About 75 km west of Bamiyan town, on the road towards the central highlands, sits one of the most surreal landscapes in Asia: six deep-blue lakes at 3,000 metres above sea level, each held in place by a natural dam of travertine — limestone precipitated out of the water itself — surrounded by red sandstone cliffs.
The lakes are called Band-e Haibat, Band-e Zulfiqar, Band-e Qambar, Band-e Pudina, Band-e Panir and Band-e Gholaman, and they were declared Afghanistan's first national park in 2009. Each has slightly different colour and texture; Band-e Haibat is the deepest blue. Small pedalos and a couple of teahouse-style restaurants make a day trip from Bamiyan possible. The road is rough and slow — three to four hours each way — but the destination is worth it. Best in summer.