Thorn Tree travel forum

Afghanistan travel safety questions

Like the sticky Is Nepal safe? thread on the Subcontinent branch, we propose that you ask similar questions or post travel safety-related information and experiences on and in Afghanistan here.

is mazar i sharif safe for a weekend visit from Uzbekistan?

is mazar i sharif safe for a weekend visit from Uzbekistan?I look Afghan and speak a little Dari.

Tajikistan -> Afghanistan -> Pakistan -> doable? safe?

I just received confirmation that I will be receiving my Afghanistan visa shortly, so now the big question, is it doable and will I survive? As an American all we hear in the media is war, Taliban, war, etc. I want to see Afghanistan for myself but I surely have no death wish. Is anyone aware of how doable is it for a solo female American traveler (traveling on European passport) to cross from Tajikistan (in the south-west, not east) into Afghanistan, safely travel to Herat then over to Pakistan via some southern border (basically nowhere near Islamabad, Jalalabad and those areas) overland (I don't want to fly anywhere). I will be there about March 2010 and I haven't done all my research yet, so forgive me, but I don't want to travel somewhere if I'm going to be in a constant state of fear. Any advice, words of wisdom?

• should I wear head covering and long sleeves/pants at all tim...

What places to visit around Kabul?

I am looking to visit some villages and other places that are good for pictures(landscapes,mountains,etc)
Can someone recommend something. All have to be done within 1 full day(eg. 8am-6pm)

Dmitri

Afghanistan on the fly...

Hey Everyone!

I know I am going to get ripped to shreds for this...but I just wanted to state that IMHO Afghanistan is not as bad as what the media says. I hitched to mazar and then to Kabul...I slept on the street in Kabul for my first night...and then I had 4 guys literally abduct me and make me their guest - they were afraid someone else would get to host me first!

its all about being comfortable with the situation. yeah there's a risk...but I still think its better than Iraq. I had bad vibes all over in n.iraq but as long as you are on the main roads in afghanistan you should be alright.

i even got a message from someone who had drive across the khyber pass and onto bamyan and was going to explore around there before going back to Kabul.

of course waking up to find out that a UN compound had been attacked at first light wasnt very good...who knows what will happen wit... more »

Solo woman in the Wakhan corridor

I've thoroughly read the messages on this branch and have found some very useful information.

I'm going to be cycling and trekking in Tajikistan. I was thinking of doing a side trip to the Wakhan corridor. How safe do you think it is for a solo woman to cycle from Ishkashtim to Sharhad-E-Braghul ? The Nelles map shows a road going around Tilabay Nature reserve which would give opportunity for a nice loop. Anyone knows if this is doable and how long it would take? (Hard to find any information on distances and road conditions in the region).

For those who also know Pakistan, how would you rate the Wakhan corridor compared to the Northern part of the KKH (from Kunjerab to Gilgit) ?

Thx !

Visiting Herat from Iran

Hi,

I am spending a month in Iran soon and am condsidering an excursion to Herat in Afghanistan. Does anyone know how safe this is for a westerner? (White Irish guy) Id be grateful for any info anyone might have about this or about how to get around (hire private taxi from border, bus, where to stay, what to see etc..

Security note on Surkh Khotal

I was traveling on the Mazar to Kabul road on Wednesday October 7th. We had planned a short side trip to the Surkh Kotal archaeological site near Pul-e Khuri. However, at Pul-e Khumri we learned that there had been a rocket attack the previous night on a police post beside Surkh Kotal. As a result, there was a lot of police activity in the area and we were gently advised that this was not a good time to visit.

I hope that this was just an isolated incident and that it will be OK to visit Surkh Kotal again in the near future. But it may be worth checking on current status before heading up there.