Afghanistan

Eat

thumb|Some of the popular Afghan dishes, from left to right: 1. Lamb grilled kebab (seekh kebob); 2. Afghan palao and salad; 3. Tandoori chicken; and 4. Mantu (dumplings). Afghan cuisine includes a blend of Central, Eastern, South Asian, and Middle Eastern cuisines. Nearly all the dishes are non-spicy.

There are three main types of Afghan bread:

Naan — Literally "bread". Thin, long and oval shaped, its mainly a white/whole wheat blend. Topped with poppy seeds, sesame seeds, nigella seeds, or some combination of these. Upon request, customers may be able to get all white flour and a helping of oil, which makes it rich and delicious. Obi Non — Uzbek-style bread. Shaped like a disc and thicker than naan. Usually made with white flour. Lavash — Very thin bread. Similar to the lavash elsewhere. Usually used as plating for meats and stews.

Rice dishes are the "king" of all foods in Afghanistan. The Afghans have certainly taken much time and effort in creating their rice dishes, as they are considered the best part of any meal. Wealthier families will eat one rice dish per day. The Afghan royalty spent much time on rice preparation and invention as evidenced in the sheer number of rice dishes in their cookbooks. Weddings and family gatherings must feature several rice dishes and certainly reputations can be made in the realm of rice preparation.

Kabuli Pulao (or Kabuli Palaw, Qabili Palaw, Qabili Palau or simply Palau) — An Afghan rice dish consisting of steamed rice mixed with …

Drink

Since Afghanistan is an Islamic country, alcohol consumption is illegal.

Sleep

Hotels and guesthouses are available in all major cities, and while some may not meet international standards they are usually friendly and reliable.

Stay safe

thumb|150px|A marked minefield – if you are at the red-end side, you are in serious trouble.

Afghanistan is a volatile and dangerous country. Non-essential travel is strongly discouraged. Banditry is somewhat of an ancient tradition in many parts of the country, including in the northern areas. Foreigners may be targets for kidnapping.

The Islamic State in Khorasan Province (IS-KP) is an anti-Taliban and Islamic extremist militant group that has an active presence in the country. It has strongly anti-Western and anti-Chinese views far exceeding those of the Taliban, and often targets hotels and other areas frequented by foreigners, though Taliban security operations have greatly reduced the frequency of these attacks in the mid-2020s.

Landmines and other UXO (Unexploded Ordnance) remain a problem across the country, so plan to stick to well-worn paths, avoid red and white painted rocks, and do not touch or move any suspicious-looking item. Hundreds of people are injured or killed every year in accidents due to landmines and UXO.

Insects and snakes are also something to be careful of, and the mountainous country has many vicious tiny creatures such as scorpions, spiders, centipedes, and bees.

In some areas, altitude sickness is a significant risk.

Earthquakes are common. Summers are hot and winters cold. Traveling around the country becomes difficult in winter as snow blocks roads; avalanches are a risk factor.

Since the Taliban takeover, it is illegal for women to sho…

Stay healthy

Afghanistan has more than its share of health issues, and it is pretty much essential to consult a travel doctor ahead of your trip about vaccinations and health risks. Travellers' diarrhea will afflict most visitors at least occasionally, and other food-related illnesses are moderately common. Respiratory diseases such as tuberculosis are common, and malaria is a risk in many parts of the country. Meningitis, hepatitis, cholera and rabies are major health issues, especially in the countryside with lacking health infrastructure.

Afghanistan is one of the dustiest countries in the world, and you should be prepared to be covered in it and breathing it for most of your stay, even in the major cities. Consider bringing facemasks. Pollution from diesel engines can also make life unpleasant.

Flies are notoriously heinous here, likely due to poor sanitation. Winter brings some relief, but they come back full-strength when spring arrives.

Food should be approached with a discerning eye, as hygiene standards can often be lacking. Hot, freshly cooked food is generally safer. Bottled water is also advised, unless you have your own purification system.

Do not approach any animals, especially dogs and cats and preferably take a rabies shot before going to the country, it's one of the most rabies-affected countries in the world and finding medical attention and medications will be hard – even with the shot you need to get urgent medical treatment if you get a scratch from an infected a…

Respect

thumb|250px|Inside the Maulana Jalaludin Cultural Park in the northern city of [[Mazar-e-Sharif]]

Despite all that they have been through since 1979, Afghans in general are welcoming and hospitable to foreign visitors. Hospitality is a cornerstone of Afghan culture, and it is very likely that you'll be treated as a celebrity by the locals.

With the regime change in 2021, a large proportion of the population, especially women, are very afraid of what will be in the future. Those who worked for the government, for foreign organisations, for human rights or for the media, or held any high profile positions may be afraid for their lives. Tread extremely lightly.