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{{stub}}{{infobox Infobox Country

|pop = 3128,889150,923000

|hitch = from {{Senseless}} to {{average}}<rating country='af' />|paved = 8,231 km|avp = afghanistan

'''Afghanistan''' Few people speak English or Russian, and there is a an anti-Western feeling throughout the country in [[Asia]], but the hospitality to individual travellers is immense. Part of Afghanistan has the [[Silk road]] and formerly part lowest rate of cars per inhabitant in the so-called [[Hippie trail]], it has since been invaded world. Travelling by the Soviets, ruled by the Taliban and attacked by the United Statespublic transport or staying in hotels is rather expensive compared to Central Asia.

Little people speak English or Russian'''Warning:'''Information about hitchhiking in Afghanistan is hard to get, and there is an antiusually a little old (2-Western feeling throughout the 5 years). The countryis rapidly changing and some areas deemed ''safer'' by previous hitchhikers might now be more at risk. Make sure to check the local news and to ask around what the current reality is; and come back to update this page!

Afghanistan has no tradition of hitchhiking for free. Those who flag down cars usually pay something for the transportation. Some Afghans might let you hitch a ride out of curiosity, but even if the hitchhiker makes it clear at the beginning of the ride that he cannot pay, the driver may still insist on payment when dropping the hitchhiker off. In some regions resp. seasons, hitching on trucks is the only way to travel. Most NGOs are forbidden to pick up hitchhikers, more specifically UN-based of large humanitarian organizations (nonetheless, in practice it's mainly NGOs who pick hitchhikers up). If you choose to hitchhike, be prepared to be questioned by the police over and over again. Low literacy rates mean that using a sign is not necessary. In the lower rate central part of cars per inhabitant Afghanistan hitching is most common on Russian "Kamaz" trucks, but can be extremely slow (100 km can takes up to 5h) because the roads there are more for the donkey caravans, not for the four wheel transport. Traffic is very low as well, it's possible to wait up to 6 hours for the first truck to appear. About half of the times, the drivers want some money from you, but the other half of the drivers can be really funny and hospitable.  [http://www.couchsurfing.org/people/belzas/ Justas] hitched successfully only in the central part of Afghanistan (Hazarajat) in 2007 and in northern Badakshan province (Ishkoshim to Faizabad) in 2010. From ''Bamyan'' to the incredible ''Band i Amir'' lakes and on to ''Chagcharan'', although he took the wrong way, got lost and had to trek in the worldisolated mountain valley for two days. Travelling He hitched back from ''Chagcharan'' to ''Bamyan'' and the north of the country. He intended to hitch all the way to ''Mazar e Sharif'', but while sitting in a jeep and crossing over the ''Solang'' tunnel, he was dragged out of the car by the northern alliance soldiers (on suspect of being a Taliban), held up for the evening in ruined military barracks in the mountains and then taken to the police station in the city to sleep (they said sorry afterwards). He also tried to hitch out of ''Mazar'' and out of ''Kunduz'', but both times unsuccessfully and just took public transport or staying after hours of waiting. [[User:Xnothingxheldxbackx|Taylor]] tried to hitch in Afghanistan in hotels 2009, dressed as a local. He was confused for one several times and it might not have helped him because showing yourself as a foreigner will attract attention to you, especially from people trying to protect you. The downside is rather expensive compared that it makes you also easier to Central Asiaspot for Talibans or other radicals. He got his ride on buses paid by kind people as he didn't manage to really hitch. === Maps === * [http://www.aims.org.af/maps/national/routh_maps/road_network/road_network.pdf A recent road map of Afghanistan (2004)] == Cities ==[[Kabul]], [[Herat]], [[Kandahar]], [[Mazar-e Sharif]], [[Jalalabad]], [[Ghazni]], [[Kunduz]] == Public Transport == Collective taxis with fixed fares travel between cities once they are filled with passengers. Travelling with a backpack there means extra cost, but that's where you can bargain. There are also minibuses, a bit cheaper but much more crowded.

It's probably quite an unsafe country to travel to let alone to hitchhike even though Muslim hospitality might make up for that. Be aware that land mines are widespread in the country. Known landfields fields are marked with cobblestones painted red (towards the field) and white (safer zone). They are identified MF (Mine Field) and LM (Land Mines). Another concern is around the opium traffic route - through the Panj river. In 2006, a Russian hitchhiker travelling in Afghanistan went missing. For more information, read [http://www.digihitch.com/ftopict-6046.html here]. However, the feeling in the Russian community is that this hitchhiker perished while trying to ford a river or negotiate a cliff, and not from violence.

Woman have hitchhiked in Afghanistan in the company of one or more male hitchhikers. It goes without saying that women are advised to cover as much hair and skin as possible when travelling in Afghanistan. This is not only a matter of safety, but of respect as well. Consider a ''salwar kameez'' dress with proper headgear. Afghan women do not chat up men in public, or make eye contact with them, or smile to them. Keep in mind that your behaviour and body language might send strong messages to men. Avoid all physical contact in public. It is generally advised to travel with a male companion. Women travelling alone in group taxis generally have to pay for two seats at the front rather than be allowed to sit next to a man. == Border crossing Crossing ==

* from [[Iran]] via Eslam Qal`'eh. Advice given by locals is to reach Kabul using the ring road via Kandahar in the South since it is a main road used by international peace keeping forces. * from [[Pakistan]], via Torkham. The trip from Peshawar to Kabul takes about 7 hours.You must obtain a free permit the morning of the departure and a have a bodyguard accompanying you to the border. There is also a checkpoint via Chaman.

* Some people allegedly tried to cross from [[Turkmenistan]]* from [[Uzbekistan]], via Termez on the Afghanistan–Uzbekistan Friendship Bridge, it used to be off-limits but were refusedI personally crossed this border 4 years ago.

* [http://wikitravelen.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Afghanistan Afghanistan on Wikivoyage]* [http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&sl=ru&tl=en&u=http://www.afghanistan.travel.ru/&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.com&twu=1&usg=ALkJrhhdsnaxXeOsRJbIiRzuK1gj31gOmQ Google translation to English of the AVP Afghanistan page] === English News Websites ===* [http://www.e-ariana.com/ e-ariana]* [http://www.myafghan.com/ MyAfghan] [[wikipedia:Afghanistan ]][[wikivoyage:Afghanistan on Wikitravel]] __NOTOC__