Herat in Photos & Travel Guide

Updated April 2020, Herat in Photos & Travel Guide was originally written in July 2019

After three trips that have brought me back to Herat, here are some of my favorite photos of Afghanistan’s far west city.

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Start planning here: The Afghanistan Travel Guide

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Herat Travel Guide

Getting In & Out Of Herat

To get elsewhere in Afghanistan your safest option is by flight as the roads that connect Herat with Mazar e Sharif, Kabul, Kandahar, and Ghor/Bamyan are all controlled by the Taliban at certain points. Several times per day there are flights from Kabul to Herat and back on Kam Air (Ariana also offers the route, but they are far less reliable). From Kabul, you can connect to Mazar e Sharif, Kandahar, and other cities in Afghanistan.

Crossing The Border To Iran

It is possible to enter/exit Afghanistan along the Iran-Afghanistan border at Islam Qala (Dogharoun on the Iranian side). I exited Afghanistan to Iran in April 2019 and it was a straightforward and simple border crossing procedure. Read more on the details about the Islam Qala-Dogharoun Border Crossing here.

Crossing The Border To Turkmenistan

There is a border crossing that connects the city of Herat to Mary and onto Ashgabat at the Toraghundi-Serkhetabet border crossing. I have never personally done this crossing, but I have heard of travelers successfully crossing here. The border seems to be sporadically closed to foreigners, so do plan ahead with the use of local contacts to determine if this border crossing is a potential possibility. You can check here for updates.

Where To Sleep In Herat

• Budget: Mowafaq Hotel $20/night, double
• Midrange: Kakh Hotel +93799828245
• Midrange: Herat Bustan Hotel +93 72 879 0132
• Splurge: Nazary Hotel Starting at $90/night, double

Things To Do In Herat

• The Great Mosque of Herat
• Herat Citadel, Natural History Museum, & Museum of Communications. 500 AFS fee to enter the Citadel and an additional 500 AFS fee for the National Museum
• Herat Bazaar
• Gowar Shad Mausoleum & Musallah Complex
• Guzargah Mausoleum (Abdullah Ansar Mausoleum)
• Pul e Malaan
• Mosque of the Cloak of Prophet Mohammed
• Jihad Museum. 300 AFS fee to enter

Safety

The city of Herat is relatively safe by Afghan standards, but it’s not recommended to venture very far outside the city.  I highly recommend using a local guide such as Let’s Be Friends Afghanistan to help you plan a safer visit to Afghanistan.

Have Any Herat Travel Questions?

Ask your Herat travel & Afghanistan questions in the comments section below!