The Pop Culture Travel Guide

Kabul Travel Guide

Kabul Together a Vacation

1/22/2007 at 11:00 AM
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Don't get us wrong: we're into adventure travel. But Kabul? Ahem... Too soon? Apparently the New York Times doesn't think so, as Joshua Hammer checks in with the latest report from the Afghan capital and the next totally hot adventure destination.

It was once hot on the hippie trail, but the Kabul revival hasn't reached Costa Rica status quite yet. Last year, the article says, fewer than 100 westerners toured the city with Great Game Travel Company. But from the sounds of it, booking with a company that can provide security and guides may be the way to go:

Although most of the violence is concentrated in Taliban strongholds in the country's southeast, a handful of attacks have rocked the capital during the last year, including a suicide-bomb explosion on Sept. 8 at Massoud Circle, a major traffic hub, that killed 2 Americans and at least 16 Afghans. Anti-Western riots broke out last May
Be that as it may, says Joshua, Kabul can be safe enough if travelers take the right precautions. He "never once felt threatened" in his week there, and instead of spending his week locked up inside the Kabul Serena Hotel he got out to meet friendly people. He also worked the circuit of coffee shops, bazaars and bars for foreign aid workers--where most of the talk was about how far Afghanistan has come since the Soviet invasion and the Taliban. It all sounds great--but when do they put in the zip lines and Zorbing runs?

Related Stories
· The Mysteries of Kabul [NYT]
· Great Game Travel Company [Official Site]
· Kabul Serena Hotel [Official Site]

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Shooting the Kabul

3/15/2006 at 1:32 PM
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We can't get enough of those war-torn countries: The Times of London has a round-up today of nightlife in Kabul, Afghanistan. Ignore the hed, which makes Kabul sound like the hamlet from Footloose, and luxuriate in the party town of choice among countries the US has recently invaded.

There's a variety of ethnic restaurants to sample, a hearty supply of Chinese prostitutes available (it's such a party buzzkill when the host runs low on Asian hookers), and even $3,000 Breitling watches for sale. Visitors can bunk in the Serena Hotel, which costs $250 a night, and in the morning there are plenty of tee times to be had at the Kabul Golf Course. It's just like Palm Springs!

Some fear a backlash against what they see as newfound immorality in the country, but for all conservatives complaining, it's not like they'll do anything about it. That crowd is all talk.

[Image via Mouse/Flickr]

Related Stories:
·   Serena Hotel Kabul [Gridskipper]
·   Good Times Roll in a City where Fun was Banned [Times of London]
·   Golf Course a Symbol of Survival [Seattle Times]

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