Day 1 Flight from Finland to Kabul, stopover in Istanbul
We meet at Helsinki-Vantaa airport. Flight from Helsinki to Istanbul from 19.30 – 23.15.
Day 2 Flight from Istanbul to Kabul
Onward connection to Kabul from 00.40-06.45. After border formalities, we will meet our local guide who will brief us about travelling in Afghanistan. We will proceed to the Ministry of Culture and obtain travel permits to Kabul and Kabul Province. After lunch, we will decide whether to continue to Kabul Zoo or go to the hotel to rest before dinner.
We will stay at the 4* Safi Landmark Kabul Hotel. (L,D)
Day 3 Sightseeing in Kabul, full day
After breakfast at the hotel, we head for a short visit to the bird sanctuary. After visiting the Bird Island, we will visit Bagh-e Babor Park (c.1528,) which is one of the most famous attractions in Kabul, and is the burial place of Babor, the founder of the Great Mughal Empire. Although present-day Afghanistan was not Babur’s original homeland (he was born in Ferghana in present-day Uzbekistan), he felt so fond of Kabul that he wanted to be buried here. When Babur died in 1530, he was buried in Agra against his will. Between 1539 and 1544, Sher Shah Suri, a rival of Babur’s son Humayun, granted his wish and buried him in the Bagh-e Babor garden. The tombstone placed on his grave read: “If there is a paradise on earth, it is this, it is this, it is this”.
We will visit two palaces: the Chelston (Zaman Shah, one of the rulers of the Durran Empire) and the Darul Aman (a 150-room palace originally built in the 1920s under Amanullah Khan). After lunch, we will visit the National Museum.
After the museum visit, we will visit the Shrine of Sakhi, which is both a shrine and a mosque. The shrine is associated with the place where the cloak of the Islamic prophet Mohammed was brought, and the visit of his son-in-law Ali and Mohammed’s cousin, who later himself served as caliph.
At the end of the day, before dinner, we will visit Wazir Akbar Khan hill and enjoy the sunset and beautiful views of Kabul city.
We will stay at the 4* Safi Landmark Kabul hotel. (B,L,D)
Day 4 Sights of Kabul, full day
After breakfast at the hotel, our first stop is the Shah-e Doh Shamshira Mosque on the Kabul River, known as the “Mosque of the King of Two Swords” and certainly one of the most unusual mosques in Islam. It was built in the 1920s. All the facades are in the Italian Baroque style with stucco detailing picked out in white against dark lemon yellow paint. The two storeys are even more bizarre, with only small minarets revealing the building’s true purpose.
The mosque’s name comes from a much older story than Amanullah’s quirky architectural taste. In the 700s, Kabul was a Hindu city besieged by an Arab army. The Arab king was beheaded, but he was so inspired by Allah that he continued the battle and led his men to victory at the head of his two halakhahs.
We take a boat trip on the waters of the Qargha Dam. Qargha Dam was built in the 1930s under King Mohammad Nadir Shah and his son Mohammad Zahir Shah, mainly for irrigation and tourism purposes.
After lunch, we drive a short distance northwest from Kabul city to the Paghman Valley, where the Paghman Palace was opened to the public in 2014. The palace and surrounding areas are sometimes used as accommodation for foreign guests.
We stop at the Taq-e Zafar memorial arch, located in front of the Paghman Gardens. This famous triumphal arch commemorates Afghanistan’s independence after the Third Anglo-Afghan War in 1919.
If we are interested, we can visit the handicraft centre for some shopping.
We will stay at the 4* Safi Landmark Kabul Hotel. (B,L,D)
Day 5 From Kabul to Bamiyan (181 km, approximately 4-5 hours)
After breakfast, we start our journey to Bamiyan province. We arrive in Bamiyan and obtain travel permits from the Provincial Department of the Ministry of Information and Culture of Bamiyan. Bamiyan is located on the Silk Road, which runs through the Hindu Kush mountain range in the Bamiyan Valley.
We will have lunch and check in at the hotel. Before dinner we will walk the streets of Bamiyan, chat with the people and perhaps learn about their way of life.
We will stay at the 4* Gholghola Hotel Bamyan. (B,L,D)
Day 6 Cultural landscape and archaeological remains of the Bamiyan Valley
Breakfast at the hotel. The cultural landscape and archaeological remains of the Bamiyan Valley represent the artistic and religious development that characterized the ancient Bakhtria from the 100th to the 13th centuries, combining various cultural influences with the Gandhara school of Buddhist art. There are numerous Buddhist monastic complexes and shrines in the area, as well as fortified buildings from the Islamic period.
We visit the ruins of the city of Gholghola (The City of Screams). The city existed long ago – then Genghis Khan destroyed it. The siege of the city lasted for months, defended by one of the old Turkish Khaganates, but the city eventually fell.
In the spring of 1221, a Mongol horde led by Genghis Khan landed in Bamyan via the Shikar valley after crossing Amudarja and successfully destroying Balkh. Genghis sent his grandson Mutukhan, estimated to be 15 years old at the time, to dismiss Bamyan. Unfortunately for the Chinggis, Mutukhan met his untimely death on arrival at the Bamyan valley in Shahr- e- Zohak. An arrow shot from inside the fortress’s fortified walls took Mutukhan’s life. Word reached Chinggis, who on hearing this, descended in a rage on Bamyan and ordered her husband to kill every living thing in Bamyan: men, women and even children and livestock.
Our next stop is Shahr-e Zohak (Red City). The town guards the gates of the Bamyan Valley, where the Bamyan and Kalu rivers meet. The Red City is thought to date back to the 600s and was built by the Ghorids. It was inhabited by about 3000 people.
The Ghorid dynasty at its peak encompassed large areas of Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Iran, Pakistan, northern India and even bits of Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, China and Bangladesh. The Ghorid population was originally Buddhist, as the religion spread to Afghanistan from 305 BC. By 1100 AD, the Ghorid dynasty converted to Sunni Islam during the conquest of Ghazni Ghor by the Ghazvnavid Emperor Mahmud. Just 86 years later, the Ghorids overthrew the Ghaznavids and named Lahore as their capital.
Before dinner, we will do some possible shopping. We will stay at the 4* Gholghola Hotel Bamyan. (B,L,D)
Day 7 Bamiyan-Band-e Amir National Park-Bamiyan
Breakfast in hotel. On this day we will make a nature excursion. Band-e Amir National Park is a series of six deep blue lakes separated by natural dams made of travertine, a mineral deposit. It has been called the Grand Canyon of Afghanistan; 370 square kilometres of soaring cliffs and cascading lakes on the edge of the Hindu Kush mountains, perched high at 2,900 metres.
We will walk around the lake and take a boat trip on Lake Haibat. Swimming is available for those who wish.
We return to Bamiyan.
We stay at the 4* Gholghola Hotel Bamyan. (B,L,D)
Day 8 Bamiyan-Kabul (181 km, approximately 4-5 hours)
Breakfast at the hotel. At 08.00 we leave for Kabul. Lunch and rest at the hotel. We will stay at the 4* Safi Landmark Kabul Hotel. (B,L,D)
Day 9 Flight from Kabul to Herat
After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the airport. Flight from Kabul to Herat from 09:30 to 11:00, with Kam Air. Arrive in Herat and obtain travel permits from the Provincial Department of the Ministry of Information and Culture in Herat.
Historic Herat is located in the fertile valley of the Hari River. The city dates back to the time of the Akemenids and has been under the rule of various empires for centuries, including the Greeks, Persians, Timurids and at one point Alexander the Great.
Herat was an important city on the ancient Silk Road, facilitating trade between Asia and Europe. The architecture of Herat reflects the various cultural influences seen in its historic mosques and minarets, particularly Islamic ones. Its strategic location near the Iranian-Afghan border continues to play an important role, including for trade.
We will visit the Friday Mosque of Herat, also known as Masjid Jami, Masjid-i Jum’a or the Great Mosque of Herat. It is one of the oldest mosques in the country, and its architecture crystallises the architectural development of the region over the centuries. The mosque was first founded by the Ghurids in the 13th century, and most of the present structure dates back to the 15th century to the Timurid government. It has been modified and rebuilt several times throughout its history. The mosque is famous for its intricate tiles and calligraphy, full of vibrant colours and Islamic art.
We walk through the streets of Herat. Later, before sunset, we visit Takhte Safar Amusement Park. The park is located at the top of a hill and offers panoramic views of Herat city and the surrounding landscape.
Takhte Safar, which means “imitation throne”, is historically significant and is said to date back to the time of Alexander the Great. Takhte Safar Park is not just a recreational and sightseeing area; it is a cultural landmark that embodies the spirit of the Herat people and their resilience amidst a complex historical background.
We stay at the 4* Sadaf Hotel Herat. (B,L,D)
Day 10 Sights of Herat
After breakfast at the hotel, we will explore Herat in more detail. Our first stop is the imposing Herat Fortress, also known as Alexander’s Fortress. It is believed that the fortress was originally built during the reign of Alexander the Great in the 400s BC, and has undergone several reconstruction and renovation phases during its long history. In the 1300s and 1400s it served as the palace of the Timurid dynasty.
Next, we head to the traditional marketplace of Herat, which exudes the history and culture of the region. This bustling bazaar is testament to the city’s position at the crossroads of various civilisations throughout history, including Persian, Greek and later Islamic empires.
The Bazaar is not just a shopping area; it is an important part of the city’s social fabric, where locals meet, exchange news and continue the living Silk Road tradition. The Bazaar also has a number of historic buildings and mosques, adding to its charm and importance as a cultural landmark.
We will also visit these sites during the day:
– Musalla complex: an iconic historical site dating back to the 15th century. Founded by Queen Gowharshad, the Timurid ruler, it was once a grandiose mosque complex that included a madrasa, a mausoleum and a minaret. The complex reflected the Timurid architecture of the era with its intricate tiles and grandiose patterns that reflected the cultural and religious significance of the Islamic world. Unfortunately, the site has suffered extensive damage over the centuries due to natural disasters such as earthquakes and the ravages of war.
– Khwaja Abd Allah Ansari shrine: an important pilgrimage site and a masterpiece of Islamic architecture. This shrine is dedicated to Khwaja ‘Abd Allah Ansari, a revered Sufi saint known as the “Sage of Herat”. He was a prolific writer who influenced the mystical tradition of Islam. The shrine complex dates back to the 1000s, but has been restored over many years.
– The Garden of Melati
– Jihad Museum: built in 2010 as a place where Afghans can understand past conflicts and their history. Since its opening, the museum has welcomed many visitors, including US congressmen and the deputy chief of NATO forces in Afghanistan. The museum aims to inform visitors about the plight of the mujahideen and to educate Afghans. It is a memorial to the Mujahideen heroes who fought against the Soviet Union in the 1970s and 1980s, as well as to Afghans who lost their lives in combat.
– The Malan Bridge, also called Pul-i-Malan, is a two-lane arched bridge over the Hari River. It was built around 1110 AD. It currently consists of 22 arches, and has survived several floods that have washed away many other buildings. It is 230 metres long, 8 metres wide and 10 metres high. A common legend about its creation says that the mythical princesses Bibi Nur and Bibi Hur built the bridge around 900 AD. They were followers of Zoroastrianism. The sisters had poultry, so they mixed eggshells with clay and took great pains to build a ‘bridge stronger than steel’.
We stay at the 4* Sadaf Hotel Herat. (B,L,D)
Day 11 Flight from Herat to Kabul
Breakfast, check out of hotel, transfer to airport. Flight to Kabul 12:30-13:45, on Kam Air.
Transfer and check-in at hotel, free time in Kabul.
Stay at 4* Safi Landmark Kabul hotel. (L,D)
Day 12 Flight home
At 05.00, transfer to the airport. Flight Kabul-Istanbul 08.15-12.15. Onward connection to Helsinki at 15.00-18.35.
