Tajikistan & Afghanistan

DIFFICULTY 4.5/5 | FITNESS 4/5 | ADVENTURE 4.5/5 | CULTURE 5/5

dates

May 2026
(Exact dates upon request)

SDP

WATER FILTERS

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11 PAX

A powerful 12-day expedition through some of Central Asia’s most dramatic landscapes.


Launch into the past as Afghanistan's immense history awaits you in the shape of mosques, ancient buddhas, bustling Kabulian streets and the azure lakes of Band e Amir National Park. Continue the journey north into the mountainous Republic of Tajikistan where Fann Mountain trekking, bathing in the freezing mountain lakes of Iskanderkul and soaking in the unique oddities of Dushanbe await the adventurous traveler.

GROUP

$2490 USD

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  • Welcome shisha in Kabul
    Arrive in Kabul to meet your Far Corners expedition team and fellow tribe members. Please ensure you have collected your Visa in Dubai beforehand, our FCT team can provide support with this process. (We recommend this FZ301 FlyDubai flight from Dubai to Kabul). Meet our local team and change into your perahan o tunban (local clothing) before heading out to explore the bustling bird market, historic Babur Gardens, and catch sunset views from a scenic lookout before wandering Chicken Street.
    Overnight: Kabul (hotel)


  • Drive to Bamiyan: Buddhas, ruins & tank graveyard
    Travel through central Afghanistan to Bamiyan. Visit the Citadel of Zohak, the City of Screams, the Buddhas of Bamiyan, Soviet tank graveyard, and local markets. Relax in the evening as the locals come out for volleyball in the main park after dinner. We will also visit some of the villages to distribute and install Sawyer water filtration kits as part of our social development project.
    Overnight: Bamiyan (hotel)

  • Azure lakes of Band-e-Amir National Park
    Day trip to Afghanistan’s first national park. Swim in the azure waters of the seven lakes, explore aboard swan pedal boats, and relax at stunning Band-e-Amir’s sapphire lakes. Return through the rugged mountains to Kabul in the evening.
    Overnight: Kabul (hotel)

  • Kabul cultural tour
    On the last full day in Kabul, visit the National Museum, the historic Ali Cloak Mosque, and the Chehelston Gardens. Have your picture taken with the famed Haji Meezerman and his 100-year old wooden box camera for a true souvenir to savour!
    Overnight: Kabul (hotel)

  • Fly to Mazar i Sharif
    Take a short flight to the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif. Mill about the market streets tasting delicious Afghan cuisine with a pomegranate juice in hand. Sit back and relax in the afternoon for some well deserved rest and relaxation.
    Overnight: Mazar-i-Sharif (hotel)

  •  Marvel at the Hazrat Ali Shrine and ruins of Balkh
    Morning trip to ancient Balkh, one of the oldest cities in the world. In the afternoon, visit the striking blue Hazrat Ali Shrine. Spend the evening strolling through the markets, and enjoy some local delicacies as the city comes to life after dark.
    Overnight: Mazar-i-Sharif (hotel)

  • Cross into Tajikistan: Mazar to Dushanbe
    Drive early from Mazar-i-Sharif to the border at Shir Khan Bandr. Arrive in Dushanbe before the afternoon. Explore the local Mehrgon markets and enjoy a relaxed city stroll before gathering for dinner and drinks in Dushanbe’s bustling centre.
    Overnight: Dushanbe (hotel)

  • Dushanbe city tour, Hisor Fortress and Artuch
    Tour the capital with stops at the National Flagpole, Hissar Mosque, main square, and lunch at a favorite local spot. Pass through the famed Hisor fortress en route to the trekking capital of the country, Artuch.
    Overnight: Artuch (hotel)

  • Fann Mountains trekking
    Begin your 2-day trek through the breathtaking vistas of the Fann Mountains. Find yourself deep in the wilderness, blanketed by stars as night falls over Kulikalon lake.
    Overnight: mountain cabin.

  • Trek to Alauddin and visit Iskanderkul Lake
    Continue the trek across the Alauddin pass before a short drive to the beautiful alpine lake of Iskanderkul. Enjoy short hikes or lakeside relaxing amidst the towering peaks before returning to Dushanbe. Splurge on afternoon tea at the famous Rohat Teahouse.
    Overnight: Dushanbe (hotel)

  • Dushanbe city tour, free time and final dinner
    Tour the remaining stops in the capital with an afternoon of free time to explore or relax with a spa session.
    Overnight: Dushanbe (hotel)

  • Departures
    Enjoy breakfast together before final goodbyes, airport transfers and departures. Flight to Tashkent for those continuing onto our Central Asia II itinerary: Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.

ITINERARY AT A GLANCE

This unforgettable journey begins in the beating heart of Kabul, Afghanistan with highlights including Babur Gardens and the vibrant bird market and Chicken Street. We head to Bamiyan to see the ancient Buddha niches and support a local village by installing Sawyer water filtration systems as part of our social development project. The adventure continues with swimming at Band-e-Amir National Park, the ancient city of Balkh, and the iconic Hazrat Ali Shrine.

Jump across the border and experience the rich culture of Tajikistan; jammed-packed with mountains as far as the eye can see. With market strolls, overnight hikes, historic fortresses and cultural sightseeing, you won’t want to miss this adventure with the Far Corners Tribe.

WANT A HAND GETTING TO THE START LINE?
OUR FAR CORNERS CREW ARE HAPPY TO HELP!

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  • ✓ One way flight from Kabul to Mazar-i-Sharif

    ✓ Accommodation in 3/4* share/single rooms (where available) as per itinerary

    ✓ All meals in Tajikistan; Breakfast each day in Afghanistan

    ✓ All entrance and permit fees

    ✓ All ground transportation and driver costs

    ✓ FCT guide and local English-speaking guide in each country

    ✓ Welcome dinner and farewell dinner

    ✓ Visa help (Evisa for most countries for Tajikistan, sticker visa for Afghanistan)

    • International flights: Dubai to Kabul, and from Dushanbe

    • Other meals in Afghanistan

    • Visa fees ($30 USD for Tajikistan (if applicable), $100-150USD cash for Afghanistan depending on nationality)

    • Travel insurance

    • Spending money

    • Tips for guides

A valley surrounded by tall mountains with sparse vegetation, greenery, trees, and a small stream. There are grazing animals, people, utility poles, and scattered structures.
A person riding a horse on a dirt path through a mountainous landscape with trees, fences, and power lines.
Three women dressed in traditional attire walking on a large, open plaza near a modern, ornate building with a spiral design and green dome accents.
A woman sitting on the grass by a pond with two white ducks, surrounded by lush green trees, including a large weeping willow.
A clear turquoise mountain lake with visible rocks beneath the water, set against a rocky, barren shoreline and snow-capped mountains in the background under a partly cloudy sky.
Children playing on swings in a desert landscape with a few small trees and rocky formations in the distance.
Person standing near a brick wall against a clear blue sky in a desert landscape.
A young boy in traditional Afghan clothing holding a blue balloon, with a blurred background of an architectural structure.
Three young men walking inside the courtyard of the Badshahi Mosque in Lahore, Pakistan, with intricate green and gold tile work on the building's exterior in the background.
Abandoned pink tank with white polka dots in a dry, arid landscape with mountains in the background and sparse trees.
A man dressed in traditional clothing walking in front of ancient carved rock dwellings in a desert landscape.
A man dressed in traditional Middle Eastern clothing standing on rocky terrain at sunset, with mountains and a valley in the background.
A man with sunglasses and a turban stands beside a body of water with cliffs in the background, under a clear blue sky.
A single yellow boat with a person, floating on calm green water at the base of large, rugged sandstone cliffs with vertical striations and shadows.
A young woman wearing traditional colorful clothing and a headscarf holding a bunch of balloons that say "I love you" in a busy street with people, buildings, and power lines in the background.
A busy market street in warm sunlight with people shopping and various goods displayed on stalls and shelves, including cages and hanging items.
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A calm river flowing through a canyon with desert mountains in the background under a clear blue sky.

SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECT.

The main pillar here at Far Corners is the provision of sustainable support to locals. These social development projects aim to improve the living standards of the communities that are the foundation of our tours.

We’ve teamed up with Sawyer Products, an inspiring company who we’re thrilled to be working with! This expedition gives back through the delivery and installation of Sawyer water filtration systems in the villages of Bamiyan province. These water filters last a lifetime and we’ll also be providing the necessary training so the locals are educated in maintaining these innovative products!

As part of our itinerary, we will be visiting these villages to install the systems and see the benefits of your contribution!s. in action.

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FAQs

  • 96 nationalities do not require a visa to Tajikistan (check if you do here). Nationals that require an eVisa can apply here in advance. All nationalities require a visa to enter Afghanistan. The only two places to receive an Afghan visa are in the UAE or Pakistan, hence why we highly recommend collecting your visa in Dubai en route to Kabul. Our FCT team will provide you with the invitation letter and support during this process.

  • Absolutely, we have planned out the tours so the dates align enabling you to be able to jump from one tour to the next and we can advise the best way to get from one tour to the next. Tajikistan & Afghanistan is the first stop on our Central Asia route but have a look at the next tour in Uzbekistan & Turkmenistan here!

  • Yes, all adventurers that join us on our Far Corners expeditions are required to have comprehensive travel insurance. Given some of the destinations we visit, it can prove difficult (or very expensive!) to have travel insurance that covers you. At Far Corners we have used Safetywing for our personal and business travels for years and the best part is they don’t break the bank.

  • We recommend this FlyDubai flight at 4am on the day of departure from Dubai to Kabul as this ensures you can collect your Visa in Dubai en route to Kabul. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to the FCT team if you require any assistance with this procedure.

  • Traveling to Afghanistan is the safest it has been in decades for tourists. Our local partners are experts in guiding clients and are constantly monitoring the situation to respond accordingly to any safety issues. Safety is our number one priority and therefore we reserve the right to adapt the itinerary if necessary. The details of our tour are not publicly available, nor our hotels. We also blend in wearing local clothes which adds to the magic of the expedition.

  • Women will be expected to abide by local customs and cover their arms and legs. An abaya to cover the hair will also be necessary, but not in all regions. Local clothing will be provided at the beginning of the tour to ensure we blend with locals as much as possible.

  • Yes, at checkpoints but interaction will be minimal as your local guide and FCT guide will keep you one-step removed from the bulk of interactions. All permits will be taken care of in advance to ensure smooth travel and minimal time wasted at checkpoints.

  • This tour includes a specifically strenuous multi-day hike in Tajikistan. Those wishing to still attend can skip this section but it is one of the highlights of the tour. The pace of travel will also be quite intense and an ability to walk for most of the day will be required.

  • We choose to run our Far Corners tours during the prime season to ensure all activities are available. We will visit diverse landscapes (mountains, lakes, canyons, cities) so temperatures will fluctuate. Snow is unlikely in the mountains but could occur.

  • Yes, a non-refundable deposit of $1000USD is required upon booking. Alternatively, you can also pay the full amount at booking.