Afghanistan 2013

AFG-13 - AFGHANISTAN Date of travel: Sep 20 - Oct 4, 2013 ITINERARY: On Sep 20, 2013 afternoon I take a taxi to Prague airport. I fly to Istanbul and in another plane to Kabul, AFGHANISTAN where in the morning the next day. A local guide drives me to our guesthouse. Here I join the traveling group. The following day there is sightseeing of Kabul. We visit quite good Kabul Museum and by war ruined and looted Royal Palace. After lunch we see the Babur Gardens. In another place we walk through a very lively market with a street where birds are sold. Somebody flies a kit above. Our group consists of 11 tourists, a British leader Richard, our Afghan guide Moobin, drivers and usually a guard in uniform with a machine gun. Our transportation is in 2 minibuses (3 with luggage). On Sep 23 we take a flight to Herat in the western part of Afghanistan. The plane carries us over bare mountains. We land in Herat in mid-morning. The sightseeing tour of Herat is in the afternoon. Though hazy there is a good view of the city surrounded by mountains from a view point. Then mausoleum of “Abdallah Ansana.” Later another stop at another mausoleum in a park. There are 5 minarets close by. Originally there were 24 of them. Then through streets with bazaar. Next morning, we continue the tour with a visit of impressive “Friday Mosque.” There is a tile manufacturing for repair of the mosque. Next stop is at the “Citadel.” There is an interesting museum inside. We also visit a carpet store and a market inside a block of houses. The last stop is at a historic bridge across Harirod River some 22 km from Herat. Early in the morning on Sep 25 we fly from Herat (with changing plane in Kabul) to Mazar-e Sharif in the north of the country. We land there in the afternoon. Our first stop is at “Tomb of Ali,” the premier attraction of Mazar-e Sharif. Ali is Muhammad’s relative. Other Muslims think he is buried in Najaf, Iraq. The city is also known for thousands of white pigeons. Following morning we leave for a daytrip outside the city. We stop at 120-year-old “Abdel Rachman Palace,” then at ruins of a fort. Later we drive among high mountains with rusting remnants of war material from the conflict with Soviets. At Samangan we enter “Buddhist stupas” carved from rock. By night we are back in Mazar-e Sharif. On Sep 27 we leave Mazar-e Sharif and drive on very bad roads over the Hindu Kush Mountains. There is an occasional stop so our Afghans can pray. In the afternoon at Salang Pass at elevation 3,363 m above the sea level our minibuses enter a 3 km long tunnel built by Soviets. At night we are in a poor guesthouse in Panjshir Valley. In the morning a visit to a tomb of Commander Massoud who beat Soviets several times in this Valley. By night we are in our guesthouse in Kabul. On Sep 29 early morning flight from Kabul to Bamiyan located at the center of Afghanistan. The runway on Bamiyan airport is not paved. After we are taken to a hotel, there is a walk though the town on foot. Next morning, we go to a place, where used to be gigantic 2 ancient statues of Buddha. Taliban blew them up. Now there are 2 large empty niches. After lunch we visit “Shahr-e-Gholghola” (City of Screams) on a hill above Bamiyan. The city was destroyed, and people slaughtered by Genghis Khan in 1221. Italy pays for current reconstruction. The third day in Bamiyan we have a daytrip to the “Band-e Amir Lakes.” We reach the lakes at noon. It is both a beautiful nature place and a recreation area. We stay several hours. Then a drive back to Bamiyan. The last day in Bamiyan we have a trip to citadel “Shar-e Zohak” (Red Fortress). It is high above the valley and only few climb up. The second sightseeing is to “Valley of the Dragon.” Here Ali was to kill a dragon. It is quite a wild looking place. On Oct 3 morning our group flies from Bamiyan to Kabul. From Kabul airport we go for another tour of this city. First stop is in “Chicken Street” with souvenir and antique shops. Then we visit a bookstore selling books in foreign languages. All foreigners in Kabul know this store. After lunch we see an old “British Cemetery”, “Nadir Shah Mausoleum”, only from outside “Bala Hissar Citadel” and the old city walls. From here we drive to an “Animal market,” then “Land Mine Museum” and “Bibi Mahru Hill.” The hill rises from the city. A park is being built on its spacious top. One can see most of Kabul from here. On Oct 4 morning we take an Afghan “Safi Airways” to Dubai. Here our group splits. Some go to Amerika, others to Europe, one to Australia and I go to Karachi, Pakistan. Travel office: Wild Frontiers - a British Company Who took part: There were 11 American, European travelers and one Australian, a British leader Richard, an Afghan tour guide Moobin, drivers and a guard Shirin with a Kalashnikov.