The Northwest

Introducing The Northwest

Where Herat looks toward the Iranian Plateau, northwest Afghanistan turns its face to the dry semi-desert landscapes of Central Asia. Skirting the length of the Turkmenistan border, it’s a place of oases, seasonal rivers and dusty brown hills that sprout into life at the hint of rain. The same rains can make travel near impossible at these times – even gravel roads are largely an aspiration and you’re just as likely to find yourself bumping along dry riverbeds and over sand dunes.

There’s a small international presence in the northwest, but Badghis province in particular remains a wild area. Once in Faryab province security is generally better, handled by General Dostum’s Uzbeks.

Last updated: Mar 24, 2009