc. They can be attached to a fixed part on the back of the vehicle when travelling and/or to a fixed item in your hotel room. 

Headtorch: An invaluable investment! Check out the Petzl range of USB rechargeable headlamps. 

Water purifier: Quite a handy thing to have to purify contaminated water and avoid stomach bugs. Check out the range of Lifestraw products.

Kindle: Optional but great to keep all your travel guides and books in one place.

Ipad/Tablet: not a necessity but most places have WiFi available these days so having your own Ipad or Tablet will enable you to stay connected.

Smartphone :  It is highly recommended that you bring a smartphone with you as the majority of the tour communications are sent via WhatsApp. It is also very convenient for storing all your digital documents, emailing, taking and sharing photos, mapping and calling home. 

Camera: Completely up to you but most people bring one.

Toiletries: Available everywhere but start with some toilet paper, toothpaste, toothbrush, dental floss, deodorant, soap and shampoo.

Sunblock: Minimum SPF 15 recommended.

Towel: A microfibre travel towel is a good option as it dries quickly and packs down small.

Sunglasses: Polarised lenses offer great protection.

First aid kit: Only a basic one is recommended but should include plasters, antiseptic cream, bandage, pain relief tablets, scissors and safety pins.

Passport photos: You will need approximately 4 passport photos for the duration of the expedition.

Digital passport photo: You will need a digital colour passport photograph (5 – 100 Kb in size) downloaded to your phone/tablet/laptop in order to apply for your visas.

Digital passport copy: You will need a digital colour copy of your passport (5 – 100 Kb in size) downloaded to your phone/tablet/laptop in order to apply for your visas.

Digital Covid 19 vaccination certificate:  If you are vaccinated against covid please have a digital colour copy of your Covid 19 vaccination certificate with QR code (5 – 100 Kb in size) downloaded to your phone/tablet/laptop.

Yellow Fever vaccination certificate: An up to date Yellow Fever vaccination certificate is sometimes required to enter certain countries.

Passport: Please ensure you have 3 blank pages in your passport to accommodate all the visas and stamps required on this tour, and ensure your passport is valid for at least 6 months after your tour end date.

Clothes & shoes:  

1 x flip flops

1 x walking shoes, trainers or boots

7 x underwear

4 x t-shirts

1 x lightweight long sleeve top

1 x fleece top or fleece jacket

2 x zip-off  trousers which can be worn long or short

1 x ‘abaya’ for the ladies

1 x headscarf for the ladies

1 x thermal beanie or woolly hat

1 x baseball cap

1 x swimwear

DRESS CODE & CULTURAL AWARENESS

In general all the countries we visit on this expedition are very friendly and hassle-free destinations. If we all respect local traditions, culture and religion we will have an unforgettable experience in some of the most welcoming regions of the world. Below is some information about dress code and cultural awareness that will help you stay safe and feel comfortable during this tour.

As a female tourist in Afghanistan and Iran you are expected to wear a headscarf, long trousers and a long loose shirt that covers your arms and hangs down to mid-thigh level. 

As a male tourist in Afghanistan and Iran you are expected to wear long trousers and a shirt.

Alcohol is illegal in Afghanistan and Iran and they enforce severe punishment for being caught in possession so don’t be fooled into thinking you can sneak a couple of bottles of wine into these countries because you could get yourself into serious trouble. If you are offered alcohol in Afghanistan and/or Iran please do not accept as you not only jeopardise your own freedom but also the well-being of the entire group.

Public displays of affection in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran are uncommon and it would also be deemed unusual to shake a woman’s hand when meeting her.

NITTY GRITTY

Overlanding with Madventure is all about taking the road less travelled in a custom-built overland expedition vehicle with a group of up to 36 travellers of all ages and nationalities. This overland tour moves at a relaxed pace and visits remote areas as well as the highlights of all the countries we travel through. Overland travel affords you the time to really immerse yourself in the culture of the local communities we visit and gives you the opportunity to truly explore off the beaten track destinations. This overland tour may sometimes take you out of your comfort zone as it travels through many different climates, altitudes and cultures but we feel that the small hardships are often the experiences that make the journey so rewarding. So if you are looking for a unique adventure shared with a group of like-minded travellers on a journey of a lifetime then a Madventure overland tour may be the trip for you because with overlanding it’s all about the journey, not just the destination!

At Madventure we like to go through every aspect of the tour with you to ensure that you are as informed and prepared as possible. We believe in not only telling you about the highlights of the tour but also providing you with all the small details of what to expect as we know these are just as important. We want to explain the tour in as much detail as possible so that you are sure you are suited to one of our overland group adventures. If after reading the information below you decide that this tour is not for you then, as long as it is within 14 days of your initial booking, you can cancel your booking and receive a full refund of all monies paid.

YOUR FELLOW TRAVELLERS

We have no age restrictions on our overland tours and if there is one thing we have come to realise, it’s the mental attitude that counts the most. On this trip our group size is a maximum of 36 travellers of all ages and nationalities so you can expect to share this experience with a wide variety of characters from all walks of life. 

The weather on this tour is generally dry and hot but you will experience cold nights at high altitude in Pakistan so be prepared for these elements and you will be comfortable.

We travel up to 4700 metres above sea level on this tour so if you suffer from altitude sickness be prepared for it and have altitude-sickness tablets with you.

As wonderful as Central Asia is, some places do not have a western infrastructure and their acceptable level of hygiene standards may be very different to ours, so be prepared to use squat toilets and accept that things may not be as clean as they are back home.

You must also maintain your own personal hygiene and ensure that you and your clothes are washed regularly. If anyone stinks or is noticeably unclean the tour leader will have a word with that person to ensure a decent level of personal hygiene is maintained by everyone aboard the vehicle.

SIGHTSEEING & ACTIVITIES

We understand that you won’t want to visit every site or take part in every activity along the way so we have left most activities as optional and therefore kept the tour price to a minimum. If there are any activities that require forward planning and/or a guide your tour leader will arrange this and let you know all the options before arriving at a destination.

Your tour leader is not a tour guide and will not be giving you the history and facts of every place we visit, you can look up that information yourself or hire a local guide when you want to. Apart from the odd optional excursion that needs to be organised in advance, we leave most of that for you to arrange yourselves, this way ensuring you get to do what you want at the price you are happy to pay.

YOUR ATTITUDE

A friendly, easy-going attitude will help you enjoy this trip and ensure you are liked by your fellow travellers as well as the locals. The one thing that is extremely detrimental to any tour are people that constantly moan. It has nothing to do with age, gender or nationality, some people just like to find fault in everything and it’s always got to be someone’s fault. This type of constant negativity can be extremely detrimental within a group so it may sound a bit harsh but by weeding out any moaners early on we can have a chat with them to try and ensure your tour is as good as it can be. We don’t hide anything so people who travel with us usually know exactly what to expect on this tour which makes for an enjoyable group experience.

Please be aware that if any particular person is constantly causing the rest of the group (or the crew) grief due to their behaviour they will be warned and then asked to leave the tour if nothing improves and no refund will be given. This is obviously the most extreme case but we will not let one or two rude individuals spoil it for everybody else. This is a once in a lifetime experience so let’s all enjoy it!

WHEN THINGS GO WRONG

The one thing we can guarantee is that at some point things will not go according to plan! We have to follow the legislation of each individual country and they all have different regulations which can sometimes slow us down. It is however usually obstacles such as bad roads, border closures, breakdowns and natural disasters that have a bearing on the expedition. Expect the unexpected and accept that things will go wrong from time to time.

These instances are usually the stories that remain with everyone so enjoy the experience. An easy-going approach will help the situation immensely. Moaning about every little thing that doesn’t go our way will not! When situations arise where we can’t please everybody we always aim to please the majority of the group, not the individual. 

TRAVEL TIMES & ITINERARIES

This trip is designed to allow plenty of free time in all the places of interest but we are driving a fair distance across Central Asia so yes, there are going to be a lot of drive days and some of them will be long. This is where you have to be able to take pleasure in the scenery or a good book from time to time.

Generally on a drive day we leave in the morning around 7 – 8 AM (after breakfast) and arrive at our destination before dusk in daylight, but this really depends on the distance between destinations and the road conditions.

Sometimes it will be a full day’s drive between destinations and you’ll have the following day or two free. On rare occasions it may be 2 or 3 drive days in a row where you’ll leave early, stop overnight at a hotel and then continue early again the next morning. Sometimes however it’s only a few hours drive between destinations.

Our proposed itinerary is the ideal route we would like to take providing all political and natural situations are acceptable during the time of our travels. Situations sometimes change during an expedition so please be prepared to take an alternative route in the event we encounter any problems. If a border closes unexpectedly then we have to try and find a safe alternative route which may not be to everyone’s liking. In the worst case scenario we may get stuck with no way forward and at that point we would have to decide whether to fly over the obstacle and continue on local transport or abandon the trip. We have never had to abandon any trip before but we want you to be aware of the worst case scenario.

Please note that we may be placed under military or police escort when travelling through troubled areas. This sometimes happens in Pakistan on this tour. If this does occur then we follow their directions and they make the decisions with regard to driving hours and routes. We do not argue with those who are trusted to ensure our safety, so please be aware that if this happens the pace may be faster or slower than we would personally choose and the route they pick will be the one we follow, regardless of our proposed itinerary.

We always strive to arrive at our destinations on time but our itinerary can change if an area of our route becomes off-limits for any reason, so when we do experience delays we will adjust our itinerary accordingly.

DRUGS & ALCOHOL

Please be aware that drugs such as marijuana and cocaine are illegal in most countries we visit on this trip and they enforce severe punishment for being caught in possession. NEVER carry illegal drugs on your person or on the vehicle during this tour as you would not only jeopardise your own freedom but also the well-being of the entire group if you are caught in possession.

If you are caught with any kind of illegal drugs on this tour, regardless of the amount, you will be asked to leave the tour immediately and no refund will be given. Any inconsideration can lead to the tour being cancelled and innocent people arrested. We will not hesitate to remove someone if we have to, so please respect your fellow tour members.

Please also note that alcohol is banned in Afghanistan and Iran so please never buy or carry alcohol on the vehicle while we are in these 2 countries. If you are caught buying or carrying alcohol on the vehicle in Afghanistan and/or Iran you will be asked to leave the tour and no refund will be given.

Aggressive or abusive drunk behaviour will not be tolerated during this tour and if anyone is constantly abusing alcohol and causing trouble we will not hesitate to remove them from the tour and no refund will be given.

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Pakistan tour of Afghanistan 2023 schedule: Full fixtures list, match timings and venues | AFG vs PAK ODIs

Pakistan have flown to Sri Lanka to play a three-match ODI series against Afghanistan starting on August 22. Here are the fixtures list, match timings and venues | AFG vs PAK ODIs.

Sri Lanka is all set to host a three-match bilateral series between Afghanistan and Sri Lanka, between August 22 and 26. Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium in Hambantota and R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo are the preferred venues for the epic clashes.

The UAE and India have hosted Afghanistan’s matches in the past, but owing to possible difficulties in acquiring visas for Pakistan players in India, SLC was approached.

Afghanistan have named an 18-member squad under the leadership of Hashmatullah Shahidi. Teenage spinner Noor Ahmad has made a comeback, bolstering their already potent spin-arsenal comprising the duo of Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rehman.

Pakistan have meanwhile arrived in Sri Lanka with an 18-member squad headed by Babar Azam. Saud Shakeel has sealed a berth in the white-ball squad on the back of his purple patch in Test cricket, in the recently concluded series against Sri Lanka. The squad will be downsized to a 17 members, excluding Shakeel, for Asia Cup 2023 starting from August 30.

In recent years, the cricketing fraternity has witnessed some fiery exchanges whenever the two arch-nemeses have taken the field. Jingoistic fans and onfield banters have all contributed to the rivalry. It will be a cracker of a series.

AFG vs PAK 2023, ODI schedule: Full fixtures list, venues & match timings

Tuesday, August 22: 1st ODI, Afghanistan vs Pakistan, Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium, Hambantota, 3pm local time.

Thursday, August 24: 2nd ODI, Afghanistan vs Pakistan, Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium, Hambantota, 3pm local time.

Saturday, August 26: 3rd ODI, Afghanistan vs Pakistan, R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, 3pm local time.

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Pakistan Tour of Afghanistan 2023 Schedule

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Pakistan Tours & Vacations

Searching for a proper adventure? Pack your bags and your camera for Pakistan.

Imagine if you could click your fingers and forget everything you’ve heard about Pakistan. Well, this is your chance – just click your mouse and you’ll be on your way to discovering a country that’s not defined by the media. This is a land of incredible treks through soaring mountains , one whose terrain is as enrapturing as its history. From the capital of Islamabad to the mystical Hunza Valley, Pakistan has felt the subtle touch of the world’s greatest empires and the brute force of the world’s most complex conflicts. And through it all, the Pakistani people remain humble, hopeful and unconditionally hospitable – come and see it for yourself.

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Pakistan at a glance

Capital city.

Islamabad (population approximately 1.1 million)

Approximately 213 million

Pakistani rupee (PKR)

Urdu, English, provincial languages

(GMT +05:00) Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi

CALLING CODE

Electricity.

Type C (European 2-pin), Type D (compatible with Type C)

Learn more about Pakistan

Culture and customs.

Pakistan – officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan – must be one of the least-understood countries in the world. It has suffered from a serious image issue for years, particularly since September 2011, and people can be quick to cast it aside as a backwards, troubled nation. And yes, there are problems regarding economics, rebel groups and international relations, but there are also hundreds of millions of welcoming people hoping to cast aside Pakistan’s damaged reputation.

The majority of Pakistanis practice Islam though their ethnicity is extremely diverse. Thanks to the myriad religions, cultures and empires that have gained prominence in the region at one time or another, Pakistan is a melting pot of Indian, Central Asian and Persian influences to name just a few. There are over 70 different languages and the northern Pakistanis of the Karakoram ranges have more in common with, say, their northern  Indian  or Afghan neighbours than those living in Karachi or Hyderabad.

That said, there are two things common to Pakistan wherever you travel and the first is cricket. The Pakistanis are mad for the sport with the current prime minister, Imran Kahn, having captained the national team to World Cup glory in 1992. The second is hospitality. A guest is a blessing from God, according to Islam, and you’ll find that the locals will go out of their way to share a cup of tea, a meal or a conversation – probably about cricket – with you.

Like many conservative countries, Pakistan takes a more traditional view when it comes to gender equality. Males are considered the head of the household and are generally responsible for providing for their family, with women often expected to stay hidden in private. This is slowly changing, however, with women across the country fighting for more independence against a long-standing patriarchy.

Pakistan has a long way to go in the eyes of many but that doesn’t discount what’s on offer right now: with a unconditionally welcoming population that loves to throw a party and host visitors, Pakistan may just be the best place you never thought you’d visit.

History and government

Human occupation of the area we know as Pakistan dates back some 300,000 years, with evidence of stone-age communities found in the northern Punjab region. These evolved into farming and herding communities that cultivated large areas of land, though it was the Indus Valley civilisation that really flourished in the basins of the Indus River. It’s not known why this civilisation collapsed, but they were eventually replaced by the Persian Achaemenid Empire until Alexander the Great rolled into town with his  Macedonian  army in 327 BC. When Alexander died, he left behind an enormous empire stretching from  Greece  to the Indus River, which was split among his generals.

Conquest after conquest

Pakistan continued to be a highly sought-after territory. Buddhism and Hinduism both prevailed in the area until the first Muslim foothold was achieved with Muhammad bin Qasim’s conquest in 711 AD. Islam spread throughout the region, culminating in the creation of the Mughal Empire, which covered modern-day Pakistan, Afghanistan,  India  and  Bangladesh . The Mughals were descendants of the Turks and their leader, Babur, was said to descend from Genghis Kahn himself . The Mughals were renowned for their architecture (think the  Taj Mahal and Red Fort  in India), as well as their interest in the arts, which blended  Persian , Indian and  European  influences. The empire started to crack in the early 1700s and by the end of the century a Sikh Empire had taken control of the Punjab region.

British colonisation

The British Raj ruled the Indian subcontinent, including much of Pakistan, from 1858–1947 after several confrontations with the Sikh armies. After victory in the Anglo-Sikh wars, and as a result of the influence of the East India Company, the British dominated the region though a national Muslim identity was slowly emerging. One of the key figures in this movement was Muhammad Iqbal, a writer and poet, who felt that a Muslim state was necessary in a Hindu-dominated region, though some argue that he advocated for a Muslim province rather than a partition of country.

The name ‘Pakistan’ was created in 1933 by Choudhry Rahmat Ali, a political science student, as an acronym for the five northern regions of British India: Punjab, Afghania, Kashmir, Sind and Baluchistan. ‘PAKSTAN’ became ‘Pakistan’ for pronunciation purposes, and this led to the birth of the Pakistan Movement.

Independence

The Islamic Republic of Pakistan was granted independence from the British in 1947 (as was India). Once the borders were drawn, an unforseen issue arose in the Punjab region between Hindu minorities in Pakistan and Muslim minorities in India. A population exchanged was agreed upon but it was far from peaceful. It’s estimated that over ten million people migrated across the borders and that 1–2 million people died as a result of violence between the two religions. This clash was the basis of the still unresolved Kashmir dispute between Pakistan and India. It’s worth noting, too, that Bangladesh was formerly known as East Pakistan and had a Bengali Muslim majority. In 1971, however, the Bengali Muslims split from their western family because of discrimination and a lack of attention from the government in Pakistan proper.

Pakistan is a regional (and nuclear) power with one of the world’s fastest-growing middle class. The problems are many, including corruption, terrorism and poverty, but the country is tipped to become a large and important economy. Imran Kahn, Pakistan’s current prime minister and former cricket captain, has prioritised tourism as an important source of future wealth.

Eating and drinking

Pakistan’s cuisine is a result of its myriad influences throughout history. Take your subcontinental staples, add some Middle Eastern flavours, mix in some Central Asia seasoning and you’ve got a seriously tasty variety of dishes – think everything from a spicy curry to the perfect shish kebab. These are a few dishes to look out for:

• Nihari A hugely popular and traditional Muslim dish found across the Indian subcontinent. Take a slow-cooked shank of lamb, goat or chicken and stew it with some 50 spices including garam masala, cardamom and cumin. Serve with naan or roti and you’re laughing (and most likely napping too).
• Sajji Originating in Pakistan’s Balochistan province, sajji is a simple, tasty meat dish. Take a whole lamb or chicken, marinate it in salt, skewer the entire thing and roast it over coals. Sometimes it’s covered in green papaya paste, sometimes it’s stuffed with rice, but one thing is for certain: it’s always delicious.
• Halwa poori This dish has become a popular breakfast for the people of southern Pakistan. Take some deep-fried bread ­– that’s the poori – and serve with halwa (a traditional sweet), yoghurt and a chickpea or potato curry. It’s light and oh so right.
• Kheer This traditional dessert is a rice pudding combined with almonds, pistachios, cashews and saffron and cardamom. Look for it in terracotta bowls from a restaurant or street stand and savour the sweet sensation once you break the skin with your spoon.

Plant-based options

Travelling as a vegetarian in Pakistan can sometimes be difficult. Meat is considered the highlight of a meal and while some classic vegetarian dishes like dahl can easily be found, they may sometimes be served with shredded chicken, for example. It’s important to be clear that you don’t eat meat and that includes fish and chicken. That said, there’s plenty of paratha and piping-hot roti to be had, you just need to be patient to find something more substantial.

Vegans will encounter quite a bit of difficulty as veganism just isn’t really a concept in Pakistan. Everyone except the poorest people enjoy a heavy meat-based diet and a lot of meals are cooked in either meat stock or ghee butter. Be sure to ask that your dish is prepared in a separate pot and without any animal products, but be understanding if this causes some confusion.

Of course, this is all a lot easier when you’re travelling with a local, someone who knows the language and the culture. If you travel with Intrepid, you’ll have a local leader who can help you decipher menus and recommend good plant-based choices.

Geography and environment

Pakistan has the dubious honour of hosting some of the most disputed borders in the world. The country is bordered by four countries –  Iran ,  India , Afghanistan and  China  – with disagreements over the Kashmir region (India and China) and the Durand Line (Afghanistan). Pakistan stretches from the Arabian Sea in the south to the mighty Karakoram mountains in the north and can be split into three geographical regions.

Northern highlands

Pakistan’s north is incredibly mountainous and includes the Karakoram, Hindu Kush and Himalaya mountain ranges. It’s home to the world’s second-largest peak K2 (8611 m) as well as more than 50 mountains rising above 6500 metres. It is an undeniably beautiful area but given the challenging terrain, the northern highlands have a sparse population with remote villages scattered throughout the valleys. The winters here are severe, as you’d imagine, with freezing temperatures and much snowfall. The Hunza Valley, through which the Karakoram Highway runs, sees temperatures between -5/-15°C (23/5­°F) during winter though it can reach the low thirties (86°F) in the summer period.

Balochistan

Pakistan’s southwest area is known as Balochistan, which borders both Iran and Afghanistan. It accounts for 44% of Pakistan’s land mass but less than 10% of the population, most of whom are concentrated in the city of Quetta. Poverty is rife here despite untapped reserves of natural gas and much of the landscape is dry and unable to be cultivated. The summers are hot and the winters can be freezing, though rainfall is relatively low compared to the rest of Pakistan.

Indus Plain

Much of Pakistan’s population and economy are focused on the areas surrounding the mighty River Indus. All of Pakistan’s rivers flow into the Indus and its fertile plains are responsible for most of the country’s food production and industry. The river shelters several endemic creatures including the Indus River dolphin, which is close to extinction, but is also the cause of devastating floods. Each year Pakistan sees heavy rain from mid-July through till September and the Indus will often flood a huge area of land, affecting millions of people across Pakistan.

Pakistan is home to shawls, spice and everything nice. Much like  India , Pakistan’s markets are an experience in their own right and even if you don’t plan on bringing something home, you’re unlikely to forget the bustle and banter as you make your way through the throngs. But if you do have space for souvenirs, the following may make some nice mementos:

There’s a long tradition of carpet weaving in Pakistan, dating way back to the Indus Valley civilisation. This continued through the Mughal Empire and the carpets made in Pakistan and Afghanistan were in high demand across the world, with Lahore being particularly famous for its rugs.

Pakistan is known for its onyx marble and while many think of onyx as being a black gem, you’ll find that Pakistani onyx comes in a range of colours. You may well find jewellery and handicrafts with streaks of gold, green and brown in specialist and market shops across the country.

Kashmiri Shawls

The disputed region of Kashmir is known for its woven shawls – cashmere is an anglicisation of Kashmir. Story has it that Napoleon gave one to both his wives, so if you’re after a gift to get you out of trouble, one of these (or two) may just be the perfect purchase.

Multan pottery

The city of Multan is located in southern Punjab and famous for its blue pottery, which was introduced by Arab artisans after Muhammad Bin Qasim conquered the region in the 8th century. The best places to purchase a vase or similar vessel are Multan and Lahore, otherwise you may not be getting the real deal.

Festivals and events

The people in Pakistan love a party and will go all out for birthdays, weddings and religious celebrations. You can expect a lot of noise and colour and a smorgasbord of distractions everywhere you look.

Independence Day

The 14th of August commemorates the independence of Pakistan and is celebrated nation-wide. Official celebrations include speeches and a gun salute, as well as cultural programs in the cities, while the people of Pakistan adorn their shops and homes in flags, bunting and banners. It’s a day for friends and family, with people taking to parks and other public places to celebrate their country.

Shandur Festival

Welcome to the highest polo match on the planet. Sitting at 3700 metres (12,139 feet), Shandur’s polo ground hosts a festival every July at the Shandur Pass, with teams from Chitral and Gilgit-Baltistan facing off in an extremely aesthetic arena. It’s a shoutout to the equestrian traditions of Central Asia and the festival also hosts traditional folk music and dancing.

This Punjabi festival used to be held in February to celebrate the coming of spring by flying kites across the city. The sky was filled with colourful kites but make no mistake, this was no leisure activity. The kites were flown on special, glass-embedded strings in order to sever the strings of competitor kites and Basant was eventually banned because people were being killed by stray strings. In 2019 the government decided against lifting the 10-year ban on Basant, though many hope that the tradition will be reinstituted sometime soon.

Further reading

For inspiring stories to prepare you for your Pakistan adventure, check out these books:

Moth Smoke  – Mohsin Hamid

The Ice-Candy Man  – Bapsi Sidwha

The Buddha of Suburbia  – Hanif Kureishi

My Feudal Lord  – Tehmina Durrani

A Short Walk in the Hindu Kush  – Eric Newby

Kartography  – Kamila Shamsie

A Case of Exploding Mangoes  –Mohammed Hanif

The Reluctant Fundamentalist  – Mohsin Hamid

K2: Life and Death on the World’s Most Dangerous Mountain  – Ed Viesturs, David Roberts

Pakistan travel FAQs

Do i need a covid-19 vaccine to join an intrepid trip.

Trips from 1 January 2023 onwards

From 1 January 2023, Intrepid will no longer require travelers to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (excluding all Polar trips and select adventure cruises).

However, we continue to strongly recommend that all Intrepid travelers and leaders get vaccinated to protect themselves and others.

Specific proof of testing or vaccination may still be required by your destination or airline. Please ensure you check travel and entry requirements carefully.

When is the best time to visit Pakistan?

Pakistan’s climate is difficult to pin down as a single entity. It ranges from tropical and subtropical to semi-arid and desert, and then up north you’ve got the ridiculously beautiful ­– and ridiculously cold – mountainous areas incorporating the Karakoram, Himalaya and Hindu Kush ranges.

In the north, the mountainous region of Gilgit-Baltistan sees desert-level rainfall, but snow is quite frequent in winter. The trekking season runs from April to October and the area is generally sheltered from the monsoon rains experienced further south, though there may well be some showers, thunderstorms and possibly snowfall at higher altitudes.

The region of Punjab, which incorporates the cities of Islamabad and Lahore, has a sub-tropical climate with very hot summers. July and August see the southwest monsoon bring heavy rains, while September, October and November tend to be drier with a more manageable temperature range of 10–34°C (50–93°F), depending on where you are. Given Islamabad’s higher altitude and location at the foot of the mountains, it tends to be a little wetter than, say, Peshawar or Lahore, but if you wish to avoid the rain, your best bet is to avoid spending too much time in Punjab from July until September.

Is it safe to travel to Pakistan?

Pakistan is one of those countries that sets off alarm bells in the minds of friends and family – you're going where? Their reaction is understandable, given the news coverage of Pakistan over the past 20 years, and there's no doubt that some areas just aren't worth the risk. That said, you can rest assured that Intrepid would not take you anywhere unless we were convinced it was safe and trust us, there's more – so much more – to Pakistan than the media would have you believe.

Do I need a visa to travel to Pakistan?

Anyone traveling to Pakistan for tourism or business purposes must obtain a visa, which can be done on arrival (depending on your nationality) or online before your trip begins. You can also apply for a tourist visa at your local Pakistan embassy or consulate before traveling. Both e-visas and visas issued on arrival have differing lengths of stay, with e-visas valid for up to 3 months (but can be extended to 6 months) and VOA (visa on arrival) valid for a period of 30 days.

The page is for general information only and may be subject to change. It is your responsibility to obtain relevant visa and travel information required for entry, departure and travel to each country or region you visit on your trip. You should confirm these with the relevant embassies and/or consulates. 

Last updated: 6 May 2023 

Is tipping customary in Pakistan?

While gratuities aren't compulsory on this trip, they can make a big difference to locals employed in the tourism industry. If you are happy with the services provided, a tip is an appropriate way to say thanks. 

Most restaurants in Pakistan will not include a service charge on the bill so a tip can be added to the total amount. There's no strict rule, but 8–10 per cent is generally recommended. 

Over the years we have found that many of our travellers find the need for tipping local guides and operators to be both tiresome and embarrassing, especially if they don't have the correct small change. To overcome this, your leader might raise the idea of a group tipping kitty. At your group meeting, your tour leader may discuss the idea of running this kitty, whereby everybody contributes an equal amount and then your tour leader pays the tips as you go. The leader will keep a running record of all monies spent (except restaurant tips). The record can be checked at any time and any money remaining at the end of the tour returned to group members. This kitty does not include any tips you wish to give your leader and crew.

What is the internet access like in Pakistan?

If you’re planning to use your mobile phone in Pakistan (with either global roaming activated or by using a local SIM) you’ll find that the internet in major cities like Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi is quick and free wi-fi is often available through hotspots. Travellers will be able to find internet cafes in Pakistan's larger cities but internet access might be patchy or non-existent in more remote areas like the Hunza Valley. There have been instances of the government restricting connectivity and social media during periods of protest or religious celebration.

Can I use my mobile/cell phone in Pakistan?

Mobile phone coverage is generally good in the cities of Pakistan, although coverage may not be available in remote areas. If you want to use your mobile phone, ensure global roaming is activated before you arrive (but be aware of the fees this may incur).

What are the toilets like in Pakistan?

Most mid­- to high-range hotels in Pakistan will be equipped with Western-style, flushable toilets. You may well encounter squat toilets at restaurants and in public areas, and while these can take some getting used to, they become part of the experience once you’ve nailed your technique.

What will it cost for a...?

Pakistan’s unit of currency is the rupee. Prices here are approximate and shown in US dollars for ease of comparison.

• Can of domestic beer = USD 2–3
• Meal at a local restaurant = USD 3-8
• Local bus ticket = USD 0.20
• Cup of coffee (cappuccino or similar) = USD 1–2

Can I drink the water in Pakistan?

Drinking tap water isn’t recommended in Pakistan. For environmental reasons, try to avoid buying bottled water and fill a reusable water bottle or canteen with filtered water instead. Ask your leader where filtered water can be found; some hotels we stay in may have drinking water available, often boiled to use for tea. It's also advisable to avoid ice in drinks and to peel fruit and vegetables before eating.

Are credit cards widely accepted in Pakistan?

Credits cards are not widely accepted in Pakistan, which remains a primarily cash-based society. You may be able to use a credit card in hotels and higher-end shops in cities like Islamabad and Lahore, but make sure you have enough cash available when leaving the cities.

What is ATM access like in Pakistan?

Pakistan lays claim to the world’s highest ATM, located at 4687 metres (15,379 feet) at the Khunjerab Pass. You’ll be able to find ATMs in most cities and towns, but be sure to take enough cash when travelling to more remote villages, particularly in the mountains.

What is the weather like in Pakistan?

The weather in Pakistan falls into four seasons.

 June–September sees monsoonal rains, with June being the hottest month of the year and reaching upwards of 45 °C (113 °F). The rains are notoriously unpredictable, with the monsoon sometimes skipping the Pubjab region altogether and sometimes causing widespread damaging floods.

The post-monsoon season of October/November sees both temperatures and rainfall reducing. While the days can warm and hot, the nights begin to cool with temperatures ranging from 10–30°C (50–86°F) and rain falling sporadically.

The winter months of December, January and February see fine weather across most of the country with a large variation in temperatures. The daytime is generally quite pleasant, with temperatures usually topping out at 20°C (68°F), though it can drop down to 3 or 4°C at night (37–39°F). The northern mountains are another story, with precipitation falling as snow and temperatures well below freezing.

The hot, dry season comes in March, April and May with averages in the mid-30s (95°F) in the low-lying areas, though it gets hotter up north until you reach the northern mountains.

Do I need to purchase travel insurance before traveling?

Absolutely. All passengers traveling with Intrepid are required to purchase travel insurance before the start of their trip. Your travel insurance details will be recorded by your leader on the first day of the trip. Due to the varying nature, availability and cost of health care around the world, travel insurance is very much an essential and necessary part of every journey.

For more information on insurance, please go to: Travel Insurance

What public holidays are celebrated in Pakistan?

• 5 February Kashmir Solidarity Day
• 23 March Pakistan Day
• 1 May Labour Day
• Varies Eid-ul-Fitr
• Varies Eid al-Adha
• 14 August Independence Day
• Varies Ashura
• Varies Eid Milad
• December 25 Quaid-e-Azam’s Birthday

Given Pakistan is a Muslim country, their public holidays follow the Islamic calendar, which is based off lunar dates.

For a current list of public holidays Pakistan, including those with moveable dates, go to: timeanddate.com/holidays

Is Pakistan a safe destination for LGBTQIA+ travellers?

We recommend LGBTQIA+ travellers exercise complete discretion when travelling in Pakistan.

Pakistan is not a safe destination for LGBTQIA+ travellers who wish to openly express sexuality outside of a very rigid, heterosexual binary. In fact, we do not recommend any public expressions of sexuality given Pakistan’s conservative values.

Openly LGBTQIA+ people can face stigma, harassment and violence in their everyday lives, with homosexuality technically punishable by life in prison or death. That said, Pakistan does recognise a third gender with transgender citizens afforded broad protections.

For more detailed and up-to-date advice, we recommend visiting  Equaldex  or  ILGA  before you travel.

If you are travelling solo on an Intrepid group tour, you will share accommodation with a passenger of the same gender as per your passport information. If you don’t identify with the gender assigned on your passport, please let us know at time of booking and we’ll arrange the rooming configuration accordingly. A single supplement is available on some tours for travellers who do not wish to share a room.

Is Pakistan accessible for travellers with disabilities?

Intrepid is committed to making travel widely accessible, regardless of ability or disability. That’s why we do our best to help as many people see the world as possible, regardless of any physical or mental limitations they might have. We’re always happy to talk to travellers with disabilities and see if we can help guide them towards the most suitable itinerary for their needs and, where possible, make reasonable adjustments to our itineraries.

Pakistan can be a difficult destination to explore for travellers with disabilities. Even in large cities like Lahore and Islamabad, differently abled people – travellers and locals alike – are often overlooked in terms of infrastructure and policy.  

While international chain hotels are often built with the needs of accessible travellers in mind, homestays, guesthouses and locally run hotels are generally not fitted with ramps, elevators, shower rails etc.

If you have a battery-operated hearing aid, it’s a good idea to bring extra batteries.

If you do live with a visual, hearing or other impairment, let your booking agent or group leader know early on so they’re aware and suitable arrangements can be made. As a general rule, knowing some common words in the local language, carrying a written itinerary with you and taking to the streets in a group, rather than solo, can help make your travel experience the best it can be.

What to wear in Pakistan

What you wear in Pakistan will depend on what time of the year you’re travelling and where you are going. The autumn, summer and spring are generally quite hot across the low-lying areas and cool, loose-fitting clothing that is culturally sensitive, like a light shirt and trouser combo, is best. The northern highlands can get very cold, even in the warmer months, so be sure to pack a warm jacket, thermals, sturdy waterproof shoes and a windbreaker. Clothes that can be easily layered are best.

When entering mosques, women must have their heads, arms, legs and shoulders covered, and all people should dress conservatively. Please avoid shorts and if you’re in any doubt, we recommend playing it safe.

How do I stay safe and healthy while traveling?

From Australia?

Go to: Smart Traveller

From Canada?

Go to:  Canada Travel Information

From the UK?

Go to:  UK Foreign Travel Advice

From New Zealand?

Go to:  Safe Travel

From the US?

Go to:  US Department of State

The World Health Organisation also provides useful health information.

Does my trip support The Intrepid Foundation?

Yes, all Intrepid trips support the Intrepid Foundation. Trips to this country directly support our global Intrepid Foundation partners, Eden Reforestation Projects and World Bicycle Relief. Intrepid will double the impact by dollar-matching all post-trip donations made to The Intrepid Foundation.

Eden Reforestation Projects

Eden Reforestation Projects are helping to mitigate climate change by restoring forests worldwide; they also hire locally and create job opportunities within vulnerable communities. Donations from our trips support restoration across planting sites in 10 countries around the globe. Find out more or make a donation World Bicycle Relief

World Bicycle Relief provides people in low-income communities with bicycles to mobilize school kids, health workers, and farmers in far-out areas – giving them access to vital education, healthcare, and income. Donations help provide Buffalo Bicycles – specifically designed to withstand the rugged terrain and harsh environment of rural regions – to those who need them most. Find out more or make a donation

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• Pakistan Tours
• Afghanistan Tours

• 001 The attraction of Afghanistan
• 002 Our Afghanistan tours

We, Indus Caravan, have re-started our tour operations in Afghanistan. Individual/Group travel arrangements are made with full attention to the latest information and developments after the new Taliban regime set in 2021.

Afghanistan is a land of various ethnic groups, including Tajik, Pashtun, Uzbek, Hazara and Wakhi, influenced by Central, West and South Asia, and through which great civilizations in history have passed. It is a magical country that although they still face many problems, its diversity is what makes it so attractive.

Buddhist Archaeological Sites

The Bamiyan Caves, as well as many sites with Buddhist-built stupas and monastery remains are scattered across the southern and northern parts of the Hindukush. The different styles of Buddhist monuments from neighboring Pakistan are interesting, and inspire the romanticism of the historic Silk Road.

Bamiyan cave painting

Silk Road Heritage

In the North, Mazar-e Sharif, a hub town in the north, Balkh, dotted with ancient and medieval ruins, and the bazaars of the Uzbek and Turkmen peoples are bustling, full of Silk Road ambience. Western Afghanistan has beautifully decorated medieval sites, including the mosque in Herat and The Ghurid dynasty minaret <Minar-e Jam>.

Watch tower along the Trans-Hindukush Road

Afghanistan's Nature

Afghanistan has beautiful natural areas, with deserts, mountainous areas comprising the Hindu Kush and its tributaries, and the plains. The mountainous landscapes around Band-e Amir and Bamiyan are among the most scenic in Afghanistan, and the mountainous landscape of Badakhshan, Wakhan corridor is uniquely attractive.

Band-e Amir

Encounters with beautiful people and cultures

Afghanistan is known as the crossroads of ethnic groups and civilizations. The beautiful people and their traditional costumes are fascinating, especially for visitors.

Wahan Corridor

We have been operating tours in Afghanistan since 2003, and in accordance with the 2023 Foreign Travel Regulations in Afghanistan, we have travel arrangements with permits for all destinations. We are highly experienced and confident about visiting Bamiyan area and other Buddhist sites.

Itinerary to visit the Bamiyan caves, Band-e Amir and Kabul. This tour can be done in 4 days , but we recommend having 3 nights in beautiful Bamiyan ( 5 nights/6 days program).

Bamiyan West Buddha

East Buddha cave

Painting (East Buddha cave)

At Bamiyan Valley

At the suburbs of Kabul

Naan shop in Kabul

Itinerary includes visits to the Bamiyan caves and surrounding caves, Band-e Amir, and Surkh Kotar, Takht-e Rostam, Mazar-e Sharif and Balkh in the North.

Kakrak Caves

Dragon Valley

Surkh Kotar

Takht-e Rostam

This is an adventure program on the central route from Bamiyan to Herat. For real adventure lovers, with rough off-roading and overnight stays in Chai khana. You won't want to miss the medieval Silk Road sites such as Chehel Burj and the minaret of Jam, which are along the way to Herat.

Minaret of Jam

Hazara people travelling on the central route

Herat,Friday Mosque

This number of days depends on the area you want to visit and the point of entry into Afghanistan. Overnight stays will be in a local home, yurt and tent on adventure tracks.

Wakhi Family at Sarhad

Village of Wakhan Corridor

• Pakistan Tour

Young Pioneer Tours

Afghanistan Tours for 2024 and 2025

Guided tours to afghanistan.

Young Pioneer Tours have resumed offering fully guided and security-conscious Afghanistan tours for 2024 and 2025 at regular intervals.

Since 2016 YPT have been running tours to Afghanistan and as the situation has stabilised since the Taliban again took control. We can now therefore offer tours to the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan until its fall in 2021 to the Taliban.

YPT Group tours to Afghanistan in 2024 and 2025

For safety and security reasons, our Afghanistan tours are led by a local expert guide and we accept no more than 10 group members per tour. This is a rule strictly enforced for your safety.

As well as our regular Afghanistan tours, we now offer a limited number of all female tours to Afghanistan.

2024 Afghanistan Group Tours

Afghanistan Spring Tour – May 20th to 28th – 2024 – $2745

Join us on a rare opportunity to learn a different side of this beautiful and complex country meeting people from all walks of life, whilst partaking in the must-see sights of a region regarded as the “crossroads of Asia” or, to its adversaries, the “graveyard of empires”.

Women’s Tour to Afghanistan – July 29th to August 6th – 2024 – $2745

After the overwhelming success of the world’s first ever women-only tour to Afghanistan since the Taliban took over, we will be running another. Join us on our carefully curated, immersive experience that deeply examines women’s lives in Afghanistan.

Grand Afghanistan Autumn tour – September 24th to October 3rd / 6th 2024 – €3445 / €4440

Back by popular demand, the most in-depth and complete Afghanistan tour we offer which includes all the must-see sights within Kabul, as well as further exploring beyond to Bamyan, Herat, Kandahar, Mazar-i-Sharif and the ancient city of Baikh.

Grand Afghanistan tour – April 16th to April 26th / 29th 2025 – €3445 / €4440

The most in-depth and complete Afghanistan tour we offer which includes all the must-see sights within Kabul, as well as further exploring beyond to Bamyan, Herat, Kandahar, Mazar-i-Sharif and the ancient city of Baikh.

Afghanistan Group Tour Information

We are in constant communication with our local partners in Kabul and deem whether the Afghanistan group tour or private group tour is safe to go ahead or not depending on the local security situation on the ground.

Trips to Afghanistan do create dangers all of their own and whilst we want you to have as much freedom as possible, we must state that both the YPT and local guides have the final word with regards to changes to the itinerary for safety reasons.

Whilst the route YPT have chosen passes through areas that we consider to be stable; the situation can change and we may have to alter the route or cancel sections of the trip at short notice. If there is an extra expense incurred due to the change of itinerary then you may be asked to bear part of that cost. For example, if we have to fly between cities rather than drive. Joining this tour means you agree to these terms. Further information on terms and conditions for our Afghanistan tours are available on request.

For Pakistan e-visa purposes you can only arrive on the Afghanistan tour commencing date. Your Afghanistan Tour visa is not valid before this date, nor is it valid for independent travel in Afghanistan.

Independent travel to Afghanistan

For all intents our independent Afghanistan tours work much in the same way as our group tours to Afghanistan. Generally speaking, while the itinerary would remain mostly the same for your Afghanistan tour, there is also scope for us to arrange bespoke travel within Afghanistan.

Independent tours to Afghanistan are still led by an expert local guide and driver, but can be done for as little as one solo traveller. For more information on independent Afghanistan tours please get on touch to talk to one of our experts.

Afghanistan Travel Agency

Young Pioneer To9urs began offering travel to Afghanistan under the previous government and during the time of the Taliban insurgency. We have always sued the best local partners and have never scrimped on the best tours and most importantly safety.

This has continued since the Taliban came back into power and we remain the most trusted Afghanistan travel agency when it comes to not just having a good time, but more importantly safety

How to get an Afghanistan Visa?

YPT provides full visa support for both your e-visa for Pakistan and your visa to Afghanistan, which is collected in Peshawar (located within Pakistan). The Pakistan visa fee depends on your nationality and the Afghanistan visa fee is $100 for all nationalities – Note – This is the current price for an Afghanistan visa, but it is subject change. Please get in touch if you have questions about your eligibility for an Afghanistan visa.

Is Afghanistan Tours safe under the Taliban?

While we have covered the safety of Afghanistan tours in other articles, things have obviously changed a little with the current situation. Whilst we always suggest checking the guidance of your own government advisory sites, such as the UKFCO . In our own opinion though traveling to Afghanistan is now safer due to the stability the new Taliban regime has brought to the country.

Things though can and do change and at as such we will keep you constantly updated should the security situation in country change at all.

To read if it is ethical to travel to Afghanistan under the Taliban click here .

Sample Afghanistan Itinerary

The following is our example tour to Afghanistan. This can be done as a bespoke Afghanistan tour in its entirety, or adapted to your exact needs.

Day 1 (Must start on Monday or Wednesday) – Islamabad

• Arrive at your convenience into Islamabad – the capital city of Pakistan which is well connected from many countries within Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
• Airport transfer and check into the Grand Islamabad Hotel
• Overnight in Grand Islamabad Hotel.

Day 2 – Islamabad – Peshawar

• Breakfast at hotel and meet our Pakistani guide
• Depart at 7:00am on our 180km drive northwest to Peshawar – Pakistan’s sixth largest city and located near the border of Afghanistan.
• Arrive directly at the Afghanistan consulate in Peshawar to submit your visa applications
• Stop by an authentic Pakistani restaurant to grab a local lunch and soak in the atmosphere. You’ll notice the heavy Afghani influence on this unique Pakistani city.
• Head to the Old City centre to explore the busy Qissa Khwani Bazaar where local clothing can be purchased for us to better blend in to both Pakistan and Afghanistan.
• Visit Clock Tower Square – this tower belongs to a pair of clock towers that were presented by the U.K.’s Queen Elizabeth. The other tower being in England.
• Explore Mohabbat Khan Mosque – a 17th-century Mughal-era mosque built in 1630. An elegant mosque and fantastic for photos.
• Return to the Afghanistan consulate to collect passports and visas.
• Check into our Peshawar hotel to freshen up
• Head out to Habibi restaurant famous for local dishes
• Overnight in Peshawar

Day 3 – Peshawar – Islamabad – Kabul, Afghanistan

• Breakfast at hotel and morning departure back to Islamabad and head straight to the airport.
• Board our 1-hour direct flight to Kabul departing 4:30pm on Kam Air 928 – the capital of Afghanistan.
• On arrival meet our Afghanistan guide at the airport and be transferred to our guest house.
• At our guest house you’ll have a briefing with our guide.
• It may be required to visit the tourism ministry in Kabul to meet directly with the Taliban to receive our permit to allow the group to travel outside of the capital.
• Head out for dinner and overnight in Kabul.

Day 4 – Kabul – Bamyan

• Breakfast at guesthouse and depart early on our 180km journey to Bamyan heading north across the Shomali Plains passing over the Shibar pass (3285m).
• Stop for lunch along the way
• Pass by the watershed of the Indus and Oxus river systems before finally reaching Bamyan.
• Visit the remains of the Buddhas of Bamyan – on orders from Taliban, the statues were destroyed in March 2001 as they declared that they were idols.
• Drive a short distance to the base of the Shahr-E-Golgola also known as the ‘City of Screams’ – this was destroyed by Genghis Khan in 1221. Genghis had destroyed Balkh and sent his teenage grandson with an army to capture Bamyan. The people resisted and Genghis’s grandson was killed.  Genghis besieged and destroyed Golgola in revenge.
• Drive out to the Valley of the Dragon ‘Darya Ajdhahar’ – this massive rock formation is alleged to be the remains of a dragon that persecuted the villagers until Hazrat Ali, the cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Mohammed killed it. The story is reminiscent of St George and the Dragon.
• Check into our hotel, head out to the bazaar for dinner and overnight in Bamian.

Day 5 – Bamyan – Band-e-Amir National Park – Bamyan

• Wake up early and head to Hindu Kush and to the remains of the Buddhas of Bamyan for stunning sunrise photos.
• Head back to the hotel for breakfast and a great chance to catch locals doing their morning routines.
• Begin driving 80km west to Band-e-Amir National Park – a stunning group of turquoise lakes located high in the Hindu Kush at an altitude of 2900m. It was also the first registered national park in Afghanistan. Hike around the area for picturesque photos and amazing views
• Picnic lunch outdoors and return to Bamyan
• Dinner in town and overnight

Day 6 – Bamyan – Kabul

• Breakfast at guest house and begin drive back to Kabul
• Stop for photos, and rest breaks along the way.
• Lunch on arrival in Kabul
• Visit Darul Aman Palace – built during the reign of Amanullah Khan in the 1920s it has over 150 rooms and offers stunning views of Kabul.
• Walk around the Garden of Babur – developed in 1528 it’s a historic park which holds the tomb of the first Mughal emperor Babur.
• Dinner and overnight at hotel

Day 7 – Kabul – Mazar-I-Sharif

• Breakfast at guest house and head to the airport to depart on a morning Kam Air flight to Mazar.
• On arrival head 25km out towards the ancient town of Balkh – this town is believed to be the centre of the Bactrian Empire, even before the arrival of Alexander the Great. It was destroyed many times over by the likes of Ghengis Khan and Timur-i-lang.
• Visit the Shrine of Khoja Abu Nasar Parsa and Dargah of Rabia Balkhi
• Visit the old town of Balkh where the US military were briefly stationed as they were withdrawing from the area.
• Return to Mazar and lunch on arrival
• Visit the Blue Mosque or ‘Shrine of Hazrat Ali’ – the most famous building in Afghanistan. The mosque is located in the heart of Mazar-I-Sharif and is one of the reputed burial places of Ali ibn Abi Talib, cousin and son-in law of Prophet Muhammad.
• Explore Mazar bazaar – this bazar is not only the rug production of Afghanistan but considered the rug hub of Central Asia.
• Dinner, ice-cream dessert and overnight in Mazar-I-Sharif

Day 8 – Mazar-I-Sharif – Kabul

• Breakfast at guest house and head to the airport to board the morning flight back to Kabul
• First stop visit the National Museum of Afghanistan – it holds manuscripts, miniatures, weapons and art objects belonging to the former royal families.
• Visit the War Museum and meet the fine folk that run PMAR – an Afghani NGO dedicated to removing land mines leftover by decades of war dating back to the Soviet occupation.
• Grab an Afghani lunch in town
• Explore Ka Faroshi Bird Market – located in the heart of Kabul’s old city; this narrow laned market is packed with small, mud-walled shops festooned with bird cages and birds.
• Continue exploring old town markets – good spot to buy any afghani goods,
• Visit Abdur Rahman Khan Mausoleum – Abdur Rahman Khan was Emir of Afghanistan between 1880 and 1901. He was a strong ruler and gained the name of the ‘Iron Amir’. His tomb sits in the Mausoleum in Zarnegar Park which translates as the park adorned with gold.
• Head up to the TV Towers Mountain where you’ll have a great view of Kabul city below.
• Swing by the curiosity shops of Chicken Street for dinner and overnight in guest house.
• Farewell dinner with our local guides and overnight in Kabul

Day 9 –Kabul

• Breakfast at hotel
• For any sites missed in Kabul at the beginning of the tour it may be arranged today according to availability.
• Tour concludes – YPT is able to arrange airport transfers and advice for flights out.
• Optional $475 to board Kam Air flight 901 departing Kabul 5:25pm and arriving into Dubai 8:00pm. We can further explore Kabul before the flight or see any sights you couldn’t do on our first day.

Note – This is a sample itinerary for our Afghanistan Tours and is therefore subject to change. For bespoke Afghanistan itineraries please contact is vis the link below.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT AFGHANISTAN TOURS

The following are some of the most frequently asked questions about our tours to Afghanistan. If you have further questions then get in touch and talk to the experts.

What are the Afghanistan Tour Guides Like?

How do you get an afghanistan visa, is afghanistan safe for tourists, is it ethical to travel to afghanistan, are there atms in afghanistan, can you drink in afghanistan, can i take photos, will i meet the taliban, what should i wear, can you get insurance for afghanistan, are they options for vegetarians, what are the toilets like in afghanistan, what is the accommodation like, for more information on our afghanistan tours contact us.

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Afghanistan – 13 days tour

13 days tour – classics of afghanistan.

Welcome to our 13-day tour to Afghanistan, where we will take you on a comprehensive journey through the rich cultural and historical sites of the country. Starting in the vibrant capital city of Kabul, we will explore its bustling markets, ancient historical sites, and witness the resilience of its people. We will then venture into the tranquil and serene province of Bamyan, home to the famous Buddha statues carved into the cliffs. Our journey will then take us to the western city of Herat, a city steeped in history and known for its beautiful Islamic architecture. Next, we will visit the southern city of Kandahar, the birthplace of the Taliban movement and a city with a rich and complex history. Lastly, we will explore the northern city of Mazar-e Sharif, known for its blue-tiled mosque and the tomb of Ali ibn Abi Talib. This tour promises to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, full of adventure, culture, and history that will stay with you long after you’ve returned home.

General info

Day 1 – Kabul

• Morning arrival.
• Meeting with the guide.
• Briefing on traveling in Afghanistan, including on the local customs & dress.
• Sakhi Shrine, a well-known mosque, where Mohammed’s cloak is said to have been brought.
• Highlight : We’ll visit the Bibi Mehro Hill, a place where many Afghans come together to relax. On top of the mountain is a large swimming pool with a giant Afghan flag.
• Overnight stay in Kabul.

Day 2 – Kabul – Bamian

• Morning depature by car to Bamian. An area that has been quite isolated in Afghanistan, but is known for its incredible scenery.
• Highlight : After arrival we’ll visit the mountains where once monasteries and giant Buddha statues stood. These statues were blown up by the Taliban.
• Overnight stay in Bamian.

Day 3 – Bamian

• Walk through Bamian.
• Highlight:  Visit the local market.
• Short hike to a former Taliban lookout post.
• Dragon Valley and its beautiful landscape.
• Shah-e Zohak (Red Fort), historical ruins destroyed by Genghis Khan.
• Shah-e Golghola, historic site destroyed in 1221.

Day 4 – Bamian – Band-e Amir

• Drive to Band-e Amir.
• Highlight:  Visit the Band-e Amir lakes, beautiful deep blue lakes between high peaks.
• Cruise over the lakes in a paddleboat swan (optional).
• Walk along the lakes.
• Drive to Bamian.

Day 5 – Bamian – Kabul

• Drive back to Kabul via the majestic mountains and valleys.
• We will visit Darulaman Palace, the former palace of the king of the country.
• Highlight : Babur’s Gardens, an oasis of tranquillity in busy Kabul.
• Kabul Museum.

Day 6 – Kabul – Herat

• 8:30 AM flight to Herat.
• Upon arrival in Herat we’ll start our sightseeing tour of Herat.
• Highlight : The Great Mosque of Herat, also known as the Friday Mosque.
• Walk through the old town.
• Traditional Caravanserais, this is where people came together at the time of the Silk Road.
• Jihad Museum.
• Gawhar Shad Mausoleum, also known as the tomb of Baysunghur, was built in the 15th century.
• Musalla Complex, a place built in the 15th century. Today there are 5 large minarets still standing.
• Shrine of Khoja Ansari, a famous sufi poet / writer from the 11th century.
• Overnight stay in Herat.

Day 7 – Herat – Kandahar

• Morning departure to Kandahar, the largest city in the South of the country. It’s a long journey and along the way we make a few stops to stretch our legs and to enjoy the scenery.
• Arrival before darkness in Kandahar.
• Overnight stay in Kandahar.

Day 8 – Kandahar

• Highlight : City tour of Kandahar. We’ll visit famous sights as the Forty Stairs, Ahmad Shah Durani Shrine, Mirwais Hotak Shrine and the colourful bazar.

Day 9 – Kandahar – Kabul

• Early departure to Kabul. Along the way we make various stops to enjoy the scenery and to stretch our legs.
• Highlight : If time permits we will visit the Minarets of Ghazni.
• Arrival in Kabul before darkness

Day 10 – Kabul

• We visit the famous Bird Market of Kabul.
• Chicken Street, the famous hippie street with souvenirs.
• OMAR Landmine Museum.
• Highlight : Bala Hissar Park, with a beautiful view over the city.
• Afternoon flight to Mazar-e Sharif.
• Overnight stay in Mazar-e Sharif.

Day 11 – Mazar-e Sharif – Bakh

• Highlight : The famous blue tomb of Hazrat Ali, the Blue Mosque. One of the most famous sights of Afghanistan.
• Drive to Bakh.
• Khwaja Abu Nasr Parsa shrine, a famous lecturer from Herat. The shrine was built in 1958.
• No Gombad Mosque, one of the oldest mosques in Afghanistan. Nowadays a lot of excavations are done here.
• Drive to Mazar-e Sharif.

Day 12 – Mazar-e Sharif – Samangan – Kabul

• Ride to Samangan.
• Tashkurgan, also known as Choelm. Here we drive through deep ravines.
• Old King’s Hunting Lodge, the King’s old loot and palace.
• Highlight : Buddhist monastery, a complex of different caves.
• We continue our drive via the Soviet Tunnel (Salang) towards Kabul.

Day 13 – Kabul

• Airport drop off.
• End of the tour.

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Tensions high after Pakistan launches cross-border attacks into Afghanistan

Taliban claims to have fired across border following air raids targeting Pakistani Taliban.

Islamabad, Pakistan – Pakistan has launched overnight air attacks inside Afghanistan, while the Taliban claimed hours later to have fired across the border.

Tensions flared on Monday between Islamabad and Kabul following the overnight raids. Pakistan said the attack had targeted armed groups hiding out in border regions. The Taliban said eight women and children were killed.

Keep reading

Pakistan, afghanistan agree to boost trade, lower border tensions, pakistan, iran agree to ‘de-escalate’ tensions after tit-for-tat attacks, ‘low-trust’ ties: what’s next for pakistan, iran after tit-for-tat attacks.

The Afghan defence ministry claimed later on Monday to have fired across the border at Pakistan positions. Islamabad has not yet commented on the claim.

Pakistani military and foreign ministry sources confirmed to Al Jazeera that the “retaliatory” attacks had targeted the hideouts of commanders of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), or Pakistani Taliban, due to “terrorist activities being sponsored and conducted from across border”.

They offered few details. However, on Saturday , a group of suicide bombers targeted a military check post in Pakistan’s North Waziristan district in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which neighbours Afghanistan, killing seven soldiers.

Afghanistan’s interim government said the Pakistani jets had hit the houses of “ordinary people” in Paktika and Khost provinces. They reported that at least eight people were killed; five women and three children.

In a statement issued on X, government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the individual Pakistan claimed to have targeted continues to live in Pakistan.

Kabul “strongly condemns” the “reckless action” which is a violation of Afghanistan territory, he continued.

“The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, which has a long experience of freedom struggle against the superpowers of the world, does not allow anyone to invade its territory,” the post read.

په افغانستان باندې د پاکستاني الوتکو د تجاوز په اړه د اسلامي امارت د ویاند څرګندونې https://t.co/pbCqKiJF36 pic.twitter.com/OZYsWWojLh — Zabihullah (..ذبـــــیح الله م ) (@Zabehulah_M33) March 18, 2024

Tension has risen between Pakistan and Afghanistan since the Taliban government seized power in 2021. Islamabad claims that hostile armed groups carry out regular attacks from across the border.

Afghanistan reported in April 2022 that Pakistani air strikes in the east of the country killed 47 people.

Analysts suggest that Monday’s strike can be linked to the suicide attack two days ago, which was claimed by a newly formed group, Jaish-e-Fursan-e-Muhammad, which is led by Hafiz Gul Bahadur, leader of a Pakistani Taliban faction based in North Waziristan.

In response, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif repeated the claim that armed groups are using Afghan soil from which to launch terrorist attacks inside Pakistan.

“Terrorism against us is mostly being conducted from Afghanistan,” he said on Sunday.

It’s a charge the Afghan Taliban has repeatedly denied.

“We reject the presence of any … foreign groups in Afghanistan and they are not allowed to operate on Afghan soil. In this regard, we have made our utmost effort and continue to do so; but one thing we must accept is that Afghanistan shares a very long border area with Pakistan, and there are places with rugged terrain including mountains and forests, and places that might be out of our control,” Mujahid said in response.

Bloody year

Last year was bloody in Pakistan, with more than 650 attacks reported across the country, resulting in the deaths of nearly 1,000 people, most of whom were security personnel.

Most attacks targeted the western provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, which border Afghanistan.

While there have been various armed groups which have conducted acts of violence in Pakistan, the state’s main adversary has been the TTP, which is ideologically aligned with the Afghan Taliban.

Since its founding in 2007, the TTP has targeted civilians and law enforcement personnel in Pakistan, resulting in thousands of deaths.

The group demands the imposition of their hardline interpretation of Islamic laws, as well as a reversal of Pakistan’s decision to merge their tribal areas with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

Abdul Sayed, a Sweden-based researcher on armed groups in South and Central Asia, says Pakistan’s air strikes on Monday appear to be a response to the suicide attack two days previously.

“The attack in North Waziristan was extraordinarily large, reportedly involving six suicide bombers and a large truck bomb. The presence of top Pakistani officials, including the president and army chief, at the funerals, suggested potential future cross-border actions by Pakistan,” he told Al Jazeera.

Muhammad Amir Rana, an Islamabad-based security analyst and director of the Pakistan Institute of Peace Studies (PIPS) says it is not unusual for the TTP or other armed groups to launch attacks during the month of Ramadan.

“The state institutions have now adopted a tit-for-tat response to any threats. The Taliban are known to support the TTP, and there have been instances of their own members being involved in attacks in Pakistan,” he told Al Jazeera.

It has also been noted that the sharp response of Pakistan against targets in Afghanistan is similar in nature to its reaction to January’s cross-border attacks by Iran .

However, Rana suggests that the possibility of retaliatory attacks on targets in Pakistan following Monday’s air raids cannot be dismissed.

“Unless diplomatic channels are activated, tensions between the two countries are likely to escalate in the coming weeks,” he cautioned.

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Millions of Afghans made Pakistan home to escape war. Now many are hiding to escape deportation

An 18-year-old Afghan boy, who asked not to use his name and not to show his face fearing his identity could lead to his capture again, pose for photograph during an interview with The Associated Press, in Karachi, Pakistan, Friday, Jan. 26, 2024. Born and raised in Pakistan to parents who fled neighboring Afghanistan half a century ago, an 18-year-old found himself at the mercy of police in Karachi who took his cash, phone and motorbike, and sent him to a deportation center. (AP Photo/Fareed Khan)

An 18-year-old Afghan boy, who asked not to use his name and not to show his face fearing his identity could lead to his capture again, pose for photograph behind a window during an interview with The Associated Press, in Karachi, Pakistan, Friday, Jan. 26, 2024. Born and raised in Pakistan to parents who fled neighboring Afghanistan half a century ago, an 18-year-old found himself at the mercy of police in Karachi who took his cash, phone and motorbike, and sent him to a deportation center. (AP Photo/Fareed Khan)

FILE - Afghan families onboard a truck head toward a border crossing point in Torkham, Pakistan, Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023. For more than 1 million Afghans who fled war and poverty to Pakistan, these are uncertain times. Since Pakistan announced a crackdown on migrants last year, some 600,000 have been deported and at least a million remain in Pakistan in hiding. They’ve retreated from public view, abandoning their jobs and rarely leaving their neighborhoods out of fear they could be next. It’s harder for them to earn money, rent accommodation, buy food or get medical help because they run the risk of getting caught by police or being reported to authorities by Pakistanis.(AP Photo/Muhammad Sajjad, File)

FILE - A convey of trucks carrying Afghan families drive toward a border crossing point in Torkham, Pakistan, Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023. For more than 1 million Afghans who fled war and poverty to Pakistan, these are uncertain times. Since Pakistan announced a crackdown on migrants last year, some 600,000 have been deported and at least a million remain in Pakistan in hiding. They’ve retreated from public view, abandoning their jobs and rarely leaving their neighborhoods out of fear they could be next. It’s harder for them to earn money, rent accommodation, buy food or get medical help because they run the risk of getting caught by police or being reported to authorities by Pakistanis. (AP Photo/Muhammad Sajjad, File)

FILE - A police officer checks the document of a resident during a search operation against illegal immigrants at a neighborhood of Karachi, Pakistan, Friday, Nov. 3, 2023. For more than 1 million Afghans who fled war and poverty to Pakistan, these are uncertain times. Since Pakistan announced a crackdown on migrants last year, some 600,000 have been deported and at least a million remain in Pakistan in hiding. They’ve retreated from public view, abandoning their jobs and rarely leaving their neighborhoods out of fear they could be next. It’s harder for them to earn money, rent accommodation, buy food or get medical help because they run the risk of getting caught by police or being reported to authorities by Pakistanis. (AP Photo/Fareed Khan, File)

FILE - Afghan families board a bus to depart for their homeland, in Karachi, Pakistan, Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023. For more than 1 million Afghans who fled war and poverty to Pakistan, these are uncertain times. Since Pakistan announced a crackdown on migrants last year, some 600,000 have been deported and at least a million remain in Pakistan in hiding. They’ve retreated from public view, abandoning their jobs and rarely leaving their neighborhoods out of fear they could be next. It’s harder for them to earn money, rent accommodation, buy food or get medical help because they run the risk of getting caught by police or being reported to authorities by Pakistanis. (AP Photo/Fareed Khan, File)

FILE - An Afghan boy sits over his family’s belongings retrieved from their damaged mud homes demolished by authorities during a crackdown against an illegal settlement and immigrants, on the outskirts of Islamabad, Pakistan, Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023. For more than 1 million Afghans who fled war and poverty to Pakistan, these are uncertain times. Since Pakistan announced a crackdown on migrants last year, some 600,000 have been deported and at least a million remain in Pakistan in hiding. They’ve retreated from public view, abandoning their jobs and rarely leaving their neighborhoods out of fear they could be next. It’s harder for them to earn money, rent accommodation, buy food or get medical help because they run the risk of getting caught by police or being reported to authorities by Pakistanis. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed, File)

People walk on a street in a a neighbourhood, where mostly Afghan populations, in Karachi, Pakistan, Friday, Jan. 26, 2024. For more than 1 million Afghans who fled war and poverty to Pakistan, these are uncertain times. Since Pakistan announced a crackdown on migrants last year, some 600,000 have been deported and at least a million remain in Pakistan in hiding. They’ve retreated from public view, abandoning their jobs and rarely leaving their neighborhoods out of fear they could be next. It’s harder for them to earn money, rent accommodation, buy food or get medical help because they run the risk of getting caught by police or being reported to authorities by Pakistanis. (AP Photo/Fareed Khan)

A worker prepare ‘Naan’ at a ran locally called ‘Tandoor’ in a a neighbourhood, where mostly Afghan populations, in Karachi, Pakistan, Friday, Jan. 26, 2024. For more than 1 million Afghans who fled war and poverty to Pakistan, these are uncertain times. Since Pakistan announced a crackdown on migrants last year, some 600,000 have been deported and at least a million remain in Pakistan in hiding. They’ve retreated from public view, abandoning their jobs and rarely leaving their neighborhoods out of fear they could be next. It’s harder for them to earn money, rent accommodation, buy food or get medical help because they run the risk of getting caught by police or being reported to authorities by Pakistanis. (AP Photo/Fareed Khan)

Burqa-clad Afghan women walk on a street with other in a a neighbourhood, where mostly Afghan populations, in Karachi, Pakistan, Friday, Jan. 26, 2024. For more than 1 million Afghans who fled war and poverty to Pakistan, these are uncertain times. Since Pakistan announced a crackdown on migrants last year, some 600,000 have been deported and at least a million remain in Pakistan in hiding. They’ve retreated from public view, abandoning their jobs and rarely leaving their neighborhoods out of fear they could be next. It’s harder for them to earn money, rent accommodation, buy food or get medical help because they run the risk of getting caught by police or being reported to authorities by Pakistanis. (AP Photo/Fareed Khan)

Burqa-clad Afghan women walk on a street in a a neighbourhood, where mostly Afghan populations, in Karachi, Pakistan, Friday, Jan. 26, 2024. For more than 1 million Afghans who fled war and poverty to Pakistan, these are uncertain times. Since Pakistan announced a crackdown on migrants last year, some 600,000 have been deported and at least a million remain in Pakistan in hiding. They’ve retreated from public view, abandoning their jobs and rarely leaving their neighborhoods out of fear they could be next. It’s harder for them to earn money, rent accommodation, buy food or get medical help because they run the risk of getting caught by police or being reported to authorities by Pakistanis. (AP Photo/Fareed Khan)

Children play on a street in a neighbourhood, where mostly Afghan populations, in Karachi, Pakistan, Friday, Jan. 26, 2024. For more than 1 million Afghans who fled war and poverty to Pakistan, these are uncertain times. Since Pakistan announced a crackdown on migrants last year, some 600,000 have been deported and at least a million remain in Pakistan in hiding. They’ve retreated from public view, abandoning their jobs and rarely leaving their neighborhoods out of fear they could be next. It’s harder for them to earn money, rent accommodation, buy food or get medical help because they run the risk of getting caught by police or being reported to authorities by Pakistanis. (AP Photo/Fareed Khan)

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KARACHI, Pakistan (AP) — Born and raised in Pakistan to parents who fled neighboring Afghanistan half a century ago, an 18-year-old found himself at the mercy of police in Karachi who took his cash, phone and motorbike, and sent him to a deportation center.

Scared and bewildered, he spent three days there before he was sent back to Afghanistan, a place he has never been to, with nothing but clothes on his back.

The youth is one of at least 1.7 million Afghans who made Pakistan their home as their country sank deeper into decades of war. But they’ve been living there without legal permission, and are now the target of a harsh crackdown on migrants who Pakistan says must leave.

Afghan families onboard a truck head toward a border crossing point in Torkham, Pakistan, Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023. (AP Photo/Muhammad Sajjad, File)

Some 600,000 Afghans have returned home since last October, when the crackdown began, meaning at least a million remain in Pakistan in hiding. They’ve retreated from public view, abandoning their jobs and rarely leaving their neighborhoods out of fear they could be next for deportation.

It’s harder for them to earn money, rent accommodation, buy food or get medical help because they run the risk of getting caught by police or being reported to authorities by Pakistanis.

The youth, who had been working as a mechanic in an auto shop since he was 15, spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of arrest and deportation.

He has applied for the same documentation that his family has, but he won’t get it. Pakistan isn’t issuing paperwork for Afghan refugees or their children.

“My life is here. I have no friends or family in Afghanistan, nothing,” the young man told The Associated Press. “I wanted to come back (to Pakistan) sooner, but things had to calm down first,” he said, referring to the anti-migrant raids sweeping the country at the time.

An 18-year-old Afghan boy, who asked not to use his name and not to show his face fearing his identity could lead to his capture again, pose for photograph behind a window during an interview with The Associated Press, in Karachi, Pakistan, Friday, Jan. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Fareed Khan)

Taliban authorities gave him 2,500 afghanis ($34) once he entered Afghanistan to start a new life. They dispatched him to northeastern Takhar province, where he slept in mosques and religious schools because he knew nobody to stay with. He passed his time playing cricket and football, and borrowed other people’s phones to call his family.

Six weeks later, he traveled from Takhar to the Afghan capital, Kabul, then to eastern Nangarhar province. He walked for hours in the dark before meeting up with human smugglers hired by his brother in Pakistan. Their job was to get him to Peshawar, the capital of Pakistan’s northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, for the price of $70.

He is relieved to be reunited with his family. But he is vulnerable.

Police have daubed numbers on homes in his neighborhood to show how many people live there and how many have documentation. Hundreds of Afghan families have fled the area since the operation began. There are fewer people to hide among.

Such neighborhoods in Karachi are easily home to tens of thousands of Afghans. But they have no drainage systems, health care or education facilities. There are few women on the streets, and those who venture out wear burqas, often the blue ones more commonly seen in Afghanistan.

Lawyer Moniza Kakar, who works extensively with the Afghan community in Karachi, said there are generations of families with no paperwork. Without it, they can’t access basic services like schools or hospitals.

Afghans were already under the radar before the crackdown, and rumours abound that Pakistan wants to expel all Afghans, even those with documentation. Pakistan says no such decision has been made.

In another Karachi neighborhood with a mostly Afghan population, people scatter when police arrive, disappearing into a maze of alleys. A network of informants spread news of the visits.

Children play on a street in a neighbourhood, where mostly Afghan populations, in Karachi, Pakistan, Friday, Jan. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Fareed Khan)

Kakar despairs at the plight of Afghans who remain in Pakistan. “Sometimes they don’t have food so we appeal to the U.N. to help them out,” she said. To earn money or get medical help, they would have previously traveled from such neighborhoods into the heart of Karachi, but they can’t afford these journeys anymore. They’re also likely to be arrested, she added.

Some show Kakar their ID cards from the time of Gen. Zia Ul-Haq, the military dictator whose rule of Pakistan coincided with the 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. “They wonder why they don’t have citizenship after 40 years. They don’t share their location. They don’t go out. They live in property rented in someone else’s name.”

There are children who were born in Pakistan who have grown up and have children of their own. “The children don’t have any identity paperwork. All of them have an undecided future,” said Kakar.

Syed Habib Ur Rehman works as a media coordinator at the Afghanistan Consulate General in Karachi. He spends a lot of time in these communities.

“There are empty homes, empty shops,” Rehman said. “Markets are empty. The Pakistanis we know don’t agree with what is happening. They say they have spent a good life with us. Their business has gone down because so many Afghan families have left.”

The Afghans interviewed by the AP had different reasons for never securing their status. Some said they were overseas working. Others didn’t have time. Nobody thought Pakistan would ever throw them out.

An Afghan boy sits over his family’s belongings retrieved from their damaged mud homes demolished by authorities during a crackdown against an illegal settlement and immigrants, on the outskirts of Islamabad, Pakistan, Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed, File)

Mohammad Khan Mughal, 32, was born in Karachi and has three children. Before the crackdown started, the Afghan ran a tandoor business. Police told him to close down.

“My customers started complaining because they couldn’t buy bread from me,” he said. He and his family went to the southwestern city of Quetta in Baluchistan province to escape the raids.

He returned to Karachi a few days later, and has no intention of leaving.

“This is my home,” he said, with pride and sadness. “This is my city.”

Follow AP’s global migration coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/migration

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The first thing people say once they've been to Afghanistan is 'why didn't I come here earlier?’ There is probably nowhere else in the world that is so well known yet completely misunderstood. The names are all familiar from the news, place names like Kabul, Mazar e Sharif, Herat, Kandahar, Helmund, Panjshir and Bamiyan, yet all we know are the military exploits and the stories of Taliban insurgency and eventual conquest.

Travelling to Afghanistan is also one of those rare experiences left in this globalised world where one feels like they've travelled to a truly foreign land, a destination where a few things are recognisable but then the rest are completely exotic. Around every corner you need to expect the unexpected

Afghanistan has so much more to offer than you would ever have imagined, from the hustle and bustle of Kabul, to the natural wonders of Bamiyan. Cities and sights of immense history and culture dating back centuries, and a proud and remarkable culture.

Despite the media, travelling to Afghanistan will leave you with a sense of hope for this remarkable country.  After witnessing the resilience and generosity of the Afghani people, and even after all the hardship, their smiles and sense of humour will melt your heart.

Our expert Afghanistan guides have been travelling there for years, crafting itineraries that allow you to explore in depth and get a real feeling for the country. We go to places very few have ever been.

Join us in Afghanistan and see why it's one of our favourite destinations and somewhere we go back to time and time again.

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