Province Overview
Overview
The valley sits high and open. The giant Buddhas are gone — destroyed in 2001 — and the niches are still the first thing you see. Hazara farming villages work the floor of the valley.
Band-e-Amir is a separate day when the road and weather allow it: mineral-blue lakes under the Hindu Kush.
Bamyan is slower than Kabul. Plan for altitude and for days that start early so you are not crossing mountain roads in the dark.
Key Attractions
- Buddha Niches of Bamyan
- Shahr-e-Gholghola
- Shahr-e-Zohak
- Band-e-Amir National Park
- Koh-e-Baba Mountain Range
- Dragon Valley
- Chehel Burj Bamyan Ruins
Planning Bamyan
- Best time: May–June and September–October
- Getting there: Overland from Kabul by 4WD, usually 8–10 hours. The road is chosen for conditions and schedule rather than fixed in advance.
- Pace: Moderate; altitude
- Permits: Provincial tourist permits are processed in advance for booked tours.
