Afghanistan FAQ & Security Thread
Replies: 153 - Last Post: May 16, 2013 2:17 PM Last Post By: loswiaheros
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135
aviatrix wrote:If anyone has experience or knowledge about what it would be like to travel in Afghanistan as a woman, and how it might differ from a man's experience, I would love to hear it.
Here's my experience there, in 2007 - female aid workers have told me now is even more restrictive:
http://www.coyotecommunications.com/travel/afghanistan/
136
I followed this thread but I would appreciate if someone could confirm that I understand well: the trip from Mashhad to Herat and from Herat to Turkmenistan border is relatively safe, yes? And to stay in Mazari Sharif, Herat or Balkh is also safe but travel between Herat and Mazari is dangerous and it can be done only onb a flight, yes? What about trip from Mazari to Balkh? Going from Mazari to Tadjikistan is also dangerous? Thanks in advance.137
Of course safe and dangerous are all subjective, especially in Afghanistan but in a very simplified version you are correct except that Balkh is not a very smart move these days. Certainly staying there is a very bad idea - not that there is anywhere to stay. Even visiting is a pretty bad idea.Things can change fast but in general you are correct.
139
Hi,Do you have any update on the security situation on the roads to Bamiyan?
What do you recommend the safest method would be to get there? A hired car / public transport?
141
Hi everybody,I have just read all the posts here as i want to make the best decision when traveling through this country.
I will be coming from UZ and going to Iran. I am interested much in the Afghanistan BUT i don't want to make any unreasonable actions and actually can't spend lot of money.
I plan to arrive in Mazari Sharif in about 2 or 3 weeks and would like if there will be somebody joining me let's say in Samarkand, so we can do this together. I am 34 year-old south european with travel experience and with no blonde hair or eyes :).
Basically, taking into the consideration all aspects I am thinking between 2 options:
1. Having just a glimpse with 5 days on transit visa
Entering from Termez to Mazari Sharif; spending day or two there; then flying to Herat, spending day or two; then leaving to Iran
2. Spending 10 days - 2 weeks on tourist visa
Entering from Termez to Mazari Sharif; taking bus/shared taxi to Kabul; flying to Herat, then to Iran
Anybody wants to join? Or somebody have newest updates or suggestions?
Thanks to everybody who had contributed to this thread.
Miro
142
I will be travelling to Afghanistan from Iran in the middle of January 2013. Thinking of going overland from Mashhad to Herat (by direct bus if there's still any running), from Herat I will fly to Kabul and also leaving Kabul by plane. I have been able to find some information about the safety in Herat and Kabul, but does anyone have recent info about the safety etc. in Mashhad-Herat road?I have a visa to Afghanistan already. I'm 25, female and travelling alone.
143
Salam,The road from Islam Qalla, Afghanistan border with Iran is safe. Every day a big number of people travel over it coming from Iran or going to Iran. The road remains pretty busy all the day.
Happy travels.
144
I travelled from Herat to Mashhad by road on 13 December 2012. It's a very busy route, with a strong police presence in both countries. If anything, I would say the road is safer than Herat itself.I took a shared taxi ($20 or 1000 Afs) operated by the very efficient 'Herat Carevan' company. It has around 50 taxis running back and forth between Herat and Mashhad every day, carrying Afghan passengers and freight. The taxi picked me up at my hotel in Herat and dropped me off at the company's office close to Imam Reza street in Mashhad, about 2km away from the shrine.
I'll dig out the business card with the phone numbers and post them here.
145
Reissunainen,You might do well to look at Jcravens (#135) link about women in Afghanistan. It is very much not normal in Afghanistan for women to travel alone.
You will stand out like a sore thumb. Standing out can be dangerous in Afghanistan.
Have you considered where you will sleep and eat? Women do not generally do these things away from their families' or friends' homes, and certainly not alone.
I would suggest that you not go to Afghanistan with this plan.
All the Best,
Caryatid
146
Hi,She doesn`t have to wonder how find a hotel when stay in cities like Kabul or Herat.
Maybe in small villages or extremely cheap guest houses- I don`t know! but they offer separate room for women only. Better if you make sure.
In 2011 I didn`t have any problem to stay in hotels in both mentioned cities. Also taxi drivers picked up me, even there are men inside.
Wakhan Corridor and Ishkashim is also free of all prejudices for solo woman travellers.
safe travel
147
My question might be a little bit off-topic, but here I go...I'm planning to do the Pamir Highway, but I was concerned with how close it is to the Afghanistan border (and a good stretch of the road linking the capital to Khorog seems to be the border itself).
On the one hand, I've seen zero comments about safety concerns on the Pamirs related to the Afghanistan issues, so I assume the region is mostly quiet, maybe shielded by the high mountains.
On the other hand, Afghanistan is a country at war and I can't base all my planning on such assumption - specially because I might do this part of the trip by myself.
So, would you say the Pamir Highway and the Dushanbe-Khorog road are safe?
149
Hi everybody!Been reading through the post and it seems that the Herat - Mashhad road is pretty safe.
Does anyone have info on the safety of the road between Marv and Herat???
I'm currently doing a Central Asia trip and would be coming from Turkmenistan, visit Herat for a few days before leaving for Iran.
Take into account that I'm Scandinavian looking (no blond hair though) I might not blend easily in...
The Afghan embassy staff in Astana advised against overland travel (and suggested flying instead), would you agree with them?
Thanks!
