Bamiyan is probably about as dissimilar as you can get from a European resort, the mountains are comparatively desolate and with no lifts as such, hiking is essential. Due to minimal piste security, avalanches are a risk to be aware of, but the more obvious risk lies in the fact that Afghanistan is a war torn region – the FCO are currently advising against all but essential travel to parts of Afghanistan including Bamiyan – a status that seriously hinders Afghanistan’s hope of generating snowsports tourism. Check out ‘White Silk Road’ for more of an insight into their relatively unknown snowsports scene.