Kabul

Arrival

Foreigners will need to get a foreigner registration card - after immigration go to the room with the sign 'duty free' behind the baggage carousel and complete the form - if you have 2 passport photos with you then you can complete the registration there. Otherwise you'll have to finish your registration at the Ministry of Interior later a major hassle - best to make sure you have those photos.

When arriving taxis are available to the city center Afs 400, but it is safer to meet someone whom you know. Alternatively, Afghan Logistics +93-777 443311, see below in Get Around and the other taxi firms offer an airport pick-up for about $25.

Domestic

While Kabul International Airport is not bad for a third world country, expect very basic conditions at other Afghan airports. As of November 2009:

Ariana Afghan Airlines

to Herat, Kandahar, & Mazar-e-Sharif.

Kam Air

to Herat, Kandahar, Mazar-e-Sharif, & Tarin Kowt.

Pamir Airways

to Faizabad & Herat.

Safi Airways

to Herat,Kandahar, & Mazar-e-Sharif.

International

International carriers and destinations include include:

Ariana Afghan Airlines

(http://www.flyariana.com) – to Ankara, Baku, Delhi, Dubai, Dushanbe, Frankfurt, Islamabad, Istanbul-Atatürk, Jeddah, Moscow-Sheremetyevo, Riyadh, Sharjah, Tehran-Imam Khomeini, & Ürümqi.

Safi Airways

(http://www.safiairways.com) – flies to Dubai, Frankfurt, & Kuwait City.

Kam Air

(http://www.flykamair.com) – to Almaty, Delhi, Dubai, Dushanbe, Islamabad, Mashhad, Peshawar, & Urumqi.

Pamir Airways

(http://www.pamirairways.net) – to Delhi & Dubai.

Air India

(http://www.airindia.com) to Delhi.

Pakistan International Airways

(http://www.piac.com.pk) – to Islamabad & Peshawar.

Fly Dubai

(http://www.flydubai.com) – to Dubai

Air Arabia

(http://www.airarabia.com) – to Sharjah

Gulf Air

(http://www.gulfair.com-to) Bahrain

Turkish Airlines

(http://www.turkishairline...) Daily flights to Istanbul and most convenient connections to Europe.

By bus

Private operators serve most destinations in fairly comfortable Mercedes buses. Safety can be a problem, with frequent accidents.

By car

The highway from Kandahar has been rebuilt, but travelling on it is very dangerous because of the Taliban.

The highway from Mazar-e Sharif and the North via the Salang Pass is open, although one has to be careful travelling on it during the winter months.

The newly rebuilt highway from Jalalabad is open which has reduced the journey time to 2-3 hours, however since 2008 the security on this road has deteriorated considerably.

From Bamiyan it is advisable to take the longer northern route, as the southern route through Wardak province is of questionable safety.

Departure

The Foreigner Registration card is sometimes required and taken from you when you exit Afghanistan, and a big fine / bribe is in some cases required if you haven't got it when you fly out, though sometimes arguing that no one was at the desk to issue the Foreigner Registration card will work. The registration card is free. Some people feel it necessary to 'tip' everyone at the airport when flying out, but tip one guy for putting your bag through the x-ray scanner and everyone will be on you for their share. A polite 'no thank you' usually suffices.

When flying out you will probably end up in Car Park C - and will have to get the shuttle bus to the terminal building. When flying out expect long queues and multiple ticket / passport / baggage checks, although things are now much better with the new terminal, principally because there is much more space.