Lake Surobi

Lake Surobi is a turquoise reservoir behind the Surobi Dam in Surobi District, Kabul Province, about 60 km east of Kabul on the road toward Jalalabad. The drive takes 1.5 to 2 hours through the Kabul River gorge, and a private car with a driver at roughly 3,500-5,000 AFN ($50-70) return is the practical choice. The road follows a narrow valley with steep rocky walls, and the scenery is a large part of the appeal. The lake itself fills the gorge with bright turquoise water, and it is a popular picnic spot for Kabul residents, who sit on the shore or on terraces overlooking the water. Visitors can enjoy the river-gorge views, photograph the dam and reservoir, and eat at simple roadside and lakeside eateries serving kebab, fried fish when available, rice and tea. The longer drive and the road conditions make this a more demanding day than the nearby outings, which is why it is classed as moderate. A suggested plan is to depart Kabul at about 7:30 AM so as to reach the lake by 9:30 AM, spend the morning and early afternoon until about 1:00 PM at the water and have lunch there, then begin the return so the car is back in Kabul by about 4:00 PM, ahead of the evening traffic. The best season is May to October, when the weather is warm and the water looks its brightest; winters are cold and the drive can be harder. Fridays are busiest. The Jalalabad road passes through areas where security conditions can differ from those in Kabul, and visitors should not continue beyond the lake toward Jalalabad without a current security briefing. Carrying water, snacks, sun protection and a charged phone is advisable, and checking recent travel advice before departure is strongly recommended.