Herat, Kandahar, Bamiyan & Mazar-i-Sharif
About This Tour
This thirteen-day Herat–Kandahar tour visits all four of Afghanistan's great cities and is the only itinerary in our catalogue that includes Kandahar — the Pashtun south. The route opens with Kabul, then a flight to Herat for three days of Timurid sites: the twelve-minaret Friday Mosque, the Qala Ikhtyaruddin citadel, the Musalla minarets, and the Khwaja Abdullah Ansari shrine. From Herat we fly to Kandahar — the city Ahmad Shah Durrani founded in 1747 as the first Pashtun capital — for the Shrine of the Cloak, the Red Mosque, and a day in the Arghandab Valley pomegranate orchards. We then fly to Bamiyan via Kabul for the Buddha niches and Band-e Amir's six lakes, continue overland to Mazar-i-Sharif for the Blue Mosque and ancient Balkh, and return via the Salang Pass. Four domestic flights, twelve hotel nights, fully escorted by a licensed Afghan English-speaking guide. Includes the Khyber Kabul, the Sadaf Herat, the Kandahar property, the Royal Bamiyan, and the Arsalan Mazar; a private 4x4 between sites; all entrance fees and provincial permits. Thirteen days, any start date, 1–25 travellers. From $2,449 per person — the complete picture of Afghanistan's regional diversity in one itinerary.
Tour Details
| Product ID | DRY-PRV-13D |
|---|---|
| Duration | 13 Days / 12 Nights |
| Type | Private tour — your own dates, your own group |
| Travellers | 1–25 travellers |
| Route | Kabul → Herat → Kandahar → Kabul → Ghazni → Bamiyan → Band-e Amir → Samangan → Mazar-i-Sharif → Balkh → Kholm → Kabul |
| Domestic Flights | KBL→HEA, HEA→KBL, KBL→KDH and KDH→KBL included |
| Hotels | Khyber Hotel, Kabul · Sadaf Hotel, Herat · Continental NFC Hotel, Kandahar · Bamyan Royal Hotel, Bamiyan · Arsalan Hotel, Mazar-i-Sharif |
| Best Season | Best Mar–May and Sep–Nov · Avoid Kandahar in summer |
KBL→KDH operates Tuesday, Thursday and Friday only — tour dates must align with the schedule. Days 7 and 10 are long overland drive days of 7–8 hours each.
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 Herat
- Airport transfer
- KBL → HEA flight
- Malan Bridge
- Herat Citadel
- 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
- Kabul Rest
Day 4 — Kabul to Kandahar
- Airport transfer
- KBL → KDH flight
- Ahmad Shah Durrani Mausoleum
- Mirwais Hotak Shrine
- Shrine of the Cloak — Kherqa Sharif
- Red Mosque
- Chihil Zina — 40 Steps
Day 5 — Kandahar
- Red Mosque Blue Hour (pre-dawn)
- Arghandab Valley
- Sarpuza Fortress
- Desert Dunes Last Light
Day 6 — Kandahar to Kabul
- KDH → KBL flight
- Kabul Rest
Day 7 — Kabul → Ghazni → Bamiyan
- Drive Kabul → Ghazni
- Ghaznavid Minarets
- Sultan Mahmud Tomb
- Military Open Air Museum
- Ghazni Citadel
- Drive Ghazni → Bamiyan
Day 8 — Bamiyan
- Shahr-e Zuhak
- Shahr-e Gholghola
- Kakrak Valley Buddhist niches
- Buddhas Niches
- Cave System
- Cave Houses Tea with Local Family
- Hussain Naveed English School (VICE World News 2022)
Day 9 — 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 10 — Bamiyan → Samangan → Mazar-i-Sharif
- Early Departure
- Samangan — Takht-i Rustam Buddhist Stupa
- Samangan Cave Bazaar
- Continue to Mazar-i-Sharif
Day 11 — 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 12 — Mazar-i-Sharif → Kholm → Kabul
- Kholm — Bagh-e Jahan Nama
- Drive to Kabul via Salang Pass
Day 13 — 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, HEA→KBL, KBL→KDH and KDH→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) | $5,197 | $5,197 |
| 2 people | $3,668 | $7,336 |
| 3 people | $3,636 | $10,908 |
| 4 people | $3,169 | $12,676 |
| 5 people | $2,947 | $14,735 |
| 6 people | $2,667 | $16,002 |
| 7 people | $3,139 | $21,973 |
| 8 people | $2,917 | $23,336 |
| 9 people | $2,831 | $25,479 |
| 10 people | $2,600 | $26,000 |
| 11 people | $2,554 | $28,094 |
| 12 people | $2,449 | $29,388 |
| 13 people | $2,449 | $31,837 |
| 14 people | $2,449 | $34,286 |
| 15 people | $2,449 | $36,735 |
| 16 people | $2,449 | $39,184 |
| 17 people | $2,449 | $41,633 |
| 18 people | $2,449 | $44,082 |
| 19 people | $2,449 | $46,531 |
| 20 people | $2,449 | $48,980 |
| 21 people | $2,449 | $51,429 |
| 22 people | $2,449 | $53,878 |
| 23 people | $2,449 | $56,327 |
| 24 people | $2,449 | $58,776 |
| 25 people | $2,449 | $61,225 |
$30/room/night × 12 nights = $360 per single room. 4★ hotel upgrade: +$50/room/night extra ($960 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.