Afghanistan

James Willcox has travelled extensively throughout Central Asia, the Middle East and the Horn of Africa. In 2008, he founded the travel company Untamed Borders (untamedborders.com), which specialises in providing unparalleled access to some of the world's most inaccessible places, including Afghanistan, Pakistan, the Middle East, North Africa, East Africa, former Soviet Central Asia and the Caucasus. Willcox has worked in tourism in Afghanistan since 2010, guiding two or three tours each year, working with TV crews and organising events. In doing so he helped pioneer ski tourism in the country, helped organise Afghanistan's first National Marathon race, and trained and employed the country's first (and only) female tour guide. He has been awarded a personal commendation from the Afghan government and a medal from the Afghan Olympic Committee for his efforts in promoting tourism and sport in Afghanistan. He is a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society. Dana Facaros (facarospauls.com) wrote her first travel guide to the Greek Islands in 1977, then married her college sweetheart Michael Pauls and dragged him into travel-writing fray. They have been at it ever since, writing guidebooks and apps while contributing to a number of UK publications, including the Sunday Times, Sunday Times Travel Magazine, Daily Telegraph, Wanderlust and Holiday Which? Alongside numerous guidebooks for Cadogan, they are the authors of eight Bradt guidebooks: Dordogne & Lot, Italy: Umbria & the Marche, Northern Spain, Emilia-Romagna, Northern Greece, Languedoc-Roussillon and Gascony & The Pyrenees. Over recent decades they have lived in Greece, Spain, Italy, Ireland and southwest France, where they are currently based. Facaros is excited about collaborating with James Wilcox on Bradt's guidebook to Afghanistan, particularly about writing about the history, culture and food of this remarkable country.

• IntroductionPART ONE GENERAL INFORMATIONChapter 1 Background InformationGeography and geology, Climate, Natural history and conservation, Archaeology, History, Government and politics, Economy, People, Language, Religion and beliefs, Education, CultureChapter 2 Practical InformationWhen to visit, Highlights, Suggested itineraries, Tour operators, Red tape, Getting there and away, Health, Safety, Women travellers, Travelling with a disability, LGBTQIA+ travellers, Travelling with kids, What to take, Money and budgeting, Getting around, Accommodation, Eating and drinking, Public holidays and festivals, Shopping, Arts and entertainment, Activities, Opening times, Media and communications, Cultural etiquette, Travelling positivelyPART TWO THE GUIDEChapter 3 Kabul and aroundHistory, Getting there and away, Getting around, Tourist information and registration, Orientation, Where to stay, Where to eat and drink, Entertainment and nightlife, Shopping, Sports and activities, Other practicalities, What to see and do, Around Kabul, Panjshir ValleyChapter 4 The East: Jalalabad, Nuristan and Loya PaktiaJalalabad, Nuristan, Kunar Province, Southeast Afghanistan: Loya PaktiaChapter 5 Bamiyan and Central AfghanistanBamiyan town, Band e Amir National Park, The central route from Bamiyan to HeratChapter 6 Kandahar and Southern AfghanistanKandahar, Helmand Province, GhazniChapter 7 Herat and Western AfghanistanHerat, Southwest Afghanistan, ZaranjChapter 8 Mazar e Sharif and Northern AfghanistanMazar e Sharif, Balkh, The drive from Mazar e Sharif to Herat, East of Mazar e Sharif, KunduzChapter 9 Badakhshan and the Wakhan CorridorFayzabad, Southern Badakhshan to the Anjoman Pass, The Wakhan Corridor and the Afghan PamirAppendix 1 LanguageAppendix 2 GlossaryAppendix 3 Further InformationIndexIndex of Advertisers