Afghanistan's highlights are extraordinary, though reaching most of them requires determination and careful planning. Very few are easily accessible under current conditions.
Band-e-Amir lakes -- A chain of six deep blue lakes set in the barren limestone cliffs of Bamyan province. Afghanistan's first national park and one of the most stunning natural sights in Central Asia. The turquoise water against the red-brown rock looks almost unreal.
Bamiyan Valley -- The empty niches where two giant Buddhas stood for 1,500 years before the Taliban destroyed them in 2001. The valley itself, with its cave dwellings and the remains of a once-great Buddhist civilization, remains hauntingly beautiful.
Herat's Friday Mosque -- One of the great mosques of the Islamic world. The tilework is dazzling -- intricate geometric patterns in blue, white and gold that have been maintained and restored for centuries. Herat itself feels more Persian than Afghan.
The Hindu Kush -- The mountain range that defines Afghanistan. Peaks above 7,000 meters, deep valleys, and some of the most dramatic mountain scenery on earth. The Salang Pass and Panjshir Valley offer glimpses accessible from Kabul.
Wakhan Corridor -- The narrow strip of land stretching east toward China, bordered by Pakistan and Tajikistan. Remote Kyrgyz and Wakhi communities, pristine mountain landscapes, and virtually no other travelers. This is as far off the map as you can get.
Mazar-i-Sharif's Blue Mosque -- The Shrine of Hazrat Ali, covered in brilliant blue tiles, is the spiritual heart of northern Afghanistan. During Nowruz (Persian New Year, March 21), thousands gather here for celebrations.
Balkh -- Once called "the mother of cities," Balkh was a center of Buddhism, Zoroastrianism and Islam in turn. Rumi was born here. The ruins of its ancient walls and the shrine of Khwaja Abu Nasr Parsa hint at its former greatness.
Babur's Gardens, Kabul -- The restored burial place of the Mughal emperor Babur, who loved Kabul above all his possessions. A rare green space in the city, with terraced gardens and views over the rooftops.