It should be noted that much of the land in Afghanistan is still mined and, therefore, trips outside urban areas are ill-advised and dangerous.

• Visit Afghanistan’s capital, Kabul; Although it is estimated that after the fighting in 2001, at least one-third of all public buildings and approximately 40% of the houses were completely destroyed, a few conventional attractions for tourists remain, including the Gardens of Babur and a well-presented museum, and the ancient walls of the citadel Bala Hissar. There are plans to re-open the National Gallery.

• If able, head to the Valley of Paghman, 90 minutes by road west of the capital, where the rich had second houses and, to the north, Karez-i-Amir, Charikar and the Valley of Chakardara.

• Tour Jalalabad, the capital of the Nangarhar Province, which used to be an attractive winter resort, with many cypress trees and flowering shrubs.

• Best left for travellers prepared to rough it, the Hindu Kush is a wild and remote region consisting of two huge mountain ranges. Although travelling by car is possible, the steepness of the routes makes vehicles prone to breakdowns. For those who make the journey, the mountains, valleys and lakes provide stunning scenery. Bamian is the main centre. The second- to fifth-century Great Buddhas were destroyed here to international outcry in 2001.

• Take in the Red City (Shahr-i-Zahak), 17km (11 miles) from Bamian, and the location of the remains of another ancient citadel.

See Contact Addresses for further tourist information.