Kabul, Bamiyan & the Blue Lakes
About This Tour
This four-day Bamiyan Afghanistan tour is the most direct way to see the country's two best-known landscapes. From Kabul, we cross the 3,200-metre Unai Pass into the Hazara highlands and reach Bamiyan — the cliff city where the 55-metre and 38-metre Buddha niches still stand carved into the sandstone face. On day three we drive into Band-e Amir National Park, Afghanistan's first national park: six turquoise lakes held back by natural travertine dams at 2,900 metres altitude. Bamiyan town itself sits at 2,550 metres. The route is fully overland — no flights — through Maidan Wardak, Ghorband, and the Hindu Kush foothills. You sleep two nights in Bamiyan at the Royal Bamiyan Hotel and one night in Kabul at the Khyber Kabul. The tour runs year-round on any date you choose, from one to twenty-five travellers, with a licensed Afghan English-speaking guide and a private 4x4. It includes all hotels, breakfasts, entrance fees (Band-e Amir National Park, Shahr-e Gholghola, Shahr-e Zuhak, Kakrak Valley), the vehicle and driver, and the Letter of Invitation we issue from our Kabul office within 48 hours of booking. From $550 per person.
Tour Details
| Product ID | DRY-PRV-4D |
|---|---|
| Duration | 4 Days / 3 Nights |
| Type | Private tour — your own dates, your own group |
| Travellers | 1–25 travellers |
| Route | Kabul → Bamiyan → Band-e Amir → Kabul |
| Domestic Flights | No domestic flights — fully overland |
| Hotels | Khyber Hotel, Kabul · Bamyan Royal Hotel, Bamiyan (2 nights) |
| Best Season | Year-round · Best Apr–May and Sep–Oct · Band-e Amir closes in heavy winter snow |
Day 2 and Day 4 both involve the Unai Pass drive (5–6 hours each direction). Plan outbound international flights for 17:00 or later on Day 4. Band-e Amir is inaccessible during heavy snowfall (typically Jan–Feb). Road conditions on the Kabul–Bamiyan highway can be slow in wet weather.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1 — Arrival in Kabul
- Kabul airport arrival
- Airport meet and greet
- Hotel transfer
- Bagh-e Babur
- 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 (Red City) ancient fortress
- Shahr-e Gholghola (City of Screams) hilltop citadel
- Kakrak Valley Buddhist niches
- Buddhas Niches — 55m Western and 38m Eastern
- Cave System — monastic caves carved into the cliff face
- 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 to Kabul — Departure
- Drive Bamiyan → Kabul via Unai Pass
- Airport Transfer
- Afternoon departure from Kabul
- 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) | $1,400 | $1,400 |
| 2 people | $900 | $1,800 |
| 3 people | $900 | $2,700 |
| 4 people | $750 | $3,000 |
| 5 people | $700 | $3,500 |
| 6 people | $600 | $3,600 |
| 7 people | $750 | $5,250 |
| 8 people | $700 | $5,600 |
| 9 people | $650 | $5,850 |
| 10 people | $600 | $6,000 |
| 11 people | $600 | $6,600 |
| 12 people | $550 | $6,600 |
| 13 people | $550 | $7,150 |
| 14 people | $550 | $7,700 |
| 15 people | $550 | $8,250 |
| 16 people | $550 | $8,800 |
| 17 people | $550 | $9,350 |
| 18 people | $550 | $9,900 |
| 19 people | $550 | $10,450 |
| 20 people | $550 | $11,000 |
| 21 people | $550 | $11,550 |
| 22 people | $550 | $12,100 |
| 23 people | $550 | $12,650 |
| 24 people | $550 | $13,200 |
| 25 people | $550 | $13,750 |
$30/room/night × 3 nights = $90 per single room. 4★ hotel upgrade: +$50/room/night extra ($240 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.