Welcome to Enchanting Journeys

Welcome to incredible Azerbaijan - a tangle of contradictions & contrasts, billing itself as the 'Land of Fire’.  Neither Europe nor Asia, it' is a nexus of ancient historical empires, but also a ‘new’ nation which has undergone an extraordinary transformation from the war-ravaged post-Soviet 1990s to an oil-enriched host of Formula 1 & Europa League football.                       

Arrive in cosmopolitan capital, Baku, the gateway to an ancient world capital city.

After you exit in the Arrival Hall at Terminal? - Baku Heydar Aliyev International Airport, subsequent to  Immigration & Customs, you will be welcomed by The Journeys representative who will ensure your comfort & transfer you to the hotel, help you settle in & provide you with some useful tips for exploring the area as well as discuss the program for the next couple of days.

Reach the hotel & Check-in.

*Check-in time is 02.00 pm. For earlier arrivals in the morning, we will request the hotel for a complimentary early Check-in but cannot be guaranteed unless reserved & paid for ‘immediate occupancy’.

Breathtaking Antiquity | Architectural Masterpieces | Soviet Reminiscence

Azerbaijan’s capital, the port city of Baku with its UNESCO World Heritage listed medieval Old City (İçəri Şəhər) contrasting with dazzling 21^st century architecture, lies on a balmy bay of the Caspian Sea.

Baku is the cultural & commercial hub of the country and is denoted as an architectural love child of Paris & Dubai…albeit with plenty of Soviet genes floating half-hidden in the background. Few cities in the world are changing as quickly and nowhere else in Eurasia do East & West blend as seamlessly or as chaotically. Yet barely 3 hours’ drive away, timeless rural villages lie amid lush orchards backed by the soaring Great Caucasus Mountains.

At its heart, the medieval Old City lies within an exotically crenelated arc of fortress wall & which contains the Palace of the Shirvanshahs, a vast royal complex & the iconic stone Maiden Tower.  

Around this, are gracefully illuminated stone mansions & pedestrianised tree-lined streets filled with exclusive boutiques. In the last decade, countless towers have mushroomed, dwarfing or replacing tatty old Soviet apartment blocks. Some of the finest new builds are jaw-dropping masterpieces. Contemporary landmarks include the Zaha Hadid - designed Heydar Aliyev Center & the Flame Towers - 3 pointed skyscrapers covered with LED screens.

Meanwhile romantic couples canoodle their way around wooded parks & hold hands on the Caspian-front bulvar (promenade), where greens & opal blues make a mockery of Baku’s desert-ringed location.

Baku is the largest cultural centre of Azerbaijan. It is the place where a national theatre, the first in Muslim East, lifted the curtain, the first opera was performed, the first Azerbaijan newspaper was published, the first Azerbaijan library was opened. Today Baku is known to have 30 museums, 7 theatres, 11 institutions of higher education, philharmonic, opera theatre, film studio, cinema theatres & libraries housed in the city’s most beautiful buildings having an interior decoration which is every bit as good as their interior cultural content.

No services are envisaged during morning & afternoon (however, if time permits & you wish to explore independently, we shall be only too happy to offer suggestions).

Evening meet the Journeys Rep & walk to Mugam Club7, a restaurant in a medieval Caravanserai near the harbour & adjacent to the Maiden Tower in the Old Town.

It is impossible to imagine any culture without music. Ever since the life has begun in these lands, music was an essential part of the Azerbaijani lifestyle & culture.

Being the place where east meets west makes Azerbaijani music unique, as it contains genres such as folklore, classical, jazz, pop & so on. Although the majority of genres have evolved & became modern, folklore music is still demonstrating the traditional motives. One of the most famous genres is the indigenous Mugham called pearl of Azerbaijani music.

Mugham belongs to a transnational tradition of urban classical or court music that flourished in the great cultural centers of North Africa, the Middle East, West Asia & Central Asia beginning more than a millennium ago. Mugham is performed mainly using 3 instruments - Kamancha, Tar & Gaval. Being a precious piece of Azerbaijani culture, UNESCO has designated “Mugham” as a Masterpiece of Oral & Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The person who plays the Gaval is also the lead Singer.

Enjoy live Mugam exotic folk music in the ambience of the ancient Caravanserai, as you enjoy a sumptuous dinner of traditional Azerbaijani kebab, plov, dushpere, qutab, qu-qu, as well as traditional sweets & beverages.

Return to the hotel.

Perched on the Silk Route crossroads of cultures of Asia, Europe and the Middle East, Azerbaijan’s incredibly rich cuisine has always been inspired by many nations, yet remains unique rooted in the depths of centuries. Consequently, this has affected the local cuisine, a fusion of Turkish & central Asian elements. The Azerbaijan cuisine is one of the most extraordinary in respect of its tasty & healthy dishes distinguished by their diversity.

Azerbaijan has 9 out of 11 climate zones & that provides fertile lands to grow different types of fruits & vegetables in different regions parts the country & the rich delicious signature dishes & desserts each have their typical local styles, variations & tastes. Azeri cuisine consists of meat, rich cheese & pomegranate, the national emblem. A special place in the culinary domain belongs to lamb kebabs, which are of many different varieties. Sumac, a purple powder derived from dried berries adds a zesty flavour to plainly grilled meat. Azeris reckon their tomatoes are the best in the world & there is some justification for this. And potato chips made from locally grown potatoes, are excellent. Vegetarians end up eating a great deal of salad & lentil soup as most dishes contain meats.

Around 09.00 am, meet the Journeys Rep / Driver & proceed for a shot at becoming a master of Azerbaijani cuisine with a 4 hour cooking class.

Transfer to a home for a Cooking Workshop & gain insights into the culture as you interact with the family, spend time in the kitchen helping the lady of the house, before sitting down for a an ‘authentic’ sumptuous Azerbaijani ‘home cooked’ meal. The cuisine’s originality & national color is specified by cooking regional techniques, flavor & traditions.

You will immerse yourself in Azerbaijani culture & learn about the country’s cuisine with this lesson at the Baku family’s home as you follow the intricacies of the preparation. There is no place more exciting than an Azeri kitchen to learn about Cooking & catch up on the family banter.

Get a hands-on, insider’s introduction to cooking with Azeri spices & ingredients during this 3 hour interactive cooking class & learn the time-tested secrets behind some of the most iconic dishes. Recipes are only transmitted from generation to generation. As your Host cooks, learn about the traditional ingredients used to make every day ‘home’ meals (note how the taste at home is completely different from a restaurant meal).

The cuisine constitutes an abundance of meat, fish & vegetables dishes seasoned by sweet scented greens & spices and the Hostess may cook a mix of vegetarian & non-vegetarian dishes such as Plov (Azeri-style pilaf), lyula kebab (lamb or mutton skewer served with lavash), Qovurma (lamb stewed with onions and pomegranate), Saj Ichi (meat and vegetables cooked in a cast-iron pot)

Now, it is time to enjoy the fruits of your labour but your lesson on culture continues. Sit down to enjoy a well-earned sumptuous meal accompanied by complimentary non-alcoholic refreshments. Experience the warmth of Azeri hospitality as you interact with the family & learn about local life, arranged marriages & the value of family as you hear / share personal stories.

The last course - dessert - is always followed by the ‘chai’ (tea - the Host may have a choice of Teas in her pantry).

Finally, it is time to say good bye to the Hostess & now, accompanied by the Tour-guide, you will proceed for a sightseeing tour of Baku.

With your knowledgeable, talkative, sociable Tour-guide explaining about the culture, history & other interesting facts about Baku, you will visit different parts of city relating to various historical periods starting from middle ages to modern era.

Start with the main historical side of Baku, stopping at the UNESCO World Heritage listed Icheri Shehar (Old Town or Walled City). 

Walk along narrow cobbled stone streets lined with honey coloured city walls, Caravanserais, quaint houses & mosques that provide a nostalgic glimpse of old Baku before the oil boom of the 20^th century that created the modern city.  

Venture inside the Shirvanshahs Palace is one of the oldest & most fascinating monuments, described by UNESCO as "one of the pearls of Azerbaijan's architecture". The Palace ensemble has attracted the attention of researchers throughout the country, because of its unique 2 story structure occupying a reasonably large space, quite simple in architectural design.

This splendid confection of sandstone walls & domes was the seat of northeastern Azerbaijan’s ruling dynasty during the Middle Ages. Mostly 15^th century, it was painstakingly (over)restored in 2003 & imaginative displays give a flavour of the rich & cultured lifestyle of the Persian Sufi ruling dynasty – the music, the paradise gardens, the lovely art & rich costumes.

You will enter via the main ceremonial courtyard. A small gateway on the left leads into the courtyard of the 1428 Divanxanə, an open-sided, octagonal rotunda where Shirvanshah Khalilullah I once assembled his court: a decidedly small court it would seem, judging from the structure’s diminutive size. The upper floors were blown away by the Russian naval bombardment in the 18^th century. You may go up rooftop cafe - Floors & buy a drink or climb to the 'secret' rooftop of the Artım Art space to get a bird’s eye view

Amazingly, the beautiful complex beside the Palace includes some Museums as well as the Mausoleum of court scholar Seyid Yahya Bakuvi, Mosques, Baths & the Market Square & the 14^th century Caravanserais known as Bukhara & Multan (name of cities, signifying that the buildings were named to honor merchants from those cities).

Maiden's Tower (Giz Qalasi) is a mysterious & eccentric tower built between 7^th & 12^th centuries and may have served as a fire beacon, defensive fortification, astronomical observatory, or Zoroastrian temple. Inside the Tower at each level, multi-lingual touchscreen installations provide an overview of the Tower’s history & myths from 500 BC onwards. Climb the spiral staircase which overlooks the Caspian Sea & marvel at the stunning 360 degree view of the city.

Pass by National Flag Square which ‘was’ home to the world's second tallest Flagpole, according to the Guinness Book of Records. In September 2010, the world's tallest Flagpole (then 162m) was installed at the Bulvar's southern tip. The world record was later snatched by Dushanbe, Tajikistan, then Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. In 2018 it was removed but there are rumours that it will return taller than ever in 2020.

You can stroll around but not climb the huge base-mound. The area is pleasant for gentle bicycle rides for anyone interested (rental agents available near the Caspian Waterfront Mall).

Visit Government House, Old City Hall & Magomayev Azerbaijan State Philharmonic Hall - built in 1912 & inspired by the Monte Carlo Casino (which held the first casino in the Caucasus before being transformed to its current usage) housing the Azerbaijan State Symphony Orchestra amongst others

Stop at the "Governor's garden" & drive by Fountain Square - a tony area filled with the 19^th century mansions of the ‘old money’ oil magnates, Opera House, Musical Theatre & National Library.

You will also have the opportunity to stop at the Bibi-Heybat Mosque, one of the major monuments of Islamic architecture in Azerbaijan. The existing structure, built in the 1990s, is a recreation of the mosque with the same name built in the 13^th century by Shirvanshah Farrukhzad II Ibn Ahsitan II, which was completely destroyed by the Bolsheviks in 1936. Today it is the spiritual centre for the Muslims of the region & the modern restored mosque is a classic example of the Shirvan architectural school, having 3 domes decorated with green & turquoise mirrors, which are bordered with gilded inscriptions from the Quran.

Drive along the panoramic seaside boulevard, passing by Baku Bay, Upside Hill, Martyr's Alley, Turkish Alley & enjoying the marvelous view of the iconic Flame Towers.

The sightseeing concludes & you are transferred back to the hotel (or you can continue exploring on your & return to the hotel on your own).

Evening, get ready for another exciting experience.

Meet the Journeys Rep / Driver at 07.30 pm & embark on a 3 hour Wine Crawl.

You will experience an alternative walking tour of Baku's nightlife as you visit 3 cozy Wine Bars & enjoy1 glass of wine & 1 snack at each place (red, white & pomegranate wine) at each Bar before heading on to the next.

Enjoy the opportunity to discuss ‘wine’ in general & in Azerbaijan as a whole.

Time to go back to the hotel.

Early morning, depart for Ismayilli, stopping at a couple of interesting places.

First stop will be at Shamakhi (or Samaxi or Shemakha), one of the ancient cities of the east.   

Shamakhi has a rich heritage & has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its 2 millennia of existence & it became famous as the home of many prominent Azerbaijani philosophers, architects & scientists, such as Khagani, Nasimi, Bakuvi, Sabir, Shirvani, Hajibababekov. Once Shamakhi was also famous for its traditional Shamakhi dancers that existed up 19^th century.

The town, rightly considered to be one of the most beautiful cities of the Orient, used to be the capital of medieval state of Shirvan & in 9^th – 18^th centuries, it was the capital & the center of Shamakhi Khanate of Shirvan Empire & played one of the major roles in the region until its destruction in 1717 by Dagestanian semi-states.

Under the Russian Empire Shamakhi was the capital of Shemakha Governorate, but the devastating earthquake of 1859 hurt the city. Then capital moved to Baku & the Governorate was renamed. Shemakhi is mentioned by the great Russian poet A.S. Pushkin in "The Tale of the Golden Cockerel" ("Give me to you a damsel, Shemahan queen").

Present day Shamakhi is a recognized center of Winemaking & Carpet weaving. Besides, it is a city of literature since it was the native land of many Azerbaijani poets. Right near Shamakhi there is an amazing place called Pirkuli famous for its snowy hills. It is probably the only place in sunny Azerbaijan where you can enjoy active winter pastime: skiing & snowboarding.

The main landmark of the city is Gulistan fortress (11^th - 12^th centuries) – the last refuge of Shirvan Dynasty built for the city's defense. Equally interesting are the Mausoleum of Addy-Gyumbez (Seven Domes) with numerous burial places of Shamakhi governors, Djuma cathedral mosque (10^th century & reconstructed in the 19^th century) & numerous ruins of the 10^th - 17^th centuries.

To get to the site of excavations of Gulistan Fortress & see the remains of the towers, a short hike out of Shamakhi, you will need to climb to the top of the ‘steep’ mountain.

Built in the 8^th - 9^th centuries & rebuilt in the 12^th - 13^th centuries, the site of the excavation contains a lot of fragments of various medieval ceramics (sometimes with traces of medieval paint), which you are allowed to take with you as a souvenir. Note: visitors have to be very careful about Snakes in Spring & Summer especially.

Juma Mosque built in 743 by Abu Muslim, is considered as the oldest one in the Caucasus after the Friday mosque of Derbent (constructed in 734). Built during the governance period of Caliphate's vicar in the Caucasus & Dagestan, the Mosque underwent numerous damages due to plundering, earthquakes & wars. It was repeatedly repaired, especially after the earthquakes of 1859 & 1887.

Strongly damaged once again as a result of the next devastating earthquake of 1902, it was rebuilt & reconstructed in 1905 -1910, by the architect Iosif Ploshko. The white-stone iron-concrete structure with iron domes also suffered as a result of a fire during the March 1918 events. In the Soviet years, it was not used for its intended purpose & was repaired only in 1980. The Mosque was returned to its original appearance with the preservation of the old structure (side & rear walls, columns of the façade, etc.). In the courtyard, you can see old photographs of the Mosque.

Yeddi Gumbaz Mausoleum is situated in a Cemetery with a group of mausoleums, burial vaults of the Shirvan khans of the 18^th & 19^th centuries. Visitors can get inside only 3 of the 4 surviving mausoleums. The Tombstones inside the Mausoleums are decorated more richly than the ones outside. Also, in the Cemetery, there is the grave of the Azerbaijani poet-satirist Mirza Alakbar Sabir of the 19^th century.

Shahandan Mausoleum in the most ancient Cemetery of the city, where supposedly there is a grave of the 15^th century poet of Shahandan, brother of poet Imadaddin Nasimi. The Mausoleum was erected on this grave in the 17^th century, which has survived to this day & you can see it from inside. The grave of the Azerbaijani poet-satirist of the 19^th century Seyid Azim Shirvani is also located here.

The Museum of Mirza Alakbar Sabir, the Azerbaijani poet-satirist born in 1862 in Shamakhi was established in 1998 on the site of the house where he was born & contains 7 exposition rooms. There are about 600 exhibits stored relating to the poet and the era in which he lived & worked.

You will see ‘some’ of the city’s more prominent landmarks (as many as the time permits) before driving to the Vineyards.in the village of Meysari on the outskirt of the city.

As one of the largest vine-growing regions of Azerbaijan, Shamakhi hosted Grape & Wine Festival in August 2019 in Meysari village, aimed to encourage local grape & wine production, as well as, to promote the history of wine producing in Azerbaijan. The Festival featured wine exhibition, a parade of wine producers, an exhibition of different types of traditional folk arts & crafts specific to Shamakhi.

Shirvan Winery was set up in 2014 to produce organic wines. The factory & vineyard encompasses an area of 4398 square meters & aims to achieve an annual wine production of 1.4 million liters. The Winery has since been issued the EU’s Organic Certification allowing it to export globally.

The Vineyard with native & foreign grape varieties are harvested in natural conditions & are only hand-picked. As no chemicals are used to protect the Grapes and no artificial preservatives, dyes, aromatizers & other chemical components are used in the production process, the ‘organic’ wines are rich in vitamins & minerals, distinguished by taste, color & aroma.

Enjoy a guided tour through the Vineyards & observe the process of wine production, storage. You will have the opportunity of tasting different brands of Wines produced here.

Finish with the Winery & drive for 15 minutes to reach Madrasa village where you will enjoy Lunch with a family & taste their home-made wine.

You will dine on Fish Lavangi. Azerbaijani ‘lavangi’ is mostly prepared in the traditional tandoor (ceramic oven). Local fish kutum is cooked with a gentle, fatty & very tasty meat. The highlight of this traditional dish is the filling, which is made from nuts, pomegranate, special sauce, onions, raisins & spices.

Next stop will be Az-Granata’s Winery – a giant modern plant for processing a wide range of fruits into wines, liqueurs & juices, in the adjacent town / village of Aghsu.

The word ‘granat’ means pomegranate in Russian (‘nar’ in Azerbaijani) & indeed this Winery specialises in exciting Pomegranate Wine. In addition, they also produce an impressive range of spirits & inexpensive, easy-drinking table wines made from a range of European & Caucasian grape varieties grown on the hills of Shamakhi.

The huge area encompasses grape & pomegranate gardens of 450 & 400 hectares, respectively & a covered production space of 20500 m2.

One of the largest fruit juice producers in the South Caucasus region, a major product here is Pomegranate juice, processed by fascinating hi-tech machines which manage to extract the juice without crushing the very numerous pips.

Fruit gardens are organic & their methods of cultivation using a drip irrigation system & production are regularly checked / certified by local & foreign specialists. The Plant operates units for primary processing of fruit, the production of alcohol & bottling of wine, spirits & juices.

The Winery visit is highly engaging - don’t miss the Tetra-Pak production line. Proceed to Tasting Room adorned with barrels & an exhibition of sepia photos that illustrate the history of Winemaking in Azerbaijan. Tastings might encompass flavored vodkas & ‘Azerbaijan’s first Raki’.

Finally, drive to the village next door to another Ismailli Winery at Hajiahetemli village where you will overnight at an exotic luxury hotel with its own production & unique wine vaults.

Check-in on arrival by evening.

Chateau Monolit is set at an altitude of 1,100 meters, in beautiful rolling hills that back on to the dramatic Caucasus mountains in a very green part of the country, with frequent mists & rain in the Spring.

Although wine making in Azerbaijan has a history that goes back to the 2^nd millennium BC, the facilities at Monolit were only built in 1982 & upgraded to international standards in 2006.

Today, the facility boasts up-to-the-minute French wine-making equipment & a modern Italian-made bottling plant. Most astonishing of all is the massive stone-built cave, used to mature & store the newly made wines. Completed only two years ago, it was built of limestone, with many vaulted stone arches and brick niches to age the wines.

Walking around inside the vaults, you could swear that it was built 200 years ago. Local Wine devotees can even hire one of the spare niches to age their own stash!

The Winery produces a range of full-bodied, red wines & a fine desert wine. The dry Red is similar in character to a French Cabernet - rich, fruity & full of complex tannins that you will be able to savour on your tongue.

The good quality of the wine comes partly through the wine making process but also thanks to the local grape varieties including Matraza - a sweet, red grape from the Ganja & Saperavi - known for its dark pink flesh & very dark skin. Matraza is also used in the well-known Cabernet Sauvignon.

And now, it is time for a sumptuous dinner.

One of the oldest traditional dishes of the eastern & Caucasian cuisine is kebab (as you are aware). During frying, the meat absorbs the amazing smell of wood, grilled in the smoke resulting in an amazing aroma & taste. Marinated meat cooked on a wood or charcoal, can be rightly called a real barbecue. While serving, the dish is decorated with fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, sweet peppers & herbs.

Early morning, depart for Ganja.

Before leaving, drive & walk around ‘briefly’ exploring the small town of Ismayilli,- capital of the Ismailli Rayon province, situated on the southern slopes of the Greater Caucasus, surrounded by forests & mountains,

The territory, like all of northern Azerbaijan, was part of the Albanian state in the 4^th century B.C and the area formed the kingdom of Mehran Gyrdymans from the Sasanies dynasty.  Albanian rulers Varaz Grigor & his son Djavanshir (616 - 681) were the most prominent rulers of Albania.

Ismailli district has a number of ancient historical monuments from different periods that have been preserved. A number of colorful settlements in the area, especially Lahydj & Basgal, Ivanovka, Galadjyg, Talystan & Diyarly villages where various Tribes live & practice their traditional crafts, are notable for their ancient history & special beauty.

Ismailly district has a rich nature. The forests are composed of oak, hornbeam, beech-tree, alder-tree, birch-tree, poplar, pear, spoke & other trees. Fauna in the forests includes elk, mountain goat, chamois, deer, roe deer, bear, boar, lynx, fox, wolf, squirrel, coon, pheasant, partridge, eagle, falcon & tetra.

You will be able to see some (based on the available time) of the famous landmarks, inside the city & outside.

If time, permits, you will also briefly visit a Carpet workshop here.

Near the city center, is the Heydar Aliyev Park, with its musical fountain, cozy benches & stylish lanterns made to order in Europe. Very popular with the locals, both old & young, crowds gather here in the evenings, sit under the majestic century-old plane trees, listen to music & watch the news on the huge monitor installed on the building of the Ismayilli Center for Culture & Tourism.

Throughout the Park on the lawns are installed large ceramic jugs & various sculptural compositions. A multi-stage central fountain of rectangular shape divides the Park into 2 & attracts attention with an illuminated Art Nouveau Glass Bridge. In one of the corners, is a Japanese Garden, with decorative trees planted among the picturesquely placed stones and you will see people sitting here in the Gazebos, contemplating the surrounding beauty.

Right next to the Park is the Ismayilli Museum of Local History, where one can get acquainted with the rich history of the region.

The Collection includes more than 1000 exhibits, among which there are many unique ones, such as, for example, the oldest ‘preserved’ butter found in the world! It was discovered in an amphora in the village of Mollaisagli during the construction of the Oguz-Gyabala-Baku water pipeline. Specialists of the capital's Museum of Archeology along with the Scientists conducted an extensive examination & found that the origin of butter is related to 3^rd century BC.

Many samples of pottery of that time, bronze ornaments & Burial relics of people dating to the 2^nd century BC can also be seen. The Museum also has a ‘Stone’ collection, presumably from a Meteorite that flew to earth from the depths of the Cosmos. The unusual molten surface of the stone, large weight with small dimensions leaves no doubt about its origin.

Outside the city core, you will see the most famous monument of the area in the village of Hanaghay, about 10 km from the district center, is the Maiden's Tower located on top of a steep mountain covered with such a dense forest that it is possible to say that the sun's rays do not penetrate, which is why there is always coolness here.

To reach the Maiden Tower, you will drive across a fast mountain river, which adds a certain amount of excitement to the journey. From the Parking zone, there is a slight walk (or you can opt to ride a horse). But, the indescribably beautiful panoramic views from the top make it a worth the effort.

From the Tower there is an underground tunnel leading to the Djavanshir Fortress, a few kilometers away in the neighboring village. Over time, the Tunnel collapsed, but some of its parts have survived to this day.

The Fortress is the pride of Ismayilli. In the vicinity of the village there are traces of 4 other ancient settlements & 5 Cemeteries. It is assumed that the territory has a 2000 year history & the construction date varies from 7^th – 11^th century. This defensive fortress, covering an area of 1.5 hectares, was erected on the right bank of the Ah-Oh river, on top of a mountain surrounded by steep cliffs.

The Fortress consists of the outer & inner parts (Ichgala). The thickness of the outer southern wall is 2 meters & the height is 10 meters. The inner living area Ichgala, covering 2 hectares, is built on the very top of the mountain. Only some towers, walls & part of the terrace have been preserved. Near the Fortress, surrounded by a dense forest, there is a picturesque waterfall.

You may also drive by the picturesque village of Galachyg, which gained fame as the location of the famous episodes from the classics of the Azerbaijani cinema "Stepmother". This is the only village in the Ismayilli region, where once can see huge chestnuts trees everywhere, covering the surroundings with the shadow of their powerful foliage.

Stop at some more interesting places to gain further insights into Caucasian culture on the ancient Silk Route.

Drive to the small village of Ivanovka - Little Russia in the Ismayilli region.

Ivanovka is located in the valley of the Acinohur Mountains, at the height of 500 - 800 meters above sea level, between the Goychay & Davabatan river.

Centuries old traditions of this village with its small Russian ethnic religious community of Molokans, distinguish it from all other villages of Azerbaijan Republic.

Founded in 1834 by Russian ‘Molokan’ peasants from central Russia, who were exiled for not wanting to accept Russian church reform & adhere to the Old Believers and resettled in the Caucasus by Tsar Nicholas I in the years following the Treaty of Turkmenchay at the end of the Russo-Persian War (1826 - 1828).

A distinctive feature of Ivanovka is that it was formerly located in a different region of Azerbaijan & the settlement was transferred later to Ismayilli. The population of 3100 also consists of Lezghin & Azerbaijani tribes.

Ivanovka's features an amazing architecture with its ancient classic old style standard wooden houses decorated with frames & carved ornaments, lined up in rows separated by roads that form wide streets. Near each house there is a bench. In the gardens grow fruits, melons, corn, sunflowers, etc.

Main attraction here is the famous Ivanovka Palace of Culture, a monumental building constructed during 1981-1985. The main chandelier of the Palace hall weighs 600 kg & the rays of its 270 lamps illuminate the entire space of the hall. There is also a modern Cinema & a Banquet Hall.

But, İvanovka is more famous as the last place in the country to maintain its Soviet-style Collective Farm famed for fresh produce, wine & honey. You will see miles & miles of golden wheat fields.

After the collapse of the USSR, all the Collective Farms fell into decay & were liquidated. But in Ivanovka in 1930, the "Kolkhoz" (Collective Farm) was preserved as it was everywhere at that time & where the system of collective social labor still functions today.

Agriculture accounts for the main livelihood of the population engaged in the viticulture & animal husbandry. The main crops that are cultivated are grapes, wheat, sunflowers & peas. Livestock are also reared (cows, pigs & poultry) & dairy products - butter, sour cream, cheese, cereals, honey & nuts etc. is produced for the local market.

The local Kolkhoz is still in good use & has won recognition among the residents of the capital. In many shops in Baku & other cities, eco-friendly products grown in Ivanovka are sold. Ivanovka's bread is also popular & tasty. This bread, whose weight is 2 to 3 kg, does not ruin for a long time.  

Spend an hour here before driving on to Lahij.

Lahij (or Lahic or Lahich) one of the main points on the Great Silk Road & one of the most ancient human settlements in Azerbaijan on the southern slopes of the Greater Caucasus Mountain.

Lahıc can feel just a little touristy at weekends when Bakuvians arrive to get photographed in vaguely preposterous sheepskin costumes. Listening to the mellifluous calls to prayers from the Mosques as mists swirl around the partly forested crags & meeting locals who, more than in any almost other village in Azerbaijan, speak a smattering of English, you will find delightful.

This medieval pretty, highland town is one of the most famous in the Caucasus and is much more beyond its trade & shopping centers. A unique living district, with its unusual planning lay out, transport systems, and its public, private & religious buildings, Lahij is an example of early urbanization & architecture, as illustrated by its cobbled streets & squares, together with its developed sewerage systems & water pipelines. Subterranean kurabandis (‘sewerage system’), made from river stones & dating back to almost 1000  - 1500  years, are thought to be one of the most ancient sewerage systems used in the world. None of the residents know where the Sewerage starts & where it ends, and by what principle it works, which does not prevent the collector from functioning for many centuries. Due to frequent earthquakes local people have developed sophisticated & authentic construction techniques.

During the Medieval Period, Lahij became an important centre of Craftsmen in Azerbaijan. Lahij master craftsmen could create 40 types of items related to Folk Art. These skilled craftsmen included jewelers, blacksmiths, carpenters, carpet makers, engravers, painters, tanners, shoemakers, sock weavers & others. Skilled potters & wood carvers make articles of copper, leather, embossing here & especially famous are the manufactured cold steel & copper utensils, decorated with engraved ornament.

The residents of Lahij are divided into 3 categories, based on their craftsmanship or professions: Baadvan, Azavarro & Araghird. Each of these categories has its own Village Square, Mosque, Hammam & Graveyard. One of the most striking features of the urban look of Lahij, are the respective village squares, which, today, still have specific roles in the public life of the village. With a population of approximately 860 ONLY ethnic Tats who speak the Tat language with a Persian dialect, Lahij is a notable place with its authentic handicrafts & traditions, particularly related to copper & weapon production in Azerbaijan in the 18^th & 19^th centuries.

Copper work is the most important of the skills developed by Lahij craftsmen, renowned for producing arms & copper items, decorated with carved ornaments. The development of copper production triggered the formation of such professions in Lahij as tinsmith, blacksmith & others, together with the creation of bituminous coal.

The structure & supplies of Copper Workshops, as well as its traditional external look & production processes remain preserved today, as they were in previous centuries.  Written sources, as well as, the rich copperware collections that may be seen in the Museums of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russia & Europe, prove the existence of over 80 types of copperware equipment used in copperware manufacturing in Lahij.

Leather goods’ manufacture was the 2^nd biggest craft skill in Lahij, after that of Coppersmith. The local leather goods’ master craftsmen were expert in using shagren, tumaj & yuft as raw materials for various products such as shoes, belts, leather quilted jackets, book covers and bridles. Leather production in Lahij created suitable conditions for the development of other craftsmen, with associated skills – such as saddle makers, bridle makers, cobblers, hat makers and sheepskin makers. The village's carpet & rug crafts are also well known in Azerbaijan & South Caucasus.

Lahij, due to its unique & original features, has, throughout its history, been a centre of gravity for writers, scholars, artists & filmmakers, and, today, the residents make considerable efforts to promote the Region's cultural heritage & both Azerbaijani & foreign experts have written research papers about this unique village. Lahij & its residents have been featured in films shown at international contests & film festivals.

Carpet weaving builds sustainable livelihoods for women in the remote mountain communities of Azerbaijan. In Lahij, centuries old techniques are still traditionally used by Azerbaijani carpet artisans.

Carpet weaving is closely connected with the daily life & customs of the communities & its role is reflected in the meaning of the designs & their applications. Thus, girls seated on carpets tell fortunes & sing traditional songs at Novruz (the regional New Year).

Carpets are widely used in the daily life of local people throughout Azerbaijan to this day; they are used to cover floors, walls & roofs of houses. Special carpets are often woven for prayer, wedding ceremonies, mourning rituals, prayers or the birth of a child.

Produced predominantly by women, carpet-weaving is a family tradition transmitted to new generations both orally and through practice. As tradition goes, the weaving is undertaken during winter, as extended family members assemble, each to perform their portion of creative work, with girls learning from their mothers and grandmothers, and wives assisting their mothers-in-law.

Walk around in the quaint historic village & visit the home workshop of a 3^rd generation carpet-weaver from Lahij village - Kamala Nesrullayeva who was taught to weave when she was 5 years old. She set up her loom atop her mother’s dowry rug - a rug knitted by her grandmother. As her son sits at Kamala’s loom to show his weaving skills, 4 generations of Azeri culture is captured in the moment.

Spend an hour interacting with her & her family as she explains about the Looms & demonstrate the weaving techniques.

You will have lunch here.

Enjoy “3 Baji” (literal meaning - 3 sisters) - a traditional vegetable dolma consisting of eggplants, tomatoes & sweet pepper or with grape leaves. The name of this ancient national dish originates with the Azerbaijani verb doldurmag (to stuff) & refers to stuffing of various leaves, vegetables & fruits. The filling includes minced meat (fried or uncooked), rice & aromatic herbs for dolma made of vine & cabbage leaves.

There are currently more than 25 varieties of dolma. In spring it is made of vine leaves, in summer of aubergines (egg-plants), tomatoes, peppers & cucumbers, in autumn it is made of cabbage leaves, apple & quince, in winter it is made of preserved vine leaves.

Post lunch, depart for Gabala & on arrival, immediately embark on a sightseeing of this ancient city. .

Gabala, is one of the most beautiful parts of Azerbaijan, rightly called “Azerbaijani Switzerland”, with a rich & ancient history. There is a great number of historical & cultural monuments of different eras in this region.

Sometime in the past this city (Kabbalah) was the capital of Caucasian Albania for 600 years, mentioned in the works of antique historians of the 1^ST century. Later in the Arabian sources, it was mentioned as Khazar. Up to this present time there are the ruins of the ancient city and the main gate of Caucasian Albania. Ongoing excavations near the village Chukhur confirm that Gabala from 4^th - 18^th centuries was one of the major cities with developed trade & crafts.

At first Gabala was a part of Shirvanshahs state & later Sheki khanate. The city was repeatedly exposed to devastating invasions. But despite this, Gabala has preserved material evidence of its civilized past.

The ruins of ancient Gabala are a short distance away from the present day city but the excavation finds from the ancient settlement can be seen in the City Museum. The area around Gabala also boasts of numerous historical & architectural monuments amidst the ruins of an ancient city said to be about 2,000 years old.

Other attractions here, are the famous 500 year old nut & chestnut forests - so called Russian forests, river valleys & numerous picturesque villages. Blooming chestnuts are a unique sight in the spring time.

Flora & fauna of the district are extraordinary rich: in the woods & mountain pastures can be found noble deer & wild boar, hare, bears, wolves, foxes and numerous birds - pheasant, grouse, francolin, etc. The abundance of game in the season attracts many hunters.

After passing through the picturesque streets of the city, you will visit the largest open air amusement park in Azerbaijan - Gabaland covering an area of 16 hectares. The town also hosts an annual International Music Festival of classical music, jazz & Mugham, which is attended by bands & artists from all around the world. Not surprisingly that exactly in Gabala, is located a factory for piano manufacturing under the famous Dutch brand Beltman.

However, we will be exploring another Winery here.

The Savalan Winery located in the foothills of a magnificent Caucasus mountain that protects the area from all winds & is nicknamed by the people as a "sleeping beauty".

See the crystal-clear water cascading down the slopes from the Mountains, winding its way through the lavish land below suffusing the sun-bathed vines.

These ripe, abundant grapes are then collected & handled with care before being transformed by the apparent magic of a Wine Master into wine.

The vines (most yields of seedlings offered by leading companies like Italy’s Vivai Cooperativi Rauscedo (VCR) & France’s Gontard Freres) grown 400 meters above sea level, surrounded by the river, where the average temperature, the amount of precipitation & daily / annual ratio of sunshine hours consummately integrate with each other & create unique climatic conditions that enables the 350 hectare Vineyards where 22 wine grape varieties & 12 table grape varieties are grown including, but not limited to Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Alicante Bouchet, Cabenet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Syrah, Riesling, Moscato White, Aleatico,Traminer & Verdejo.

The large state of the art Winery is used to create unique Wines in the best traditions of international quality. The products are constantly tested at the modern in-house Laboratory & are stored inside high quality oak barrels produced in France & İtaly.

Stroll around the Vineyards & observe the production to get an insight in the Azerbaijan wine making traditions.

After spending time here, start on the 2 hour drive for Ganja, the final destination.

Reach Ganja by evening & Check-in at the hotel.

Ganja provides a feel of the real Azerbaijan away from the capital’s colossal development projects funded by oil money. An Arab established a settlement in modern-day Ganja more than 1300 years ago. According to legend, he found a treasure & became the governor. Both the Persians & Arabs destroyed the area in the 7^th century.

After passing through a series of rulers, in the middle of 10^th century Ganja became the capital of Shadadit - one of the smaller khanates on the territory of Azerbaijan. Then it was conquered by the Turkish Seljuks. In 11^th century, there was a major earthquake which destroyed the city & led to the disintegration of Seljuk state. But, as an after effect, a number of picturesque lakes were formed: Lake Gek - Gel, Lake Maral-Gel, Lake Dzheran-Gel, Lake Ordek-Gel & more, among them.

The city was rebuilt & Ganja became the second capital of Atabek state in 12^th century & in 18^th century, it became the center of Ganja Khanate.

Ongoing battles between the Turkish, Persians & Russians eventually culminated in Ganja, coming under Russian control in 1813. Renamed Elisabethpol after Tsar Alexander’s wife & later Kirovabad by Stalin and was the 2^nd biggest industrial & cultural city in Azerbaijan after Baku.

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Owing to the centuries-old history, the city became the location of numerous historical & architectural monuments with strongly pronounced Azerbaijan national color.

Among the surviving landmarks are the 14^th - 17^th centuries Gei-Imam cult complex, the 17^th century Djuma Mosque, a variety of picturesque old houses, well-known stone sculptures of horses & other pets.

Balance of the day is at leisure (we would be happy to offer suggestions).You might want to visit the local market & walk along the waterfront of the Caspian Sea.

Morning, Check-out & embark on a sightseeing tour of ancient Ganja, before leaving for Sheki, the final destination today.

In Ganja, visitors will find a blend of Islamic & Azerbaijani architecture, historical relics & an unrivalled level of hospitality. After passing through a series of rulers, each made their mark on the skyline. Minarets from 16^th century mosques sit next to Soviet residential blocks. The lavish Heydar Aliyev Park & its imposing Arch of Triumph represent the modern.

Proceed on a walking tour, visiting the UNESCO World Heritage listed Mausoleum of medieval Azerbaijani poet Nizami Ganjavi. There is 20 metre tall marble monument which has cast iron figures depicting scenes from Nizami poems. There is also a Museum, Art Gallery, Theater of Poetry named after Nizami.

You will also see a very unique Bottle House, a 2 storey building constructed of approximately 50,000 bottles, built by Ibrahim Jafarov in 1966 in honor of his brother missing in the Great Patriotic War.

Very popular with locals & visitors, are Ganja’s many picturesque alleys & parks, the largest & most beautiful of which is “Khan Baghi” (“Khan’s garden”), named so in the reign of Javad Khan (1748 -1803). Recently, the Park was renovated & as if shaking off its venerable age, has become younger and now boasts fountains with a modern lighting system, cafes, a theater & also birds: peacocks, white swans & pink flamingos.

Among the ancient monuments are: the big & small 12th century bridges & the palace of Sultan Darus numerous towers, madrasas, baths & caravanserais.

There are also several ancient mosques. You will see one of the most important, the central Juma (Shah Abbas) Mosque, A prominent Azerbaijani poet Vazeh taught for a long period at the madrasa in the Juma Mosque.

City baths are very notable by their striking colors and attractive domes. The ancient Chokak Bath was restored recently & now again functions as a traditional hamam.

Visit the Mausoleum of Sheikh Ibrahim preserved its original beauty, the restored Shah Abbas Caravanserai that has been converted into a modern hotel; See the near-by Tomb of Javad Khan.

Stop at the magnificent religious & historical 14^th century "Imamzade" complex with its blue domes. It is said that the son of 5^th Imam Mohammad Baghir Ibrahim was buried there.

There are also some beautiful churches, the 17^th century Armenian Church, 15^th century Caucasian Albanian Church which is now used by the Ganja State Philharmonic Chamber;

The city sightseeing concludes but Ganja is not finished yet.

Drive to the outskirts of the city to the village of Helenendorf with an interesting history.

Helenendorf (now called Goygol) was a settlement founded by German settlers from Württemberg who settled here in 1819. From the original 2 German colonies in Azerbaijan - Helenendorf & Annenfeld – near Ganja (called Elisabethpol Uyezd in 1819) the number of German settlements increased & reached 8 by the beginning of 20^th century.

German colonists worked in the field of viticulture & wine production in Azerbaijan. The Vohrer & Hummel families ran Wineries & owned several farms. Beer & cognac factories were built by the Vohrer brothers' firm in Helenendorf.

Education & culture in the German community were of great importance. In 1842 the first school building was built in Helenendorf. A total of 8 schools functioned in the German Azerbaijani villages & one was started in Baku. At the end of 1920, an Engineering school & in the 1930s the School of Viticulture & Oenology (Azerbaijan’s first & only School for formal learning about Wine production) was set up here.

Agriculture & various kinds of art also developed. In 1922, a state-owned Wine-making production named "Concordia" was established here & in the 1930s, Kolkhozes (Collective Farms) began to function. After the establishment of Soviet rule, the German-language newspapers "Bauer und Arbeiter" & "Lenins Weg" were published in Azerbaijan.

Lutheran churches were established in Helenendorf & Annenfeld in 1854 & 1909 respectively. A Lutheran church opened much later in Baku in 1899. In 1928, an Ethnological Museum was opened in Helenendorf by the initiative of archaeologist Hummel and a cultural club was started which included a theatre, sports associations, an orchestra, a choir & a library.

In 1918 -1920, Lorenz Kuhn was the representative of the German population in the Parliament of the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan. At that time, one of important historical event to commemorate the local Germans took place - the 100^th anniversary of the Germans' Helenendorf colony & other settlements was celebrated in Azerbaijan on June 9, 1919.

Spend an hour walking around Helenendorf, the biggest, most beautiful & richest of the German colonies in the Caucasus.

But the highlight here will be to visit one of the oldest Wine Plant in the South Caucasus - “Goygol Wine Factory”, established in 1860.

When the Germans first settled here, the local government required that newcomers should be good craftsmen or farmers, specializing either in wine growing, silk production or cattle breeding.  

The first Germans who engaged in Winemaking in Helenendorf were the Hummel & Vohrer families. The members of these families would later become the prominent founders & managers of a Co-operative of Winemakers called “Concordia”. Both families would greatly contribute to the life of the German colonies of the Transcaucasia & became prominent community leaders.

The story of the both families is impressive. In 1846 Christopher Vohrer planted a Vineyard on his land & selected the type of grapes to cultivate, taking into account the topography & unique climate. Obviously, he was wildly successful, because in 1856 the French silk traders praised Vorher's wine while passing through the nearby town of Sheki.

As early as 1862, he had founded a joint stock company known as "Christopher Vohrer & Brothers". Almost 30 years later, the 65-year-old Christopher passed the Company on to his sons.

By 1895, the Hummel family had also planted Vineyards & established a Crafts company & a Wine Cellar to distribute wines from Baku to Tbilisi.  The Baku-Tbilisi Railway further facilitated their commercial success. Large wood & stone barrels which were lined with glass, as well as press & cooling systems, also led to the improvement in the taste of the wine.

The “Concordia” Co-operative’s Goygol Wine Plant, founded in 1922 by Vohrer & Hummel families, was the largest wine-making farm (one of the only 4 Enterprises in the Russian Empire producing champagne using classic French technology) in the Caucasus, producing wine, cognac, champagne & vodka at that time. The Grape varieties grown in the Goygol & Samukh regions of Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet-Sauvignon, Saperavi, Madrasa, Shiraz, Sauvignon blanc, Rkatsiteli, Grenache, Muscat, Bayan-shire grape varieties.

By the end of the 19^th century, it became the first Company to export Wine from Azerbaijan to Europe - Germany & the Netherlands mainly. By the time World War II broke out, the Company also owned several Brandy, Cognac Breweries, Wine Distilleries, a water mill & a Stud Farm.

Today the Goygol wines combine ancient history, great traditions, classic recipe & modern technologies, which make it unique. Vohrer & Hummel families now sell around 350,000 liters of wine annually.

After finishing with Winery, continue driving to the next stop.

Arrive at Mingachevir, the 4^th largest city in Azerbaijan, known as city of lights because of its hydroelectric power station on the Kur River, which splits the city in half.   

The area has been settled for thousands of years, but the current city was founded in 1948, partly by German soldiers who were taken prisoner during World War II. A fierce battle took place between the powerful army of Roman command under Pompey & the yet army of Albanian governor.

Historical facts also prove that the ancient Silk Road passed via Mingechevir & interestingly, the road passing from here used to be called the “road of messenger” which connected lots of camelcades & caravans. Several mosques, workshops manufacturing fiber silk & silk cloth, operating in this settlement.

Mingachevir is a neat, planned city of well-tended wide green avenues, attractive parks & several interesting public statues.

That Dam created a vast reservoir of around 600 square kilometres that is now Azerbaijan’s biggest lake. Meanwhile, the river gorge through which the waters once surged is now calmed into a steady-flowing wide waterway that cuts the city in two, the Kura forming a limpidly perfect setting for Azerbaijan’s National Rowing & Canoeing Centre. The Centre is a state-of-the-art facility popular throughout the winter with Russian rowers seeking warmer climes. And the main section of rowable river lies handily close to the main bridge at the heart of town.

Just north of the bridge, a tree-shaded Park attractively filters the sunlight for tea drinkers at comparatively unsophisticated summer cafes. At the back of the cafes are a couple of jetties from which visitors can take very short pleasure cruises – daring the superstitious to ride on a boat named ‘Titanik’. A few hundred metres south of here is the main sports complex that includes a full Olympic size swimming pool and a river-view tower-restaurant which looks like a futuristic airport control tower. The city has many Parks & a couple of historical monuments

You may enjoy a boat cruise here (direct payment – not included). 

The Mingachevir Historical Museum was established in January 1968 & features 2 sections - Martyrs’ Memorial & Independence Museum with 14,461 exhibits. The city is also home to Mingachevir Gallery, which includes 310 works of art by Azerbaijani & Russian artists.

East of the river the town appears to pivot around a large oval of mid-Soviet era public buildings dominated by an archetypal theatre named after Marziyya Davudova, an actress of Tatar descent who reached the height of her fame in 1949 (named People’s Artist of the USSR) just as Mingachevir was being built. To the southeast, the city’s sizeable mosque is worth a look for its oddly shaped minarets, like intercontinental ballistic milk-churns.

Send an hour here & drive on to Kish, one of the oldest of Azerbaijani villages, well known for the unique ancient Albanian temple.

This antique temple - mother of Alban churches, has a special status among Christian Albanian monuments. It is valuable not only as an architectural monument but also because of its outstanding historical significance. The official date of its birth is the 1^st century AD when the territory of Azerbaijan included the Caucasian part of Albania.

Historians assume that the Church was founded by Apostle Elise who brought Christianity to Albania. “Elise having received the Orient as his lot went from Jerusalem to Persia & started to preach with his 3 pupils. There, he was persecuted so he came to Kish where he founded a Church & made a bloodless sacrifice”

The Church has been of intense interest to scholars & excavations revealed that it was built in 5^th century on a site that once held a pagan Moon Temple. The Church is being renovated & will be turned into a Museum of History highlighting Caucasian Albania’s 1000 year of the existence. It is believed that the Church in Kish is one of the most ancient centre of Christianity in the entire world.

Spend time here before driving to Sheki.

Arrive by late afternoon & Check-in at the hotel.

Balance of the afternoon is at leisure to relax or for independent exploration (we shall be happy to offer suggestions). 

Few foreigners visit Azerbaijan beyond its capital city of Baku. In so doing, they overlook a true gem in the form of Sheki.

A relatively small city, Sheki is set in a picturesque setting - it lies in the rolling, thickly forested foothills, which spread out to the south, while to the immediate north are the dramatic, snow-capped peaks of the Greater Caucasus - a mountain area rich in narrow gorges & green valleys, springs, purest rivers, waterfalls & mineral water springs framed by dense wood & alpine meadows.

But more than anything, the relaxed pace of life evident in Sheki's central market & tea houses makes the city a welcome respite from whatever cares may trouble you. Rich in Islamic architecture, Silk Road history, good food & friendly people, this is travel & leisure in the Caucasus at its finest. Sheki has its own theatre, a historical museum, the house-museum of the Azerbaijan writer & philosopher M.F. Ahundov.

Throughout its history, Sheki swung between independence & foreign domination.

In earlier centuries, Sheki was the seat of an Albanian kingdom, which was invaded repeatedly by the Persian, Roman, Parthian, Arab, Mongolian & other empires. In the past millennium, Sheki fell under the influence & often the direct rule of Persia or the Shirvanshahs of Baku. Shortly after the 18^th century collapse of the Safavid Empire, Sheki became the capital of the independent Sheki Khanate, during which the Khansarai was built. But Sheki's independence did not last long; it was absorbed in the early 19^th century by an expansionist Russian Empire.

Archeological data testify that the city can be considered one of the oldest settlements in the Caucasus; many finds on its territory are dated as old as 2,500 years. Due to Sheki's rather tumultuous political history (in a turbulent region), the majority of Sheki's preserved historic & architectural monuments date from only the 16^th - 19^th centuries.

In addition to enjoying the views & wandering the leafy streets, there are 2 sights in Sheki that you really cannot miss: the Khansarai & the Caravansarai. .

Sheki is a major center of crafts. The city still has street names that indicate the ancient professions - Duluzchular (potters), Zargarlar (jewelers), Halvachylar (confectioners), etc. By the way, be sure to try the famous, mouth-watering Sheki baklava, which is manufactured and sold in numerous family confectionary stores in the city center. You can buy jewels & engravings by local craftsmen.

There are numerous unique monuments of history that have survived, scattered around Sheki. Among those are the 18^th century “Kyumbazi” Towers in Kutkashen, Sumug Fortress & a mosque in Ilisu, a Fortress & Kish Mausoleum, a 4^th century Fortress in Ukhary -Chardahlar & numerous ruins. Depending on the available time, you might visit a couple of those.

Evening, enjoy a sumptuous dinner at one of the restaurants.

You can have Azerbaijani pilaf with chestnuts & meat.

This pilaf is a little different from other pilaf varieties in other Central Asian countries. Rice is prepared in a special way, cooked differently with chestnuts. Lot of accompanying additives / dishes to the main Pilaf. Cream melted butter, simmering onion rings fried with turmeric. Meat, meanwhile, is cooked separately in salted water, which in the end is sprinkled with fried onion oil, dried plum & roasted chestnuts.

Come back to the hotel.

Today, travel back to the atmosphere of the Silk Road in Sheki's UNESCO World Heritage old town.

Meet the Tour-guide at 08.00 am & proceed for a 4 hour sightseeing tour of the city.

Soak up the bucolic atmosphere, admire the intricate brickwork & hunt for some historical relics. This upper part of the city is made up of 19^th century merchant housing with distinctive gabled roofs, mosques & hammams, reflecting Sheki’s long history as a former hub of the Silk Trade.

You can visit house museums to local literary heroes Mirza Fatali Akhundzade & Bakhtiyar Vahabzade and call into the Sheki Khans’ House.

The city can boasts many historical & architectural places of interest, but its pride is that magnificent work of Islamic architecture, UNESCO World Heritage Site of Khansarai - the 18^th century majestic royal palace of Sheki Khans with its magnificent wall paintings & tracery windows in the stone citadel. During the city's period of independence as the Sheki Khanate, Khan Hussein constructed the palace, its gardens, and fortifications to serve as the summer palace of the Sheki Khans. The palace is exquisite, inside & out, and the courtyard boasts panoramic views of the city & the surrounding mountain forests. It is said that during the construction of the palace, not a single nail was used. You can hardly find another Palace like this.

The other ‘must-see’ located close by is the Caravanserai, constructed by the Sheki Khans to house caravans as they passed through on the Silk Road to & from China.

Sheki was famous as the city of craftsmen & merchants. Merchants & traders from the countries of the Great Silk route used to gather there. Therefore, a great attention was paid to construction of caravanserais. Caravanserais were built with a view of all convenience & safety of merchants & their goods. In Sheki caravanserais merchants stored their goods in cellars, traded on the first floor & lived on the second. Each floor had more than 200 rooms. According to the tradition caravanserais had two & even four entrances. When closed, caravan serais turned into fortresses. This was one of 5 such stops in Azerbaijan during the 18^th & 19^th centuries, and was the biggest Caravanserai on the Silk Road in the entire Trans-Caucasus region. Only two of them have survived.

To this day, The Upper caravanserai (floor) still serves as a place for travellers to stay & eat (in addition to being a main sight, it is also one of the city's few hotel options), & also as a place where one can simply admire its beautiful architecture.

You will also be visiting the picturesque 18^th century Juma Mosque decorated with exquisite geometric designs & with its 40m spire, from which you will hear the resounding call to prayer 5 times a day.

Sheki, in addition to being and an important stop along the Silk Road, has been a major silk producer over the past 4 centuries & is famous for its various silk products.

On the historic trading street named after legendary local writer Mirza Fatali Akhundzade, step into small boutiques & admire the authentic craftsmanship, whether it be witnessing patterns being printed onto the colourful kelaghayi headscarves traditionally worn by Azerbaijani women or decorating clothes & cushions with intricate floral designs using a technique known as takalduz embroidery.

Meet talented artisans making pots, papags (a national hat), miniature caskets & national instruments whose skills have been passed down through generations. In the Sheki Fortress, call into the shebeke workshop to see spectacular mosaics being painstakingly composed of thousands of tiny pieces of stained glass held together in wooden lattices of all shapes and sizes.

Step into Sheki's boutiques & admire their authentic craftsmanship.

Sheki's silk factory is about a 15 minute walk from the centre of town.

Silkworms were cultivated in local gardens & hundreds of local shops produced silk & silk garments. By 16^th century, Sheki was the most important silk producing centre in the whole of the Caucasus & one of the world’s biggest Silk factory was built in 1829. By 19^th century, it became known as the “Caucasian Lyon”, a reference to the centre of silk production in France.

Merchants & travellers traded and exported beautiful silk fabrics & gold-embroidered shawls from here & from 15^th century onwards, gossamer-like Sheki silk became renowned for its durability & consequently, was highly prized.

Today, the Sheki Silk factory makes silk carpets, shawls & scarves using natural dyes.

However, it is quite difficult to gain entrance into the factory but there is a store adjoining the factory, where you can find fine silk goods made in the factory. (we would be able to get permission to go inside in case of Groups of 15+).

Return to the hotel.

Balance of the day is at leisure to relax or for independent exploration (we shall be happy to offer suggestions). 

Morning, depart back to Baku, enroute stopping at another iconic place which played a part in Azerbaijani folklore.

Stop at the village of Basgal, the home of Azerbaijani Kelaghayi making.

The legacy of the Silk Road is still visible in the picturesque village of Basgal. At first glance, resembling the old Baku fortress, the village pleases the eye with its well-groomed look. The population of the village is small. 20 years ago there lived 3,000 people, now there are about 1,500 left but keeping alive the ancient traditions & culture.

Narrow streets, paved with cobblestone & houses built from the same stones, create a special atmosphere. The construction style is unique in view of the frequent earthquakes in the region. In building the structure with river stones, after every 5-6 layers of stones, there is a layer of strong wooden logs. Specialists call this "seismic belt", where the Logs absorb the pressure & are almost resistant to earthquakes. They also have a 12^th century Sewage system called kyurebend which is fully functional & performing as it did for centuries.

A unique feature is that all the houses are facing the facade to Mecca. Another distinctive feature is that since the 17^th century, the Hammams here were arranged inside the 2 story houses with courtyards, neatly lined along the street. On the 1^st floor there are utility rooms, the 2^nd floor is residential.

In honor of this village the well-known Azerbaijani melody "Basgal" was created. Some episodes of the classic Soviet film series "On the Far Shores" (1958) were filmed here.

Since the Middle-ages, Basgal was one of the pre-eminent centers of crafts & silk spinning on the Silk Road & almost every house had old silk spinning machines. The art of dyers, weavers & silkworms passed from generation to generation. The most popular silk product of course, was the Kelaghayis - the exquisite silk headscarves & shawls traditionally worn by Azerbaijani women.

A wonderful example of Azerbaijani folk art, Kelaghayi is produced exclusively in Azerbaijan & was one of the main attributes of Azerbaijani women's clothing, regardless of social status. Kelaghayis were produced for girls, for middle-aged & elderly women.

The headscarves can be of different colors & sizes with patterns are usually decorated with vegetal or geometric patterns all over the edge & / or the center of the product, made using the batik technique - a method of stamping on hot wax to prevent the dye from colouring the fabric. The most valuable Kelaghayi produced in Basgal are the ones with 6 or 7 colors.

Usually for Weddings, red coloured Kelaghayi is used. For mourning events everyone wears black Kelaghayi. On a daily basis, women wore white, cream & brown Kelaghayi.

The way how a Kelaghayi is worn also has different connotations. Younger women covered their heads with a Kelaghayi as "Orpeg", & older women tied a Kelaghayi as "turban" or "dinge". At present, Kelaghayi can be worn, for example, as a shawl worn over the shoulders, like a pareo, pancho, etc.

In the past, silk weaving & Kelaghayi making were practised in every single household in the village, but these crafts found themselves on the verge of disappearance by the end of the Soviet period & the  national Kelaghayi went out of fashion.

The revival began in the early 2000s when a Baskal Silk Center was established here & today, a new generation of designers being inspired by the headscarf’s symbolism & beauty, are striving to modernise it & make it fashionable again. In addition to Kelaghayi, other silk products are also produced.

You will visit the Center to attend an impromptu hour long Kelaghayi masterclass & learn the secrets of producing a Kelaghayi. There is also a small Museum of Kalagayi.

Reach by late evening & Check-in at the hotel.

Balance of the day is at leisure to relax or for independent exploration (we shall be happy to offer suggestions about optional programs & arrange). 

Nightlife in Baku can be quiet or frenetic - take your pick. There are plenty of glitzy clubs (with prices to match) where you can dance till dawn. The names & locations change with dizzying speed. Dress to impress - in this part, you can never wear too much.

The downtown area around Fountains Square is where many of the most popular bars, pubs, cafes are located. As the names suggest, places like O’Malley’s, Clansman & Shakespeare are lively expat hangouts.

Many Bars are in the basement & incredibly hot & smoky. The cafe-bars on the Boulevard are a quitter & classier alternatives. Azeri Bars are quite simple & serve mainly beer & Russian vodka. The top hotels have their own niche bars & nightclubs and there are a handful of downtown Jazz clubs. Baku is entirely safe to walk around, even in the night.

Morning, meet your Tour-guide in the lobby at 08.00 am to proceed for a 8 hour excursion to Absheron Peninsula just outside the city, which boasts of several interesting sites (in contrast to the ‘scenic’ routes, the scenery along this route is fascinatingly ugly - a desert wasteland with white salt flats & natural oil pools seeping up to the surface).

Fist stop will be at Yanar Dag - meaning "fire-mountain" - on Azerbaijan's Absheron Peninsula.  A natural gas fire blazes continuously on a hillside & has burned continuously for 4,000 years" even in the rain, snow, wind. The tall flames jetting into the air 3 meters from a thin, porous sandstone layer, dance restlessly across a 10 meter stretch of hillside, making a hot day even hotter.

Morning, meet your Tour-guide in the lobby at 08.00 am to proceed for a 8 hour excursion to Absheron Peninsula just outside the city, which boasts of several interesting sites (in contrast to the ‘scenic’ routes, the scenery along this route is fascinatingly ugly - a desert wasteland with white salt flats & natural oil pools seeping up to the surface).

A side effect of the country's plentiful natural gas reserves, which sometimes leak to the surface, Yanar Dag is one of several spontaneously occurring fires to have fascinated & frightened travelers to Azerbaijan over the millennia.

Baku, over thousands of years, opened its gates to millions of people from different corners of the world & became a homeland for these ancient tribes & nations. Venetian explorer Marco Polo wrote of the mysterious phenomena when he passed through the country in the 13^th century. Other Silk Road merchants brought news of the flames as they would travel to other lands. Consequently, Azerbaijan earned the moniker the "land of fire".

At one time they played a key role in the ancient Zoroastrian religion, which was founded in Iran (in Azerbaijan was part of the Persian Empire) & flourished in the first millennium BCE. For Zoroastrians, fire is a link between humans & the supernatural world, and a medium through which spiritual insight & wisdom can be gained. They believe it is purifying, life-sustaining & a vital part of worship.

Arrive at the no-frills Yanar Dag visitors' Center for the spectacle rather than religious fulfillment. The experience is most impressive at night, or in winter. When snow falls, the flakes dissolve in the air without ever touching the ground. The beauty & power of nature appears in front of the people, looking at this magnificent process. After spending an hour here, you will realize the true reason of calling Azerbaijan “The Land of Fire"!

Move on to the nearby UNESCO World Heritage listed Baku Ateshgah, often called the "Fire Temple of Baku", an ancient, castle like temple complex once used as a Hindu, Zoroastrian & Sikh place of worship, based on Persian & Indian Sanskrit inscriptions supposedly carved between the 1668 & 1816 AD..

The region had immense importance for the trading because it fell on one of the most famous ‘Silk Road” trading routes which actually connects the West to the Indian Sub-continent through Central Asia.

The Baku Ateshgah was originally a place of worship, pilgrimage & philosophical centre for Zoroastrians. The 4 holy elements of their belief were: ateshi (fire), badi (air), abi (water) & heki (earth). The Temple was built over a pocket of natural gas that fuelled a vent providing an ‘eternal’ fire. This kind of use of fire in Zoroastrian temples led to the followers of Zoroaster (Zarathustra).

The fortified pentagonal complex as seen today, which has a courtyard surrounded by cells for monks & a tetrapillar-altar in the middle, was built during the 17^th & 18^th centuries by Indian Shiva devotees, from Northwestern Indian Subcontinent, who were involved in trade with the Caspian area via the famous "Grand Trunk Road". It was abandoned in the late 19^th century, probably due to the dwindling of the Indian population in the area.

The natural eternal flame went out in 1969, after nearly a century of exploitation of petroleum & gas in the area, but is now lit by gas piped from the nearby city.

The Temple ceased to be a place of worship after 1883 with the installation of petroleum plants (industry) around the region.  The complex was turned into a Museum in 1975.

Return to the Baku by afternoon.

Another exciting ‘Silk Road’ experience awaits you.

Meet the Journeys Rep & proceed to one of Hammams (Public baths) that have been an important part of Azerbaijani life since the Middle-ages.

A place for cleansing & contemplation, for relaxation & conversation - a social institution where people got together, chatted, discussed issues & strike deals over tea & games of nard, the local version of backgammon. Women's hammams were a natural hunting ground for mothers eager to get a closer look at potential young brides. Long before the Soviets did away with religious conservatism.

Azerbaijan's old Hammam culture may have waned in recent years, but many of the city's older residents recall with nostalgia the weekly ritual of visiting the city's public baths. In the days of the shahs, the khans & even the Russian Empire, Hammams in Azerbaijan were about much more than just getting clean.

Azerbaijani cities in the Middle-ages were separated into small neighborhoods known as Mehelle & each one had its own Hammam & Mosque, catering to both the spiritual & physical needs of local Muslims.

In the days of the Silk Road, for example, a Hammam stood at both entrances of Baku's Old City & travelers could only enter after burning their old clothes & having a good scrub. Hammam culture dipped a little in Soviet times as apartments were increasingly fitted with their own baths & showers, but Hammam were / are still the first port of call whenever there was a water crisis.

Today there is still a loyal crowd of locals that can't live without a Hammam. In Azerbaijan, they are strictly segregated: Some are just for men, some for women & some for both but on different days. While this segregation rule has relaxed a little since the Middle Ages, mixed bathing is still a complete no-no.

Our Rep will explain the Dos & Don’ts & supply the towels, soap. flip-flops that patrons are supposed to bring.

There is a set of etiquette to be followed in different sections. There isn’t any time restriction on how long you possibly can spend in the Hammam, but 6 hours should be ample time to relax in the lounge, scrub, steam, massage, shower & finally drink tea, to complete the ritual. 

After the ‘treatment’, you will be transferred back to the hotel, completely rejuvenated.

Later in the evening / night, you might want to stroll around & click some ‘memorable’ photographs of the vast & jaw droppingly original iconic internationally recognized architectural work Haydar Aliyev Center, designed by the acclaimed Iraqi designer Zaha Hadid & noted for its distinctive architecture & the flowing, curved style that eschews sharp angles.

Confounding context, scale & materiality, the Heydar Aliyev Centre, named after Heydar Aliyev, the first secretary of Soviet Azerbaijan from 1969 to 1982 & the first President of Azerbaijan Republic adds to a repertoire of prodigious object buildings in the ambitious, oil-rich capital of Azerbaijan. The Center has become a signature landmark of modern Baku due to its innovative & cutting-edge design.

This building featured in Extreme Engineering, a documentary television series that airs on the Discovery Channel & Science Channel, is a majestic statement of fluid 21^st century architecture forming abstract waves & peaks that seem to melt together.

The real delight is simply pondering & photographing the extraordinary exterior from ever-changing angles.

Extending on 8 floor levels, the interior is impressive, too, accommodating a 1000-seat auditorium, temporary exhibition spaces, a conference center, workshops & a Museum. Arguably the best part of the permanent collection is 'Treasures of Azerbaijan', which walks you through the nation's cultural highlights.

Baku, houses more than 30 Museums covering everything from history & ethnography to a collection of tiny books.

Museums are the gems of the country to show artefacts belonging to various periods of history & culture. Azerbaijan having 2000 years of recorded history has a lot of things to show its guests.

One of Baku's charming oddities, the small Museum of Miniature Books presents books that are so small you would need a magnifying glass to read the print. The fact that so many minuscule publications have been printed at all is a surprise & amassing the thousands shown here has been a lifetime's passion for collector Zərifə Salahova who started the place in 2002.

Another interesting one is Museum Centre in a column-fronted neoclassical building has a sternly photogenic facade that looks best seen from across the Bulvar. Once a Lenin Museum, the top floor holds changing exhibitions, often good & usually free. The somewhat sparse 2^nd floor Museum of Musical Culture (AZN1) will teach you what it means to be a Tarzan in Azerbaijan. The 3^rd floor Museum of Independence (AZN5) gives a somewhat dry, if unashamedly partisan, political history of the nation.

Take advantage of the Museums in Baku if time permits (or in your free time) to appreciate its fascinating story & culture and come away with a more enhanced travel experience.

However, we have included 2 of the more acclaimed Museums of Azerbaijan that you will visit.

Accompanied by the Tour-guide at 09.00 am & proceed to discover the cultural heritage of the erstwhile Silk Route.

First stop will be the giver the National Museum of History of Azerbaijan located in the former mansion of an Azerbaijani oil magnate, well-presented exhibits on Azerbaijan’s history & culture might miss the odd century here & there, but there is more than enough to fill several hours if you’re really interested.

Even if you are not a history buff, it is still worth a brief trot through to admire the opulent 1895 -1901 Mansion of Haji Zeynalabdin Taghiyev, one of Baku’s greatest late 19^th century oil baron & philanthropist.

By visiting the Museum, you will see how the rich people of that time lived on as well. The Museum was restored recently & includes several interactive exhibits. Don't miss the dazzling neo-Moorish ‘Oriental Hall’ & Tagiyev's rebuilt art-nouveau bedroom.

Built in 1893 - 1902, the Italian Renaissance-style mansion is immense, taking up an entire city block & was designed by Polish architect Jozef Gosławski. There are 4 floors in some parts of the building.

On the 2^nd floor of Taghiyev's residence, side by side there are 2 major ballrooms. One is based on Oriental designs (Mauritanian) style & the other, on Occidental design. The Oriental Room has enormous plate glass windows, gilded arches, highly ornamental walls, ceilings & chandeliers. The lines in the Occidental Room are more perpendicular to each other - rectangular.

According to photographs that are about 90 years old, one of the most elaborate rooms was Taghiyev's wife's boudoir (private sitting room). All of the movable furniture & paintings in this room have disappeared. Nothing remains today except the ornate mirrored mosaic ceiling.

During the Soviet period, 4 layers of white paint were applied over the highly decorative floral designs on the walls. Still in the main Halls of the residence, the original paint has withstood the passage of time incredibly well. The paint was made of finely ground egg shell as was the practice of artists of Byzantine icons. Nearly 100 years later, the original colors with their subtlety & sophistication have neither faded nor chipped.

When the Red Army entered Baku in April 1920, Taghiyev's residence – like that of other wealthy oil barons – was immediately confiscated. Under a resolution of the USSR People's Commissariat, the residence was established as a Museum in June 1920, only 2 months after the Bolsheviks took Baku.

Azerbaijan History Museum is one of the oldest (& the largest) as well as biggest Museum. The collection & exhibits show the development of the material & spiritual culture, originals of the documents of political history & social-economic life of Azerbaijan from ancient times till nowadays.

Excavations were carried out in Khojaly, Qabala, Ganja, Kharaba Gilan, Orangala, Mingechevir & other places. The Museum’s collection consists of the materials discovered during these excavations & from other ethnographic expeditions. Undoubtedly, museum’s collection allows enriching data for a great many books & thesis.

From here, you will proceed to the Azerbaijan Carpet Museum to see the Azerbaijani carpets & rug items weaved in various periods of the history. Considered a treasury of Azerbaijan national culture, the Museum’s unique shape will attract your attention even from outside. Designed by the acclaimed Austrian architects Franz Janz & Walter Mari, the façade of the building looks like a rolled up carpet. The Museum features 3 floors full of handmade Carpets as well as applied art works, highlighting all areas of the Azerbaijani carpet making school. It was established for researching, keeping & displaying Carpets and the Museum has the largest collection of Azerbaijan carpets & thread-work samples in the world, of different weaving techniques & materials,

In the ancient world, carpet commerce along the famed Silk Road was valued by weight like precious metals. Floors, walls & ceilings, there is no surface carpets have not conquered. People have been rolling out the red carpet for special occasions since the Greeks used it to welcome home their Warriors two millennia ago.

Since traditional Azerbaijani carpet weaving was registered as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2010, the practice has been enjoying renewed attention both from international consumers and the next generation of local artisans. Azerbaijan and its capital Baku are at the epicenter of the 21st century carpet renaissance.

Carpet weaving in Azerbaijan appeared a long time ago: it is the oldest type of applied art in the region, a fact that has been proven by numerous archaeological findings from around the country.

It was a gifted Carpet Master, a National Artist of the Azerbaijan SSR Lyatif Kerimov, who first had the idea to make a Museum dedicated to Carpets & restore the ancient sketches of Azerbaijani carpets, to keep alive the artistic traditions & transmit them to future generations, and to achieve due promotion of Azerbaijani carpets by organising their trade at international level. Thanks to his efforts, the first Museum specializing in the study & protection of Azerbaijan’s ancient carpets was opened.

It was originally housed at the historic Juma Mosque in the heart of Icheri Sheher (Old Town). After independence in 1992, it moved into a building formerly occupied by a Vladimir Lenin museum. Work to collect exhibits & items began in 1967 & in 1972, the rare exhibits were opened to public. The original location fits perfectly, as the ancient carpets perfectly complemented the interior of the old Mosque. In August 2014, the Museum was shifted to the spectacular new building, which itself is an architectural masterpiece in technical terms.

Ever since the beginning, the Museum housed not only carpets, but also other Azerbaijani art. Today, there are more than 14,000 exhibits, including rare carpets, exquisite jewelry, clothing, embroidery, delicate glass pieces, wood & felt. The 1^st floor of the Museum has flat-weave carpets & various examples of applied arts, including bags & saddles for horses. The 2^nd floor is pile carpets from different regions in Azerbaijan, showing off the unique patterns & designs of this country. The 3^rd floor is all about modern designers, the history of the Carpet Museum & a children’s room.

The Azerbaijan Carpet Museum presents different schools & techniques from around the entire country, as well as covering various historical stages & the development of carpet weaving. Among some of the oldest exhibits are a rare spectacular Tabriz rug, called Ovchulug, & a Karabakh rug, the Dragon Carpet, both of which were woven in the 17^th century, as well as the Khila Afshan carpet, woven in the 18^th century in the village of Hila village of Azerbaijan. Along with the new exhibits, there is a group of rugs from the former Carpet Museum in Shusha.

Beyond just the exhibits, the people who work at the Museum work to preserve & popularize the ancient art of carpet weaving by holding discussions, workshops, exhibitions & symposiums, often with the support of UNESCO.

Pieces from the Azerbaijan Carpet Museum have been exhibited in more than 50 countries, on almost all the continents of the world. Today, the Museum is a large scientific study center that attracts researchers & art lovers from around the world.

Try a different cuisine today. Proceed to an Indian restaurant which offers a wide variety of food, from mildly spicy to fiery hot-Vegetarian & Non Vegetarian dishes with the blend of real Indian spices.

The sightseeing concludes after lunch & you are transferred back to the hotel (or you can continue exploring & reach the hotel on your own).

Balance of the day is at leisure for independent exploration or optional activities (we will be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements).

Today, you have the full day for your Shopping.

Azerbaijan is the place where the Orient (West) meets the Occident (East) & it is always great to bring back a piece of Azerbaijan with you.

Since the last decade Baku has started flourishing not only with skyscrapers, but at the same time with huge & luxurious Shopping Malls across the city. From international brands at large malls to street shopping, Azerbaijan offers you all of it and more!  

The “Land of Fire” is a shoppers’ paradise & the colourful markets of Baku are a real sight. There are numerous boutiques & souvenir shops & most of them are located in the City Center & inside the Shopping Malls.

Spend the day exploring some of the more popular shopping areas. Our Driver will be able to add to your experience by offering suggestions, if required.  

While walking through the streets is a feast for the eyes, it can become overwhelming if you don’t know what to look for. Visit some of Baku's premier shopping centers & see first-hand how the city has evolved in the last decade.

You can use the opportunity to buy fancy fashion designer items, clothes, accessories, shoes, jewelry, antiques & household items. Traditional earthenware pottery & ceramics in Oriental blue shade can be found throughout the country & make good souvenirs.

The top souvenir to bring back from Azerbaijan is, of course, the traditional Carpet - woolen or silk. Carpet weaving made its way into the everyday life of the people of Azerbaijan & turned it into a national symbol. Baku’s exclusive carpet shops & many souvenir markets offer a great variety of aesthetic choices from the minimalist to the lavish.

Caviar from the Caspian Sea is no longer a bargain that it once was but the highly prized  tasty & exotic Beluga Caviar is still half the price that you would find at home in the West.  There are many other varieties on offer.

The most beautiful shopping & pedestrian street in the city is 3.5 km Nizami Ganjavi named after classical poet Nizami Ganjavi. One of the most expensive streets in the world, it is home to various high-end fashion stores.

There are also plenty of reasonably priced handicrafts shops. Unlike many Oriental bazars, it is a friendly place with no aggressive salesmen.

The 3 story Port Baku Mall is the oldest & the most luxurious in the city & features stores with the world's most popular brands like Jimmy Choo, Burberry, Valentino, Tory Burch & Chloe etc. You can also take a stroll along Neftchilar Avenue, lined with historic heritage buildings,   with elite boutiques selling exclusive Gucci perfumes & accessories, as well as clothes from Salvatore Ferragamo & Dolce & Gabbana’s latest collections.

Return to the hotel by late afternoon & relax.

Evening, get ready to enjoy another ‘Silk Road’ experience. You will have the opportunity to discover Baku from a Teahouse perspective.  

Drinking tea is a human ritual that has spread to all points of the globe from its Eastern origins. Tea may only have been cultivated in Azerbaijan on a major scale since the 1930s, but in light of its location on the Silk Route, its tea culture is as old as Baku’s ancient atmospheric Caravanserais. By the shores of the Caspian, where they grow Lankaran tea, it has a tradition all of its own.

For Azerbaijanis, Tea is associated with warmth, hospitality, tradition that dictates that one should not allow the guest to leave the house without at least one cup of tea. Tea regularly punctuates the day in Azerbaijan, being served continuously during interesting conversation, concluding business meetings & meals

Outside homes, Azerbaijani people may drink tea in traditional tea houses called Chaykhana. Men sit in a Chaykhana, playing backgammon (nardi), reading newspapers & drinking tea. Historically, Azeri women did not go to public places, so Chaykhana used to be a place for men. Now, they do.

Azerbaijanis choose to sweeten their tea with jam. It is not that sugar - usually in lump form - is proscribed, but that jam is preferred for its flavour as well as its sweetness. Indeed it is the presence of soft-set preserves – made from mulberries, quince, rose petals, walnuts, apricots, or cherries (ideally white ones) - at an Azerbaijani tea ceremony that elevates the enjoyment of tea from the ordinary to the gourmet.

The tea & jam are actually not mixed together. A little spoonful of jam is put in the mouth, and then the tea is sipped so that the hot liquid melts the jam, producing a drink akin to a very superior, silkily smooth fruit tea. In the absence of jam, there is of course lemon and sugar to temper the tannins. And sometimes you’ll see someone put a sugar cube in their mouth in place of jam, and drink the tea through it.

In Azerbaijan, Tea may be additionally flavoured with herbs or spices as it is poured. As the tea brews, another pot is filled with a couple of spoonful of thyme, cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, mint or perhaps rose petals & topped up with boiling water. When both have had sufficient time to infuse - for about 8 minutes, on a little stand over a tea light to ensure the tea stays hot - each is poured, just a centimetre or so, into a glass as they are made strong & then topped up with boiling water from the urn or samovar.

There is something infinitely pleasing, too, about the glass or armud (literally “pear-shaped”) in which tea is served, though with its nipped-in waist, it is somehow more reminiscent of a thistle. Whatever its inspiration, it is an ingenious design because it means that however hot the tea in the bulb at the bottom, the rim remains cool enough to hold and to put to one’s lips (the old cut glasses in silver holders - podstakanchiki in Russian, possibly the only language with a specific word for them - seem to have died with the Soviet Union).

Meet the Journeys Rep at 07.00 pm & proceed to visit a Chaykhana.

Passing through the crooked streets of the timeless Icheri Sheher (Old City), learn how this most celebrated of drinks came from China via the Silk Routes to become Azerbaijan’s main national beverage.

Visit different contrasting Baku “Chaykhanas” (teahouses), each with their own distinctive atmosphere - medieval-oriental, modern-fusion & simple Soviet-style. You will taste various types of tea, smoking traditional shisha & try your hand at playing the traditional nardi.

The 3 hour experience concludes & you are transferred back to the hotel.

Full day free today, too, to do as you please (we will be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements)

Finally, it is time to say good-bye to the "Land of Fire" & go home.  We sure hope that you may want to discover a bit more of Azerbaijan on your next visit. 

Check-out of the hotel by 12:00 noon (if the departure time is later in the evening, we will request the hotel to allow the use of hotel facilities & to leave the luggage at the Bell Desk). 

In time, you will be met by a Journeys Rep / Driver & transferred to Terminal? - Baku Heydar Aliyev International Airport for your onward flight back home. .  B

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