Band-e Amir
Afghanistan · Bamyan · 2900 m
Description
Band-e Amir is a chain of six lakes at nearly three thousand metres in the Hazarajat, held in by natural dams of travertine that the mineral water built up over thousands of years and is still building. The colour is a deep blue that looks wrong in photographs. It was declared the first national park in Afghanistan in 2009 and is the most visited place in the country, with Afghan families picnicking on the rim and pedal boats on the largest lake. A shrine to Ali stands at the outflow. Two hours west of Bamyan on a rough road. The park covers about six hundred square kilometres of the surrounding highland.
Length of stay
Recommended length of stay: 1 to 3 days (optimal 2 days)
Travel season
Best time to visit: May – September
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Highlights
- Band-e Haibat, the largest lake
- Travertine dams between the lakes
- Walk along the rim of the chain
- Pedal boats on the blue water
- Shrine of Ali at the outflow
- Band-e Panir and Band-e Pudina
- Afghan families picnicking on the shore
- Cliff viewpoint above the dam wall
- Camping on the plateau above the lakes
- Ibex and wolf tracks in the highlands
Getting there
- Nearest airports:
- KBL