Grand Afghanistan
About This Tour
The Grand Afghanistan tour is our flagship ten-day private itinerary covering the country's four great cultural cities: Kabul, Herat, Bamiyan, and Mazar-i-Sharif. The route begins with two days in Kabul's old bazaars, then a domestic flight to Herat — the Timurid capital — where the twelve-minaret Masjid-i Jami, the Qala Ikhtyaruddin citadel, the Musalla minaret complex, and the Sufi shrine of Khwaja Abdullah Ansari at Gazurgah fill three days. We fly back to Kabul and continue overland: Ghazni's two surviving Ghaznavid minarets, Bamiyan's Buddha niches and the Kakrak Valley, Band-e Amir's six turquoise lakes at 2,900 metres, the rock-cut Buddhist stupa of Takht-i Rustam at Samangan, the Blue Mosque at Mazar-i-Sharif, and ancient Balkh. The return crosses the Salang Pass via Kholm. Ten days, nine nights. The price includes the Kabul–Herat round-trip domestic flights, a private 4x4 with driver, a licensed Afghan English-speaking guide throughout, every hotel night (Khyber Kabul, Sadaf Herat, Royal Bamiyan, Arsalan Mazar), all entrance fees and permits. From $1,882 per person, any start date, 1–25 travellers. This is the route we know best — the founders run it personally.
Tour Details
| Product ID | DRY-PRV-10D |
|---|---|
| Duration | 10 Days / 9 Nights |
| Type | Private tour — your own dates, your own group |
| Travellers | 1–25 travellers |
| Route | Kabul → Herat → Ghazni → Bamiyan → Band-e Amir → Samangan → Mazar-i-Sharif → Balkh → Kholm → Kabul |
| Domestic Flights | KBL→HEA and HEA→KBL included |
| Hotels | Khyber Hotel, Kabul · Sadaf Hotel, Herat · Bamyan Royal Hotel, Bamiyan · Arsalan Hotel, Mazar-i-Sharif |
| Best Season | Year-round · Best Apr–May and Sep–Oct |
Day 4 (Kabul–Ghazni–Bamiyan) is approximately 7–8 hours. Day 7 (Bamiyan–Mazar via Samangan) is approximately 8–9 hours. Day 9 (Mazar–Kabul via Kholm) is approximately 7–8 hours.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1 — Arrival in Kabul
- Kabul airport arrival
- Airport meet and greet
- Hotel transfer
- Sakhi Shrine
- Shah-Do Shamshira Mosque
- Kah Faroshi Bird Market
- Timur Shah Durrani Mausoleum
Day 2 — Kabul to Herat
- Airport transfer
- KBL → HEA flight
- Malan Bridge
- Herat Citadel — Qala Iktyaruddin
- Herat National Museum
- Friday Mosque — Masjid-e Jami (12 minarets)
- Old City Bazaar
Day 3 — Herat to Kabul
- Gazurgah — Khwaja Abdullah Ansari Pilgrimage Complex
- Airport transfer
- HEA → KBL flight
- Wazir Akbar Khan Hill
- Overnight Kabul
Day 4 — Kabul → Ghazni → Bamiyan
- Drive Kabul → Ghazni
- Ghaznavid Minarets
- Sultan Mahmud Tomb
- Military Open Air Museum
- Ghazni Citadel
- Drive Ghazni → Bamiyan
Day 5 — Bamiyan
- Shahr-e Zuhak
- Shahr-e Gholghola
- Kakrak Valley Buddhist niches
- Buddhas Niches
- Cave System
- Cave Houses Tea with Local Family
Day 6 — 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 7 — Bamiyan → Samangan → Mazar-i-Sharif
- Early Departure
- Samangan — Takht-i Rustam Buddhist Stupa
- Samangan Cave Bazaar
- Continue to Mazar-i-Sharif
Day 8 — Mazar-i-Sharif and Balkh
- Shrine of Hazrat Ali — Blue Mosque
- Balkh — Khwaja Abu Nasr Parsa Mosque
- Bala Hisar of Balkh
- No Gombad Mosque
- Baba Mazari Mausoleum
- Mazar Bazaar
Day 9 — Mazar-i-Sharif → Kholm → Kabul
- Kholm — Bagh-e Jahan Nama
- Drive to Kabul via Salang Pass
Day 10 — Kabul — Departure
- Shewaki Buddhist Stupa
- Bagh-e Babur
- Id Gah Mosque
- Airport Transfer
- Afternoon 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
- Domestic flights KBL→HEA and HEA→KBL
- 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) | $4,213 | $4,213 |
| 2 people | $2,904 | $5,808 |
| 3 people | $2,869 | $8,607 |
| 4 people | $2,488 | $9,952 |
| 5 people | $2,299 | $11,495 |
| 6 people | $2,063 | $12,378 |
| 7 people | $2,461 | $17,227 |
| 8 people | $2,273 | $18,184 |
| 9 people | $2,201 | $19,809 |
| 10 people | $2,010 | $20,100 |
| 11 people | $1,969 | $21,659 |
| 12 people | $1,882 | $22,584 |
| 13 people | $1,882 | $24,466 |
| 14 people | $1,882 | $26,348 |
| 15 people | $1,882 | $28,230 |
| 16 people | $1,882 | $30,112 |
| 17 people | $1,882 | $31,994 |
| 18 people | $1,882 | $33,876 |
| 19 people | $1,882 | $35,758 |
| 20 people | $1,882 | $37,640 |
| 21 people | $1,882 | $39,522 |
| 22 people | $1,882 | $41,404 |
| 23 people | $1,882 | $43,286 |
| 24 people | $1,882 | $45,168 |
| 25 people | $1,882 | $47,050 |
$30/room/night × 9 nights = $270 per single room. 4★ hotel upgrade: +$50/room/night extra ($720 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.