About this Day Trip
Jalalabad was founded in the 16th century by the Mughal emperor Jalal-ud-din Akbar, and the city still carries that Afghan-Mughal fusion in its gardens and monuments. This day trip drops from Kabul's high plateau into the warm Nangarhar plain to visit the marble mausoleum of King Amanullah Khan, the gardens of Seraj-ul Emorat — once a royal retreat — and the Hada Museum, whose collection reaches back to the Gandhara civilisation that flourished here between the 1st and 5th centuries CE. The bazaar rounds out a city that has been a Silk Road trading hub at the crossroads of the Pashtun, Mughal and Buddhist worlds.
It is a long day — about three hours each way through the Sorubi Valley — best suited to travellers who enjoy the journey as much as the stops. Dress light: Jalalabad is noticeably hotter than Kabul in every season.
Like our Kandahar and Herat extensions, this day trip is sold as an add-on to any main tour — not as a standalone booking. To fit it in before or after your itinerary, simply add an extra hotel night in Kabul ($60 single / $90 double-twin per room, incl. breakfast) when you book.
Day-by-day itinerary
Kabul to Jalalabad and Back
Departure is at 08:30 for the three-hour descent through the Sorubi Valley, where terraced farms cling to the mountainsides. In Jalalabad you visit the grand marble mausoleum of King Amanullah Khan, then the Seraj-ul Emorat gardens, a Mughal-inspired royal retreat of roses, fountains and pavilions. Lunch is eastern Afghanistan on a plate — chapli kebab and bolani. The afternoon pairs the Hada Museum's Gandharan Buddhist and Greco-Bactrian artefacts with a wander through the Jalalabad bazaar's spices, textiles and jewellery; carry small afghani notes if you plan to bargain. The return drive leaves at 17:00 and reaches Kabul around 20:00, so expect a late but satisfying finish.
What's included
Included
- private AC transport
- driver
- English-speaking guide
- entry fees + permits
Not included
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