Where to start
Most first trips combine Kabul with one or two of these: Bamyan and Band-e Amir in the central mountains, Panjshir close to the capital, Mazar-i-Sharif in the north and Herat in the west. For a true expedition, there is the Wakhan Corridor.
Destination guides
- Kabul travel guide: the capital, its gardens, palaces and bazaars.
- Bamyan travel guide: the Buddha valley and the cities of the Hazarajat.
- Band-e Amir National Park: six blue lakes, Afghanistan's first national park.
- Panjshir Valley: river valley in the Hindu Kush.
- Mazar-i-Sharif: the Blue Mosque and ancient Balkh.
- Herat: Persian art, the Friday Mosque and the Citadel.
- Wakhan Corridor: the Pamirs and the far north-east.
All 34 provinces of Afghanistan
Afghanistan is divided into 34 provinces. Here is each one, with its capital and what it is known for. Every province needs a provincial permit letter, and conditions differ from place to place, so check with us before you plan a route.
| Province | Capital | Region | Known for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kabul | Kabul | Central | Capital: Babur's Garden, the National Museum, Darul Aman Palace and the old bazaars. |
| Bamyan | Bamyan | Central | UNESCO valley of the Buddha niches, Shahr-e Gholghola and the road to Band-e Amir. |
| Panjshir | Bazarak | Central | River valley in the Hindu Kush, the easiest mountain trip from Kabul. |
| Parwan | Charikar | Central | The Shomali plain, Istalif's pottery and the Salang Pass road north. |
| Kapisa | Mahmud-e Raqi | Central | Orchard valleys of Tagab and Nijrab north-east of Kabul. |
| Logar | Pul-e Alam | Central | Farming valleys south of Kabul and the ancient Buddhist site of Mes Aynak. |
| Wardak | Maidan Shahr | Central | Mountain country on the western road from Kabul towards Bamyan. |
| Daykundi | Nili | Central | Remote highlands of the Hazarajat, known for almonds. |
| Balkh | Mazar-i-Sharif | North | The Blue Mosque, old Balkh 'mother of cities' and the Noh Gonbad mosque. |
| Samangan | Aybak | North | Takht-e Rostam, a Buddhist stupa and monastery carved into the rock. |
| Baghlan | Pul-e Khumri | North | The Kushan temple ruins of Surkh Kotal on the road north. |
| Kunduz | Kunduz | North | River plains and farmland on the way to Tajikistan. |
| Jowzjan | Sheberghan | North | Tillya Tepe, where the Bactrian Gold hoard was found. |
| Faryab | Maymana | North | Carpet-weaving towns of the north-west. |
| Sar-e Pol | Sar-e Pol | North | Hill villages between the northern plains and the mountains. |
| Badakhshan | Fayzabad | North-east | Lapis lazuli mountains and the gateway to the Wakhan Corridor. |
| Takhar | Taloqan | North-east | Ai-Khanoum, the ruined Greek city on the Amu Darya. |
| Herat | Herat | West | The Friday Mosque, the Citadel, the Musalla minarets and the old city. |
| Ghor | Chaghcharan | West | The Minaret of Jam, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. |
| Badghis | Qala-e Naw | West | Pistachio woodlands and open steppe. |
| Farah | Farah | West | Desert country and the old citadel of Farah. |
| Nimroz | Zaranj | South-west | The Sistan basin on the border with Iran. |
| Kandahar | Kandahar | South | Founded by Ahmad Shah Durrani; the Shrine of the Cloak and Chilzina. |
| Helmand | Lashkar Gah | South | The great arch of Qala-e Bost on the Helmand River. |
| Zabul | Qalat | South | The old hilltop fortress of Qalat. |
| Uruzgan | Tarinkot | South | Mountain valleys north of Kandahar. |
| Ghazni | Ghazni | South-east | Medieval capital of the Ghaznavids, with its minarets and citadel. |
| Paktia | Gardez | South-east | Highland forests and the old fort of Gardez. |
| Paktika | Sharana | South-east | High plateau country on the eastern border. |
| Khost | Khost | South-east | Green valley close to the Pakistan border. |
| Nangarhar | Jalalabad | East | Warm winter city of gardens, oranges and the road to the Khyber. |
| Laghman | Mehtarlam | East | Green river valleys between Kabul and Jalalabad. |
| Kunar | Asadabad | East | Forested valleys along the Kunar River. |
| Nuristan | Parun | East | Forests, wooden villages and high mountain valleys. |
Planning a route
Distances are long and roads are mountainous, so most visitors fly between the north, west and Kabul and drive in the central region. Our group tours run from 3 to 24 days, and we build private routes to any province where travel is possible. Tell us what you want to see.
Frequently asked questions
How many provinces does Afghanistan have?
34. The newest are Panjshir and Daykundi, both created in 2004.
What are the best places to visit in Afghanistan?
Kabul, Bamyan, Band-e Amir, Panjshir, Mazar-i-Sharif and Herat are the places most visitors see. The Wakhan Corridor is the great expedition.
Which places in Afghanistan are UNESCO World Heritage Sites?
The cultural landscape and archaeological remains of the Bamyan Valley, and the Minaret and archaeological remains of Jam in Ghor province.
Do I need a permit for each province?
Yes. Foreign visitors need a provincial permit letter for travel outside Kabul. We arrange them for every trip.
Sources
This guide is written and checked by the HAMIDI TMC travel team. Rules change often in Afghanistan: message us before you book anything that depends on them.