Afghanistan
All governments advise against all travel. This page is reference only
Population
42m people
Currency
Afghan Afghani
Main Language
Dari and Pashto
best time to visit
Not advised – governments warn against all travel
Climate
Continental, extremely hot summers, harsh cold winters, high mountains
Visa
Visa required; UK and all Western governments advise against all travel and consular support is unavailable
Country overview
The position is unambiguous. The UK Foreign Office and every equivalent Western body advise against all travel to Afghanistan. There is no British consular presence, the risk of kidnap, arbitrary detention and terrorism is assessed as very high, and the situation for women in particular has deteriorated severely under Taliban rule since 2021. This page exists for reference, not as encouragement.
Afghanistan sits at the crossroads of Central and South Asia and was, for most of history, one of the great transit points of the Silk Road. Herat has a citadel and a Friday mosque with exceptional tilework. Balkh was one of the largest cities in the ancient world. The Minaret of Jam, sixty five metres of decorated brickwork in a remote river valley, is one of the least seen UNESCO sites anywhere.
Band-e Amir, a chain of deep blue lakes separated by natural travertine dams in the Hindu Kush, became the country first national park in 2009. The Bamiyan valley held two monumental sixth-century Buddhas until they were destroyed in 2001; the empty niches remain. The landscape and the heritage are extraordinary, and neither is currently reachable in any responsible way.
Annual events and festivals
- Nowruz (21 Mar) — the Persian new year, historically the biggest celebration, with the Jahenda Bala flag raising at Mazar-i-Sharif.
- Eid al-Fitr (varies) — the main holiday ending Ramadan.
- Eid al-Adha (varies) — the second Eid, a multi-day holiday.
- Ramadan (varies) — strictly observed nationwide.
- Ashura (varies) — commemorated by the Shia Hazara community.
- Buzkashi season (winter-spring) — the national sport, played on horseback with a goat carcass.
- Mawlid al-Nabi (varies) — the Prophet birthday.
- Independence Day (19 Aug) — marks the 1919 treaty ending British control of foreign affairs.
- Gul-e-Surkh, Red Flower Festival (Mar-Apr) — a forty-day tulip festival at Mazar-i-Sharif following Nowruz.
- Yalda (21 Dec) — the winter solstice, shared with Iranian tradition.
Afghanistan Travel Guides
Afghanistan guides are coming soon.