Experiences in Azerbaijan

Historic Azerbaijan

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After breakfast we will drive to the Gobustan Historical Reserve (65 km). The reserve is a national historical monument of Azerbaijan established to preserve the prehistoric rock carvings, mud volcanoes and musical stones of the region.
Before the start of the tour in Gobustán we will visit the interactive museum with the same name, where with the help of special programs and touch screens we will get information about nature, flora of Gobustán. The rock art cultural landscape included in the Gobustan National Park was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2007. Azerbaijan is home to the largest concentration of mud volcanoes in the world. Not far from Gobustan are the mud volcanoes. We will visit mud volcanoes (depending on weather conditions).
Then, your guided walking tour of Baku includes the medieval walled city"Icheri sheher" with its narrow alleys, historical caravasares, mosques and the Palace of the Shirvan Shahs (UNESCO World Heritage Site). The Shirvanshahs Palace complex was the last residence of the rulers of the Shirvan state. We will also see another UNESCO World Heritage site, the Maiden’s Tower (external view) and Alley of the Martyrs with its magnificent views over the Bay of Baku, built in the oil boom of 1870-1914.
Then we will see the Muhammed Mosque (outside view) and the Djuma Mosque (outside view).
Hotel accommodation in Baku (B/-/-).

Leaving Baku behind, our journey takes us through beautiful landscapes on the way to Shemakha. Upon arrival in Shemakha we will have a sightseeing tour of the historic Djuma Mosque. We will also visit the Diri Baba Mausoleum in Maraza and the ancient Mausoleum and Yeddi Gumbez Cemetery.
Then we drive to the village of Lahij (depending on weather conditions) built in the 5th century BC in the canyon of the Girdimanchay River (Upper Caucasus). Lahij is known as the centre of trade and craftsmanship until now. Copper work is the most important skill developed by the craftsmen of Lahij. We can meet unique handicrafts made of copper, decorated with carvings in the form of oriental ornaments, knitted and woven crafts, wood and leather crafts, souvenir knives and many others. Some Lahij handicrafts were included in the collection of the Louvre and the Bern Museum.
We leave Lahij for Sheki. Arrival in Sheki.
Hotel accommodation in Sheki (B/-/-)

This morning we will take a walk through Sheki. Sheki, one of the oldest cities in Azerbaijan, is called the architectural reserve of the country.
We will visit one of the most important architectural monuments in Azerbaijan: the Palace of Sheki Khans (1762). After that, we will see the caravans in Sheki, which was famous for its trade. We will also drive to the village of Kish located near Sheki. Kish, one of the oldest villages in the territory of Azerbaijan, is well known for its unique architectural monument, a temple from the period of Caucasian Albania. We will visit a local bakery. They will show us the master class "Khalva". Khalva is considered a typical dessert of Azerbaijan. It is mainly made of flour, hazelnut nuts, fat seeds, butter and sugar.
We leave Sheki for Ganja. On the way we pass the town of Mingachevir and the Kura River. We will stop for tea and views of the river.
Arrival in Ganja. We will visit the "Bottle House". In 1966-67, a resident of Ganja Ibrahim Jafarov built his house using unusual material: glass bottles. A total of 48,000 bottles of various shapes and sizes were used in the construction, and colored stones brought from Sochi were also used.
We will visit the 17th century Shah Abbas Mosque , the Javad Khan Mausoleum (19th century), the Orthodox Church (1815), the Nizami Mausoleum and the Imamzade Mosque.
Overnight stay at the hotel in Ganja (B/-/-)

After breakfast, we will visit the 20th Military Flying School. During the civil war, more than 500 young Spanish pilots were trained at the Military Flying School number 20 in Gandza (1936-1939) then Kirovabad, during the Spanish Civil War, by an agreement between the Government of the Spanish Republic and the USSR (Stalin).
We leave Ganja for Baku. Arrival in Baku. Free afternoon in Baku.
Hotel accommodation in Baku (D/-/-)

After breakfast, we will explore the Ateshgah Zoroastrian Fire Temple in the Surakhani settlement. Our next stop will be Yanar Dag fire mountain. Yanar Dag is located 25 km north of Baku in the village of Mehemmedli. The natural gas that filters to the surface gives this mountain its famous 'burning' appearance.
Later we will visit the Heydar Aliyev Cultural Centre (closed on Mondays). The building was designed by the renowned Iraqi-British architect and Pritzker Prize winner Zaha Hadid in 2012. The building's design is characterised by futuristic and fluid forms, with curves, waves and a plain white exterior. It has won numerous international architectural awards for its innovative and striking design.
Hotel accommodation in Baku (D/-/-)

After breakfast, visit the Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum (closed on Mondays). It was the first museum specialising in carpets in the world. The Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum was honoured with a high award "The best experience" in the field of intangible heritage database by the International Committee for Documentation of the International Council of Museums in 2007.
We will visit Zeynalabdin Taghiyev Palace (closed on Mondays). This palace formerly belonged to the Azerbaijani millionaire Zeynalabdin Taghiyev.
We will also visit Petrolea Villa, which was built in Baku by Ludvig and Emanuel Nobel in the 1880s. Several generations of Nobles lived and were born in this mansion.
Hotel accommodation in Baku (B/-/-)