Bamiyan, Band-e Amir & Mazar-i-Sharif
About This Tour
This seven-day Mazar-i-Sharif tour adds northern Afghanistan to the standard Bamiyan and Band-e Amir route. The journey ends at the Shrine of Hazrat Ali — the Blue Mosque — Mazar's 15th-century Timurid masterpiece covered in glazed turquoise tile, where sacred white pigeons cluster on the courtyard stones. On day six you visit ancient Balkh, the 'Mother of Cities' tied to Alexander the Great, Zoroaster, and the birthplace of Rumi. The 9th-century No Gonbad Mosque sits on the same plain — one of the oldest surviving mosques in the Islamic world. Earlier in the route we descend into the Samangan valley to Takht-i Rustam: a 4th–5th-century Buddhist stupa carved straight out of solid rock. Bamiyan's Buddha niches and Band-e Amir's six lakes open the tour. The drive between Bamiyan and Mazar crosses the Salang Pass at 3,400 metres — one of Asia's high mountain road crossings. Seven days, six nights, fully overland. Private vehicle, licensed Afghan guide, hotel nights at the Royal Bamiyan, the Arsalan Mazar, and the Khyber Kabul, all entrance fees. Year-round, any start date, 1–25 travellers. From $1,327 per person.
Tour Details
| Product ID | DRY-PRV-7D |
|---|---|
| Duration | 7 Days / 6 Nights |
| Type | Private tour — your own dates, your own group |
| Travellers | 1–25 travellers |
| Route | Kabul → Bamiyan → Band-e Amir → Samangan → Mazar-i-Sharif → Balkh → Kholm → Kabul |
| Domestic Flights | No domestic flights — fully overland |
| Hotels | Khyber Hotel, Kabul · Bamyan Royal Hotel, Bamiyan (2 nights) · Arsalan Hotel, Mazar-i-Sharif (2 nights) · Khyber Hotel, Kabul |
| Best Season | Year-round · Best Apr–May and Sep–Oct |
Day 4 (Bamiyan to Mazar via Samangan) is approximately 8–9 hours. Day 6 (Mazar to Kabul via Kholm) is approximately 7–8 hours. Both require early departure.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1 — Arrival in Kabul
- Kabul airport arrival
- Airport meet and greet
- Hotel transfer
- Shah-Do Shamshira Mosque
- Kah Faroshi Bird Market
- Timur Shah Durrani Mausoleum
- Wazir Akbar Khan Hill Sunset
Day 2 — Kabul to Bamiyan
- Drive Kabul → Bamiyan via Unai Pass
- Shahr-e Zuhak
- Shahr-e Gholghola
- Kakrak Valley Buddhist niches
- Buddhas Niches
- Cave System
- Cave Houses Tea with Local Family
Day 3 — Band-e Amir National Park
- Bamiyan → Band-e Amir National Park 4WD day trip (blue lakes exploration, boat crossing, Mosque and Footprint Shrine of Hazrat Ali, scenic picnic lunch)
- Bamiyan (market)
Day 4 — Bamiyan → Samangan → Mazar-i-Sharif
- Early Departure
- Samangan — Takht-i Rustam Buddhist Stupa
- Samangan Cave Bazaar
- Continue to Mazar-i-Sharif
Day 5 — Mazar-i-Sharif and Balkh
- Shrine of Hazrat Ali — Blue Mosque
- Drive to Balkh (40km)
- Khwaja Abu Nasr Parsa Mosque
- Bala Hisar of Balkh
- No Gombad Mosque ruins
- Return to Mazar
- Baba Mazari Mausoleum
- Mazar Bazaar
Day 6 — Mazar-i-Sharif → Kholm → Kabul
- Kholm — Bagh-e Jahan Nama
- Drive to Kabul via Salang Pass
Day 7 — Kabul — Departure
- Shewaki Buddhist Stupa
- Bagh-e Babur
- Id Gah Mosque
- Airport Transfer
- Departure
- Airport meet and greet on Day 1
- Hotel and transfer on arrival
- All accommodation in shared twin/double room with private bathroom
- English-speaking Afghan guide throughout
- Private vehicle with driver and fuel
- Breakfast and lunch every day
- All entry tickets and photo permits
- Government taxes and tourist permits
- Band-e Amir National Park 4WD vehicle and boat crossing
- Letter of Invitation for Afghanistan visa — free, within 48 hours of booking
- International flights to and from Kabul
- Afghanistan visa fee
- Travel insurance (required — IATI Travel Insurance covers Afghanistan)
- Dinners
- Personal expenses and gratuities
- Single room supplement — $30/room/night
Route Map
Private Tour Pricing
All prices are per person in USD, all-inclusive of Afghan ground costs — accommodation, guide, transport, domestic flights where included, entry fees, and meals as listed. International flights, visa, and travel insurance are not included.
| Travellers | Per Person | Approx. Total |
|---|---|---|
| 1 person (solo) | $2,974 | $2,974 |
| 2 people | $2,053 | $4,106 |
| 3 people | $2,010 | $6,030 |
| 4 people | $1,762 | $7,048 |
| 5 people | $1,618 | $8,090 |
| 6 people | $1,454 | $8,724 |
| 7 people | $1,734 | $12,138 |
| 8 people | $1,603 | $12,824 |
| 9 people | $1,547 | $13,923 |
| 10 people | $1,421 | $14,210 |
| 11 people | $1,387 | $15,257 |
| 12 people | $1,327 | $15,924 |
| 13 people | $1,327 | $17,251 |
| 14 people | $1,327 | $18,578 |
| 15 people | $1,327 | $19,905 |
| 16 people | $1,327 | $21,232 |
| 17 people | $1,327 | $22,559 |
| 18 people | $1,327 | $23,886 |
| 19 people | $1,327 | $25,213 |
| 20 people | $1,327 | $26,540 |
| 21 people | $1,327 | $27,867 |
| 22 people | $1,327 | $29,194 |
| 23 people | $1,327 | $30,521 |
| 24 people | $1,327 | $31,848 |
| 25 people | $1,327 | $33,175 |
$30/room/night × 6 nights = $180 per single room. 4★ hotel upgrade: +$50/room/night extra ($480 total per room). Set to 0 single rooms if sharing.
Enquire About This Tour
Tell us your preferred dates and group size. Our Kabul team replies within 12 hours, every day. No payment required at this stage.