Driving the most spectacular roads of Afghanistan

Delve into Afghanistan, a realm where millennia of history intertwines with a tapestry of awe-inspiring landscapes. Beyond the headlines and past its turbulent narrative, this nation unfurls roads that are more than mere pathways. They're chronicles of empires, canvases of natural wonders, and testament to human resilience.

The Kabul-Jalalabad Highway, a breathtaking chasm of mountains and cliffs, promises not just a drive but an odyssey, as it carves its path through the bedrock of history. The Salang Pass, riddled with heavy snowfalls and buffeted by strong winds, ascends through the imposing Hindu Kush, culminating in the Salang Tunnel — a hostile and toxic marvel of engineering that stands defiant against nature's wrath.

Then there's the infamous Highway 1, often dubbed Afghanistan's "Highway to Hell". It’s a stark juxtaposition of beauty and peril, echoing tales of travelers who dared its stretches. As we navigate these roads, we're not just crossing geographical stretches but epochs that defined this indomitable land.

So, strap in and embark on this voyage across Afghanistan's ancient arteries, where every bend beckons with stories of courage, conquest, and the ceaseless dance of nature and civilization.

Tagab-e Anjuman is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.013m (9,885ft) above the sea level, located in in north-eastern Afghanistan.

Palphi Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.885m (9,465ft) above the sea level, located in Baghlan Province in north eastern Afghanistan.

Kōtal-e Sabzak is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.552m (8,372ft) above the sea level, located on the border of Herat and Badghis provinces, in north-west Afghanistan.

Wighnaan pool is a high mountain reservoir at an elevation of 2.600m (8,530ft) above the sea level, located in Takhar Province, northern Afghanistan. It’s definitely not for anyone suffering from vertigo or a fear of landslides. One mistake and it's a free fall to your death. In many places the road is bordered by a drop of hundreds of meters (many hundreds of feet) unprotected by guardrails.

Peiwar Pass is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.615m (8,579ft) above the sea level, located between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Kōtal-e Sabzak is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.274m (10,741ft) above the sea level, located in the Samangan Province in the district of the same name in the northern part of Afghanistan.

Kotal-e Ghar Jawin is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.769m (12,365ft) located in Badakhshan Province in north-eastern Afghanistan.

Kotal-e Qonaq is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.407m (11,177ft) above the sea level, located on the border of Daykundi and Bamyan provinces,  in the central part of Afghanistan.

Kawak Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.671m (12,043ft) above the sea level, located on the border of Panjshir and Baghlan provinces, in northern Afghanistan.

Garmabeh-ye Bala Gardan-e is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.860m (9,383ft) above the sea level, located in Ghor Province, in central Afghanistan.

Pereval Faramoz is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.143m (10,311ft) above the sea level, located in Yakawlang District, Bamyan Province, Afghanistan.

Pereval Munara is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.535m (8,316ft) above the sea level, located in Ghor Province, in central Afghanistan.

Pereval Guk is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.907m (9,537ft) above the sea level, located in Chaghcharān district, Ghor Province in central Afghanistan.

Mihman Yoli Pass is an international high mountain pass on the border of Afghanistan and China, at an elevation of 4.787m (15,705ft).

Kotal-e Tamazan is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.413m (7,916ft) above the sea level, located on the border of Urozgan and Daykundi provinces of Afghanistan.

Kotal-e Shatu is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.405m (11,171ft) above the sea level, located in Bamyan Province, Afghanistan. The security situation in the country remains extremely volatile.

Kōtal-e Darah-ye Rāst is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.188m (13,740ft) above the sea level, located on the border of Kabul and Parwan Provinces, in Afghanistan,

Kotal-e Unak is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.056m (10,026ft) above the sea level, located in Daykundi Province, in the central part of Afghanistan.

Pereval Torbulak is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.885m (9,465ft) above the sea level, located in Ghor Province, in central Afghanistan.

Pereval Yamagak is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.481m (8,139ft) above the sea level, located in central Afghanistan.

Kotal-e Darwazah (Sangarkish Pass) is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.202m (10,505ft) above the sea level, located in Daykondi Province, in the central part of Afghanistan. If you're afraid of heights, it's probably best to keep your eyes forward.

Kotal-e Lashkar Rah is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.934m (9,625ft) above the sea level, located in Ghor Province, in central Afghanistan.

Kotal-e Shah Mansoor is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.638m (11,935ft) above the sea level, located in Ghazni Province, Afghanistan.

Kotal-e Aq Rabat is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.362m (11,030ft) above sea level, located in Sayghan Distrct, in Bamyan Province of Afghanistan.

Sabz Chob is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.917m (9,570ft) above the sea level, located in Jaghori District in Ghazni Province of Afghanistan.

Kotal-e Gardish is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.058m (10,032ft) above the sea level, located in Ashtarlay District of Daykundi Province in Afghanistan.

Khyber Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,070m (3,510ft) above sea level, located in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. The road through the pass is the main route between Pakistan and Afghanistan.