Tourism in Afghanistan – traveling in the shadow of the Taliban

June 3, 1:03 PMWorldwide Travel ExaminerMark Resnicoff

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   Taliban patrol near road in Afghanistan - Photo by Carl Montgomery

Despite what most people think, tourism is alive and well in Afghanistan.  In fact, the Afghan government is currently working on plans to revitalize the country’s tourism industry by creating new national parks, hotels, and other tourist facilities.

The Taliban’s resurgence has caused many foreigners to think about traveling to Afghanistan as the very definition of Danger Tourism.  After all, there are not many destinations where travelers could truly believe they are taking their lives in their hands.

Indeed, travelers driving along dusty Afghan roads may cruise past Taliban fighters in the distance.  However, people can safely visit Afghanistan.  Once tourists stop focusing on the potential dangers, there are actually sights to see.

Archaeological Sites

Bamiyan province is home to one of the world’s oldest Buddhist archaeological sites.  Two large statues of Buddha used to sit on the site, however they were destroyed in 2001.  German archaeologists are cataloging the rubble to determine if it will be possible to reassemble the statues.  Despite this loss, some caverns at the site still have old Buddhist artwork on the walls.

   Band-e-Amir National Park, Afghanistan - Photo by Carl Montgomery

Band-e-Amir National Park

Band-e-Amir in central Afghanistan is the country’s only national park.  The park is home to a series of turquoise and deep blue lakes nestled amongst limestone canyons.  Some people consider this to be Afghanistan’s Grand Canyon.  To get there, tourists need to travel through Taliban territory for several hours on dusty mountain roads.

Mineral waters at nearby Band-i-Haibat are rumored to have miraculous healing properties.

Cities: Kabul and Mazar-I-Sharif

Mazar-I-Sharif is the capital of Balkh province, in the far north near the Uzbekistan border.  Afghan tradition says the city is the burial place of Ali, a cousin of the Prophet Mohammad.  The city also features many shops carrying traditional goods such as Baluch carpets and Uzbek kilims.

Kabul is home to the remains of Darulaman Palace, built around 1920 by King Amanullah.  Nearby is the Kabul Museum.  Unfortunately, the Taliban destroyed much of the museum’s collections, however curators are slowly creating new displays and rebuilding the old collections.

Few travelers actually visit Afghanistan, so it is not uncommon for tourists and journalists to join together for an evening meal and discussions about the day’s shootings, kidnappings and possible encounters with the Taliban.

Afghanistan is definitely not a tourist destination for most people.  Safety is a subjective topic and relative to each person’s own level of comfort.  For the roughly 1,000 travelers who dare to brave the dangers, Afghanistan offers a rewarding experience of culture and destinations that have been left virtually untouched by the typical trappings of the tourism trade.