Afghanistan is a landlocked country with inhospitable terrain bordered by Pakistan, Iran, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan. The country also shares an inaccessible border with China. Traveling to Afghanistan is problematic at best. Travel within the country is hampered by safety/security issues, power shortages, poor health conditions and chronic infrastructure problems. Most countries discourage tourists - particularly westerners, from visiting this country due to the chaos, violence and poor living conditions. The country's capital is Kabul, a hectic place, as it rebuilds after its near total destruction by the post 9/11 bombing and the exit of the Taliban. The rubble is being cleared and new construction abounds. Restaurants and bazaars are emerging to cater to the nouveau riche Afghani people. Babur's Gardens have been restored and Chicken Street, where Afghanistan's savviest souvenir sellers reside, is alive and well. The Kabul Museum is a prime example of Afghanistan's labor to retain its heritage. Mazar-e-Sharif, in northern Afghanistan is a relatively modern city with many amenities and is a good base camp for travel to Balkh and Samangan. One of the poorest, yet most beautiful sections of Afghanistan is a wide valley at the heart of the Hazarajat. The city of Bamiyan used to be a place of pilgrimage by Buddhist followers. After the ravages of war, the iconic Buddha statues carved from the cliffs, are in rubble, thanks to the Taliban. The ruins are still an amazing site and this is one place that you should not miss when visiting Afghanistan. While the country is mostly made up of mountains and desert, it also has some wonderful sites to behold. Afghanistan's first national park, the Band-e Amir has a gorgeous collection of five turquoise lakes. It also has a lovely camping site - just watch out for those land mines! Another popular destination is the Panjshir Valley or, "Five Lions." This is a luscious green valley north of Kabul, near the Hindu Kush Mountains. Other notable sites include the famous Minaret of Jam, the second largest minaret in the world, built off the beaten path in the tiny village of Jam in western Afghanistan. And for the truly brazen thrill-seeker, there's the infamous Khyber Pass. Once a part of the "hippie trail" in the fifties and sixties, it is now known for more nefarious reasons. Foreigners are forbidden to enter Khyber for security reasons and risk imprisonment and death if they choose to do so.

Two major international airports operate within Afghanistan: Kandahar International Airport and Kabul International Airport. Neither of these airports operates at capacity and services are limited. A new, modern terminal was supposed to be completed in 2008, but construction has been delayed. Travelers can expect long lines and delays at security checkpoints, immigration and baggage claim.