Ski Afghanistan
Untamed Borders is the original ski company in Afghanistan and was the first company to run ski trips to Afghanistan, way back in 2011. 2021 will be our 11th season running ski trips to Afghanistan.
On the snow, you will be guided by a qualified international ski guide in the mountains as well as the local Afghan ski guides, Ali Shah and Sajjad. Their story on trying to become Afghanistan’s first Winter Olympians has been documented in the recent film, Where The Light Shines, you can see the trailer below:
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Vacation Style Holiday Type
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Activity Level Challenging
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Group Size Medium Group
Untamed Borders is the original ski company in Afghanistan and was the first company to run ski trips to Afghanistan, way back in 2011. 2021 will be our 11th season running ski trips to Afghanistan.
On the snow, you will be guided by a qualified international ski guide in the mountains as well as the local Afghan ski guides. We will meet you at Kabul airport and show you a few places of interest in Kabul before flying to the beautiful and peaceful Bamian valley to ski in the Koh e Baba mountain range. We will also have time to visit the remains of the world’s largest standing Buddha statues that overlook the town and the ancient cities of Shah e Zohak and Shah e Golghola.
Afghanistan is a country slowly recovering from years of violence and neglect but it has always been a magnet for the intrepid. The rugged landscape, the ancient history crossed with tough yet incredibly hospitable people is an intoxicating mix.
The chance to truly blaze a tourist trail is a rare opportunity.
Start Point :Kabul
End Point :Kabul
Maximum number of people: 10
- All accommodation
- Breakfast
- Food when skiing
- Transport/transfers
- Guiding
- 2 internal flights within Afghanistan (Kabul-Bamian/Bamian-Kabul)
- Any necessary visas
- Insurance
- Flights to Afghanistan
- Entrance fees
- Lunch & Dinner when not skiing
- Drinks
- Tips
- Ski equipment (equipment is available to rent – let us know to ensure we can supply the right sizes – the cost to rent for all equipment is US$40 per day)
We do not and cannot offer a uniform accommodation standard on our itineraries. We consider comfort, location, design, character, historical interest, and whether the money we spend will go into the pockets of the local community when we make our choices of where to stay.
The accommodation is based on two people sharing.
- All accommodation
- Breakfast
- Food when skiing
- Transport/transfers
- Guiding
- 2 internal flights within Afghanistan (Kabul-Bamian/Bamian-Kabul)
- Any necessary visas
- Insurance
- Flights to Afghanistan
- Entrance fees
- Lunch & Dinner when not skiing
- Drinks
- Tips
- Ski equipment (equipment is available to rent – let us know to ensure we can supply the right sizes – the cost to rent for all equipment is US$40 per day)
We do not directly arrange international flights to Afghanistan. We can suggest routes and operators.
If you are bringing skis then please ensure that the carrier will take skis.
We do not arrange Afghanistan visas directly. We will provide visa support in the form of letters of invitation to assist in your Afghanistan visa application.
With the exception of breakfast, meals are not included as part of the trip. In our experience people sometimes want to eat different things in different places at different times. We know some great places and will also happily show you some of our favourite restaurants and tea houses. Some are luxurious, some are earthier, but all have character. However, we do not pretend to be the arbiters of good taste and are equally happy for you to go off and find your own favourites.
In Afghanistan, we take at least two vehicles when driving between towns if there is a big group for safety reasons. If there is a breakdown, we will not be left stranded. When we choose our vehicles and drivers, we take into consideration the road conditions, the length of the journey, and the competence of the man behind the wheel. In a country that should be the setting for a live-action version of the Wacky Races, it’s a matter we take seriously. Your comfort and enjoyment of the journey is our top priority.
You will be accompanied by an experienced English speaking Afghan guide for the duration of the trip.
Sometimes we also provide an extra local guide. If we are a large group, we may wish to split into smaller groups for city tours to allow greater flexibility and keep a lower profile. An extra local guide allows us to do that.
In Bamian the guiding on the slopes will carried out by a western qualified ski guide and the local Afghan guides.
Trips to Afghanistan create dangers all of their own. While we want you to have as much freedom as possible, we must state that the leader has the final word in regards to changing the itinerary for safety-related reasons. The route we have chosen passes through areas that we consider to be stable. However, we may have to alter the route or cancel sections of the trip at short notice if things change.
If there is an extra expense incurred due to the change of itinerary, then you may be asked to bear part of that cost. For example, if we have to fly between cities rather than drive.
As with off-piste skiing in the rest of the world, there is a small but serious avalanche risk.
Guests should bring their own equipment. A full list of recommended equipment will be given nearer the time.
If you would like to extend your trip in Afghanistan either before or after this one please contact us for arranging something or simply for advice and suggestions.
