Trip to Afghanistan ► Historical cities, tribes and landscapes

Trip to Afghanistan from 19th to 29th May 2024 (11 d. / 10 n.) / TRIP COMPLETED

Trip to Afghanistan in a historic moment. Since 2021 the Taliban rule again. This time it seems that they do it in a more moderate and pactista way; seeking international recognition. But Afghanistan is much more than its current moment and the mythical Taliban (Islamic students who radically ruled the country from 1996 to 2001). Afghanistan is above all a crossroads, a territory full of geographical vagaries.

The historic empires of Persia, India, Russia and China have left their mark in the form of a fantastic heritage, which has survived earthquakes and looting for centuries. In addition, it is home to numerous tribes. Pashtun, Tajik, Uzbek, Hazara, Kuchi and Turkmen coexist, often with friction and almost always without problem, in the thousands of precious bazaars that dot this untamed country, which no foreign nation could subjugate. Hence the myth. On this ethnographic trip to Afghanistan we will try to understand the why and when of the Central Asian myth.

Download the itinerary of this trip to Afghanistan

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The guide on this trip to Afghanistan will be Joan Riera, an anthropologist specializing in minority societies.

Discover the highlights of this trip to Afghanistan

► We will visit different cities and historical sites of Afghanistan

Kabul

The route of this trip to Afghanistan will begin in the great chaotic city of Kabul, which accumulates layers and layers of history. It is an objectively 'ugly' city, but it does keep small architectural and human treasures that we will dissect.

Bamiyan Valley

We will continue our way to Bamiyan. These central Buddhist lands are dominated by wild mountains, valleys and lakes. In this paradise live the Hazara people and some Tajik communities. We will visit the ruins of the figures of the Bamiyan Buddhas. Finally, we will visit the ruins of the "red city" of Zuhak (S-VI), which was razed by Genghis Khan.

Gazni

This trip to Afghanistan will continue towards the arid and conservative south, Patan territory, one of the untamed peoples of Central Asia. We will visit the thousand-year-old city of Ghazni, the dazzling capital of the Ghaznavid Empire. From this historic city, Islam spread throughout the Subcontinent. There are still 2 minarets from the XII century and the ancient structure of the old fortified city (currently in semi-ruin) from that glorious past.

Kandahar

Kandahar City has been 'banned' until 1 year ago. Going through it will allow us to understand what Afghanistan is like today and who is trying to govern it. We will take an urban tour accompanied by the Taliban, who will provide us with talks and photographs with a strong historical component.

Herat

The 'Persian' city of Herat is the third in population and economy in the country, and a great Afghan-Persian cultural center. We will visit the sanctuary of Rahman Jami, the fabulous minarets of Musalla (15th century), the mausoleum of the Timurid-style queen (reign of Tamerlane 1336-1405), the Aljama or Friday mosque (13th century), the ancient and fascinating ceramics workshop in a wing of the same mosque and we will end up walking the oldest streets around the citadel.

Mazar-e Sharif and Balkh

We will visit different highlights of Mazar-e Sharif such as the bazaar (famous for its Turkmen carpets) and the shrine of Hazrat Ali, where many pilgrims annually celebrate Nouruz (Persian New Year). Since 2022, women do not have access to the Blue Mosque, so while the men visit it, we will explore the bazaar, one of the liveliest in the country. In the neighboring city of Balkh, the historical capital of Bactria or Bactriana, we will visit the remains of its glorious past: two beautiful mosques (one in ruins) and the remains of the adobe wall. We will tour the busy bazaar, dominated by the Pashtun ethnic group.

► We will meet different ethnic groups during this trip to Afghanistan

Tajik people

On this trip to Afghanistan we will enjoy beautiful landscapes of mountains and endless plains where we will find small adobe villages. We will visit some Tajik communities to learn about their lifestyle.

Hazara people

The Hazara people, of Mughal origin, are former Buddhists who converted to Shiite Islam 400 years ago, which gives them the status of an ethnic and religious minority. Historically, they have been persecuted by the dominant Pashtuns and Tajiks. During this trip to Afghanistan we will visit a Hazara troglodyte village. Many poor families live in what were the cells of the Buddhist monks who populated the area in the 6th century.

Kuchi people

We will have the opportunity to meet a nomadic community of Kuchi people, a group of Pashtun cattle ranchers who preserve pre-Islamic traditions, such as tattoos and shamanic healing rituals.