Bamiyan-Mazar i sharif

Day 1 Islamabad

• Arrive in Islamabad drive to the hotel.
• Later in the day have the twin city excursion.
• Have a dinner and enjoy typical Pakistani cuisine.

Day 2 Islamabad-Kabul

• Early morning drive to Kabul via Turkham Border.
• Have amazing road trip witnessing beautiful landscape on the way.
• Journey would include border crossing.
• Arrive Kabul city and transfer to the hotel.

Day 3 Kabul

• Early morning visit the old town and its Bird Market – here you’ll find not only thousands of exotic birds, but lots of blacksmiths, carpenters and other trades people.
• See the old turquoise-tiled Sakhi mosque in the west of Kabul. This place is very
  sacred to Shia Muslims, who believe it to be the final resting-place of Hazrati Ali, the cousin of the Prophet Muhammad.
• Visit Darulaman Palace and Babur’s Gardens.
• Dinner and overnight in Kabul

Day 4 Kabul – Bamyan 181 KM 3.5 to 4 hours

• Depart Kabul early for our road trip to Bamyan.
• We will journey to the famous ancient buddhist complex. The Buddhas of Bamyan were two monumental statues carved into the side of a cliff in the Bamyan valley in the 6th century. These massive World Heritage-listed statues, situated in the peaceful Hazarajat region of central Afghanistan, were deliberately dynamited and destroyed by the Taliban in March 2001 at a great cultural loss to all humanity. The area is still an extraordinary historic site to explore. After lunch we will visit Shahr-e Gholghola also known as the City of Screams, the ruins of a 12th century (and possibly much older) city near the town of Bamyan. We will also journey out to Shahr-e Zuhak, also known as The Red City.
• Evening tea on our hotel rooftop before heading into town for dinner.
• Overnight in Bamyan.

Day 5  Bamyan & Band e Amir 75 KM 1.5 hours.

 Short walk through Bamyan where we will visit the wonderfully colorful local market. The area is very safe and you can enjoy free time here.

• Visit the six deep blue lakes of Band-e-Amir. The lakes are separated by natural dams made of travertine, a mineral deposit. This area is dominated by ethnic Hazaras, who make up around 23% of Afghanistan’s population. Band-e Amir was to become Afghanistan’s first National Park in the 1960s but this was delayed due to successive political crises and decades of war. In 2004, Band-e Amir was submitted for recognition as a World Heritage site, and in 2009, it was finally declared as such. Since 2013 it has become a popular destination for both Afghan and international visitors. After visiting the national park, journey back to our hotel in Bamyan for the night.
• Dinner & overnight in Bamyan.

 Day 6 Bamyan - Mazar-e-Sharif 426 KM 7.5 hours

• We’ll hit the road early for the long drive to Mazar-e-Sharif through the Salang Pass!
• It’s a beautiful drive through the mountains stopping several times for snacks and photo ops.
• On the way visit the 3rd and 4th century temples and Stupas carved out of the ground at Samangan.
• Arrival in Mazar-e-Sharif. Dinner and overnight.

 Day 7 Mazar-e-Sharif

• We will start the day to visit the iconic Blue Mosque and the shrine of Hazrat Ali. This is one of the most famous, and most beautiful sacred sites in the Islamic world. The exquisitely-patterned decoration of the shrine, is set in an expansive white marble courtyard. Add the great flocks of white doves, and a dazzling blue sky, and you have one of the best photo locations in all of Central Asia.
• Journey to Charkent to see the 12th century gate from the time of Genghis Khan who was supposed to attack this area but the people of Charkent responded and built a massive gate to stop the Mongols.
  This gate didn’t just stop the Mongols but later in 1988 it stopped the Soviets from entering Charkent and later in 1998 it also stopped the Taliban at the time.
• Explore more of the city centre and it’s vibrant street life in the afternoon.
• Dinner and overnight in Mazar-e-Sharif.

Day 8 Mazar-e-Sharif – Kabul 428 KM 9 hours

• Catch the early flight back to Kabul where we will have tea and some time to have a look around the famous bazaar on Chicken Street.
• Visit the Western Cemetery which was a British military camp and the site of the 1879 “Siege of the Sherpur Cantonment” in the Second Anglo-Afghan War. The cemetery is home to many memorials and graves for the fallen western soldiers and Kabul residents who have fought in various conflicts throughout the history of Kabul. It is well looked after by an Afghan father and son.
• Pay a house visit to one of the last remaining Afghan box photographers! Haji Mirzaman has been operating his old box camera for over 60 years. Get your own portrait taken by the master. (Extra cost)
• Dinner and overnight in Kabul.

Day 9: Kabul to Peshawer.

• Early morning drive from Kabul to Peshawer.
• Arrive at Peshawar transfer to the hotel.
• Visit Qisa Khwani Bazar in the evening.
• Have dinner at a local restaurant
• Overnight in Hotel in Peshawar.

Day 10: Peshawer and around.

• Early morning drive to Bara Guns market, to witness local craftsman making guns by hand.
• Later drive to Karkhano market, one of the largest smuggled goods market in the country.
• Have delicious dinner at a local restaurant.
• Overnight in Hotel in Peshwer.

Day 11: Peshawer to Islamabad via Taxila.

• After breakfast start your journey to Taxila. Taxila is the living legacy of the Gandahara civilization, dating back to 1000 BCE.
• After completing journey continue your journey further to Islamabad.
• Overnight in Hotel in Peshwer.

Day 12 Fly Home

• Early morning visit Faisal Mosque and Pakistan monument. Visit the museum.
• Later travel to Rawalpindi Raja Bazar to visit the bustling city.
• Drive back to hotel.
• Depending on the flight time drive to the airport to fly back home.