A hefty, beautifully-illustrated volume which includes 3,500 years of Afghan history and notes on the culture, art, religion, music, food and nature of each region. The guide to each area includes recommended guest houses, restaurants, sights or treks but it is worth taking the Lonely Planet too for easy-to-use practical information.
Lonely Planet's compilation guides are best suited to backpackers with a limited time frame and a full itinerary. It is also worth noting that this one has some cross-over with the Central Europe guide. Ideal for a whistle-stop tour of the cities, with an eye for budget travel and good mapping.