About this Private Tour
Most Afghanistan itineraries are expeditions: pack, drive, unpack, repeat. This one is the opposite. You stay four nights in one place — the Qargha Palace, a calm garden hotel on the shore of Qargha Lake just outside Kabul, with orchard gardens, a sun terrace and dinner by the outdoor fireplace. Nothing pretentious; just quiet, green, and Afghan.
Each day has one unhurried morning in the city, with your own guide and vehicle — the National Museum's Bactrian and Buddhist treasures, the terraces of Babur Garden, the 4th-century Shewaki Stupa at dawn before the city wakes, the Ka Faroshi bird market deep in the old town, carpet houses where the dealers unroll their best pieces over green tea, and a portrait taken by one of Kabul's last box-camera street photographers — a print you take home that no one else in the world is selling. One evening we climb Maranjan Hill for sunset over the whole city.
Every afternoon belongs to you: the lake, the garden, high tea on the terrace, a book. This is Kabul for travellers who want to understand a place rather than collect it — perfect as a gentle first visit, or as a second trip for those who have already done the great loop. An optional day trip to Ghazni — minarets and citadel of the Ghaznavid empire — can be added without changing hotels.
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1 — Arrival — straight to the lake
Airport meet & greet, permits handled, and a 40-minute drive out to Qargha Lake. Settle in, walk the orchard garden, sunset over the water, dinner by the outdoor fireplace. No programme tonight — arriving is the programme.
Day 2 — Museum & Babur Garden morning
After breakfast, into the city: the National Museum of Afghanistan — Bactrian gold country, Buddhist Gandhara, Islamic bronzes that survived everything — then the terraces of Babur Garden, resting place of the first Mughal emperor. Lunch in town, back at the lake by mid-afternoon. Terrace, high tea, nothing to do.
Day 3 — Shewaki Stupa at dawn — afternoon off
Early start for the Shewaki Stupa on Kabul's south-eastern edge, a 4th-5th century Buddhist monument in the morning light, usually with not another visitor in sight. Back for a late breakfast at the hotel. The whole rest of the day is yours — lake, garden, hammam-style public bath if you like.
Day 4 — Old Kabul — birds, carpets & the box camera
The deep old city: the Ka Faroshi bird market — canaries, fighting partridges, pigeon men in a lane unchanged for a century — then the carpet houses, tea after tea as the best pieces are unrolled. Sit for a portrait by one of Kabul's last kamra-e-faoree box-camera photographers; the print develops in his wooden camera while you watch. Late afternoon: sunset from Maranjan Hill over all of Kabul. Farewell dinner at the lake.
Day 5 — Slow morning — departure
Breakfast in the garden, a last walk by the water, and transfer to the airport whenever your flight calls. Option: extend with a Ghazni day trip or any of our add-ons before you go.
What's included
Included
- Letter of Invitation for Afghanistan visa (worth $200) — free, within 48 hours of booking
- Four nights at the Qargha Palace Hotel by Qargha Lake — garden rooms, private bathroom
- English-speaking Afghan guide and private vehicle for every city morning
- Breakfast and lunch daily · high tea at the lake
- Box-camera portrait session with an old-Kabul street photographer (print included)
- All entrance tickets and photo permits — museum, gardens, stupa
- Government taxes and Kabul tourist permits
- Airport transfers
Not included
- International flights
- Afghan e-Visa (~$133)
- Travel insurance
- Dinners
- Tips
Your hotels
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