• Overall

  30 days, 15 provinces, 1 epic tour.

  Travel all of Afghanistan’s main cities and provinces, as well as some of the rarely visited but extremely beautiful countryside and undiscovered history - including the UNESCO World Heritage Site Minaret of Jam, one of the world’s tallest minarets. Not a tour for the faint-hearted, but one where stunning landscapes, local food, and ancient history will not disappoint! 

  Designed for curious, resilient travellers who want to see all sides of Afghanistan, this 30-day Afghanistan Mega Tour is our most comprehensive journey yet. A full month exploring the country’s best-known cities, remote valleys, and little-visited provinces in one epic loop. 

  PART 1 - AFGHANISTAN HIGHLIGHTS

  We begin in Kabul, where you’ll ease into life in Afghanistan with time to get to know the group, explore the capital, and gain important context for the weeks ahead. We visit historic highlights such as the National Museum and Babur Gardens, and also visit Future Hope Charity Organisation (FHCO), a registered orphanage housing over 100 children, where a portion of this tour's profits goes to support their work.

  From there, we head out on the road, following the historic route between Kabul, Ghazni, and Kandahar, stopping at Ghazni’s minarets and war museum before arriving in Afghanistan’s most conservative major city.

  Continuing south and west, we travel through Helmand, home to the Ancient City of Bost and the Helmand River, before crossing desert landscapes past former coalition bases Camp Bastion and Camp Leatherneck. From here, the journey turns north to Herat, where we go behind the scenes to witness the creation of the intricate tiles of the Friday Mosque and imposing Herat Citadel.

  We take a domestic flight back to Kabul to travel to Mazar-i-Sharif, where the turquoise domes of the Blue Mosque and the ruins of Balkh, the “Mother of Cities”, connect you back to Central Asia’s ancient trading world.

  The itinerary then heads into the highlands. In Bamiyan, we explore the Buddhas of Bamiyan site, the ruined hilltop cities of Zuhak and Gholghola, and enjoy the beautiful turquoise lakes of the Band-e-Amir National Park.

  PART 2 - RURAL AFGHANISTAN

  From Bamiyan, the real adventure begins. 

  We push further into the central highlands to Firozhoh (Ghor) and on to the remote Minaret of Jam, a 12th-century UNESCO World Heritage Site set in a narrow river valley. Reaching Jam is a genuine achievement. A journey that many Afghans regard as a kind of pilgrimage. We mark it by camping overnight beside the river with our own cook team.

  Turning north and east, we traverse rugged mountain roads to Kunduz and then into Badakhshan, one of Afghanistan’s most scenic and least-visited regions. Here we explore Faizabad, venture towards Ishkashim on the edge of the Wakhan, and have time to enjoy local village life, high-altitude valleys, and Badakhshan’s famous honey and lapis lazuli. The route then swings south into the legendary Panjshir Valley, long associated with Ahmad Shah Massoud and Afghan resistance. Here, we camp near the valley and visit his hilltop mausoleum overlooking the river.

  In the final section of the tour, we head east to Kunar and Nuristan – lands of forested slopes, fast-flowing rivers, and distinctive cultures. We have a chance to hike through terraced fields and remote villages around Parun. Descending to Jalalabad, a historic winter capital at the junction of the Kabul and Kunar rivers, we then take one of Afghanistan’s most dramatic drives back to Kabul along National Highway 08, following the river through deep gorges, dams, and cliff-hugging bends.

  WHAT TO EXPECT

  Throughout the month, we deliberately mix guesthouses, local hotels, camping nights, and one stay at the historic Intercontinental Hotel in Kabul, giving you a sense of Afghanistan from many angles. From simple chaikhanas on mountain passes to the faded grandeur of a once-iconic international hotel. 

  You’ll travel with an experienced local team, including cooks on camping sections, and have frequent chances to meet local communities, try regional dishes (from pomegranates in Kandahar to yak meat in Badakhshan), and see how sharply landscapes and cultures shift from one province to the next.

  This Mega Tour links Afghanistan’s classic highlights – Kabul, Herat, Mazar, Bamiyan, Kandahar – with remote regions such as Helmand, Ghor, Badakhshan, Nuristan, Kunar, Panjshir, and the Minaret of Jam. 

  A truly rare opportunity to see the country in all its diversity. 

  Whether this is your first visit or a long-awaited return, it is designed as the most in-depth, overland exploration of Afghanistan you can experience in a single journey.

  ---

  ---

  This tour is our epic  ‘Afghanistan Mega Tour’, which travels to over 15 provinces in Afghanistan over 30 days. If you’re looking for something shorter, this tour can be split into two groups.

  Part 1 is our Travel Afghanistan Summer Tour,  visiting the most popular sites in Afghanistan.

  Part 2 is our Unseen Afghanistan tour and focuses on going off the beaten path and having an adventure. 

  This group will be limited to a small group of 8 people, as is for the true adventurer. The drives are long, the accommodations local, but the rewards in the culture, history, and landscapes are far worth it. 

  Highlights

  • Visit Afghanistan’s most popular provinces (Kabul, Herat, Mazar, Bamiyan, Kandahar), experience the sharp contrasts in the culture (and the food!), and tick off all the highlights from each.
  • Enjoy local-style living as we stay in local guesthouses, explore local villages, and even spend time camping in Afghanistan’s most rural areas as we travel with our own team of chefs and intrepid travellers. 
  • See landscapes of Afghanistan few travellers have seen before as we head north, east, south and west to the far corners of the country, to the unique culture of Nuristan, the valleys and rivers of Badakhshan, and Kunar’s dramatic forested mountains. 
  • Cross Afghanistan’s wild central highlands to the Minaret of Jam, a UNESCO site and sacred pilgrimage, where you will earn the name Jami.

  click image to expand

• Extras

  • Upgrade to your own room in Afghanistan

• What is / is not included?

  INCLUSIONS

  • All accommodation, ranging from 5* to basic camping, and everything in-between!
  • All meals as outlined (daily breakfast, lunches, and dinners featuring regional specialities). 
  • All transportation within Afghanistan. Domestic flights where applicable. Overland transport by private 4×4 vehicles or coaster buses. 
  • Entry fees for all sites and activities listed. 
  • Permits and required travel permissions (include required individual permits for each province).
  • Experienced Afghan tour leader, plus local guides in each region if needed.
  • Water throughout the day
  • Support and safety measures, including an escort vehicle with emergency equipment, a medical kit, and a satellite phone. 
  • Expert Koryo Tours tour leader.
  • Own personal cook in some locations. 

  EXCLUDED

  • Travel to Afghanistan.
  • Afghanistan visa.
  • Tips for local guides.
  • Travel insurance (mandatory).
  • Souvenirs.
  • Extra drinks/snacks.

• Notes

  The safety of both our tour participants and the local guides we are working with is our number one priority. We have taken all the relevant safety precautions to create this trip and are constantly in contact with local partners. Below you can find a sample itinerary that does not include precise dates and does not have a complete list of all activities. 

  Please contact us for more information. Upon booking confirmation, you will be provided with a PDF of the complete itinerary including all activities and dates, as well as a detailed booklet on pre-tour information and guidance. 

  It is mandatory to attend an online/in-person pre-tour briefing for this tour and the itinerary is subject to change depending on safety and availability. 

  This tour is limited to 8 participants only and will give priority to those who have travelled with us before. 

  The weather during this trip will generally be very hot. Be prepared for hot, humid weather. It has been designed around visiting high-altitude areas available to visit only during the summer months. 

  At the start of the first day in every new province, we must take a trip to the local ministry to get travel permits. This can be a few minutes or a couple of hours. The duration of this may affect our itinerary items. 

  Due to the nature of this trip, being particularly adventurous, combined with the nature of travel in Afghanistan, all itinerary items are subject to availability. This tour contains a lot of driving. In the more rural regions, there may be no accessible Western-style toilet for both during the drives and at the accommodations, and there may be limited food options (meat, rice, bread are always available). The accommodations on this trip range from 4* hotels to local-style ‘tea houses’, homestays, and camping. For the camping, it will be on a twin share / 3-person share basis. 

  Be prepared for an adventure! 

  HOW TO BOOK

  Please contact us for more information and the itinerary at [email protected].
  After contacting us and confirming your spot on the tour, you can book through our website.
  Upon booking confirmation, you will be provided with a PDF of the complete itinerary including all activities and dates. Before the tour, you will be given a detailed booklet on pre-tour information and guidance.

  Note: It is mandatory to attend a pre-tour briefing for this tour and the itinerary is subject to change depending on safety and availability.
   

Please apply by 1st July, 2026.