Would you go on a tourist trip to Afghanistan?
No?
Well, you’re missing out, according to intrepid traveler Jannis M, who visited the country this year and tells Mailonline Travel it was a “great experience”.
The 23-year-old German traveler, who has been to 93 countries so far, says: ‘I loved Afghanistan and felt very safe. They treated me very well. The Afghan people are among the most hospitable in the world. I was greeted many times and people were curious about where I was from.
‘I was invited to houses, to have dinner with the locals and to have tea together. Even the Taliban treated me very well. The Taliban want tourists to come, so they assure you that you are safe all the time.”
His message to people who believe tourists should not visit Afghanistan is clear. Jannis says: ‘These people will never see the world for themselves or broaden their horizons.
‘I know a lot of people don’t think visiting Afghanistan is a good idea, but I can assure you that it helps your personal development and your own point of view on certain things. “Create memories you would never make if you stayed home.”
Jannis shared his experiences in Afghanistan in videos posted to his TikTok account: @jannitravels. In a videofilms from a boat on a lake in Band e Amir National Park and says: “I have never seen such blue water in my life.” It’s very pretty and the landscape is impressive.’ Elsewhere, Jannis tells MailOnline that the lakes were his favorite place in Afghanistan and describes them as a “dream”.
Jannis traveled to Afghanistan on vacation. He tells MailOnline it was a “great experience”. LEFT: He appears in the photo with a member of the Taliban. RIGHT: Jannis says his favorite place in Afghanistan was Band e Amir National Park, where he is pictured with a friend.
Jannis also visited the Kabul bird market, where he explains in a video that it is possible to “buy pretty much any type of bird you want,” adding that the market is an “interesting” but “sad” place because the creatures are caged.
In Kabul, Jannis even had his photo taken by one of the city’s last professional box-camera photographers, Haji Mirzaman. Jannis explains on Instagram: “It was an honor to meet him and definitely an interesting experience.”
The traveler also traveled to historic Bamiyan, where the 6th-century Buddha statues used to stand before the Taliban destroyed them in 2001, and described it as a “stunning” place despite the destruction.
It’s certainly an unusual choice of holiday destination, so what made Jannis want to travel to Afghanistan in the first place?
Jannis had his photo taken by one of Kabul’s last professional box camera photographers, Haji Mirzaman.
On the left is a night scene of Kabul that Jannis photographed, while on the right is the bird market. Jannis described the latter as “interesting” but “sad.”
LEFT: Jannis in Bamiyan, where the 6th-century Buddha statues used to stand before the Taliban destroyed them in 2001. RIGHT: Jannis with a friend at the Sakhi Shrine in Kabul
Jannis says Afghanistan “has an interesting history and culture, amazing people and great food.” The traveler hopes to visit all the countries in the world. In the photo, left and right, Kabul.
He explains to MailOnline: ‘I would like to visit every country in the world and as I was close to Tajikistan I thought I could combine the countries into one trip as Afghanistan is just around the corner. I had heard a lot about Afghanistan and wanted to create my own image of the country.
“It has interesting history and culture, amazing people and great food, and this is what I wanted to see and experience for myself.”
So how did you plan your trip to Afghanistan?
Jannis explains: ‘I needed to get a visa. From a friend I learned that there were possibilities to get it in Dubai, Peshawar in Pakistan or on the border with Tajikistan, which is what I did. A friend of mine went to Afghanistan with a guide and I asked him for his contact details.’
The adventurer adds that traveling with a guide was the only extra precaution he took to stay safe in Afghanistan.
But despite his positive experience, Jannis only recommends Afghanistan as a destination for experienced travelers, explaining that “it can be a bit shocking for beginners, as some (aspects) such as hygiene are in poor condition.”