On the road to archaeological sites
2024
Highlights of the trip
During your stay you can enjoy the following highlights: Culture / Heritage, Discovery.
Best times to go
The best time(s) to go is/are : Printemps, Eté.
Petit Futé
Where to stay - Pull-I-Khumri ?
The map of your stay "On the road to archaeological sites"
Detail of the stay : On the road to archaeological sites
How to get there - Pull-I-Khumri
Discovery of Buddhist sites on the road to Mazar-e-Sharif
Steps: Kunduz
Departure by car to the north, on the road to Mazar-e-Sharif. First stop at Sukh Kotal, a Buddhist site dating from the Kushan dynasty. Remains of the great religious temple founded by King Kanishka. Continue on the road, still in the direction of Mazar-e-Sharif. Second stop at Takht-e-Rostam, one of the most interesting Buddhist sites inAfghanistan. Visit the stupa, the monastery and the troglodytic caves. Overnight in Mazar-e-Sharif.
If the security situation in Kunduz improves, it is possible to extend this thematic trip by two days. From Mazar-e-Sharif, departure for Kunduz and overnight stay. The next day, we drive to the site ofAi Khanum, 3 hours and a half away. Ancient city built between the end of the 4th century and the beginning of the 2nd century BC, there is not much left of it. It is the oldest city of Eastern Greece in the world. Overnight in Kunduz, then return to Mazar-e-Sharif.
Balkh, "the mother of all cities"
Steps: Balkh
Early morning departure for Balkh, one of Afghanistan's oldest cities. Large Buddhist centre. Kushan foundations. Islamic city. Go to the 9th century Haji Piyada Mosque. Night in Mazar-e-Sharif
Early morning visit to the mosque and return to Kabul
Steps: Herât
After a visit to the mosque from Friday early in the morning (it is possible to enter at 5 pm), return by plane or car in Kabul.
Departure for the Greco-Buddhist site of Hadda
Steps: Jalalabad
The Hadda site is 11 km from Jalalabad. Leave at dawn. It takes 3 hours to reach Hadda. Archaeological excavations have revealed, on this major centre of Buddhism, several thousand sculptures and many stupas. Return in the evening to Kabul.
On the way to Bamiyan
Steps: Bamiyan
Departure by car to Bamiyan if you do not have the possibility to take the plane. You have to leave very early, because a breakdown on the road is always possible. We count 7 hours of driving. Take a lunch break in Goohrband, a small Pashtun village, if the security conditions are sufficient. If you arrive in the afternoon, you should take the opportunity to walk on the heights of Bamiyan. Overnight in one of the hotels in Bamiyan.
Traces of the Buddhas
Steps: Bamiyan
Visit on foot of the Buddhas site: monacales cells, remains of the famous Buddhas.
Places of interest : LES BOUDDHAS
Exploration of the archaeological site in Bamiyan
Steps: Bamiyan
Second day of visit to the Buddhist site in Bamiyan: Discover the excavations on the site of the ancient city of Bamiyan.
