Explore Azerbaijan Tour
Explore Azerbaijan Tour
Azerbaijan is a land of ancient history, rich culture, and stunning natural beauty. From the bustling capital city of Baku to the charming mountain town of Sheki to the rocky landscapes of Gobustan, Azerbaijan has something to offer everyone.
Baku is a vibrant and cosmopolitan city with a mix of old and new. The UNESCO-listed Inner City is a must-see, with its ancient mosques, caravanserais, and narrow winding streets. Highlights include the Maiden Tower, a mysterious 12th-century fortress, and the Shirvanshahs' Palace, a former royal residence. Outside the Inner City, Baku is a modern metropolis with soaring skyscrapers, luxury hotels, and world-class restaurants. The city is also home to a number of unique cultural attractions, such as the Heydar Aliyev Centre, a stunning architectural masterpiece designed by Zaha Hadid, and the Carpet Museum, which houses a collection of over 10,000 Azerbaijani carpets.
From Baku, this tour will take you to the charming town of Sheki, located in the foothills of the Greater Caucasus Mountains. Sheki is known for its well-preserved medieval architecture, its silk-weaving tradition, and its picturesque surroundings. Visit the Sheki Khan's Palace, a 17th-century palace that is one of the most impressive examples of Azerbaijani architecture. Admire the intricate mosaics and stained glass windows that adorn the palace walls.
After Sheki, we continue to Gobustan National Park, home to an incredible collection of prehistoric rock art, dating back to over 40,000 years ago. Wander along the park's trails and admire the ancient petroglyphs, which depict scenes of everyday life, animals, and religious symbols. You'll also see the mud volcanoes, which are unique geological formations that spew mud and gas.
We conclude in the Absheron Peninsula, a region northeast of Baku that is known for its oil and gas reserves, its fire temples, and beautiful beaches. Here we visit Ateshgah, a 17th-century fire temple that was once a place of worship for Zoroastrians and can admire the temple's eternal flame, which burns naturally from the ground.
This short break in Azerbaijan fits a lot in to a few days and is a great introduction to the country.
Day 1 – Arrive in Azerbaijan
On your arrival at Heydar Aliyev International Airport in Baku, on completing your customs and immigration formalities, you will be met by our representative and transfer to your city centre hotel. The rest of the day is free to relax or start to explore the city.
Overnight at Hotel City Park or similar
Day 2 – Baku
In the morning, your guided walking tour of Baku will include the medieval walled city of Icheri Sheher, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Wander through its narrow alleyways, explore its historic caravanserais, mosques, and the Palace of the Shirvan Shahs. Visit the Maiden Tower, another UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the imposing mansions of the oil barons, built during the oil boom of 1870-1914. Finally, enjoy the superb views over the Bay of Baku from Martyr's Alley.
In the afternoon, visit the Heydar Aliyev Centre, a 57,500-square-meter building complex designed by Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid and noted for its distinctive, flowing, curved architecture. The building was nominated for awards in 2013 at both the World Architecture Festival and the biennial Inside Festival.
Overnight at Hotel City Park or similar (B)
Day 3 – Shemakha & Sheki
After leaving Baku, we will embark on a scenic drive to the town of Sheki. Upon arrival, we will visit the historic Juma Mosque, which dates to the 10th century and was reconstructed in the 19th century. We will also visit the mausoleums of Diri Baba and Yeddi Gumbez. Sheki is one of the oldest cities in Azerbaijan and is rightly called the country's architectural reserve. We will visit the Palace of Sheki Khans, a rare example of combined national and palace architecture traditions, which was built in 1762. We will also visit the Caravanserai, a historical monument that dates back to the 18th-19th centuries AD. Part of the Caravanserai is now used as a hotel.
Next, we will drive to Kish village, which is located near Sheki. Kish is one of the oldest villages in the territory of present-day Azerbaijan and is well-known for its unique architectural monument, a temple from the period of Caucasian Albania.
Overnight at Sheki Palace Hotel or similar (B)
Day 4 – Sheki, Gabala and return to Baku
In the morning, we will visit the local bazar in Sheki. You can purchase good quality souvenirs here. We will leave Sheki and drive to Gabala (1 ½ hours) where we visit the Nij village, which is inhabited with minority Udis (Christians). Here we will visit the church and museum as well as visit Gadim Gabala (ruins of Gabala). We then continue our drive back to Baku.
Overnight at Hotel City Park or similar (B)
Day 5 – Gobustan & Absheron
Our first stop today on this tour of Azerbaijan is Gobustan Historical Reserve, located 65 kilometres from Baku. Gobustan is known for its perfectly preserved rock paintings, or petroglyphs, which are a kind of artistic record of human evolution on Earth. Before our tour of Gobustan begins, we will visit the interactive museum of the same name, where we can learn about the reserve's nature and flora with the help of special programs and multimedia touch screens. Gobustan was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007.
If the weather conditions allow, we will continue our tour to the Mud Volcanoes. Azerbaijan has the highest concentration of mud volcanoes anywhere. From the Mud Volcanoes, we will travel to Yanar Dag, also known as the Burning Mountain. Yanar Dag is a natural gas fire that has been burning continuously for centuries. It is located 25 kilometres north of Baku in the village of Mehemmedli. Our final stop is Ateshgah, a Zoroastrian fire temple located in the Surakhani settlement. Ateshgah was once a place of worship for Zoroastrians, who believed that fire was a sacred element. The temple was built in the 17th century and was in use until the 19th century. We return to Baku for your final evening in Azerbaijan.
Overnight at Hotel City Park or similar (B)
Day 6 – Departure from Baku
At a suitable time, our representatives will meet you at your hotel and transfer you back to the International Airport for your departure flight.
End of services.
Get in touch with Our Local Tour to book the Explore Azerbaijan Tour
Departure Dates
This is a private tour and can be arranged for any departure date. The itinerary maybe changed due to weather conditions. This itinerary can be tailor-made to your exact requirements.
Price
from £2195 per person based on two people travelling and sharing a room and £255 single supplement
Included in the Explore Azerbaijan Tour
- 5 nights accommodation as described throughout the tour
- Professional English Speaking Guide
- Transportation (vehicle type will depend on the group size)
- Entrance fees (museums are closed on Mondays and on public holidays).
- Meals as described in the itinerary B - Breakfast, L - Lunch, D - Dinner
- 1 bottle of water per person per day.
Not Included in the Explore Azerbaijan Tour
- International travel to the start and end point - contact us for information and flight options.
- Any airport taxes
- Travel Insurance
- Any visa requirements
- Drinks at meals not mentioned
- Any Photography and Video fees;
- Items of a personal nature
- Tips for drivers and guides
Government Travel Safety Advice
We strongly recommend that you check your government's travel advisory for up-to-date information and advice about your destination: safety and security, entry requirements, health, local laws and customs. For UK citizens, check the latest Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office advice. Please refer to the COVID-19 entry requirements page for any country-specific conditions of entry.
Azerbaijan - https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/azerbaijan
Visa and Passport Information
Passport validity
If you are visiting Azerbaijan, your passport should be valid for a minimum of 3 months from the date your visa expires.
Visas
British nationals travelling to Azerbaijan need to get a visa in advance. The ASAN Visa (e-Visa) service is now open to all British nationals. E-Visas normally take 72 hours to process. An urgent service is available for an additional fee. E-Visas are normally valid for 30 days and are single entry.
Local Laws and Custom
Most of the population of Azerbaijan is Muslim. Azerbaijan is a largely secular society, and religion is usually considered a private matter. Respect local traditions, customs, laws and religions at all times and be aware of your actions to ensure that they don’t offend other cultures or religious beliefs, including the photographing or videoing of mosques, churches and other religious sites or sites of commemoration, such as Martyr’s Alley in Baku. If in doubt, seek permission. When visiting religious areas, or during the holy month of Ramadan, pay extra attention to ensure your actions are culturally sensitive.
In Baku local and foreign women usually dress in western-style clothing. It is now more acceptable for men in Baku to wear shorts in the summer months but outside of Baku it can be frowned upon and attract unwelcome attention.
Possession or use of illegal drugs of any kind carries stiff penalties, including fines and long prison terms. The usual penalty for smuggling drugs is a prison term of between 3 to 7 years and/or a heavy fine.
While homosexuality is not illegal, LGBT+ people in Azerbaijan tend to keep a low profile as it is not acceptable to a large part of society. This is particularly true outside Baku and among the older generation.
Health
At least 8 weeks before your trip, check the latest country-specific health advice from the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) on the TravelHealthPro website. Each country-specific page has information on vaccine recommendations, any current health risks or outbreaks, and factsheets with information on staying healthy abroad. General information on travel vaccinations and a travel health checklist is available on the NHS website. You may then wish to contact your health adviser or pharmacy for advice on other preventive measures and managing any pre-existing medical conditions while you’re abroad.
The legal status and regulation of some medicines prescribed or purchased in the UK can be different in other countries. If you’re travelling with prescription or over-the-counter medicine, read this guidance from NaTHNaC on best practice when travelling with medicines.
The UK does not have a reciprocal healthcare agreement with Azerbaijan. Medical facilities outside Baku are very limited. You should carry a comprehensive first aid kit for any trips out of Baku. Even in Baku serious illness or injury may require evacuation to Turkey or Western Europe. Make sure your insurance covers this.
What to bring on the Explore Azerbaijan Tour
Clothing
Lightweight, casual, non-synthetic clothing (cotton and natural fibers are best) which appropriately cover the body, when in the company of the local communities. Baku can be very windy so warm out clothing is advisable. Please understand local customs and religious requirements relating to dress codes. It doesn’t have to be fancy, but it needs to be respectful.
Footwear
The ideal footwear would be walking shoes or boots and sandals.
Luggage while on your tour
Please allow yourself one main piece of luggage and a day-sack. Remember, you are expected to carry your own baggage, so don't overload yourself, a soft wheely bag may be easier to manage than a suitcase.
Equipment
We recommend a sunhat, suncream, a torch, insect repellent and a reusable water bottle. A power adapter for phones, laptops, etc.
Currency
The currency of Azerbaijan is the manat (AZN). All goods and services are paid in local currency. Pounds sterling, US dollars and euros are easily exchanged. Major hotels, supermarkets and restaurants in Baku usually accept credit cards. There are ATMs in most major towns and cities. Take extra care when paying with credit cards or withdrawing money from ATMs and let your credit/debit card provider know where you’re going to avoid your card being blocked for anti-fraud reasons. Report anything suspicious to your credit/debit card provider as early as possible.
Weather in the Caucuses
The best time to visit the Caucasus is generally spring or autumn. July and August are the hottest months in the cities, so the ideal time to go would be spring, when the valleys are filled with a blanket of wildflowers, or autumn, where the weather is slightly more reliable in terms of dryness.
Electric Supply & Plugs
Electrical supply is 220V/50 Hz and plugs have two round pins.
