What Is Buzkashi? A Traveller's Guide to Afghanistan's National Sport

If you’re looking for one of the most extraordinary experiences on our tours in Afghanistan, Buzkashi is hard to beat. Fast, chaotic and deeply rooted in Afghan culture, Buzkashi is Afghanistan’s national sport and one of the most memorable spectacles you can witness while travelling through the country.

Often compared loosely to polo, Buzkashi is played on horseback, but that is where the similarities end. Instead of hitting a ball, riders compete to seize a weighted goat or calf carcass, carry it across the field and score by bringing it to a designated area. Matches can be fiercely competitive, with skilled horsemen demonstrating remarkable strength, balance and horsemanship.

Why Is Buzkashi So Important in Afghanistan?

Buzkashi has been played across Central Asia for centuries and holds a particularly important place in Afghan culture. Matches often attract large crowds and can become major community events, especially during the colder months.

For travellers joining our tours to Afghanistan, watching Buzkashi offers far more than sporting entertainment. It provides an opportunity to see a living tradition that has been passed down through generations and remains an important part of life in many parts of the country.

See Buzkashi on Our Afghanistan Tours

At Rocky Road Travel, we specialise in adventurous, small-group travel to destinations well beyond the usual tourist trail. Our tours in Afghanistan are designed to show travellers the country’s history, landscapes, culture and everyday life while visiting some of its most fascinating destinations.

For those especially interested in Buzkashi, we offer our dedicated Buzkashi Tour during winter, when the sport is traditionally played. Our January 2027 tour runs for 10 days and combines the chance to experience Buzkashi with wider sightseeing and cultural experiences.

We also operate other guided tours, including spring and autumn departures visiting destinations such as Kabul, Bamyan, Herat and Mazar-e-Sharif. Whether you are considering a tour of Afghanistan, an organised group trip or a more unusual adventure, our itineraries are built to provide an in-depth look at the country.

If you’re searching for guided tours of Afghanistan, Buzkashi is one experience that shows just how distinctive a journey here can be.