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Afghanistan.
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Travelling to Afghanistan: what to know before you go

Afghanistan is a landlocked country of high mountains, desert plains and ancient trading cities, sitting where Central Asia, South Asia and Iran meet. Its history runs from Buddhist monasteries and Silk Road caravans to Persian-style gardens and Timurid architecture. Very few people travel here today, and anyone considering a trip should first read their own government's current travel advice.

Where to go

• Bamiyan Valley. A green valley in the central highlands, ringed by cliffs that once held two monumental standing Buddhas carved around the sixth century.
• Band-e Amir. A chain of six deep-blue lakes in the Hindu Kush west of Bamiyan, held back by natural walls of travertine.
• Herat. An old city near the Iranian border with a long Persian cultural tradition.
• Minaret of Jam. A 12th-century brick minaret about 65 metres tall, standing alone in a remote river valley in Ghor province.

Best time to visit

Climate varies sharply with altitude. Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to October) are the mildest seasons in Kabul and Herat, and spring brings the Nowruz new year on 21 March.

Staying online in Afghanistan

Mobile coverage is reasonable in Kabul and the larger cities and along the main highways, but becomes patchy or absent in mountain valleys, the Wakhan and remote rural areas. Mobile data and internet access can also be interrupted at short notice. Public Wi-Fi is uncommon outside hotels and some offices, and speeds can be slow. Download offline maps and translation packs before you leave home, install an eSIM before you fly, and switch it on when you land so you are connected from the airport.