Would you go on a tourist trip to Afghanistan?
No?
Well, you’re missing out, according to intrepid traveler Jannis M, who visited the country this year and tells Mailonline Travel it was an ‘amazing experience’.
The 23-year-old traveler from Germany, who has visited 93 countries so far, says: ‘I loved Afghanistan and felt very safe. I was treated very well. Afghan people are among the most hospitable people in the world. I was greeted so many times and people were curious [about] where I came from.
‘I was invited to eat with the locals and drink tea together. Even the Taliban treated me very well. The Taliban want tourists to come, so they assure you that you are always safe.”
His message for people who believe that tourists should not visit Afghanistan is clear. Jannis says: ‘These people will never see the world with their own eyes and never broaden their horizons.
‘I know that many people do not think a visit to Afghanistan is a good idea, but I can reassure you that it will benefit your personal development and your own view on certain matters. It creates memories that you would never create staying at home.”
Jannis shared his experiences in Afghanistan in videos posted to his TikTok account – @jannistravels. In one videohe films from a boat on a lake in Band e Amir National Park and says: ‘I have never seen water so blue in my life. It’s so beautiful and the scenery is breathtaking.’ Separately, Jannis tells MailOnline that the lakes were his favorite place in Afghanistan, describing them as a ‘dream’.
Jannis traveled to Afghanistan for a holiday. He tells MailOnline it was a ‘great experience’. LEFT: He is pictured with a member of the Taliban. RIGHT: Jannis says his favorite place in Afghanistan was Band e Amir National Park, where he is pictured with a friend
Jannis also visited the Kabul bird market, where he explains in a video that it is possible to buy “almost any type of bird you want,” adding that the market is an “interesting” but “sad” place because the creatures are in cages.
In Kabul, Jannis even had his picture taken by one of the city’s last professional box camera photographers, Haji Mirzaman. Jannis explains on Instagram: ‘It was an honor to meet him and certainly an interesting experience.’
The traveler also traveled to historic Bamiyan, where 6th-century Buddha statues stood before the Taliban destroyed them in 2001, describing it as an “impressive” place despite the destruction.
It is undoubtedly an unusual holiday destination, so why did Jannis want to travel to Afghanistan in the first place?
Jannis had his photo taken by one of Kabul’s last professional box camera photographers, Haji Mirzaman
On the left is a night scene from Kabul that Jannis captured, while on the right is the bird market. Jannis described the latter as ‘interesting’ but ‘sad’
LEFT: Jannis in Bamiyan, where the 6th-century Buddha statues stood before the Taliban destroyed them in 2001. RIGHT: Jannis with a friend at Sakhi Shrine in Kabul
Jannis says Afghanistan has “an interesting history, culture, great people and delicious food.” The traveler hopes to visit every country in the world. Kabul is depicted on the left and right
He explains to MailOnline: ‘I would like to visit every country in the world and as I was traveling to nearby Tajikistan I thought I could combine the countries in one trip as Afghanistan is just around the corner. I had heard a lot about Afghanistan and wanted to paint my own picture of the country.
‘It has an interesting history, culture, great people and delicious food and this is what I wanted to see and experience for myself.’
How did he plan his trip to Afghanistan?
Jannis explains: ‘I needed a visa. Through a friend I knew there were options to get it in Dubai, Peshawar in Pakistan or at the Tajik border, and that’s what I did. A friend of mine went to Afghanistan with a guide and that’s why I asked for his contact details.’
The adventurer adds that traveling with a guide was the only extra precaution he took to stay safe in Afghanistan.
But despite his positive experiences, Jannis recommends Afghanistan as a destination only for experienced travelers, explaining that it “may be a bit shocking for beginners, as some [aspects] as if hygiene is in poor condition’.