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

Think Azerbaijan only holds appeal for travellers looking to tick off every country on the map? Think again. Fascinating, austere & intriguing by turns, this back-of-beyond nation won’t fail to charm & perplex.

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.

Envisage Baku & picture Europe meeting Asia with a Gulf States flair – a brash cosmopolitan metropolis flaunting the latest in futuristic architecture sitting alongside ancient mosques, walled cities & old-world Russian opulence.

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 & 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 interactive Cooking class.

Transfer to a home for a Cooking Workshop & gain insights into the Azerbaijani 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 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 interactive experience & 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 & return to the hotel on your own).

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 & Gobustan 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.

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.

Later, drive a short distance to another iconic Azerbaijani cultural heritage with its Rock Art, without which visit to Azerbaijan will not be complete.

Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape with its outstanding collection of more than 6,000 rock engravings, is represented among the at least 60 rock art-related UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Gobustan is the name of a region near the Caspian Sea, where in the 1930’s the first discovery of these ‘rock carvings’ was made by local miners looking for gravel. The Petroglyphs (rock paintings & inscriptions) were carved into more than 1.000 large blocks of stone that had fallen from the cliffs above - blocks that provided natural shelter for those living in the area. Most of the Petroglyphs are divided among multiple ancient residences & in some cases, have been carved over older images.

The 537 hectare Gobustan State Reserve covering 3 rocky highlands in the semi-desert territory, was declared as a national historical landmark of Azerbaijan in an attempt to preserve the ancient carvings, mud volcanoes & gas-stones in the region.

The Gobustan Rock Art reflects 40.000 years of the history of humanity from the Upper Paleolithic era to the Middle Ages in Eurasia. The language of the ancient population of Gobustan is disputed, but the Petroglyphs still give information about the lives of prehistoric people who lived there.  

There is a short trail here that leads along some 20 rocks (which were  numbered by the Soviets, making for easier exploration) depicting carvings of animals, primitive humans, natural life experiences, hunting, ritual dancing, bullfights, boats with armed oarsmen, warriors with lances in their hands, camel caravans, pictures of sun & stars. The stone is quite soft & most of the time, the chiselling technique that leads to broader & deeper carvings seems to have been used.

One of the highlights lies immediately at the start of the trail: ‘the dancing people’. A fragment of this is also displayed on the Azeri 5 Manat banknote (in the top left corner, you have to look closely).

Next to the entrance of the sizeable archaeological area lies the modern eponymous interactive Gobustan Museum which adds to the ‘visitor experience’. There are various ideas about the exact age of Gobustan, but the displays in the museum start at about 15.000 BC. It has a comprehensive exhibition that relies heavily on audio-visuals & computer animations, illustrating the developmental history of Azerbaijan.

The entire area is quite barren nowadays & you can see the offshore Oilfields that keep Azerbaijan’s economy afloat.  On the way back to Baku, you might also stop by at the world’s first-ever mechanically drilled 21 meters deep oil well which produced the first gush of oil in 1846.

You are transferred back to 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). 

You might want to stroll around & click some ‘memorable’ photographs of the vast & jaw dropping 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 afternoon is at leisure for independent exploration or optional activities (we will be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements).

Later, meet the Journeys Rep & embark on another exciting experience beyond Baku’s chic 21^st century facade, deep into the city’s underbelly.

Discover the hidden world of ‘once thriving’ Baku’s Pigeon keepers (Fanciers is the new name they prefer to use today). The hobby of raising birds is a famous pastime in Azerbaijan, especially on the rooftops of Baku.

Traditionally, it is the men of Baku who raise doves on the city's rooftops. From father to son, grandfather to grandson, the art of calling the birds home has been passed from generation to generation for centuries.

Pigeons have been kept domestically for millennia and for a multitude of reasons – for exhibiting, eating, racing & as recently as Second World War, they were famously used to send messages. The tradition of raising birds at home dates back centuries. Some Azerbaijani families have cared for birds at home for over a hundred years, passing the hobby on through the generations.  Until recently pigeon keeping was a popular pastime in the Azerbaijani capital & its nearby villages.

The hobby is dying as the face of the city changes, however. In addition, the tradition is falling out of favor as today men prefer to watch TV or surf the Internet in their spare time. One obvious reason for the gradual disappearance of this subculture from central parts of the city is the quickly changing urban environment & the economic factor as feeding, housing, guarding pigeons has become increasingly costly for the regular folks. But as young men are losing interest, a few women have started picking up the hobby, sparking a debate about who has the right to raise pigeons.  Azerbaijani mentality does not accept the idea of a woman climbing to the roof to whistle for birds.

Many Fanciers simply find harmony in the company of the birds and this is also true of Baku’s pigeon keepers. There was a time when every morning in the rays of the rising sun, one could see hundreds of pigeons fluttering in the sky, hearing the sounds of flapping wings in the suburban stillness & their owners sitting, usually, on the roofs of one & two storey houses. And there can’t have been any houses in Baku’s villages where pigeons weren’t kept. Even when moving each summer to the dacha they would take the Pigeons with them.

There is even an iconic local breed of pigeon called the Baku Tumbler which is renowned for its flying abilities, typically soaring so high as to disappear from sight, remain in the air for up to 8 hours, from time to time clicking its wings & performing acrobatic rolls. And then dutifully, coming back to the Keeper.

For some today, though, breeding pigeons is actually a business & a single bird can fetch anything between just a few manats & several hundred. There are pigeon lofts with alarms & even with guards. There is a weekly market where all the pigeon fanciers from all the surrounding villages.

From here, proceed to another ‘Silk Road’ experience. You will have the opportunity to discover Baku from a Teahouse perspective.  

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.

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).

The 4 hour experience concludes & you are transferred back to the hotel.

Morning is at leisure to do as you please (we will be happy, of course, to offer suggestions).

Afternoon another exciting ‘Silk Road’ experience awaits you.

Meet the Journeys Rep & proceed to one of Hammams (Public baths) in an erstwhile Caravanserai, 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, 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.

Today, you have the full day free 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 whenever you prefer.

If you want to delve further into Azerbaijani culture, Baku has a lot to offer (we will be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements).

The Heydar Aliyev Palace & the Crystal Hall regularly host various Concerts.  To enjoy symphonic music, head to the Azerbaijan State Philharmonic Society or the State Academic Theatre of Opera & Ballet. The Baku Jazz Center is a true mecca for all fans of jazz music. Moreover, every autumn the city hosts the traditional Jazz Festival.

To get acquainted with the national ‘regional’ music (similar rhythms across most Silk Route countries), it is hard to find a better place than the International Mugam Centre that specializes in Azeri folk music, classical folk music & the meykhana tradition. 

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

***        End of Services      ***