Getting there & away
Transport connections around the northwest and to the rest of Afghanistan can be patchy. From Herat, the highway to Kabul runs through the restive south via Kandahar, making travel extremely dangerous for foreigners. Alternative road routes are challenging for different reasons: either the central route through the Hindu Kush to Bamiyan, or the northwest route to Maimana, Andkhoi and Shiberghan along probably the worst road in the country. Both choices are rough and uncomfortable rides, and highly susceptible to the changing seasons. Andkhoi and Shiberghan are both on the tarmac highway to Mazar-e Sharif.
Daily flights link Herat and Kabul, with regular flights between Herat and Mazar-e Sharif, as well as a less reliable service linking Maimana and Shiberghan to the capital.
Cross-border travel is relatively straightforward, with direct bus links connecting Herat to Mashhad in Iran. Onward travel to Turkmenistan is possible, although the paperwork and permits can take some arranging.
