- Information
- Tour Plan
- Location
- Gallery
- Reviews
- Similar Tours
What's included
- A guided tour of important places
- Accommodation in single twin share room
- Current Hotel Taxes and Service Charges
- Professionally guided tour
- International Air, unless expressly paid for
- Other International flights
- Personal expenses
- Services not specifically stated in the itinerary
- Visa arrangements
The Land of Fire
Azerbaijan is referred to as The Land of Fire for etymological and symbolical reasons. Etymologically, the region in which modern day Iranian Azerbaijan stands was originally called Atropatene and was ruled by the Atropates. The word Atropates comes from the Greek, or possibly Median, for The Land of the Holy Fire or The Protector of the Holy Fire or the Treasurer of the Holy Fire to indicate that the area was home to the Holy Fire and those who inhabited it were protecting it. From Atropates the word evolved into Azerbaijan through the centuries. Although the etymological origin may well be related to the symbolical one, the country has adopted the symbolical meaning in their cultural identity through the centuries and, specifically, after achieving independence from the Soviet Union. The symbolical origin could have been the reason why the area was called Atropatene in the first place and it refers to the many fire-related oddities and natural phenomenon that fill Azerbaijan, like the burning mountain of Yanar Dag or the Fire Temple of Ateshgah which I have written about in the Guide to Baku and Azerbaijan. It is this natural fire and light phenomenon which attracted fire-worshipping Zoroastrians into the country and possibly gave it the name in the first place. Fire is indeed used as the country’s main appeal in the international stage and was the motto for Eurovision 2014 which was hosted in Baku or for the country’s sponsorship of Atletico de Madrid’s jerseys – The Land of Fire.
Geography
Azerbaijan is located on the western shore of the Caspian Sea at the southeast extremity of the Caucasus. The region is a mountainous country, and only about 7% of it is arable land. The Kura River Valley is the area’s major agricultural zone.
History
Northern Azerbaijan was known as Caucasian Albania in ancient times. The area was the site of many conflicts involving Arabs, Kazars, and Turks. After the 11th century, the territory became dominated by Turks and eventually was a stronghold of the Shiite Muslim religion and Islamic culture. The territory of Soviet Azerbaijan was acquired by Russia from Persia through the Treaty of Gulistan in 1813 and the Treaty of Turkamanchai in 1828. After the Bolshevik Revolution, Azerbaijan declared its independence from Russia in May 1918. The republic was reconquered by the Red Army in 1920 and was annexed into the Transcaucasian Soviet Socialist Republic in 1922. It was later reestablished as a separate Soviet Republic on Dec. 5, 1936. Azerbaijan declared independence from the collapsing Soviet Union on Aug. 30, 1991. Since 1988, Azerbaijan and Armenia have been feuding over the enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh. The majority of the enclave’s inhabitants are Armenian Christians agitating to secede from the predominantly Muslim Azerbaijan and join with Armenia. War broke out in 1988 when Nagorno-Karabakh tried to break away and annex itself to Armenia, and 30,000 died before a cease-fire agreement was reached in 1994, with Armenia regaining its hold over the disputed enclave. Final plans on the status of Nagorno-Karabakh have yet to be determined.
Tea is drunk with jam
This is an interesting foodie fact about Azerbaijanis. They love drinking tea. No news, many countries do, from the UK to India or the Middle East. Anyone who has traveled Africa or Asia has enjoyed a glass of hot tea in a carpet store or steeped a bag in a pot. What makes the tea drinking ways in Azerbaijan unique is their combination with jam. Tea in Azerbaijan is served in small glasses like in Turkey or Egypt, and often times comes with a side of jam. This is not regular jam but more jammed fruit which has been cooked as if to make jam but not blended into a paste. One is meant to drink the tea with a piece of jam in the mouth, so the tea passes through the jam. Obviously, this should replace sugar for most, as the jam is indeed sugary and hyper-sweet, but it doesn’t. Sugar will still be offered. You can counter the sweetness with a slice of lemon which will most likely complete the tea serving. I very much enjoyed having tea this way.
- Day 1
- Day 2
- Day 3
- Day 4
- Day 5
- Day 6
- Day 7
- Day 8
- Day 9
Baku Arrival Day
Welcome to Azerbaijan! Meeting our representative at the Baku Heydar Aliyev International Airport and transfer to the hotel. Leisure time after transferring to our hotel and settling into the hotel. You participate in the panoramic tour of Baku city to explore Baku, to be held in the evening and visit luxurious shopping centers.
Full Day Baku City To
After breakfast at the hotel, be ready in the hotel lobby by 09:30am from where your guide will take you on a city tour of Baku. Your first destination will be the Highland Park that offers a 360˚ panoramic view of the Baku city, which resembles a massive amphitheater that gently slopes down to the adjoining Caspian Sea! After we depart for Baku Old City Tour. The excursion tour begins with a visit to the Old Town - 'Icheri Sheher'. The old city is the heart of Baku. We will be visiting several dozens of historically architectural monuments located in the territory of Old Town, including Palace of Shirvanshahs, the Maiden Tower, several caravan-palaces, mosques, baths, etc. Visit to Maiden Tower - ‘Baku’s symbol’. Known locally as Giz Galasi, was built in the 12th century as part of the walled city. ‘Baku’s medieval cultural spot – ‘Caravanserai, to name a few. Shirvanshahs` Palace, the biggest monument of the Shirvan- Absheron branch of the Azerbaijan architecture. You can spend a pleasant time in the restaurants that you can taste dishes from national Azerbaijan cuisine. After lunch we will be passing by Baku Boulevard, one of the favorite retreat centers for tourists and inhabitants. By bus you will see the Flag Square - Baku city’s splendid architectural landmark. From there, historical milestones namely; Baku Promenade, National Carpets Museum - whose very building resembles a folded carpet, House of the Government, Governor’s Garden, Magomayev Philharmonic Theatre, etc. afterwards proceed to Cultural Center Complex - Heydar Aliyev Center that is comprised of an exhibition halls, museum and auditorium. Its architecture is remarkable as no angles can be seen in its interior as well as exterior. After dinner transfer to the hotel. Overnight stay in the hotel.
Baku – Sheki – Gabala
After breakfast, we check out the hotel rooms and leave for historical Sheki city. In a magnificent restaurant, we taste various kinds of the national dishes inherent to Sheki. After lunch, we visit Sheki Khan’s Palace, Karvansaray, Albanian Church and other considerable places of Sheki. In the evening, we travel to historical and modern city of Gabala. Then, transfer to our hotel, free time and overnight.
Gabala
After breakfast, we depart for Tufandag tour. Tufandag is one of the most popular Mountain Resort not only in Azerbaijan, but also in Caucasian region. Using cableways, you can go up to a height of 2836 m above sea level and here you can spend a pleasant time in the cafes and restaurants with spectacular views. You can still see the amazing view of Tufandag from the top of mountain. At the end of tour, you are transferred and settled into the hotel, and free time. You stay overnight at the hotel.
Gabala – Oghuz – Gabala
After breakfast, leave for Oghuz region, known as "the Switzerland of Azerbaijan". Here you can taste fish dishes in Farel resort area located in the spectacular natural scenic, in Khalkhal recreation zone. In the evening, we come back to Gabala. Transfer to our hotel, free time and overnight.
Gabala
After breakfast we have half day as leisure time. Our guide will organize excursions to Nohurgol, Gabaland Entertainment Center and Gabala Shooting Club. At the end of excursions, transfer to the hotel. We stay overnight at our hotel.
Gabala – Lahij – Baku
After breakfast, checking out from rooms, we move to the village of Lahij, located in the Ismayilli region and considered the oldest settlements. Here we will visit the Suspension Bridge, Haji Pasha's house, took a trip to the Museum of History and Ethnography of Lahij, and become familiar with crafts, pottery and copper production. Lunch in Lahij. After lunch, free time until 18:00, then, we will transfer to Baku City. Accommodation and free time. Overnight in our hotel.
Absheron Peninsula and Shopping
At 09:00 am, refresh yourselves with breakfast and be ready. Our professional guide will come to pick you from your place of stay and then by 09:30 am, your Baku holidays begin. You will start your journey to Ateshgah for Temple visit. This temple - well known for fire worshippers and fire adorations - is located in the Surakhany village and is called as the ‘Temple of eternal fire’. Comprised of Alter and guest cell room this shrine holds the remnants of Zoroastrianism and Hinduism. It is said that the fire holes of this temple forms natural burning fire that lit up natural gas. The guest room cells of the chapel are now reconstructed as a Museum for the tourists. After the temple visit, by around 11:00 hours, you will start off for Mehemmedli village visit. From the village you will proceed to Yanardag Fire Mountain which lies next to the village. Glowing continuously for several thousand years by means of natural gas, this mountain is one of its kind and a true nature’s wonder. After lunch, half day is yours. Make the day memorable with street walk in Baku and you can make local purchasing. And it is your opportunity to Feel the city with local peoples. Make the day happy… In the evening hours our guide will organize Baku Boulevard with Cruise Tour (depending on weather) and Ferris Wheel Ride (depending on weather). Overnight in Baku.
Departure from Baku
After breakfast, check out from the hotel. We are transferred to the airport. We see our guests off at the airport and the end of Tour! We hope you have a memorable time in Azerbaijan / Baku and we look forward to seeing you in the future. Have a safe trip back home and thank you for choosing us.
More about Azerbaijan
There are no comments yet.