Afghanistan sightseeing. Travel guide - attractions, sights, nature and touristic places

The territory of modern Afghanistan is often called the cradle of human civilization. Scientists discovered traces of humans that date back to 3,000 BC. It is also believed that this region was the birthplace of such religion as Zoroastrianism. Yet in the 6th century BC, the ancient country became a part of the Persian Empire and remained there until its fall in the 4th century when Alexander III of Macedon defeated it.
The Bamyan Valley remains one of the most mysterious landmarks of the country. This is where scientists discovered giant statues of Buddha carved from rocks. The height of the statues was from 30 to 50 meters. According to scientists, these statues were erected in the 6th century. They are now considered landmarks of the international level. In the 21st century, many of these statues were completely destroyed by the Taliban, but the valley is still a popular destination that attracts tourists.

The Minaret of Jam is an important landmark of the earlier period. It is located in the region of the Shahrak District that is very hard to reach. Some scientists assume that the lost city of Firozkoh was probably located in this area. The minaret was built in the 12th century in the nearly inaccessible mountain region. The height of the building is 65 meters. Such location is one of the reasons why this gorgeous building has survived through centuries. Nowadays, the ancient minaret is a reminder of the Ghurid Dynasty that controlled a large territory during the early Middle Ages.

The Citadel of Herat reminds of the great conquests of Alexander the Great. The citadel was erected by order of the great commander. Nowadays, this historic landmark is protected by UNESCO. There have been archaeological excavations in the citadel for several years. Inside the building, there is an interesting museum that exhibits precious artifacts and archaeological findings.

Afghanistan has regular airline services with several countries. Russia (Moscow) has the most frequent flights to Kabul. It is also possible to reach the country by airplane from Iran and Pakistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. It is also worth noting that there are buses from the Iranian city of Mashhad to Afghanistan. The country has a well-developed bus and train connection with Azerbaijan and Turkey.
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Famous and uniques places in Afghanistan from our review series
Kabul-to-Jalalabad Road
From the series “Most Dangerous and Lethal Roads”
The route Kabul-Jalalabad is a continuous series of sharp turns and cliffs. Car crashes are daily occurrences due to reckless driving. Moreover, the track is under the control of the Taliban anti-government armed groups. Kabul-Jalalabad is a really challenging highway and is a nightmare in the wet or dark. It is among the most dangerous roads in Afghanistan and the … Read all
Balkh
From the series “The Oldest Inhabited Cities on the Planet”
The major religious and commercial city raised its outstanding artisans and farmers; even today old crafts are among its distinctive features. Art of tanning has being perfected here for more than one hundred years, as well as the art of growing almonds and melons. Guests … Read all
Preferred to Open 9 New Hotels in 2022
In September 2022, the Sommerro hotel in Oslo will start operating in a carefully restored 1930s Art Deco building. This building is a true landmark of Frogner, a historic neighborhood of the Norwegian capital. A multi-million-dollar renovation carefully turned the largest preservation project in Norway into a modern hotel with 231 rooms, including 56 residences. Preferred will open five more hotels in 2022, namely, The Wall Street Hotel in New York, Amrit Ocean Resort & Residences on Singer Island (Florida, the US), TOA Hotel & Spa in Zanzibar, Pendry hotel in Washington, and Pendry Park City hotel in Utah.
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05.12.2023
In September 2022, the Sommerro hotel in Oslo will start operating in a carefully restored 1930s Art Deco building. This building is a true landmark of Frogner, a historic neighborhood of the Norwegian capital. A multi-million-dollar renovation carefully turned the largest preservation project in Norway into a modern hotel with 231 rooms, including 56 residences. Preferred will open five more hotels in 2022, namely, The Wall Street Hotel in New York, Amrit Ocean Resort & Residences on Singer Island (Florida, the US), TOA Hotel & Spa in Zanzibar, Pendry hotel in Washington, and Pendry Park City hotel in Utah.

05.12.2023
Sightseeing in popular cities of Afghanistan
According to local legends, Mazar-i-Sharif was founded at the beginning of the 12th century. The Seljuk sultan Ahmed Sanjar ordered to build a new city. Right from its establishment, Mazar-i-Sharif got the status of a sacred city because it was built on the site where Ali ibn Abi Talib, the holy person for all Islamic people, was buried. In the 20s of the 13th century, Genghis Khan attacked Mazar-i-Sharif with his army. He nearly destroyed the city, tortured and killed many people. The … Read more

The story of Herat started many millennia ago, yet during the ancient period. Historians still do not know the exact date when the city was founded. Earlier mentions of Herat date back to the period of the Achaemenid Empire. When Alexander the Great ran his campaign against the Persians and captured the territory of the modern city, he renamed it to Alexandria Ariana. When the legendary leader died, the city was captured by different kings and rulers and was added to different countries in … Read more
