French photographer Frédéric Lagrange had wanted to visit the beautiful but brutal landscapes of eastern Afghanistan more than a decade ago, but the trip was delayed due to the 911 terrorist attacks in 2001.
More recently, he was finally able to explore the remote region with its harsh terrain and climate, and came back with fascinating photographs that document the mysterious way of life of the people who call it home.
The entire expedition took five weeks and Lagrange, armed with minimal photo gear, traveled through dangerous territory to complete it—he was also able to retrace the footsteps of ancient pilgrims and traders of the Silk Road.
However, the journey’s greatest reward is probably the ability to capture the “pristine landscape and people that time seemingly forgot”—secluded from the modern world and its country’s unrest, the age-old lifestyle of these nomadic people has survived.
View more images from the photographer’s “Passage to Wakhan” series here—or check out more of his pictures on his website.
[via Feature Shoot]