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Despite continual security problems, the burgeoning democracy
of Afghanistan is already attracting tourist attention from the
rest of the world.
Hundreds of virgin peaks
Campaign group Mountain Wilderness International launched the first
big expedition last year up Afghanistan's highest peak - the 7492m
Noshaq.
Noshaq is just one of hundreds of virgin peaks available for climbers
wanting to be first ever to the summit. An advantage over Nepal,
India and Pakistan, is that there is no expensive licence system,
reducing expenses for climbers.
It's not rich yuppies, but culture vultures
More conventional tourism also looks set to take off, with a trickle
of backpackers already making their way to Kabul.
Briton Matthew Leeming runs tour parties to the desolate Wakhan
Corridor in the far north on the China border. Leeming said: "I
thought it would attract rich yuppies looking for bragging rights
at dinner parties. But most people are seriously interested in Afghanistan's
culture."
Skiing over landmines
The Pakistan News Service has reported that some of Kabul's expat
aid workers have experimented with off-piste skiing and snowboarding
near the Salang Pass north of Kabul. In the 1970s this was the site
of Afghanistan's only ski resort.
British telecommunications worker James Howlett said: "It's
a fantastic way to blow off some steam after a hard week of working
in Kabul.
"We're on areas that have hopefully been cleared of landmines.
But the powder is several feet thick so you should be OK if you
skim over the top of one."
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