Mazar e Sharif, Samangan, Balkh Tour

Arrival and briefing at the hotel, and then we will take a walk around the town.

We will visit an ancient city gate in the outskirt mountains of the town that has existed from the time of Alexander the Great.

Jahenda Bala is celebrated on the first day of the Nauruz (New year) and is attended by many high-ranking government officials, such as the Vice-President, Ministers, and Provincial Governors. It is a specific religious ceremony performed in the Blue Mosque of Mazar that is believed to be the site of the tomb of Ali ibn Abi Talib, the cousin and son-in-law of Prophet Muhammad.

Along with other customs, a Buzkashi tournament is held in the afternoon in Mazar-e-Sharif.

Buzkashi is the National horse sport played by specially trained horsemen in the North of Afghanistan.

Visit Takht-i Rustam (Haibak) - literal meaning ' The Throne of Rustam', named after Rustam - a famous king in Persian mythology. It is a hilltop settlement and a well-known archaeological site in Afghanistan.

We will also visit the Takth i Rostam and the adjacent Buddhist caves and stupas on top of a hill; from here the north of Hindu Kush passes. At this location, caves were hewn out of rocks and inhabited by Buddhists.

The Buddhist stupa is in the form of a mound. It represents the earliest link to the evolution of Buddhist architecture in Afghanistan.

The journey to Balkh will take you to an ancient city which has been the center of Buddhism, Sufism, and Zoroastrianism. Now this area combines to form Northern Afghanistan.

While in Balkh, visit Haji Piyada Mosque (the walking pilgrim), the Tomb of Rabia Balkhi - a semi-legendary figure of Persian literature and possibly, the first woman poet in the history of New Persian poetry.

We will then go to Khoja Parsa Mosque and Bala Hisar - the ancient citadel built by Alexander the Great when he destroyed the Kurush (Persian empire) and crossed Amu Darya (Auxus River) in early 330. He then married Rukhshana (Ruxana) in Bacteria (Balkh) and Ummul - Bilad (Mother of the cities) to the Arabs.

We will drop you on-time at the Uzbek border or the Airport.

End of tour.