MELODY OF TASTE
Regions: Baku-Shamakhy-Sheki-Guba-Absheron
1 Day
Meeting at the airport.
Accommodation at the hotel 4 * in the city
Overnight at the hotel.
2 Day
09:00 Breakfast at the hotel.
Excursion. "Baku City Tour".
Start sightseeing tour in Baku. Visit Memory Alley – “Shehidler Khiyabany”, from where you can have a great panoramic view of Baku city
- Ichari Sheher
The historic quarter also known as “Castle” or simply “Old City” among the people is the ancient part of Baku, also historic-architectural reserve. Ichari Sheher being the ancient part of Baku was surrounded by well protected castle walls. Over 1300 families live in the territory of reserve having the area of 221 m². The territory of reserve was inhabited from the Bronze Age. It was identified in the result of archeological researches that the territory of Ichari Sheher was densly inhabited during the VIII-IX centuries, the handicraft and trade was developed here. After the Shirvanshahs had moved his residence from Shamakhi to Baku in the XV century, the period of “crystallization” was started in the life of Ichari Sheher. In 1748-1806, Baku and its center Ichari Sheher was the capital of Baku Khanate.
- Shirvanshahs palace
Shirvanshahs Palace or the complex of Shirvanshahs Palace — the old residence of Shirvanshahs situated in Baku city (the Shirvan rulers). The complex includes, besides the palace, court-room (divankhana), Shirvanshah sepulcher, the palace mosque the (minaret) tower of which belongs to 1441, bath and the sepulcher of the scientist of palace Seyid Yahya Bakuvi. The complex of palace was buiolt during the period from the the. Some buildings including the placae were built in the beginning of the XV century during the power of Shirvanshah Khalilullah the I. When the Ottoman Empire has seized Baku, the gate was built by the palace walls covering it from the East. The construction of the palace was coordinated with relocation of the capital from Shamakhi to Baku after the Shamakhi earthquake when the Shirvanshah Akhista the I lost his family members.
- Maiden Tower
The height of the Maiden Tower is 28 m, its diameter in the first floor is 16,5 m. The thickness of the wall in the first floor reaches to 5 meters. The internal area of the castle is divided into 8 floors. Each floor was built with hewed stones and covered with dome-shaped roof. The castle began to act as the museum since 1964, and included in the list of world heritage of the UNESCO since 2000. There are circular holes in the middle of these roofs laid from stones. The holes are in the direction of vertical line. So that, when looking through the hole in the middle of the roof of the VIII floor, it is possible to see the floor of the first floor.
Walking to Ferris wheel.
Baku Ferris Wheel
Baku Ferris Wheel, also known as the Baku Eye. The wheel is 60 metres (200 ft) tall and has 30 cabins, each holding eight people. It makes a complete turn in 30 to 40 minutes.The park is about 16 km in size and located in south coast of the Caspian Sea. It starts at the National Flag Square and ends at Freedom Square.
Overnight at the hotel.
3 Day
09:00 Breakfast at the hotel.
Excursion. "Shemakha + Sheki".
Shamakhi is an ancient Azerbaijani city. Originated in the 5th century. BC. e. In the IX-XVI centuries. - the capital of the Shirvan kingdom, the residence of the Shirvanshahs is one of the most beautiful cities of the East. From the middle of the XVIII century - the center of Shemakhan khanate.For a long time, Shemakha was one of the most important points throughout the Great Silk Road. This is due to the fact that the city for a long time was one of the centers of the Shirvan-Apheron architectural school and the school of decorative and applied art (carpet making) and miniatures.Located at the intersection of caravan routes, Shemakha was one of the major trade and craft centers in the Middle East, occupying an important place in the trade in silk, as early as the 16th century trade ties between Shemakha and Venetian merchants were mentioned. In Shemakha, Azerbaijani, Iranian, Arab, Central Asian, Russian, Indian and West European merchants were trading, who owned factories there, had numerous silk-weaving, paper-spinning and carpet workshops. The city became famous as the home of many prominent Azerbaijani philosophers, architects and scientists, and poets such as Khagani, Nasimi, Sabir. Famous sights of Shemakha
Diri-Baba. Diri Baba is a unique monument, a two-story mosque-mausoleum of the 15th century, located on the road from Baku to Shemakha in the village of Maraza opposite the old cemetery. For a long time, local residents believed that this place was buried and remained an imperishable saint named Diri-Baba. However, this monument is associated with many legends and mystical details. Therefore, since the 17th century, it began to attract many pilgrims and ordinary travelers. The peculiarity of the structure is that the architect, as it were, "built" the tomb in the rock, and it seems as if it is kept "on weight", torn from the ground. The tomb admires the strictness of architecture, the purity of the lines, and against the background of irregularities of the dark rock the light and smooth surface of its walls, standing out, seems solemn.
Juma mosque. This Azerbaijani mosque is the oldest and largest in the Caucasus. According to legend, it was founded in the 8th century, when Shemakha was chosen as a residence by the Arab caliph. The exact date of its construction is 744, which was established as a result of research conducted by the geological commission arrived from Tiflis, headed by Prince Shakuli Kajar. This date was determined by the Arabic inscription on the facade of the Juma mosque, which indicates the 126th year of the Muslim calendar as the date of foundation. It was at this time that construction of new religious buildings (mosques) began in the territory of modern Azerbaijan. The Juma mosque in Shemakha is the earliest mosque in the Caucasus after the Derbent Cathedral Friday Mosque, built in 734.
Yeddi Gumbes. The mausoleum of Yeddi Gumbes or the "Seven domes", the appearance of which dates back to the 15th century, is located at the foot of the fortress of Gyulistan. This is the name of the Shirvan rulers' tomb in Shamakhi. Here noble representatives from the Shirvanshah dynasty are buried. Seven domes - that's how many tombstones are in the crypt. At present, they represent dilapidated stone domes, as if grown directly from under the earth in the middle of a deserted cemetery district. That's why the very atmosphere of this place seems fabulously mysterious.
Lagich. Lahic is a village named after the name of the lagic tribe that came here in the 4th - 5th centuries from the territory of Iran. This historical and architectural monument was built in the 5th century on the territory of the canyon of the river Girdimanchai. Old mosques and baths, medieval water supply and sewerage system are preserved here.
Despite the fact that the village is declared a historical and cultural reserve, the local population is still living here, mainly engaged in handicrafts: the manufacture of elegant household items made of copper (kazan, trays, jugs), leather, carpet weaving and agriculture. From time immemorial, the Lagich tribe traded with its products, which became known throughout the Middle East. And today in special workshops and souvenir shops visiting tourists can buy a variety of handmade products: carpets, dishes, daggers and much more. In the afternoon we will have lunch in Lagich and get acquainted with the specific cuisine of the inhabitants of the village.
Departure to Sheki
Overnight in Sheki
4 Day
09:00 Breakfast at the hotel.
Excursion. " Sheki+ Gakh".
Sheki is one of the most famous and ancient settlements of Azerbaijan. It is located 700 m above sea level and as an amphitheater is surrounded by mountains. This ancient city has long been known as the center of silk and an important transit point on the Great Silk Road. We will begin our tour to Sheki with a visit to the Summer Palace of Khan with magnificent frescoes and exquisite handmade window decorations. Then we'll visit the workshop, where we can get acquainted with the process of manufacturing "Shebeke" by local artisans. Next, we will visit the workshop for cooking the delicious "Sheki Pahlavas", famous throughout Azerbaijan.
Excursion to Kish.
Our acquaintance with Sheki continues with a visit to the Albanian church, which is located in the village of Kish. According to the legend, this church is the first Christian church built not only in the territory of Caucasian Albania, but in the whole of Transcaucasia. This place is also remarkable, as burial places of people were found on the territory of the temple, which in their structure are very different from the current inhabitants of this region. In 2003, the church was restored to the money of the Norwegian government thanks to the personal efforts of Tour Heyerdahl. Here, next to the territory of the Church, you can find a memorial bust, in honor of a famous researcher set as a token of gratitude from local residents and the state. Lunch at the restaurant "Chalyabi Khan" where we will try traditional dishes for this region.
Return to the hotel.
Overnight in Sheki
5 Day
09:00 Breakfast at the hotel.
Free time to visit the eastern market, shops with sweets and souvenir shops.
Transfer to Baku
Overnight in Baku
6 Day
09:00 Breakfast at the hotel.
Excursion. "Glorious Guba Khanate".
Guba is one of the northern regions of Azerbaijan, due to its favourable location (168 km from Baku) and rich infrastructure, the Guba district is one of the favourite tourist destinations. Visitors have long taken a liking to the place of Gyachresh, where you can relax in the shady forest, Tengealty Gorge, where the Velvelichai River, the famous Afurdzha Falls, which is listed in the "Nature Monuments of Azerbaijan", carries stormy waters. In Guba there is also the famous village of Krasnaya Sloboda, in which one of the largest communities of Mountain Jews resides in the world. The famous Guba and its apples, which have long been transformed into its symbol. In addition, the Guba is a recognized center of carpet weaving. In the vicinity of Guba there are many architectural monuments. At one time, Guba was visited by the famous French writer Alexander Dumas, the writer Bestuzhev-Marlinsky, the famous Norwegian travel scholar Thor Heyerdahl. And today Luba hospitably opens the doors for guests from all over the world. Lunch at one of the picturesque restaurants of Lip Bay "Ainur" where we will try one of the traditional dishes of the multinational region of Guba and finish with a tea ceremony with the famous Guba baklava.
Free Time
Overnight in Guba
7 Day
09:00 Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Baku
Excursion. "Fire worships Temple Ateshgyah + Burning Mountain Yanardagh".
The Temple of Eternal Fire - Ateshgyah - is an authentic Azerbaijani exotic. It is well-known practically all over the world. It is located 30 km from the center of Baku in the suburb of Surakhany. This territory is known for such unique natural phenomenon as burning natural gas outlets (underground gas coming onto surface contacts oxygen and lights up). The temple in its present state was constructed in the 17th-18th centuries. It was built by the Baku-based Hindu community related to Sikhs.
However, the history of the Temple is even longer. From times immemorial this was the holy place of Zoroastrians- fire worshippers (approximately beginning of our era). They attributed mystical significance to the inextinguishable fire and came there to worship the relic.
After the introduction of Islam Zoroastrian temple was destroyed. Many Zoroastrians left to India and there continued their worship. But in the 15th -17th centuries the Hindus-fire worshippers who came to Absheron with trading caravans began to make pilgrimages to Surakhany. The Indian merchants started erection of the temple. The earliest temple part is dated 1713. The latest - the central temple-altar was built with the support of merchant Kanchangar in 1810. During the 18th century chapels, cells, a caravanserai were added to the central part of the temple. On у can find carved inscriptions in Indian lettering there.
In the early 19th century the Temple acquired its present-day appearance. Ateshgah is a pentagonal structure with a castellation and entrance portal. In the center of a yard the altar-sanctuary executed in the form of a stone bower on which angles some more centers are located towers. In the center of an altar - a well from which beat "eternally" burning gas.
Burning Mountain Yanardagh
One of the most famous and popular tourist places of the "eternal flame” in Azerbaijan is the mountain of Yanar Dag. Actually, it is rather a hill than a mountain, with natural gas burning on its slope from ancient times. Meter-long tongues of fire are licking the stratified earth approximately for 10 m in width, searing those who approached too close. People occupy the benches to watch the blazing hill in the evening, when the its sight is most effective.
Yanar Dag is located 25 km to the north from Baku, in Mehemmedi village. There are buses running to it from the city, so you can get there fairly cheap and easy. From the year 2007 Yanar Dag is declared a state-protected conservation area. Lunch in one of the fish restaurants "Shafa"
Free Time.
8 Day
09:00 Breakfast at the hotel.
Free time to visit the eastern market, shops with sweets and souvenir shops.
Transfer to the airport
Visa upon arrival at international airports of Azerbaijan can be obtained only by citizens of Turkey, Israel, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Japan, China, South Korea, Malaysia and Singapore. For citizens of Russia and the CIS (except for Turkmenistan), a visa is not required to Azerbaijan. Citizens of other countries must obtain a visa prior to arrival, through the consulates of Azerbaijan in their country or to issue an electronic visa through our travel agency. To apply for a visa, contact our managers at least 3 weeks before arriving in Azerbaijan.
Local currency: Manat
The recommended currency for the exchange is: USD or EURO.
Where to exchange currency: Upon arrival at the airport, the guide will provide accurate information on where and how to exchange cash for local currency.
Availability of ATM: Only in large cities.
Accept credit cards: Only in large cities.
The cost of the tour from 692 USD per person for a stay in Double room includes:
Accommodation in hotel 4 * double room on the program based on breakfast.
Transfers and transportation according to the program.
Excursions on the program.
5 Lunch during the programme
Services of a Russian-speaking or English-speaking guide.
Entrance tickets to museums.
Additional paid:
Lunch - from 15 USD (local alcoholic beverages included)
Dinner - from 20 USD (alcoholic drinks of local manufacture are included)
Supplement for single accommodation: $ 150 per tour
The cost of a visa is 30 USD (if not citizens of the CIS),
Charges for photo - and video shooting in museums
The firm reserves the right to change the order of visiting excursion objects, keeping the program as a whole.
The company reserves the right to change the cost of the tour provided that it is notified in time.
Dear guests, please send inquiries for individual tourists and tourist groups to e-mail: incoming@nexttravel.az, office@nexttravel.az and contact us at +99412 5984010, +99470 5984010 Whatsapp: +99470 5984010
