Driving From Kabul To Bamiyan, Afghanistan: My Experience
- Konrad Tillman
- Apr 1
- 3 min read
Intro
Once arriving onboard Kam Air, a little perplexed about what was ahead of me for the next while, it was time to embark on a great adventure to the ancient city of Bamian.
If you are thinking about visiting Afghanistan, Bamian is one of the most beautiful places in the country (along with the Wakhan Corridor which I didn’t get to visit). However, the journey isn’t as straightforward as driving from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, the roads are icy and Taliban checkpoints fill the way.
The Experience
Exiting the airport to the bustling streets of Kabul, children on the street came up to beg, as if they hadn’t eaten in days. Afghanistan is considered the poorest country in the world, and in the city of Kabul, you could see how horrific the conditions were for the locals…
Quickly finding our taxi driver, we just about managed to close the doors from the mass amount of children and began on the way to the outskirts of Kabul. The city is a sight to behold, Taliban flags fill the streets, the worst traffic in the world, and everyone dressed in beautiful clothing.
As we shared a conversation about Afghanistan, my guide stopped off at a local clothing shop so that I could buy some Afghan wear. I mean, how many times does one get to buy traditional Afghan wear? More on that soon….
The Beauty
Eventually, we made it through the exit gate of Kabul city, and after a quick stop by the Taliban to check our documents, we had made it to the Afghanistan countryside.
The next 5 hours would take us through some of the most beautiful landscapes I have ever seen in my life. The snowcapped mountains filled the background, while rough roads took place right below. It was as if it was a scene out of a movie.
The Taliban
Throughout the journey, we must have gone through around 15 Taliban checkpoints. Sometimes the Taliban will stop you and thoroughly ask you questions, sometimes they will ask to see your passport, and sometimes they just wave you through. It really just depends…
Well, that was until we got to the gate of Bamiyan/Bamian, and we seemed to get the other Taliban officer who wasn’t exactly a fan of me. There was a little bit of arguing, but eventually, he let me pass and somehow let me take a picture in front of the gate of Bamian.
But the moment I will never forget: being overtaken by a Taliban 4x4 truck with the flag waving off the front of the car. It was a moment that felt as if I was in a movie.
Eventually, it became normalized, but the first occurrence was striking…
Getting The Permits
Finally arriving in Bamian after a long 5.5 hour drive, we had to first do one thing before checking into the hotel: acquire new permits.
For those looking to travel around Afghanistan, you must get your permits to be pretty much anywhere. When you head to a new town, you must visit the Ministry of Tourism and Affairs and get even more permits.
Thankfully, my guide was good friends with the person in Bamian, so we enjoyed some tea, had a nice conversation, and even took this iconic photo which I am going to frame:
From there, it was off to the homestay for the night!
Final Thoughts
Driving from Kabul to Bamiyan was one of the most invigorating experiences I have ever had in my life. From seeing the most incredible landscapes in the world to being checked every 5-10 km by the Taliban, to eventually having tea with a member of the Taliban; it is stories like these that I will tell my children (if I ever have any) in 30 years…
Just remember if you plan to go: get your permits!
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