Azerbaijan - Land of Fire
8 Days Starting and ending in Baku
Visiting: Baku, Gabala, Sheki, Mingachevir, Gobustan
Tour operator:
Tour code:
ALF
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
1 - 12
Age range:
18-99
Special diets catered:
Please advise requests
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Private Available:
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Tour Overview
A curious country, Azerbaijan shares the trait of its Caucasian neighbours of not really belonging to either Europe or Asia, taking elements from both but in a class of its own. With flaming hillsides, ancient temples and the grandeur of Baku, this intriguing little country is as unusual as it is enigmatic. Our short tour to Azerbaijan starts in the capital, a mish mash of Soviet planning, medieval architecture and modern buildings, distinctly unique and rather alluring. We explore the surrounding Absheron Peninsula with Yanardag, the fire mountain and the Temple of the Fire Worshippers, and then gaze in amazement at the bizarre mud volcanoes of Gobustan, yet another quirky side of Azerbaijan. After exploring the historic centre of Baku we head away from the big city to Sheki with its centuries old caravanserais, old Khan’s Palace and a distinct flavour of yesteryear, as well as visiting nearby monasteries and churches. Returning back to the capital, we have a little more time to soak up its ambience and also take a boat trip on the Caspian Sea, the world’s largest body of inland water. For those with a little more time to spare, why not extend your visit with a brief stay in Nakhchivan, a landlocked Azeri enclave with some fantastic old monuments and superb scenery.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Arrival In Baku
Location: Baku
Accommodation Name: Boutique 4* Hotel or similar
Arrive in Baku and transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is free to relax or explore. Overnight Boutique 4* Hotel or similar.Baku is a city with a decidedly split personality. While uber-modern buildings continually spring up and there is talk of turning the city into ‘another Dubai’, much of Baku is still made up of Soviet style apartment blocks. Oil wealth at the turn of the 20th century led to a profusion of rather elegant European style architecture, giving it yet another façade. But without a doubt Baku’s most enigmatic part is the historic centre, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Icheri Sheher with its ancient collection of mosques, palaces and caravanserais, some of which date back to the 11th century. Located on the Absheron Peninsula, Baku can be rather windy – one theory of the origin of its name states that it means ‘wind-pounded place’, and it has numerous parks and squares like many of the old Soviet cities. Its first heyday came at the beginning of the 20th century, when the city produced more than half of the world’s petroleum – after falling into decline during Soviet times, Baku is once again on the up.
Day 2 : Baku - Absheron Peninsula
Location: Baku
Accommodation Name: Boutique 4* Hotel or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Explore Azerbaijan’s capital, including the medieval fortress of Icheri Sheher, the Shirvanshahs’ Palace and the 15th century caravanserai among other sites. From Baku we head to the Absheron Peninsula to visit the ‘flaming mountain’ of Yanardag, continuously alight with burning underground gases that seep through holes in the earth’s surface. We then visit the Gala Museum, the ‘fire-worshippers’ temple of Ateshgah, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and continue to the medieval fortress at Amirjan before returning to Baku for the night. Overnight Boutique 4* Hotel or similar. (BLD)
Day 3 : Baku – Lahij – Gabala
Location: Gabala
Accommodation Name: Gabala Gardens or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today we will travel west to Gabala city. En route we visit the Diri Baba Mausoleum in Maraza and the Yeddi Gumbaz Mausoleum at Shamakha. We continue across the Muganly Pass, with great views of the mountains along the way. We have a stop at Lahic village, a historical ethnographic reserve with local people producing handcrafts and carpets. There are also metal engravers, ancient mosques, baths and beautiful cobbled streets with original apartment houses in this ancient mountain settlement. From here continue to Gabala city. Overnight Gabala Gardens or similar (BLD)
Day 4 : Gabala-Sheki-Kish
Location: Sheki
Accommodation Name: Sheki Park or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This morning we set off from Gabala to Sheki. The delightful town of Sheki is one of Azerbaijan’s highlights. An important centre on the Trans-Caucasian trade routes, it was an independent khanate up until the 1820s and evidence of its former grandeur is not hard to spot. The splendid Khan’s Palace was built in 1762 without the use of any nails and is elaborately decorated with ornate patterns on its exterior. There are also a number of old caravanserais and mosques to explore. Sheki is a delight to wander around, with winding streets and traditional houses giving the feeling of yesteryear. From Sheki we take a trip to the nearby village of Kish with its interesting Albanian church. Overnight Sheki Park or similar (BLD)
Day 5 : Sheki – Mingachevir - Ganja
Location: Mingachevir
Accommodation Name: Vego Hotel or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
We travel to Mingachevir and take boat trip around the Kur river where we will enjoy a tea with local jam. After visiting Mingachevir we head to Ganja, Azerbaijan’s second city. Upon arrival visit the local bazaar, the 17th century mosque of Shah Abbas and the unique ‘bottle house’ a local building decorated with nearly 50,000 bottles. Overnight Vego Hotel or similar (BLD)
Day 6 : Ganja-Gobustan-Baku
Location: Gobustan
Accommodation Name: Boutique 4* Hotel or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This morning we depart for Gobustan. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007, Gobustan is rich in archaeological monuments with over 6000 rock engravings dating back as far as 40,000 years. The petroglyphs depict ceremonial dances, battles, warriors, boats and many other scenes, as well as more recent Roman ‘graffiti’ from the 1st century. But Gobustan is equally well known for its natural phenomena – mud volcanoes that simmer and belch muddy bubbles from their cones, an incredibly atmospheric place and probably unlike anything you will have seen before. Azerbaijan is home to more than half of the mud volcanoes in the world with nearly 400 of them within its borders. Roughly every twenty years one of them explodes with great gusto, showering tons of mud over the surrounding area. Overnight Boutique 4* Hotel or similar. (BLD)
Day 7 : Baku
Location: Baku
Accommodation Name: Boutique 4* Hotel or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Our last full day in Azerbaijan. We visit the History Museum for an insight into the various cultures and civilisations that have held sway here. We also visit the Heydar Aliyev Center, designed by Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid and noted for its distinctive architecture and flowing, curved style that eschews sharp angles The rest of the day is free for you to explore. Overnight Boutique 4* Hotel or similar. (BLD)
Day 8 : Baku
Location: Baku
Meals Included: Breakfast
Transfer to the airport for your departure flight. (B)
What's Included
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Arrival and departure transfers
Transfers from and to the airport at the beginning and end of the tour are included.
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Overland transport throughout with professional driver
All overland transportation throughout the tour is provided with a professional driver.
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All accommodation
Accommodation for the duration of the tour is included.
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Services of English-speaking guide / tour leader
The services of an English-speaking guide or tour leader are included throughout the tour.
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Entrance fees for sites listed as part of the itinerary
Entrance fees for all sites listed as part of the tour itinerary are included.
What's Not Included
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Any airport taxes
Airport taxes are not included in the tour price.
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Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is not included and is recommended for all travelers.
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Visa - when required
Visa fees are not included and responsibility for obtaining visas lies with the traveler.
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Drinks
Drinks are not included in the tour price.
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Items of personal nature
Items of a personal nature such as souvenirs, laundry, and phone calls are not included.
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Tips (Discretionary)
Tips for guides and drivers are not included and are at the discretion of the traveler.
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International Flights
International flights are not included
Mode of Transport
Transportation includes arrival and departure transfers, ensuring a seamless journey from start to finish. Overland travel is facilitated by professional drivers, offering a comfortable and hassle-free way to explore Azerbaijan's stunning landscapes and historical sites.
Accommodation
Guests will enjoy stays in boutique 4* hotels, offering a blend of comfort and local charm. Accommodations are carefully selected to enhance the travel experience, providing a cozy retreat after a day of exploration.
Check out our Q&As
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What is included in the tour package?
The tour package includes arrival and departure transfers, overland transport throughout with a professional driver, all accommodation, services of an English-speaking guide / tour leader, and entrance fees for sites listed as part of the itinerary.
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What countries will be visited on this tour?
The tour will visit Azerbaijan.
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What are the highlights of the Land of Fire tour?
The highlights of the Land of Fire tour include exploring Baku, famed for its medieval walled old city, seeing Khan’s Palace in Sheki, visiting the fire-worshippers temple of Ateshgah, discovering Gobustan’s rock engravings dating back as far as 40,000 years, extending your tour to visit fascinating Nakhchivan, the capital of Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic and separated from the rest of the country, and continuing your adventure by traveling across the Caucasus on a combined tour with Georgia and Armenia.
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What is not included in the tour package?
The tour package does not include any airport taxes, travel insurance, visa fees when required, drinks, items of personal nature such as souvenirs, laundry, and phone calls, tips (discretionary), and international flights.
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Where does the tour start and end?
The tour starts and ends in Baku.
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I’m a single traveller – will I feel out of place?
In a word, no. We get a good mix of single travellers and couples on our group tours.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
We are happy to allocate a twin room to two single same-sex travellers. If there is no one else to travel
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
No, sorry this is not possible.
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
We offer fully transferable group tour deposits (excluding any flight payments which are always non-refundable). You can change your group tour booking up to 10 weeks before departure and not lose your deposit – we will put your deposit towards any new group booking as long as you travel within 2 years of the original departure date.
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Can I alter the tour?
On our scheduled departures this isn’t possible, simply due to the fact that you’ll be travelling with other people. However, if you like the look of one of our advertised trips but want to tweak it slightly, then we can offer tailor made itineraries just for you, to accommodate your specific requirements.
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Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?
There are no hard and fast rules about what type of people travel on Undiscovered Destinations’ group tours – we attract people from all ages, nationalities and walks of life. What you are likely to find though is that travellers share a similar outlook about travel. We tend to attract people with a curiosity about the lesser visited corners of our planet.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
We have been going since 2004.
Reviews of this operator
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Free Date Changes
Undiscovered Destinations allows you to make 2 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 70 days before the start of the tour.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Undiscovered Destinations allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform undiscovered destinations, 70 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Undiscovered Destinations requires a minimum deposit of 350 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 70 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of undiscovered destinations charges.
Up to 71 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 40% of booking price.
At 34 days before tour starts: Forfeit 60% of booking price.
At 20 days before tour starts: Forfeit 80% of booking price.
At 7 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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