An Exploration of Bamiyan, Afghanistan by Bike
I love Afghanistan.
Most of all, I love Afghanistan’s mountains. Some of the most beautiful mountains in the country surround the town of Bamiyan, and after years of working in the country helping to equip and train the Afghan National Women’s Cycling Team, I was finally able to arrange a trip.
Bamiyan has consistently been one of the safest regions in Afghanistan, although it’s currently surrounded by provinces under Taliban control, which makes getting there harder than it was a few years ago. Roadside bombs, checkpoints, and eruptions of violence along the main roads into Bamiyan have become commonplace. The most convenient way in and out for internationals is by helicopter, but luckily the airstrip was recently enlarged so that small commercial flights can land.
You can follow Matador Ambassadors Shannon Galpin (@sgalpin74) and Deni Bechard (@denibechard) on Instagram.