New Guidebook Covers Skiing in Afghanistan

A new Bradt guidebook to Afghanistan, the first from a mainstream publisher in almost two decades, includes a section on one of the country’s most compelling and little‑known travel experiences: skiing in the mountains of Bamiyan.

Bradt’s Afghanistan, published on 6 February 2026, includes a “History of Skiing in Afghanistan” section that traces the sport from its formal introduction in the 1960s to its modern‑day revival in the Koh‑i‑Baba range. The chapter charts the rise of Bamiyan as the unlikely heart of Afghan skiing, from the early Salang Ski Club to the creation of the Afghan Ski Challenge and the pioneering Afghan Women’s Ski Challenge. It also documents the homemade wooden‑ski races, the growth of the Bamiyan Ski Club, and the resilience of local skiers who kept the sport alive even after the Taliban’s return in 2021.

The guide is co‑authored by James Willcox (below), who has worked in Afghan tourism since 2008 and arranged hundreds of trips for visitors, and veteran travel writer Dana Facaros, whose long career includes more than forty guidebooks. Together, they aim to reintroduce Afghanistan to adventurous travellers at a moment when, after years off the tourist map, the country is beginning to re‑emerge as a destination for the curious and the bold.

“Nearly all of Afghanistan can currently be visited and, with the right preparation, an inspiring range of trips is possible,” says Willcox. “We’ve tried to bring together an invaluable resource that gives readers a grounding in the country’s history and culture, along with the practical information they need to explore this much‑misunderstood place.”

Afghanstan is Published on 6 February 2026 by Bradt Guides priced £24.99