Panjshir Valley Getting there & around

Getting there & away

Minibuses to Panjshir run from Kabul (100Afg, 2½ hours) every day, via Jebal Saraj. Ask for Rokha or Baharak, the nearest villages to Massoud’s Tomb. A return trip in a taxi should cost around US$50. The road through the valley is paved.

Security is tight in the valley, and all vehicles are stopped at a checkpoint just past Dalan Sang. It’s advisable to bring your passport, and if travelling by private vehicle, a driver who has been to the valley before. Permission from the amniyat (security officers) is needed to travel past Massoud’s Tomb.

In theory it is possible to continue up the valley to cross the Anjoman Pass. It is essential you check in with the amniyat if trying this, as they will probably insist on your being accompanied by a soldier (and paying for it). Failure to do so would almost certainly result in arrest.

There is a Governor’s Guesthouse (r US$20) in Rokha (sometimes known as the Royal Guesthouse or Massoud’s Guesthouse). To stay overnight, visit the Governor’s office in Rokha for written permission.