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Ski Down the Slopes of the Koh e Baba in Afghanistan

High above sea level in Afghanistan’s Bamiyan province stands the majestic Koh-e Baba range, rising nearly 16,700 feet above sea level at its tallest peak. Travelers on this trip will not only be able to safely travel through Afghanistan, a nation which has been wracked by violent conflict over the last three decades, but also experience the incredible skiing that its mountains have to offer. Upon arriving in Peshawar, a small town in the Nuristan Province of Afghanistan, travelers will submit visas and tour the local area before spending the night. The next day, the group will drive to Islamabad and then fly to Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan which is nearly 3,500 years old and was used throughout history as a strategic destination on the Silk Road. On the third day, travelers will drive to Bamiyan and tour the caves which enclosed two 6th-century Buddha statues, one being 125 feet tall and the other 180 feet tall. The colossi themselves were unfortunately destroyed by the Taliban in 2001, but it is still possible to see the indentations where they once stood, as well as to explore the monastic caves and passages nearby. Over the next five days, travelers will have the opportunity to ski the slopes of the Koh-e Baba mountain range, all while accompanied by international and local ski guides and interacting with the local Afghan people. The climax of the trip will be the annual ski race in Bamiyan, which travelers will be able to witness on the ninth day. Finally, the group will travel back to Kabul and spend a day visiting the city’s most enticing attractions before returning home.

This trip lasts for 10 days and starts at $2,850. It is organized by Untamed Borders, a travel company offering small group tours to some of the world’s most inaccessible places. The price includes all accommodations, some meals, ground transportation, the flight from Islamabad to Kabul and guiding.