Travel to Afghanistan — everything you need to know
When to go to Afghanistan?
- Apr–Jun — Spring (historical) : Before 2021: the best time to go, with pleasant temperatures, full lakes at Band-e Amir and flowering fields in the valleys.
- Sep–Oct — Autumn (historical) : Before 2021: mild temperatures, pomegranate harvests around Kandahar, and autumn colours in the mountains of Nuristan.
- Nov–Mar — Harsh winter : Bitter cold in the mountains, with passes closed by snow. Kabul can drop well below freezing.
Weather in Afghanistan
Check the weather city by city, starting with Kabul.
- Kaboul: daytime highs from 5 to 32 °C depending on the season, 29 mm of rain per month on average.
- Kandahar: daytime highs from 12 to 40 °C depending on the season, 16 mm of rain per month on average.
What to do in Afghanistan?
Afghanistan is a land of dramatic contrasts, where the majestic Hindu Kush mountains plunge into scorching deserts and lush valleys. A historic crossroads of the Silk Road, it has seen Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan's armies and merchant caravans travelling between East and West. Since the Taliban takeover in August 2021, the country has effectively been closed to international tourism and is classified as an absolute red zone by all Western governments.
Bamiyan
The Bamiyan Valley was one of the world's most moving archaeological sites, with two colossal Buddhas carved into the cliff in the 6th century—blown up by the Taliban in 2001. The gaping niches in the ochre rock still bear witness to that irreparable cultural loss. Around them, hundreds of Buddhist caves decorated with frescoes and the remains of a once-thriving Silk Road city make this a UNESCO site of exceptional value.
Highlights : Bamiyan Buddha niches — memorial to the destroyed colossi, Bamiyan caves — Buddhist rock-cut monasteries, Shahr-e Gholghola — medieval citadel nicknamed the 'city of screams', Qala-e Dokhtar — Bamiyan's Maiden Fortress.
Band-e Amir
The lakes of Band-e Amir, nicknamed the 'diamonds of Afghanistan', form a chain of six lakes with unreal azure-blue water, separated by natural white travertine dams. Set at 2,900 metres in the Hindu Kush mountains, they are among Central Asia's most spectacular natural landscapes and were designated Afghanistan's first national park in 2009.
Highlights : Band-e Haibat Lake — the largest and most sacred, Band-e Zulfiqar Lake — turquoise water between travertine cliffs, Band-e Pudina natural dam — white cascades, Panoramic view from the western ridge — at sunset.
Hérat
A former cultural capital of the Timurid Empire in the 15th century, Herat was nicknamed the 'Florence of the East' for its artistic and intellectual brilliance. The Great Mosque of the Old City, its carved minarets and its rebuilt citadel recall a splendour now overshadowed by conflict. The city remains Afghanistan's third largest and an important economic hub near the Iranian border.
Highlights : Great Mosque of Herat — a jewel of Islamic architecture, Musalla minarets — remains of a 15th-century Timurid complex, Citadel of Alexander (Qala Ikhtiyaruddin) — rebuilt fortress, Herat bazaar — the atmosphere of an age-old caravanserai.
Kaboul
Nestled in a basin at 1,800 metres above sea level between arid mountains, Kabul was long a cosmopolitan city at the crossroads of Persian, Turkic and Indo-Buddhist cultures. Its national museum, looted but partly restored, preserves invaluable treasures of Bactrian and Greco-Buddhist art. The old city, Mandawi bazaar and the Gardens of Babur—the final resting place of the Mughal Empire's founder—bear witness to a history stretching back millennia.
Highlights : National Museum of Afghanistan — Bactrian and Greco-Buddhist art, Gardens of Babur — mausoleum of the founder of the Mughal Empire, Mandawi Bazaar — Kabul's historic commercial heart, Darul Aman — ruined palace, symbol of Afghanistan's tragedy.
Travel budget for Afghanistan
WARNING: Afghanistan is classified as an absolute red zone (formally advised against) by nearly all Western governments. Tourism there is currently impossible. The data below is provided for historical and informational purposes only, based on the pre-2021 situation.
- Backpacker : 30–50 €/j — Historical budget (pre-2021). Currently not applicable—the country is closed to tourism.
- Comfort : 80–150 €/j — Journalist/NGO budget with reinforced security. Currently not applicable.
Practical tips for travelling to Afghanistan
- Flight from Paris : 8–12h via Dubai, Istanbul or Delhi (no direct flights). Kabul airport is only partially operational under Taliban control.
- Visa : IMPOSSIBLE — the Afghan embassy in France is not operational. Afghanistan is classified as an absolute red zone: all travel is formally advised against by the French foreign ministry.
- Currency : Afghani (AFN). Cash only. The economy is largely informal under Taliban control.
- Language : Dari (Afghan Persian) and Pashto—the country's two official languages. English is understood by a small educated minority in the main cities.
- Electricity : Type C/F, 220V — the power supply is highly unreliable across the country.
- Health : Medical infrastructure is almost non-existent outside Kabul. Recommended vaccines: hepatitis A and B, typhoid, rabies. Malaria is present in lowland areas.
- Safety : ABSOLUTE RED ZONE. Extreme risks of kidnapping, attacks and armed conflict. All travel to Afghanistan is strongly advised against in 2025–2026. All Western nationals are potential targets.
- Taliban restrictions : Foreign women are required to wear full hijab. Photography is heavily restricted. Alcohol is banned. Music is forbidden in public spaces. Any activity perceived as contrary to hardline Islam is prohibited.
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