Will 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 told Mailonline Travel it was a ‘great experience’.
The 23-year-old traveler from Germanywho has been to 93 countries so far, says: ‘I loved Afghanistan and felt very safe. I was treated very well. Afghan people are some of the most hospitable people in the world. I was greeted so many times and the people were curious (about) where I was from.
‘I was invited to houses, to eat and drink tea with local residents. Even those Taliban treated me very well. The Taliban want tourists to come, so they assure you that you are safe all the time.’
His message to people who don’t think tourists should visit Afghanistan is clear. Jannis says: ‘These people will never see the world for themselves and never broaden their horizons.
‘I know a lot of people don’t think it’s a good idea to visit Afghanistan, but I can assure you that it helps your personal development and your own view of certain things. It creates memories that you would never create if you stayed 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 the Band e Amir National Park and says: ‘I have never seen water so blue in my life. It’s so nice and the landscape is breathtaking.’ Separately, Jannis tells MailOnline that the lakes were his favorite place in Afghanistan, describing it as a ‘dream’.
Jannis traveled to Afghanistan for a holiday. He told 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 was pictured with a friend
Jannis also visited Kabul’s 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 of the caged creatures.
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 definitely an interesting experience.’
The traveler also traveled to historic Bamiyan, where the 6th-century Buddha images stood before the Taliban destroyed them in 2001, describing it as an ‘impressive’ place despite the destruction.
It is undoubtedly an unusual choice of holiday destination, so what made Jannis want to travel to Afghanistan in the first place?
Jannis had his picture taken by one of Kabul’s last professional box camera photographers, Haji Mirzaman
On the left is a Kabul night scene that Jannis cut, 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 images stood before the Taliban destroyed them in 2001. RIGHT: Jannis with a friend at the Sakhi shrine in Kabul
Jannis says Afghanistan ‘has an interesting history, culture, wonderful people and wonderful food’. The traveler hopes to visit every country in the world. Left and right on the photo is Kabul
He explained to MailOnline: ‘I would like to visit every country in the world and as I was traveling to Tajikistan nearby I thought I could combine the countries in one trip as Afghanistan is just around the corner. I heard many things about Afghanistan and wanted to make my own image of the country.
‘It has an interesting history, culture, wonderful people and wonderful food and that’s what I wanted to see and experience for myself.’
So how did he plan his trip to Afghanistan?
Jannis explains: ‘I had to get a visa. Through a friend I knew that there were possibilities to get it in Dubai, Peshawar in Pakistan or at the Tajik border, which I did. A friend of mine went to Afghanistan with a guide so 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 experience, Jannis only recommends Afghanistan as a destination for experienced travellers, explaining that it can be ‘a bit shocking for beginners as some (aspects) such as hygiene are in poor condition’.
