Day By Day Experience

• DAY 1 - Arrival in Dubai – Gateway to the East

  As your aircraft descends over the glittering Persian Gulf, Dubai welcomes you with the grace of a city poised between desert and sea. Upon arrival, a VIP meet and greet team escorts you through private immigration channels. Your luggage is whisked away as you are guided to your luxurious hotel. The evening is free to relax and acclimate — perhaps stroll along the Marina promenade or simply admire the city’s futuristic skyline shimmering under the Arabian moon. Tonight, enjoy a welcome dinner infused with the flavors of Arabia.

  Overnight: Dubai
  Meals: Dinner

• DAY 2 - The Modern Metropolis and Afghan Embassy Formalities

  After breakfast, your Midasia Routes representative will accompany you to the Embassy of Afghanistan in Dubai — the official and most convenient location for visa issuance. With our fast-track VIP services, all formalities and documentation are handled seamlessly, taking approximately 45 minutes. Once your passport is stamped and ready, embark on a panoramic tour of Dubai. Drive past the glittering Burj Khalifa, sail-shaped Burj Al Arab, and Palm Jumeirah, before wandering through the aromatic Spice and Gold Souks of old Dubai. Enjoy a traditional Arabic lunch beside the historic creek, followed by leisure time to shop or rest before dinner. This day connects two worlds — the grandeur of modern Arabia and the doorway to timeless Afghanistan.
  Overnight: Dubai
  Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  

• DAY 3 - Arrival in Kabul – Heartbeat of the Hindu Kush

  This morning, fly from Dubai to Kabul — the storied capital nestled within rugged mountains. Upon arrival, our Afghan team greets you with VIP assistance and transfers you to your hotel. After lunch, explore Kabul Citadel, a fortress that has witnessed the rise and fall of empires. Continue to the peaceful Babur Gardens, where fountains murmur beside the tomb of the first Mughal Emperor. In the evening, stroll through Kabul’s bazaars alive with color and scent — saffron, carpets, and silver work gleaming under soft light. Watch children flying kites on rooftops, a timeless symbol of freedom and hope. Dinner tonight introduces you to Afghan cuisine — smoky kebabs, fluffy naan, and aromatic pilaf.

  Overnight: Kabul
  Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• DAY 4 - Drive to Bamiyan – Valley of the Buddhas

  After breakfast, begin the scenic drive (4–5 hours) through the mountains to Bamiyan, a valley that once glowed with Buddhist monasteries and Silk Road travelers. En route, stop at a local honey farm, tasting golden nectar gathered from wild alpine flowers. Upon arrival, stand before the silent niches of the Buddhas of Bamiyan, once towering 55 meters tall before their tragic destruction — still radiating spiritual power. Visit Shahr-e Gholghola, the “City of Screams,” its ruins whispering tales of the Mongol invasions. End your day at the Bamiyan Bazaar, meeting artisans and villagers whose hospitality reflects the essence of Afghanistan.

  Overnight: Bamiyan
  Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner


• DAY 5 - Bamyan’s Wonders: The Buddha Niches and Shahr - e Gholghola

  Today is devoted to Afghanistan’s first national park, Band-e-Amir, where nature reveals its finest poetry. Six lakes shimmer like gemstones under an endless sky — sapphire, turquoise, cobalt — ringed by ochre cliffs that change hues with the sun. Enjoy a picnic lunch by the tranquil shore, followed by gentle hikes to panoramic viewpoints. Capture the reflection of the clouds dancing upon the still water. As evening descends, return to your camp or lodge in Bamiyan, where dinner is served beneath a starlit dome of mountain silence.
  Overnight: Bamiyan
  Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner


• DAY 6 - Return to Kabul – Through the Red Castle of Zuhak

  After breakfast, drive back to Kabul (approx. 5 hours), pausing to explore the striking Red Castle of Zuhak, perched above the valley like a guardian of history. Enjoy photo stops along the Haji-Gak Pass, where the landscape alternates between green pastures and raw mountain ridges. Arrive in Kabul by afternoon and explore its art galleries or bookshops — quiet symbols of cultural revival. Dinner tonight is a cozy affair in a local setting, surrounded by music and warm laughter.

  Overnight: Kabul
  Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner


• DAY 7 - Fly to Mazar-e-Sharif – City of Blue Grace

  After breakfast, transfer to the airport for a short flight to Mazar-e-Sharif, Afghanistan’s “City of the Blue Mosque.” Upon arrival, visit the resplendent Shrine of Hazrat Ali, its domes draped in thousands of blue tiles that shimmer under the northern sun. White pigeons flutter freely in the courtyard — a symbol of purity and peace. Later, stroll through lively bazaars where spices, silks, and lapis lazuli jewelry fill the air with color and sound. In the evening, savor a traditional Uzbek-style dinner — Mazar’s cuisine reflects the region’s Central Asian influences.

  Overnight: Mazar-e-Sharif
  Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner


• DAY 8 - Balkh – Mother of Cities

  Today, journey to Balkh, one of the world’s oldest cities, known as the “Mother of Cities.” Wander through ancient ruins where Alexander the Great once walked, and visit the Haji Piadah Tomb, the oldest Islamic monument in Afghanistan. Explore the old citadel and the remains of ancient walls that once protected scholars, mystics, and traders. Pause for tea with locals — a moment of true Afghan warmth and humility. Return to Mazar-e-Sharif in the late afternoon to explore its vibrant markets or enjoy quiet reflection at the Blue Mosque at sunset.
  Overnight: Mazar-e-Sharif
  Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  

• DAY 9 - Return to Kabul – Between Past and Present

  After breakfast, take a morning flight back to Kabul. Enjoy panoramic aerial views of Afghanistan’s rugged terrain — mountain ridges folding like waves of time. Upon arrival, spend your afternoon visiting any missed sites: perhaps the National Museum, with relics spanning millennia, or Shah-e-Doh Shamshira Mosque, gleaming beside the river. Browse for handwoven carpets and lapis crafts before your farewell dinner — a night of reflection, music, and shared memories.

  Overnight: Kabul
  Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner


• DAY 10 - Fly to Herat – The Timurid Jewel

  After breakfast, fly west to Herat, a city of poets, scholars, and azure domes. Begin your exploration with the Herat Citadel, once a command post of Alexander the Great. Visit the Minarets of Herat, slender and majestic, then the Shrine of Khwaja Abdullah Ansari, one of the holiest Sufi sites in the region. Wander through Herat’s markets, where silk, pottery, and saffron tempt the senses. Dinner tonight is in a traditional house adorned with carved wooden ceilings — a perfect close to your day in the “Pearl of Khorasan.”

  Overnight: Herat
  Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner


• Day 11 - Herat – Blue Mosque and Living Heritage

  After breakfast, continue exploring Herat’s marvels. Visit the magnificent Jami Mosque (Friday Mosque) — its turquoise tiles blaze in the sunlight, one of the most exquisite examples of Islamic architecture in Central Asia. Continue to the Tomb of Goharshad Begum, the visionary queen who shaped Herat’s golden age. Explore the Museum of Jihad, a testament to Afghanistan’s modern struggles and resilience. In the evening, enjoy a farewell dinner celebrating Herat’s poetic soul and the artistry of its people.
  Overnight: Herat
  Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner


• Day 12- Return to Kabul – Journey’s Reflection

  After breakfast, fly back to Kabul for your final evening in Afghanistan — a reflective pause at the crossroads of history and heart. The afternoon is yours to wander through the city’s soul once more. You may wish to revisit the serene gardens of Babur, share tea with newfound friends, or browse through local bazaars filled with handwoven kilims, lapis lazuli jewelry, and delicate embroidered shawls — treasures that carry the essence of Afghan artistry.
  
  As dusk falls, gather for a heartfelt farewell dinner, where laughter and memories blend like saffron in warm pilaf. Raise a toast to the mountains, mosques, and kindred spirits that have defined this unforgettable journey — to a land that has touched your heart beyond measure.
  
  The following morning, after breakfast, you will be escorted to Kabul International Airport for your outbound flight. As the snow-capped peaks of the Hindu Kush fade into the horizon, carry home the fragrance of Afghan tea, the blue shimmer of Herat’s domes, and the warmth of every smile that welcomed you as family.
  Overnight: Kabul
  Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner