place
Band-e-Amir Lakes
Afghanistan’s first national park — six turquoise lakes held by natural dams.
place
Bamiyan Valley
Ancient cliff niches, cave monasteries and a valley of poplar and legend.
place
Friday Mosque
A masterpiece of glazed tilework, restored by generations of artisans.
place
Blue Mosque
The Shrine of Ali, wrapped in turquoise tile and circling white doves.
place
Panjshir Valley
An emerald river carving through some of the country’s proudest peaks.
place
Minaret of Jam
A 12th-century UNESCO tower standing alone in a remote mountain gorge.
city
Kabul
The capital, a high basin of gardens, museums, and mountain light.
city
Bamyan
A valley of cliffs, lakes, and Silk Road memory.
city
Herat
A western city of tilework, poets, and workshops.
city
Mazar-i-Sharif
Home of the Blue Mosque and Nowruz gatherings.
city
Panjshir
An emerald river valley among high peaks.
city
Jam
A remote gorge holding a solitary 12th-century minaret.
monument
Buddhas of Bamiyan
monument
Minaret of Jam
museum