So yes, I have decided to go back to Afghanistan under different circumstances now and honestly I can’t wait for this adventure of a lifetime.. Will it be a challenging trip? Yes, it will be. Do I want complainers to join? No, I don’t. Do I want YES-people to come? Absolutely! Anyway..  I visited 9 provinces in 2019, but I still want to see so much more in this fascinating country. I will bring 7 people with me (not more, not less..) I don’t care about making money on this trip, this is just what I think is the perfect group size for a trip like this. Are you excited for more info? You should be.. This is the programme..

Included: – All accommodations – Transportations and Domestic flights in Afghanistan – Guiding and Permits – Taxes

Not included: Travel Insurance – VISA FEE – Flights in an out of Afghanistan – Entrance tickets to sites – Meals and drinks – Tips – Any extra payment.

Write e-mail to gus1thego@outlook.com to explain shortly about yourself and why you would be a great fit for our group, if you’re interested. If you get approved for the trip, you’ll get more info. TOUR INFO BELOW!

We are going to get our visas in Dubai (unless you know and want to do it somewhere else,) but the plan is to arrive in Dubai on Monday (have a few days to get our visas – I will provide the LOI) and then we go to Kabul on a Thursday.

TOUR PROGRAMME AFGHANISTAN

GUS1THEGO – EXPEDITION

Start & end Point: Kabul
Number of People 7 + Gus

Date: 9th – 18th May 2024

Day 1 – Kabul
Thursday 9th / May / 2024

Arrival in Kabul. You will be transferred from the airport to our accommodation
where we will discuss the trip.

Day 2 – Kabul:
Friday 10th / May / 2024

We will head out and explore Kabul and visit places such as Babur garden – the last
resting place of the first Mughal emperor, Sakhi Shrine historical and stunning shrine
locally believed as bypass of Ali the cousin of prophet Mohammad, the sobering
OMER landmine in Afghanistan and the famous bird market where you will see a
maze small alleyways with locals which haggling over everyday product you
imagine. Including the famous Afghan singing birds. Overnight in Kabul

Day3 Kabul – Bamyan:
Saturday 11th / May / 2024

Today we will drive from Kabul to Bamyan and it will be around 4 hours driving from
Kabul to Bamyan, the capital of Hazarajat – home of Hazaras and one of the most
interesting places with very stunning nature in Afghanistan. When we arrive in
Bamyan we will have time to look at the hillsides containing many caves in which
monasteries and Buddhist carving once situated and visit Buddha niches of
Bamyan, Shar-e-Gholghulah (City of Screams). overnight in Bamyan

Day 4 Bamyan – Band e Amir:
Sunday 12th / May / 2024

Today we will visit places we missed the day before such as dragon valley and the
re city (Shar-e-Zuhak) and then head to the national park of Afghanistan the lapis
lazuli blue water of Band-e-Amir are often the highlight of any trip to Afghanistan.
Legend has it that the dams that separate 5 lakes were made by Ali, the prophet
Mohammad’s cousin and son in law. However, the geologists insist they are natural
dams made from mineral deposits. The lakes contrast to the stark landscape
surrounding them only adds to the beauty of this area. Overnight in Bamyan

Day 5 Bamyan – Kabul:
Monday 13th /May / 2024

Today we head the road back to Kabul and then exploring more of Kabul, and now
that you have got a feel for this chaotic city well do a bit more walking and well
mingle with locals. We take a walk around the city see the daily life of people.
We will also try and visit the famous bookseller of Kabul made famous from 2002
book by Norwegian journalist Asne Seierstat. In the afternoon we head to visit British
cemetery and hills of Bibi Mahroo and overnight in Kabul.

Day 6 Kabul – Kandahar:
Tuesday 14th/ May/2024

Kandahar is the second largest city in Afghanistan so we will be spending one night
and one day here to soak in the atmosphere. We take a flight from Kabul to
Kandahar and then we will check out a few of the local sites, including the Kandahar
Museum containing rarely seen pieces of art and the Tomb of Ahmad Shah Durrani,
the founder of modern Afghanistan. We will visit Sarphosa (Porch) Bazar. We will
also visit one of the most famous sites in Afghanistan, the mosque of the cloak of
the Prophet Mohammad. One of the holiest sites in Afghanistan during his famous
night journey. The cloak is locked away inside and has not been taken out since
1996. Overnight in Kandahar

Day 7 Kandahar – Kabul:
Wednesday 15th /May /2024

Today we fly from Kandahar to Kabul and head out of the airport for lunch in Kabul
and then visit Timor Lang tomb, hills of Bibi Mahroo and Shah-e-Do Sham Shira
mosque means the king of the two swords. Overnight in Kabul

Day8 Kabul – Mazar e Sharif:
Thursday 16th / May / 2024

Today we take an early morning flight from Kabul to Mazar-e-Sharif and then we
have time to visit the majestic blue tiled tomb of Hazrat Ali, Afghanistan most
important religious city of Balk, called Bactria to the Greeks. Bactria was the
birthplace of Zoroaster, the founder of Zoroastrianism as well as Rumi the
Legendary Persian poet. Legacy entrance to the town, at the blue tiled shrine of
khoja Parsa and at the oldest mosque in Afghanistan, the 9th century No Gombad
mosque. Overnight in Mazar

Day 9 Mazar e Sharif – Kabul:
Friday 17th / May / 2024

A day trip to Kabul. En route you will also be able to visit Tajqurghan and the old
king’s hunting lodge. the Buddhist monastery remains at Samangan, two hours’
drive south of Mazar e Sharif. The 1500-year-old complex contains a huge stupa
carved out of the bedrock as well as a number of caves used as places of worship or
Tahmeena’s Bazar and head to Kabul but before we will have lunch at Du Shakh.
Overnight in Kabul.

Day 10 – End of trip:
Saturday 18th / May / 2024

Exploring more Kabul, and now that have got a feel for this chaotic country we will
do a bit more walking and will mingle with locals. We will take a walk down chicken
street. Once the famous epicenter of the counter-culture and free of love movement
on the opium trail in the 60s chicken street is now famous for its antique and carpet
shops. We will also try to visit the famous bookseller of Kabul made famous from the
2002 book by Norwegian journalist Asne Seierstat and we drop to the airport to
catch your flight and goodbye!

So yes, a legendary and challenging Afghanistan trip coming up. This will be crazy and epic as always with the gus1thego expeditions!

Gustav

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Men Türkmenistany gowy görýärin we ýakyn wagtda bu ajaýyp ýurda baryp görmek isleýärin.

1:  ASHGABAT

The capital of Turkmenistan of Ashgabat is the first thing to see. The city is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the whitest city on the planet. 543 buildings are built in the same style-they are lined with white marble. Absolutely beautiful architecture and extremely clean.

2. The ancient city of Nisa

If you drive 18 kilometers west of Ashgabat, you can meet the remains of the ancient city of Nisa. The monuments are protected and included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The exhibits found during the excavations are kept in the State Cultural Center of Turkmenistan.

3. The Ruins Of Merv

In the south-eastern part of Turkmenistan, there is another UNESCO World Heritage Site, older than Nisa. These are the ruins of the ancient city of Merv. Its top is still decorated with a brick dome. The items found during the excavations are kept in the United Museum of History. I LOVE THIS COUNTRY!

4. Fiery Gas Crater of Karakum Desert

The place of the Fiert Gas Crater of Karakum Desert in Turkmenistan is remembered for a lifetime. Darvaza means “gate” in the national language. The gas crater 90 km from the village of Yerbent is very unique. Anyone who comes here at night becomes an eyewitness to an incredible sight: in the middle of the sands, in pitch darkness, an orange fiery light breaks out from under the ground.

5. Traditional cuisine

People travel to Turkmenistan to eat delicious meat and fish. Most of all, the locals love chicken and lamb. The restaurants serve game, goat and camel meat. Milk is drunk by camel and sheep. The serving plate in Turkmenistan is prepared at every step. Lamb meat is finely chopped, fried in lard and canned.

I love Turkmenistan and I hope to visit this beautiful country soon.  Bu ýurt haýran galdyryjy we ýakyn wagtda görmek isleýärin.

Gustav Rosted Soerensen

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The prices to fly in and out from Istanbul in Turkey are quite good and easy and that is what we are going to do!

WE ARE GOING TO TURKMENISTAN – GUS1THEGO EXPEDITION – 26TH OF JUNE – 30TH OF JUNE 2023

WHY VISIT TURKMENISTAN?

I mean, why not? One of the most unique and isolated countries you can explore on the planet. Enjoying a somewhat unique reputation as, not only the least explored country along the old Silk Road, but also probably the most eccentric of the Central Asian republics, modern Turkmenistan is very much the product of its ex president, Saparmurat Niyazov, otherwise known as Turkmenbashi. Spotting a gold statue of its former ruler on practically every corner, the country is awash with towns and portraits dedicated to one of the world’s most flamboyant and repressive dictators. Turkmenistan has a lot to offer!

Much of the country is covered by the large, empty and very hot Kara Kum or Black Sands Desert, which for centuries was Turkmenistan’s best defence against a long list of outsiders, adventurers and encroaching armies.

A visit to Turkmenistan holds the promise of a journey into a rich and colourful land still totally untouched by tourism, where strangers are merely friends that haven’t been introduced yet. Can’t wait to check out this special country with you!

TOUR PROGRAMME – TURKMENISTAN GUS1THEGO GROUP TRIP – SUMMER 2023 – 26TH OF JUNE – 30TH OF JUNE

Day 1: Arrive in Ashgabat

We will do sightseeing in Ashgabat, visiting the main monuments and sites including the Arch of Neutrality, Independence Monument, Wheel of Enlightenment, Earthquake Memorial. The capital Ashgabat is all over the Record Book of Guinness. It has The World’s Largest Indoor Ferris Wheel, The Largest Architectural Star, Largest Building in the Shape of a Horse, Highest Density of White Marble-Clad Buildings and The Tallest Unsupported Flagpole. Just to name a few of them!

Does it sound interesting to visit a place with that many Guiness World Records?! Well, then you should maybe consider joining my group trip to Turkmenistan! We have limited spots, so be fast as they will be taken quick.

Day 2: Ashgabat – Darvaza

In the morning visit Nissa and the Turkmenbashy Mausoleum and Mosque. Return to Ashgabat for Lunch. In the afternoon drive roughly 4 hours to the Gates of Hell, camping overnight.

Day 3: Darvaza – Ashgabat

In the morning we’ll visit the other two craters at Darvaza, then continue on to Ashgabat. We’ll be taken to the Russian bazaar to explore and have lunch. Free time in the afternoon. We’ll be able to explore sights you might have missed on the first day or just explore this extraordinary city taking in life.

Day 4: Depart Ashgabat

Day 4 we are going to say goodbye and fly out of Ashgabat after an once in a lifetime travel experience in Turkmenistan! Are you excited? I really am! Hope to see you with a new GUS1THEGO EXPEDITION IN TURKMENISTAN. Be aware that the trip might sell out fast and we have limited spots, so sign up as fast as you can.

INCLUDED

Those prices are all based on twin share. It will include tents, transportation, sleeping bags and equipment for camping. Breakfast. The hotel is Ak Altyn 4Star (used to be the Sheraton before the government took over.)

EXCLUDED

PCR-tests (if needed – not as it is right now)
Flights in an out of Turkmenistan.
Lunch and dinner.

Guys, it’s now or never! We don’t know what will happen with Turkmenistan. Will it remain open, will it close again? Come with me now and let’s visit Turkmenistan now while we can! Are you ready to join us 26TH OF JUNE – 30TH OF JUNE? Send an e-mail NOW to gus1thego@outlook.com explaining a little about yourself and why you should join our EPIC EXPEDITION!

Best regards

Gustav Rosted
gus1thego

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