Heritage of Azerbaijan

Breakfast at the hotel.

10:00 – Visit Highland Park and the Old City. The history of the capital of Azerbaijan, Baku, goes back to antiquity, although the precise date of its origin is still unknown. The territory of the Absheron Peninsula, where the city is located, has a favorable geographical position: a calm bay, a warm, dry climate, fertile soil, and natural resources. Therefore, the emergence of ancient settlements here was quite natural. Highland Park is located on a hill in the western part of the city. It is the best spot to enjoy an overview of the city itself, along with Baku Bay and the Seaside Boulevard, which celebrated its 110th anniversary in 2019.

Further, guests will get acquainted with the Old City, which is called “Icheri Sheher.” Many historical and architectural monuments are concentrated on its territory, including the Palace of the Shirvanshahs, the symbol of the city of Baku—the Maiden Tower, caravanserais, mosques, and more.

14:00 – Continue the tour with a visit to the Heydar Aliyev Center. The Heydar Aliyev Center was built by the world-famous architect Zaha Hadid. An internationally recognized architectural work, the building of the Heydar Aliyev Center has become a signature landmark of modern Baku due to its innovative and cutting-edge design. The Center achieved the famous “Design of the Year Award” in 2014. Extending over eight floor levels, the center accommodates a 1,000-seat auditorium, temporary exhibition spaces, a conference center, workshops, and a museum.

18:00 – Return to the hotel and leisure time.
Overnight in Baku.

09:00 – Breakfast at the hotel.

10:00 – Departure for an excursion to the historical and archaeological reserve of Gobustan. The archaeological reserve of Gobustan is an open-air museum located in the southeast of the Greater Caucasus. Gobustan petroglyphs, dating back 5,000–20,000 years, are perfectly preserved rock carvings and serve as a kind of artistic archive of human evolution on planet Earth. They reflect the history of this region for almost 15,000 years, from the end of the Upper Paleolithic era to the Middle Ages. Today, Azerbaijani scientists have identified, described, and studied more than 4,000 petroglyphs (rock paintings in stone carving techniques), and this important work still continues. Before starting a Gobustan tour, guests will visit the interactive museum, where they can learn about the history and nature of Gobustan using special multimedia programs and touch screens.

The next point of the tour is the area of Mud Volcanoes, a rare natural phenomenon that appeared in Azerbaijan 25 million years ago. Visiting the mud volcanoes depends on the season and road conditions.

Azerbaijan has nearly 400 mud volcanoes on its territory. They occur where tectonic movement allows subterranean gases to escape to the surface. A few of these gas leaks are constantly on fire, shooting small perpetual flames into the air; however, mud volcanoes never grow to the size of a normal volcano.

14:00 – Excursion to the Temple of Fire Worshipers “Ateshgah” and the burning hill “Yanardag.” The tour continues with the ancient legacy of Zoroastrianism. Located 30 km away from Baku, there is one of the most mysterious sights of Azerbaijan—Ateshgah, the Temple of Fire Worshippers. Part caravanserai and part fire temple, it stands on the site of natural gas burning from the earth's crust. It is called “the eternal fire.” In ancient times, Ateshgah was a sacred place to Zoroastrians. The temple’s current incarnation was built by 18th-century Indian Shiva devotees.

Next on the tour is the magically attractive site of the burning hill of Yanardag. Yanardag is a hillside with a continuously burning natural fire, described by Marco Polo back in the 13th century during his visit to the Persian city of Baku.

18:00 – Return to the hotel and leisure time.
Overnight in Baku.

09:00 – Breakfast at the hotel.

10:00 – Departure for a trip to the regions of Azerbaijan.

The first point of the journey is the picturesque village of craftsmen called Lahij. Visiting Lahij depends on the season and road conditions. Lahij is a unique monument of Persian urban planning and an architectural object of the Middle Ages. It is a medieval city with cobbled streets and squares, a well-developed water supply and sewerage system. The village is inhabited by tanners, engravers, potters, blacksmiths, and wood and metal carvers, who have been passing their knowledge from generation to generation. During the tour, guests will also visit an ancient bridge connecting two villages, a 16th-century stone water supply, and 19th-century dwellings with frescoes.

The tour continues to Nohur Lake. Surrounded by forest, the lake is famous for its cleanliness, abundance of fish, and amazing turquoise color of the water.

18:00 – Arrival in the Sheki region, accommodation at the hotel, and leisure time.
Overnight in Sheki.

Breakfast at the hotel.

10:00 – Acquaintance with the city of Sheki. One of the most ancient cities of Azerbaijan, Sheki is located at an altitude of 700 m above sea level, in the southern foothills of the Greater Caucasus. It is famous for its numerous architectural monuments. The city used to be the capital of the Sheki Khanate and was an important staging point on the Great Silk Road. Guests will visit the summer Palace of the Sheki Khans, built in the 18th century, with its magnificent frescoes and exquisite handmade window decorations.

One of the main spots of Sheki is the ancient complex called the Upper Karvan-Saray. Karvan-Saray is a historical monument dated to the 17th century, which includes the hotel. Like most karvan sarays, it was built in the form of a castle with a single gate, closing of which made it impregnable during dangerous incidents. Karvan-Saray is rectangular-shaped with a large inner yard and pool area.

14:00 – Continue the exploration of Sheki with a visit to the Albanian Church, which is located in the village of Kish. According to a legend, it is the first Christian church built not only on the territory of Caucasian Albania but in the entire Transcaucasia. This place is also remarkable for the burials of people found on the territory of the temple. The structure of their bodies is far different from that of the current inhabitants of this region. In 2003, the church was renovated with the financial support of the Norwegian government and with the personal efforts of Thor Heyerdahl.

15:00 – Return to Baku.

19:00 – Arrival in Baku.
Overnight in Baku.

Breakfast at the hotel. Check-out from the hotel and transfer to Baku Airport for your departure flight.