Travel Guide Dasht-E-Laïli

At the gates of Andhoy, going to Maïmana, you enter the wild desert. The landscape, lunar, makes alternating sand dunes and plains extending to infinity. Sand storms are frequent. Small tourbillons of sand form in the desert. In spring, this desert is bright green. All round hills have exceptional colours. It is impressive. These meadows are so popular for the animals that the main runway is closed during the months of pasture so that the vehicles do not disturb the horses or sheep that feed themselves. In August, nomads left the mountains to move south of Maïmana. With their camel caravans, they bring the good mood in their passages. These are the most colourful caravans we can see in Afghanistan. The desert of Dasht-e-Laïli extends between Sheberghan and Daulatabad and it is dangerous to venture into this desert without a guide. The best is to stay on the beaten paths if you do not want to find yourself lost and hopeless, like the poor Majnum of the popular tale who gave his name to the desert… Majnum loved Laïla, but his father opposed their marriage. Majnum, rejected, became mad of love and erra in the desert, alone and without friend. It was too much for Laïla, who had pity of him and followed him, taking his dog as only companion. They found Majnum, but too late, he became insane and fell in love with the dog even when he saw them. So Laïla had no alternative but to return to his father and return to the life that he had decided for her. Towards Daulatabad, the road is surrounded by fields of melons and vines. Daulatabad (70 km from Maïmana) is nestled in a thick tree coat. The city is on the left when you arrive from Andhoy. It is known for its carpets, the most widely used design of which consists of octogones called "elephant feet". The road then passes through several valleys and, just before Maïmana, crosses fertile plains.