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Afghanistan Tours for 2025 and 2026 tours

Young Pioneer Tours have resumed offering fully guided and security-conscious Afghanistan tours for 2025 and 2026 at regular intervals. We have always used the best local partners and have never scrimped on the best tours and most importantly safety.

Since 2016 YPT have been running tours to Afghanistan and as the situation has stabilised since the Taliban again took control. We can now therefore offer tours to the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan until its fall in 2021 to the Taliban.

Group tours to Afghanistan

For safety and security reasons, our Afghanistan tours are led by a local expert guide and we accept no more than 10 group members per tour. This is a rule strictly enforced for your safety.

As well as our regular Afghanistan tours, we now offer a limited number of all female tours to Afghanistan.

Grand Afghanistan tour – April 17th to April 26th / 29th 2025 – €3445 / €4440

The most in-depth and complete Afghanistan tour we offer which includes all the must-see sights within Kabul, as well as further exploring beyond to Bamyan, Herat, Kandahar, Mazar-i-Sharif and the ancient city of Baikh.

Afghanistan Spring Tour – May 19th to 27th 2025 – $2745

Join us on a rare opportunity to learn a different side of this beautiful and complex country meeting people from all walks of life, whilst partaking in the must-see sights of a region regarded as the “crossroads of Asia” or, to its adversaries, the “graveyard of empires”.

Women’s Tour to Afghanistan – July 28th to August 5th 2025 – $2745

After the overwhelming success of the world’s first ever women-only tour to Afghanistan since the Taliban took over, we will be running another. Join us on our carefully curated, immersive experience that deeply examines women’s lives in Afghanistan.

Grand Afghanistan Autumn tour – September 23rd to October 2nd / 5th 2025 – €3445 / €4440

Back by popular demand, the most in-depth and complete Afghanistan tour we offer which includes all the must-see sights within Kabul, as well as further exploring beyond to Bamyan, Herat, Kandahar, Mazar-i-Sharif and the ancient city of Baikh.

Afghanistan Group Tour Information

We are in constant communication with our local partners in Kabul and deem whether the Afghanistan group tour or private group tour is safe to go ahead or not depending on the local security situation on the ground.

Trips to Afghanistan do create dangers all of their own and whilst we want you to have as much freedom as possible, we must state that both the YPT and local guides have the final word with regards to changes to the itinerary for safety reasons.

Whilst the route YPT have chosen passes through areas that we consider to be stable; the situation can change and we may have to alter the route or cancel sections of the trip at short notice. If there is an extra expense incurred due to the change of itinerary then you may be asked to bear part of that cost. For example, if we have to fly between cities rather than drive. Joining this tour means you agree to these terms. Further information on terms and conditions for our Afghanistan tours are available on request.

For Pakistan e-visa purposes you can only arrive on the Afghanistan tour commencing date. Your Afghanistan Tour visa is not valid before this date, nor is it valid for independent travel in Afghanistan.

Independent Tours to Afghanistan

For all intents our independent Afghanistan tours work much in the same way as our group tours to Afghanistan. Generally speaking, while the itinerary would remain mostly the same for your Afghanistan tour, there is also scope for us to arrange bespoke travel within Afghanistan.

Independent tours to Afghanistan are still led by an expert local guide and driver, but can be done for as little as one solo traveller. For more information on independent Afghanistan tours please get on touch to talk to one of our experts.

The following is our example tour to Afghanistan. This can be done as a bespoke Afghanistan tour in its entirety, or adapted to your exact needs.

Day 1 (Must start on Monday or Wednesday) – Islamabad

    • Arrive at your convenience into Islamabad – the capital city of Pakistan which is well connected from many countries within Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

    • Airport transfer and check into the Grand Islamabad Hotel

    • Overnight in Grand Islamabad Hotel.

Day 2 – Islamabad – Peshawar

Morning

    • Breakfast at hotel and meet our Pakistani guide

    • Depart at 7:00am on our 180km drive northwest to Peshawar – Pakistan’s sixth largest city and located near the border of Afghanistan.

    • Arrive directly at the Afghanistan consulate in Peshawar to submit your visa applications

Afternoon

    • Stop by an authentic Pakistani restaurant to grab a local lunch and soak in the atmosphere. You’ll notice the heavy Afghani influence on this unique Pakistani city.

    • Head to the Old City centre to explore the busy Qissa Khwani Bazaar where local clothing can be purchased for us to better blend in to both Pakistan and Afghanistan.

    • Visit Clock Tower Square – this tower belongs to a pair of clock towers that were presented by the U.K.’s Queen Elizabeth. The other tower being in England.

    • Explore Mohabbat Khan Mosque – a 17th-century Mughal-era mosque built in 1630. An elegant mosque and fantastic for photos.

    • Return to the Afghanistan consulate to collect passports and visas.

    • Check into our Peshawar hotel to freshen up

    • Head out to Habibi restaurant famous for local dishes

    • Overnight in Peshawar

Day 3 – Peshawar – Islamabad – Kabul, Afghanistan

Morning

    • Breakfast at hotel and morning departure back to Islamabad and head straight to the airport.

Afternoon

    • Board our 1-hour direct flight to Kabul departing 4:30pm on Kam Air 928 – the capital of Afghanistan.

    • On arrival meet our Afghanistan guide at the airport and be transferred to our guest house.

    • At our guest house you’ll have a briefing with our guide.

    • It may be required to visit the tourism ministry in Kabul to meet directly with the Taliban to receive our permit to allow the group to travel outside of the capital.

    • Head out for dinner and overnight in Kabul.

Day 4 – Kabul – Bamyan

Morning

    • Breakfast at guesthouse and depart early on our 180km journey to Bamyan heading north across the Shomali Plains passing over the Shibar pass (3285m).

Afternoon

    • Stop for lunch along the way

    • Pass by the watershed of the Indus and Oxus river systems before finally reaching Bamyan.

    • Visit the remains of the Buddhas of Bamyan – on orders from Taliban, the statues were destroyed in March 2001 as they declared that they were idols.

    • Drive a short distance to the base of the Shahr-E-Golgola also known as the ‘City of Screams’ – this was destroyed by Genghis Khan in 1221. Genghis had destroyed Balkh and sent his teenage grandson with an army to capture Bamyan. The people resisted and Genghis’s grandson was killed.  Genghis besieged and destroyed Golgola in revenge.

    • Drive out to the Valley of the Dragon ‘Darya Ajdhahar’ – this massive rock formation is alleged to be the remains of a dragon that persecuted the villagers until Hazrat Ali, the cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Mohammed killed it. The story is reminiscent of St George and the Dragon.

    • Check into our hotel, head out to the bazaar for dinner and overnight in Bamian.

Day 5 – Bamyan – Band-e-Amir National Park – Bamyan

Morning

    • Wake up early and head to Hindu Kush and to the remains of the Buddhas of Bamyan for stunning sunrise photos.

    • Head back to the hotel for breakfast and a great chance to catch locals doing their morning routines.

    • Begin driving 80km west to Band-e-Amir National Park – a stunning group of turquoise lakes located high in the Hindu Kush at an altitude of 2900m. It was also the first registered national park in Afghanistan. Hike around the area for picturesque photos and amazing views

Afternoon

    • Picnic lunch outdoors and return to Bamyan

    • Dinner in town and overnight

Day 6 – Bamyan – Kabul

Morning

    • Breakfast at guest house and begin drive back to Kabul

    • Stop for photos, and rest breaks along the way.

Afternoon

    • Lunch on arrival in Kabul

    • Visit Darul Aman Palace – built during the reign of Amanullah Khan in the 1920s it has over 150 rooms and offers stunning views of Kabul.

    • Walk around the Garden of Babur – developed in 1528 it’s a historic park which holds the tomb of the first Mughal emperor Babur.

    • Dinner and overnight at hotel

Day 7 – Kabul – Mazar-I-Sharif

Morning

    • Breakfast at guest house and head to the airport to depart on a morning Kam Air flight to Mazar.

    • On arrival head 25km out towards the ancient town of Balkh – this town is believed to be the centre of the Bactrian Empire, even before the arrival of Alexander the Great. It was destroyed many times over by the likes of Ghengis Khan and Timur-i-lang.

    • Visit the Shrine of Khoja Abu Nasar Parsa and Dargah of Rabia Balkhi

    • Visit the old town of Balkh where the US military were briefly stationed as they were withdrawing from the area.

Afternoon

    • Return to Mazar and lunch on arrival

    • Visit the Blue Mosque or ‘Shrine of Hazrat Ali’ – the most famous building in Afghanistan. The mosque is located in the heart of Mazar-I-Sharif and is one of the reputed burial places of Ali ibn Abi Talib, cousin and son-in law of Prophet Muhammad.

    • Explore Mazar bazaar – this bazar is not only the rug production of Afghanistan but considered the rug hub of Central Asia.

    • Dinner, ice-cream dessert and overnight in Mazar-I-Sharif

Day 8 – Mazar-I-Sharif – Kabul

Morning

    • Breakfast at guest house and head to the airport to board the morning flight back to Kabul

    • First stop visit the National Museum of Afghanistan – it holds manuscripts, miniatures, weapons and art objects belonging to the former royal families.

    • Visit the War Museum and meet the fine folk that run PMAR – an Afghani NGO dedicated to removing land mines leftover by decades of war dating back to the Soviet occupation.

Afternoon

    • Grab an Afghani lunch in town

    • Explore Ka Faroshi Bird Market – located in the heart of Kabul’s old city; this narrow laned market is packed with small, mud-walled shops festooned with bird cages and birds.

    • Continue exploring old town markets – good spot to buy any afghani goods,

    • Visit Abdur Rahman Khan Mausoleum – Abdur Rahman Khan was Emir of Afghanistan between 1880 and 1901. He was a strong ruler and gained the name of the ‘Iron Amir’. His tomb sits in the Mausoleum in Zarnegar Park which translates as the park adorned with gold.

    • Head up to the TV Towers Mountain where you’ll have a great view of Kabul city below.

    • Swing by the curiosity shops of Chicken Street for dinner and overnight in guest house.

    • Farewell dinner with our local guides and overnight in Kabul

Day 9 –Kabul

Morning

    • Breakfast at hotel

    • For any sites missed in Kabul at the beginning of the tour it may be arranged today according to availability.

    • Tour concludes – YPT is able to arrange airport transfers and advice for flights out.

    • Optional $475 to board Kam Air flight 901 departing Kabul 5:25pm and arriving into Dubai 8:00pm. We can further explore Kabul before the flight or see any sights you couldn’t do on our first day.

Note – This is a sample itinerary for our Afghanistan Tours and is therefore subject to change. For bespoke Afghanistan itineraries please contact is vis the link below.

Bespoke Afghanistan Tours

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Afghanistan blogs

A Puzzle Solved Anecdotes of Kim Jong Il

A Puzzle Solved Anecdote...

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20 December 2016

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Gareth Johnson

AsiablogEast AsiaNorth Korea

A perk to working in North Korean tourism is access to the fascinating literature of the DPRK Rarely read by foreigners or made available online wed like to share some Here is an unedited excerpt taken from the book Anecdotes of Kim Jong Ils Life Part 1 2012 Foreign Languages Publishing House Pyongyang DPRKIn October 2000 Madeleine Albright Secretary of State of the United States visited KoreaAt a banquet attended by Kim Jong Il she set a puzzle to the participants How was it possible to make 16 with your ten fingers A deep silence fell over the banquet hall The silence was broken by Kim Jong Il who came up with the solution Saying that it was quite easy he extended his ten fingers with both thumbs overlapped to form a cross expressing 4x4All looked at him in admiration Albright was the first to clap her handsRead more anecdotes Its Quite Strange Anecdotes of Kim Jong Il Profound Knowledge of Poultry Anecdotes of Kim Jong Il The 3Dimensional Use of Time Anecdotes of Kim Jong Il

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10 Most Epic Train Journeys in the World

10 Most Epic Train Journe...

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11 October 2022

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Gareth Johnson

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At YPT we truly love a train journey but it would be true to say that not all are created equal We have therefore put together our 10 most epic train journeys in the world at least in our opinionHow to pick the most epic train journeys in the worldFor us at least epic train journeys are not done on new fangled fast trains but are done the good old fashioned way This means long journeys usually a sleeper compartment and amazing views of the countrysidenbspFor YPT too it also means ones we have actually done or ideally do tours to We are sure that going across Canada by train is great but it is also not exactly our bagThis is the most epic train journeys in the world for the adventure traveler10 Most Epic Train Journeys in the world10 Bangkok to PoipetStarting this countdown with the Bangkok to Poipet Cambodia train Actually we could say any train journey in Thailand for this one Great views open windows and amazing street food delivered to your seat9 Beijing to LhasaAnother treat that just missed out This journey not only has epic views but more amazingly hits altitudes so high that oxygen needs to be pumped through the train8 Cambodian Bamboo TrainThe bamboo train is a small plywoodframed cart with a bamboo mat placed on top whilst resting on top of two independent rail axles recycled from damaged tanks left over from the Cambodian genocide war A simple two stroke motor sits at the back and accelerates the bamboo train a steady 50kmh Welcome to the Cambodian Bamboo TrainClick to read more about it here7 The Hershey Train in CubaThis very slow route was you can imagine originally intended for the workers of Hershey on the sugar plantations Nowadays it is a very slow ride through the Cuban countryside from Matanzas to Havana A slightly better train option than the regular Cuban railway which seems to move whenever it wantsYou can read about our Cuban tours here6 The Eritrea RailwaynbspNot ac actual railway in that it no longer runs but once upon a time this was the oldest railway in Africa and built by the Italians Nowadays you rent it by charter and go through some amazing scenery And honestly you truly cannot beat a steam trainYou can read about our independent Eritrea tours herenbsp5 Bucharest to KishinevnbspOK so this one is not so regular now and pretty much next to a war zone but for a while one of the most epic train journeys in the world There is lots to make this special but crossing from the wild east into the EU as well as having you carriage lifted to change the gauge are highlights in our books Oh and you are that bit closer to Transnistrianbsp4 Beijing to Hanoi and BeyondIf it is good enough for Marshall Kim Jong Un then it is good enough of for you We love taking the train into Vietnam and through Vietnam with things such as the bar street on the tracks in Hanoi to the pristine scenery making this all the betterTo read about the TrumpKim summit click here 3 Beijing to PyongyangOur favourite way to travel into North Korea and one of the vest ways to not only see the real North Korea but actually hang out with North KoreansnbspTo read about our North Korean Tours click here2 The TransMongolian RailwaynbspA mainstay of our Eurasian Adventure Tour as well as a firm favourite of ours Six days on a train in winter might seem like a lot but in reality the time flies by as you pass through 3 countries enjoy the food and drink your share of vodka Another one that is off now but will be backTo read bout train travel here check out the Seat 61 website1 Mauritania IronOre TrainnbspAnd finally the most epic train journey in the world The Mauritania Iron Ore train The longest train in the world but not the longest train journey It might not be luxurious but what you lose in luxury you surely make up for in experience A true breathtaking travel highlightnbspYou can check our our next Mauritania Tour herenbspAns that some up what we feel are some of the most epic train journeys in the world but also a list we shall undoubtedly be expanding upon onnbsp

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1940 Summer Olympics The Games That Never Happened

1940 Summer Olympics The ...

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22 July 2021

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Dominic Perry

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So its that time of year Again Should have happened last year but with a certain disease going around royally screwing up everyones travel plans things got delayed And hell theyre saying the Olympics could be delayed again Nightmare But anyway I think theres a peculiar omen to this since there was another cancelled Olympics It was even to be held in Japan It too was delayed due to some truly unfortunate global events and if you know your basic history I think you might guess what delayed the 1940 Summer Olympics1936 Berlin Olympics1936 Olympics relayBefore we get into the 1940 Summer Olympics lets address what came before It was after all another Olympic games held in a fascist country though this was before that pesky world war went and made friendly international sporting events difficult What probably didnt help is that the vote was made in advance in 1931 as a matter of fact The runnerup was Spain which had declared the victory of its fascist forces not long before the vote was held So Really voting to hold it in Germany was the antifascist option How ironic Even funnier this too was a delayed Olympics The German Empire had been selected to host the 1916 Summer Olympics and a completely different world war ruled that outFor all the skincrawling evil of the Nazis they had emerged on the cusp of new technological progress that allowed them to revolutionise aspects of the games For one TV was becoming increasingly available in Germany and as such the 1936 Olympics was the first to be broadcast live Only in Germany though international broadcasts were still quite a way off The Nazis also pushed their grandiose propaganda and began the first torch relay a tradition that continues today and would have been attempted at the 1940 Summer Olympics With a massive feature film made of the event as well it proved to be a startlingly effective piece of propagandaHosting the Olympics was a sign of legitimacy While the Nazi regime was under major international pressure for its insatiable landgrabs ripping up of agreements and torture of its own citizens being able to show off its might and showmanship for a major international event was a way to boost their esteem and gain legitimacy The USSR traditionally didnt attend the games anyway and most western countries elected not to boycott giving tacit approval and recognition in the process On the whole it was a propaganda win so naturally you can see why a country suffering image problems would want to host the 1940 Summer Olympics1940 Summer OlympicsPoster for the 1940 Summer OlympicsWith the Nazis image problem in mind we should consider that during the 1930s Japan began to establish itself as an imperialist power most notably through its invasion and occupation of Manchuria It began to face international isolation and heavy protest something it wasnt quite equipped to handle alone For these reasons Japan launched a campaign to have the games held in Tokyo Miraculously they actually won this bid becoming the first nonwestern country planned to host the Olympics Very quickly though things were cast into serious doubt for the 1940 Summer OlympicsThe Japanese military was a pretty autonomous force in a lot of ways and they could not care less about international diplomacy In 1937 the second Sino Japanese war broke out causing enormous carnage and death While many western countries were willing to overlook the Nazis brutalising their own people an active imperialist power was a bit harder to swallow at a time when gaining new colonies was frowned upon but sitting on the ones you already had was fine Japans Olympic organisers scrambled to save the 1940 Summer Olympics but in 1938 it became clear that neither the international community nor the Japanese military really wanted it so it was reluctantly conceded to a different countryThat country was Finland And ah shit Finland got invaded by the Soviet Union in November 1939 Plus war had broken out in the rest of Europe just a few months prior So yeah that plan got cancelled too at which point Olympic organisers probably decided the year was haunted and just cancelled the 1940 Summer Olympics to wait until 1944 Well With one possible exception You see travelling between different countries at this time was pretty difficult But there was one big way to get physically fit men from many nations to gather in one place In POW campsThe POW OlympicsLiberation of Stalag XIIIAIt should be noted that a POW camp is often a very different thing to a concentration camp At least for some Those from the east colonies and of course those of Jewish descent would be treated much more harshly or simply deported to concentration camps instead This camp was rough but it was at least possible to survive and have a teeny bit of fun in Stalag XIIIA the particular camp this games occurred in Reportedly the prisoners included men from Belgium France the UK Norway Poland Russia and Yugoslavia The games were reportedly held in absolute secrecy for fears of reprisal and only a few artefacts survived to be moved to museums many years laterThe event became pretty well known in Poland and even spawned a 1980 drama film depiction which was submitted for the Academy Awards It wasnt accepted but hey who gives a damn what the Oscars think Its a neat historical artifact and surely represents the spirit of the Olympics quite nicely Even if the Germans were being such arseholes they couldnt be involved in the 1940 Summer Olympics So not quite as good as the WW1 Christmas truce kickabout but still pretty good This however would not prove to be the only incident of Olympics in the midst of war but well get to that soon1944 Summer OlympicsThe flag from the 1944 POW OlympicsWith the story of the 1940 Summer Olympics covered lets consider a concerning question What about the next Olympics It was after all also in some of the darkest days of WW2 Japan sure as hell wasnt getting another shot and most of Europe was a vicious battleground between the Soviets Nazis and a few assorted allies and resistance groups Despite that there had been plans to arrange something finally opting for a location a bit less fascist Well unless you were Indian I supposeThats right the 1944 Summer Olympics was to be held in the UK The bid had been won in June of 1939 so to be fair there was no cataclysmic European war yet to throw things into uncertainty That was just three months away As Britain entered the war and most European countries fell to occupation it became almost immediately obvious that this would be no different to the 1940 Summer Olympics Reluctantly it was cancelled and the only official acknowledgement was a small ceremony in the Olympics headquarters in neutral Switzerland Quite a lucky place to host your headquarters at that time it has to be saidLondon would get its time in the spotlight ahead of Japan and Finland in 1948 but there was at least one sporting event in 1944 to keep the tradition going When the Nazis occupied Poland some higher ranking officers were treated with more dignity in POW camps 500 officers were forced to build their own prison camp from 1939 to 1942 which ended up being a small town of 7000 people with some fairly decent facilities In this unique situation the Nazis were a little less Nazilike and when it was suggested in 1944 that a camp Olympics be played to pay tribute to the sport the fascists surprisingly agreedOr perhaps not so surprisingly By the summer of 1944 the war was becoming pretty obviously hopeless Many not engaged in hopeless struggle on the front were keen to set themselves up nicely for a postwar scenario and many suggest that the Nazis allowed the POW Olympics to go ahead so that itd look good if they ever went to trial The same cynical reasons for the 1940 Summer Olympics and the 1936 Olympics before that Its all about optics But anyway the camp really went all out even printing posters and commemorative stamps for the eventOn the 23rd of July the POW Olympics was held With only Polish POWs it wasnt exactly the grand expression of international sporting some may expect from the Olympics but it was still a grand effort 369 prisoners participated in 464 competitions with a few dangerous sports like archery fencing and pole vault not approved by the guards The winners got some medals made of Paper I guess the war effort demanded bronze silver and gold Despite all this seemingly lovely solidarity the oncoming Red Army saw the Nazis transform into their usual selves sending the POWs on a death march that left only an estimated 300 prisoners aliveConclusionThe 1940 Summer Olympics maybe puts things in perspective somewhat Japan seriously cant catch a break on its Olympic dreams and with the upcoming Olympics mired in controversy and set amidst a backdrop of global pandemic with many cases its entirely possible itll be cancelled again Though at least this time theyll probably not just give up and hand it over to Finland instead You may also wonder understandably what any of this has to do with YPT Well its certainly not the first time weve discussed the OlympicsNot to mention were a travel company Our whole shtick is organising unique events that gather people around the world to exotic interesting destinations Weve certainly had our share of sportrelated tours and well so Im feeling a certain sympathy for their plight Lets hope for safety Hopefully this wont turn out like the 1940 Olympics And maybe we can take it as a good omen for travel and tourism as a whole going forward Might as well right

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FAQs

What are the Afghanistan Tour Guides Like?

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We are very proud of the team we have curated in Afghanistan. They have an exceptional and comprehensive cultural and historical overview of the country that can be communicated with high levels of...

How do you get an Afghanistan Visa?

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Is Afghanistan Safe for Tourists?

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Is it ethical to travel to Afghanistan?

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