Is It Safe To Travel To Afghanistan In 2025?
- Konrad Tillman
- May 2
- 5 min read
Intro
Before embarking on my side quest to Afghanistan, I had more questions than answers regarding this beautiful nation. According to reports, Afghanistan is currently ranked as the number 1 most dangerous country in the world, but is it for tourists?
Let's dive in, as there is a lot to unpack if you are looking to travel to Afghanistan.
Why I Decided To Go
In my eyes, everyone should have somewhat of a reason for visiting a country, even if it is a smaller reason than others. For me, there were a couple of different avenues in why I decided to go:
We are studying Afghanistan in class this semester, and hearing my professor rant and rave about all the bads made me want to hear about the goods.
Obviously, I attempting to be the youngest American to visit every country in the world.
Currently, I am attempting to boost my tourism clients to these off-the-beaten-path destinations, and Afghanistan would be next on the list.
A few other reasons I will not discuss.
All in all, I feel that my reasons for visiting were good ones.
Interacting With The Taliban
The number one question that has been asked after returning is, "How did the Taliban treat you while you were there?". While I won't speak politically (not my place), I will say that the Taliban treats foreigners very well, as long as you abide by their rules. For some odd reason, they seem to really like tourists from the United States.
Most of the time, the Taliban members are exceptionally nice, but some of the checkpoints will have Taliban members who are more on the professional side. If I had to sum it up, think about what cops are like in most countries. Most seem to be nice, but you get the odd one out who might be having a bad day.
Checkpoints+Permits
Which brings me to my next point: checkpoints. If you happen to be going anywhere outside of Kabul, and even in some parts of Kabul, there will be many checkpoints along the way. On the drive from Kabul to Bamian, we encountered around 8 checkpoints throughout five hours. It's nothing like Myanmar, but the Taliban is there to make sure you are legally allowed to travel between towns.
Legally? Yes. Unlike almost any other place in the world, you need to go to a minister's office in Kabul to gather permits to travel to a specified location. As a foreigner, it is impossible to pick up your baggage one afternoon and say, "Hey, kind of feeling like going to Kandahar".
The one time you do not need permits is if you cross the Torkham border in the morning and take a shared/private taxi directly to Kabul. Inform them at the checkpoints that you will be gathering the necessary permits the next day in Kabul.
What You Can and Cannot Do
If you haven't traveled much through Islamic countries, this is a small section you will need to pay attention to.
There are certain cultural norms that you need to respect going into Afghanistan, not because of the Taliban, but simply because it is the right thing to do.
If you visit during Ramadan, do not eat in front of others during the day...
Afghanistan is a dry country, and while you can bring 1 liter of alcohol into the country duty-free, ONLY consume it in your residence. Honestly, I just wouldn't bring alcohol to be on the safe side.
I recommend buying some local Afghan clothes, especially if you are a woman. While you do not need to cover your whole face, I would cover part of the back of your head out of respect.
If you are a man, short-sleeved T-shirts are okay, but shorts are a big no-no unless inside private property.
Things I Recommend
Here is just some overall advice about Afghanistan as a whole. None of these are mandatory, but just some tips if you are looking for it.
Only take the blue and white taxis around, as these are controlled by the Taliban
When staying in Kabul, stay at a government-protected hotel (8$ per night)
Do not exchange money on the streets, there are better places to exchange it. Upon landing, there is a small coffee shop in the back with a lovely man who will offer you wifi and a good exchange rate.
You have to be ready for the horrific traffic in Kabul and the choppy roads outside of the main city
I highly recommend visiting the Wakhan Province during the summer
DO NOT lose the tourist card that you receive upon landing at Kabul Airport. It is very important and the only way out of the country.
Guide Advice+Petty Crime
When talking about safety in Afghanistan, most people would probably tend to think of life-threatening situations if they haven't been. Fair enough, but I am here to tell you that the odds of something happening are higher driving to the airport in Kabul than something extraordinary.
However, you should have the common traveler's sense when it comes to Afghanistan, just like everywhere else in the world. While I personally never got into any issues, it is a country like the rest of the world, and petty crime does still happen.
With all of that being said, the question that I will get asked is, "Did you go with a guide"? I went with a local but not a full-on guide. Do you need a guide? If it's your first time visiting the country, a guide could be useful just to arrange all of the necessary permits, but it isn't needed. If you are heading up to the Wakhan Province during the summer (which I highly recommend) or down to the Kandahar region, then I would be more inclined to recommend a guide. Bamian and Kabul, you'd be fine without one.
Overall Sense Of Safety
With all of that wrapped up, would I recommend a visit to Afghanistan?
Look, this isn't a place for the average vacationer who visits the Turks and Caicos and the Bahamas to visit. However, in terms of relative safety, it's not how the media portrays it (when it comes to tourism). As long as you have that adventure side in you and are willing to go with the flow, there is a 99.9% chance that you will be alright. To be honest, that 0.1% chance is everywhere in the world.
So yes, you are good.
