British guidebook company Bradt Guides has published the first mainstream English-language guidebook to Afghanistan in nearly two decades. The 288-page guide, co-authored by adventure travel specialist James Willcox and travel writer Dana Facaros, was published on February 6, 2026.
Bradt positions Afghanistan as a paradox: a nation widely known on the world stage yet one that has been largely untouched by tourism since it served as a key stop on the hippie trail four decades ago. The guide covers destinations including the Khyber Pass, the Minaret of Jam, and the Buddha site of Bamiyan. It also includes practical guidance for female travellers and advice on staying in chaikhanas, the communal tea houses that have changed little since the Silk Road era.
Willcox is the founder of adventure travel company Untamed Borders, which specialises in access to some of the world’s most remote destinations. He has worked in tourism in Afghanistan since 2010, guiding trips and working with television crews. He has received a personal commendation from the Afghan government and a medal from the Afghan Olympic Committee for his efforts in promoting tourism and sport in the country.
The publication arrives against a backdrop of cautious but measurable growth in visitor numbers. Afghanistan’s Deputy Minister of Tourism said almost 9,000 foreign tourists visited the country in 2024, with a further 3,000 arriving in the first three months of 2025. Visitor numbers have climbed from 691 in 2021 to 2,300 in 2022 and around 7,000 in 2023.
Foreign visitors to Afghanistan often consider themselves engaged in danger tourism — a niche involving travel to active or former conflict zones. The Taliban government has not been recognised by any country, in part due to its restrictions on women, but has actively promoted inbound travel.
Facaros, who has 40 guidebook titles in print, said of the project: “After all the guidebooks I’ve been involved with, including guides to Mars and Hell, this was a new challenge with a difference. It’s been a pleasure helping travellers to discover this ancient destination anew.”