Afghanistan is one of the oldest and, at the moment, most dangerous countries in the world. When planning a trip there, it is necessary to calculate all the risks.
Any movement around the country is dangerous. We are talking about mines on the roads and the possibility of being robbed or kidnapped.
Most of the population lives without running water and sewerage in 2022.
The main thing about the country
- The difference with Moscow is plus 1 hour 30 minutes.
- The cost of a flight from Moscow to Kabul and back is about 48,000 rubles.
- The official name is the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. The capital is Kabul.
- Official language: Pashto, Dari.
- 99% of the population professes Islam.
- The state is territorially located in South Asia. It borders Iran, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, China, India (more precisely, with the territory of Kashmir). Afghanistan has no access to the sea.
- The climate is subtropical continental, cold in winter and hot in summer. Temperature and precipitation vary with altitude. In winter, the temperature drops below -20 °C, in summer it rises above +32 °C.
- The attitude towards foreigners is wary, not always friendly.
- More than a third of Afghans live below the poverty line.
- The business climate is unfavorable.
Customs
Passengers arriving in Afghanistan by air should be aware that not only customs officers have access to their luggage, but also border guards, the Main Directorate of National Security, drug police and the private security company Olive Group, which is dictated by increased security measures.
It is prohibited to export from the country:
- Penknives (more than three pieces).
- Knives, axes, entrenching shovels, blades.
- Large binoculars, zoom sights, helmets, body armor, armor plates, weapon pads, butts, night vision devices, radios, dual-use items (pens with photo and video recording, flash drives, etc.).
- Gun cleaning kits (no more than two sets).
- Hand-held flashlights (no more than 5 pcs.).
- Telescopic batons.
When transporting tools, large-sized equipment, etc., you must have their certificates and/or instructions for use with you.
The export of some species of birds is prohibited. In such cases, we recommend contacting the Afghan Tourism Bureau.
You can export from the duty free zone:
- carpets no more than 30 square meters;
- 10 skins, including karakul;
- processed and faceted semi-precious stones;
- handcrafted items;
- Antiques in limited quantities.
Imported currency in excess of US$15,000 (1 million Afghanis) must be declared. The Application Form is completed at Kabul Airport.
When to go
The best time to travel is warm, from the second half of March (after the end of the Navruz holiday) until October.
Holidays
- March 21 – Nowruz (Persian New Year);
- April 18 – Liberation Day;
- April 28 – Islamic Revolution Day;
- May 1 – Labor Day;
- May 4 – Day of Remembrance of Martyrs and Disabled People;
- August 19 is Afghanistan Independence Day.
Currency
The national currency is the Afghani. You can exchange money at any bank or from street money changers working behind small counters. Be careful, 500 and 1,000 Afghani notes are most often counterfeited. Bank cards are not accepted.
Almost everywhere, except in remote areas, you can pay with US dollars. However, in most cases, change is given in Afghani.
Prices
The price level in Afghanistan is almost the same as in Russia.
A mid-range hotel with security costs between 80 and 100 US dollars per night.
Lunch at a mid-range restaurant will cost between $10 and $12.
A 15-minute taxi ride will cost between $0.50 and $0.70.
A serving of shashlik costs about $4.
Beaches
Afghanistan is landlocked, so there are no beaches in the usual sense of the word. But the country has a huge number of pristine mountain rivers and lakes.
Resorts
The tourism sector in Afghanistan is underdeveloped and in its infancy. The Ministry of Culture of Afghanistan places the creation and development of tourist centers among its priorities. As a rule, tourists interested in the country’s history and for pilgrimage purposes come to the country.
The largest number of hotels are located in Kabul, Kandahar, Mazar-i-Sharif. But these cities cannot yet be called resorts.
Attractions
The main attractions are located in the major cities of Afghanistan. Almost all of them are connected with the history of the country.
The Gardens of Babur in Kabul contain the tomb of the 16th-century Mughal ruler.
Kabul Zoo . Open daily. The zoo features over 100 species of animals.
Ancient fortress Bala Hissar . Its age is more than 1500 years.
Bamiyan Buddha statues . Enormous idols 37 and 55 meters high, carved directly into the rock.
Blue Mosque (Mazar-i-Sharif). The oldest monument in Afghanistan. The mosque is so named because of the abundance of blue in its decoration.
The Cathedral Mosque in Herat . Completely restored in the middle of the 20th century. The painting gives the building a special beauty.
Jam Minaret . It is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The age of the minaret is more than 1,000 years.
Museum of Jihad . Originally created to introduce the history of wars and conflicts.
Blue lakes of Bande-Amir . Distinctive feature – water of ultramarine color. It is included in the list of the most beautiful lakes in the world with colored water.
Tara-Bora cave complex . The depth of the karst caves is more than 400 meters.
Lake Zorkul . Situated on the territory of two states – Afghanistan and Tajikistan. In Tajikistan, the lake has the status of a nature reserve.
Entertainment
The safest option for an evening and night rest is to go to a hotel restaurant. During the day, you can visit restaurants owned by foreigners, the staff there speaks English, the menu offers European cuisine.
Kitchen
Afghan national cuisine reflects the typical traditions of Central and Middle Asia. The basis of Afghan nutrition is various rice and mung bean pilafs, lamb dishes, wheat flour flatbreads, dried fruits, and vegetables.
Among the typical Afghan dishes we can note:
Plovs . They are prepared from lamb, poultry, beef. In Afghanistan, there are dozens of types of plov, and the composition of each is individual.
Kebabs . They are shashlik with pieces of meat, lard, and vegetables strung on them.
Kormi-sabzi . Stewed lamb with vegetables. Also prepared from other types of meat.
Soups and broths . Soups occupy a special place in the food culture of Afghans. It is believed that making a good soup is an art.
Borani Bonjan . Prepared from fried eggplants, onions, tomatoes.
Bolani . Pan-fried wheat flatbreads filled with potatoes and vegetables.
Kofta melu . A traditional Afghan dish, it consists of meatballs in a tomato sauce, served on white rice.
Mastava, liquid pilaf . A winter dish, something between pilaf and soup. Quite spicy.
Firni . A dessert prepared on special occasions.
Naan . Flatbread made from wheat flour and water. Considered the national bread in Afghanistan, it is prepared in homes every day. It is served warm.
Souvenirs
The main shopping street of Kabul is Chicken Street. There are souvenir, jewelry and clothing stores here. You need to bargain – locals, noticing the interest of foreigners in their goods, sharply raise prices. The markets do not look like eastern bazaars, rather, they resemble European “flea markets”.
The list of things you can bring from Afghanistan is quite modest. However, it is worth paying attention to:
- carpets with national motifs;
- forged figurines, candlesticks;
- women’s jewelry – necklaces, earrings, chains, pendants, bracelets;
- Pashtun hats “pakul”;
- weapons from the time of the first war with the British (don’t forget to get a paper from the seller confirming the purchase);
- sweets – baklava, halva, candied orange.
Transport
Public transport is practically non-existent and is not recommended for use.
Safety
The level of security in the country is extremely low, the civil war in Afghanistan continues, and the threat of terrorism remains.
The crime situation also does not encourage visiting the country. Cases of robbery of foreigners, as well as their kidnapping for ransom, are not excluded.
Medicine
Tuberculosis and malaria are common in Afghanistan. Before traveling, you must take a course of antimalarial medication, and while in the country, you must follow preventive measures.
Particular attention should be paid to nutrition. We recommend eating only in trusted restaurants or hotels. It is not advisable to buy food from personal vendors, since there is no point in talking about any compliance with sanitary standards in this case, the risk of getting intestinal diseases is too high.
Tap water should not be used for drinking or brushing teeth. When leaving the hotel, you must take bottled water with you.
Qualified medical care can be obtained from mobile international groups. It is better not to go to state hospitals, as even people without medical education may work there. When concluding insurance, you should clarify which medical institutions you should go to. We also recommend taking a first aid kit with you, among the mandatory medications – antidiarrheal. We recommend that when applying for medical insurance, include in the list the maximum number of risks, including emergency medicine.
Be careful. There are large numbers of scorpions, poisonous snakes and spiders in Afghanistan. If you plan to go to the mountains, you must have first aid supplies with you.
Traditions
All foreigners in the country must respect local traditions and customs. Afghan culture and traditions are closely linked to Islam. Locals tend to respect their elders.
Foreigners are not recommended to:
- gesticulate – Afghans use a different system of gestures from ours;
- pass in front of a person who is praying;
- laugh out loud;
- look into the eyes of an unfamiliar woman, and also approach her closely.
Jokes about Afghan women are met with hostility.
Internet
Mobile communications and the Internet in cities and valleys are quite stable. In mountainous areas, the connection is unstable. It is worth noting the fast delivery of SMS and messages in WhatsApp and Viber messengers.
SIM cards of local operators MTN Group, Salaam Network and Wasel can be purchased at any store. The cost is from 5 to 50 US dollars, depending on the set of options.
Useful facts
- The traffic is chaotic and there are no traffic rules as such.
- The mains voltage is 220 V, European-type sockets.
- Swimming in mountain rivers is not recommended. Very cold water (from glaciers) and fast current, can carry away.
- Jewelry made from lapis lazuli with inclusions of pyrite is valued (pyrite is similar in luster to gold).
Local laws
Women are not allowed to move around Afghanistan or travel without being accompanied by their husband, father or brother.
It is prohibited to consume or bring alcohol into the country.
Photography of government or Taliban buildings, military installations and palaces is prohibited. It is prohibited to photograph local residents without their consent.