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A former Soviet republic on the western shore of the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan overflows with oil and gas. And it’s the first thing you are reminded of on arrival in Baku, the capital, where the hard-to-miss Flame Towers light up the cityscape and serve as a reference point to Baku’s other top attractions.
Despite its association with the former USSR, Baku flaunts its petrodollars in sleek and stylish high-rise buildings and gives off a hint of Parisian charm, thanks to its architecture modeled after the French capital.
Azerbaijan’s claim as the “land of fire” is no PR hype. Go on a trip to Yanar Dag to see for yourself a hillside burning natural fire, which according to local lore, has been going on for millennia (although some argue it may have only started igniting in the 1950s ). The place is sacred to locals who link the site’s mystery to the origins of Zoroastrianism, Persia’s monotheistic religion.
Located south of a present-day Russian republic, Azerbaijan is famous for its share of the Great Caucasus mountains, whose flanks make an excellent hiking destination if you want to skip the crowds. Take the hassle out of travel planning and logistics and work with a group tour operator to explore these trails that lead to wide-open mountain vistas, ruins hiding in mountain forests, and sacred sites and monuments that are some of the oldest in the region.
In places, Azerbaijan changed little over the millennia. Wander around these villages trapped in time. Some were once part of the trade route that linked East and West and are today easily accessible on guided expeditions.
Culturally important along the Silk Road are Sheki and Lahic; the former engaged in silkworm breeding and trading raw silk, the latter renowned for coppersmithing, now a UNESCO-protected art form. The latter is also notable as one of the oldest continuously inhabited places, with a sewage system dating back over a thousand years.
Hidden in its mountains, Azerbaijan boasts a treasure trove of rock art, numbering in the tens of thousands and spanning in history for 40,000 years. Nearby are ancient sites that date back to the Upper Paleolithic period, and the area forms today’s archaeological reserve.
These regions appear desolate, but with organized transport and a network of guides, they are often worked into day trips from the capital or multi-day excursions into the mountains and even across the Georgian border.
Azerbaijan remains an under-the-radar tourist destination, and now is the best time to explore its countryside, where time seems to stand still. Choose from one of the tours below and add more destinations.
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The Landmark Tour
Paramount Travel Club
Location: Capital
Itinerary: Baku
Group Size: 10
Age Range: 2 to 80
Physical Activity: Low
Operator: Paramount Travel Club
Length:1 Day
What to Expect
Guided tour of the capital jam-packed with sights, with an optional boat tour in the Caspian Sea.
- Guided city tour
- Optional boat tour
What the Experience Is Like
Meet your guide at the start of the tour. Stroll along the Baku Boulevard fronting the Caspian Sea. Peek into the Carpet Museum to see rugs and carpets made using ancient and modern weaving techniques. Survey the lay of the land from atop Highland Park.
Visit Fountain Square, Baku Boulevard, and other headline attractions like the Flame Towers representing Baku’s ancient worship of fire. Round out the tour with an optional boat ride in the Caspian Sea.
Paramount Travel Club is a Baku-based MICE company offerings tours in Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey. New to the industry, Paramount aims to offer affordable tourism experiences to help promote their country.
In a nutshell
This Landmark Tour of Baku aptly introduces the capital, even if you are passing through.
2 Nights Baku Tour with Guide and Driver
Azerbaijan Adventures LLC
Location: Capital area
Itinerary: Baku-Gobustan-Yanar Dag
Group Size: 6
Age Range: 1 to 99
Physical Activity: Low
Operator: Azerbaijan Adventures LLC
Length: 3 days
What to Expect
Small-group, partially guided tour of the capital’s top sights and nearby natural attractions like rock art and burning mountain.
- City tour
- Rock art
- Burning Mountain
What the Experience Is Like
On arrival in Baku, transfer to the hotel and enjoy free time. Venture out to Gobustan’s archaeological reserve to closely examine its collection of rock art and ancient sites that date back to the Upper Paleolithic period.
A tour around Baku follows, visiting top sites like the boulevard and Highland Park to take in views of the city and the Caspian Sea. Explore the oldest part of Baku, the UNESCO –listed inner city, and get up close to the palace, the Maiden Tower, and the caravanserai.
Before your international departure today, drive to the Ateshgah fire temple in the Absheron peninsula. The sacred place is thought to have links to the earliest form of Zoroastrianism, Persia’s monotheistic religion. Round out the tour with a visit to the ‘burning mountain’ of Yanar Dag to marvel at its never-extinguishing flame fueled by gas continuously leaking from the hillsides.
Enjoy accommodation in a 5-star hotel with breakfasts. Vegan, vegetarian, kosher, Halal and Jain food options are available on request. The tour is operated in multiple languages.
Headquartered in Baku and building on 15 years of experience, Azerbaijan Adventures LLC is a MICE company offering a wide range of package tours (1-15 days) and tailor-made itineraries, and other travel-related services like ticketing, transport rentals, and accommodation.
In a nutshell
This 2 Nights Baku Tour with Guide and Driver will take you around the capital’s top sights plus some of its natural attractions rarely found elsewhere.
Baku Tour Package
Agate Travel
Location: Capital Area
Itinerary: Baku – Gobustan-Yanar Dag
Group Size: 4
Age Range: 2 to 80
Physical Activity: Low
Operator: Agate Travel
Length: 4 days
What to Expect
Small-group, fully guided tour of the capital and the outskirts to see rock art and the burning mountain.
- City tour
- Rock art
- Mud Volcano
- Burning Mountain
What the Experience Is Like
Arrive in Baku and transfer to your hotel. Enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure. Embark on a city highlights tour of Baku, including a climb up Highland Park for panoramic views of the capital and the Caspian Sea. From here, pick out the Flame Towers, the Heydar Aliyev Center, and the ancient Maiden Tower. Visit the Carpet Museum and stroll along the Caspian-fronted boulevard.
Drive to the mud volcano of Gobustan before continuing to the rock art, which number in the thousands and span a history of 40,000 years. Drive on to a mosque and to an oil well before rounding out the day’s tour in Ateshgah’s Zoroastrian fire temple and the “burning mountain” of Yanar Dag, famed for its naturally burning flames. Depart Baku airport for international departure.
Enjoy three nights’ accommodation with daily breakfasts in a 4-star hotel.
This tour is run by Agate Travel, who’s been in the business for 25 years providing guided tour service, and flights and train booking. They focus on offering tailor-made tours to ensure their clients realize their dream holidays regardless of budget, group size or travel style.
In a nutshell
If you want a city tour with a touch of culture and heritage and an excursion outdoors, this Baku Tour Package is a great start.
Nature & Culture in Azerbaijan 4 Days
Prime Holidays Inc
Location: Eastern Azerbaijan
Itinerary: Baku – Absheron – Shamakhi – Lahic – Qabala
Group Size: 20
Age Range: 15 to 85
Physical Activity: Medium
Operator: Prime Holidays Inc
Length: 4 days
What to Expect
Large group, partially guided tour of capital highlights with daily excursions to culturally important and ancient sites.
- City tour
- Mud volcano
- Rock art
- Burning Mountain
- Khans’ tombs
- Lahic, the village of artisans
- Qabala lake
What the Experience Is Like
On arrival in Baku, stroll along the boulevard fronting the Caspian shore. Go to Highland Park and pick out standout landmarks like the Flame Towers. Explore the UNESCO-listed Old City with its palace, tower and labyrinthine streets.
Venture out to Absheron to visit one of the oldest mosques in the country and continue to Gobustan for a look at its mud volcano, rock art museum, and the national park where thousands of rock carvings can be found. The day ends with a visit to the eternal flame of Yanar Dag, whose natural gas leaking out of the hillsides has been sparking fire continuously.
Enjoy a full-day tour today to Shamakhi to look at its medieval architecture, its 8th-century mosque, one of the oldest in the South Caucasus, and the Khans’ tombs. The day’s tour concludes in Qabala, with a stop in Lahic, a village of coppersmiths and carpet/rug makers.
On arrival, soak up the scenic lake in Qabala and lace up for a hike through the woods. Spend the final night in Baku for international departure the following day.
Twin room accommodation with breakfasts. Vegetarian food options are available on request.
Headquartered in Sri Lanka, the new entrant Prime Holidays aims to offer affordable tour packages and personalized services for client satisfaction and repeat business.
In a nutshell
If your bucket list is long and your travel time short, this jampacked Nature & Culture in Azerbaijan 4 Days is for you.
Silk Road Azerbaijan in 4 Days
Turizm AZ
Location: Capital to Georgian Border
Itinerary: Baku to Lagodekhi
Group Size: 15
Age Range: 1 to 99
Physical Activity: Medium
Operator: Turizm AZ
Length: 4 days
What to Expect
Medium-sized group, partially guided tour of villages on the historic Silk Road, with an exit at the Georgian border.
- City tour
- Lahic tour
- Sheki tour
- Lagodekhi exit
What the Experience Is Like
Arrive in Baku and transfer to your hotel. Enjoy a free day in Baku on Day 2. Leaving the capital, travel to Sheki, stopping in Maraza to visit a mausoleum. Continue to Shamakhi for a look around Juma Mosque. Drive through a river canyon to reach Lahic, an ancient village of coppersmiths and rug and carpet weavers that was once an important route on the Silk Road.
On arrival in Sheki, go on a tour around town to see the Khans’ palace, their medieval fortress, and their glass handicrafts workshop. Explore the Caravanserai, which once sheltered traders and merchants on the East-West trading route. At the nearby Kish village, look around an ancient church thought to be the first in the Caucasus. Leaving Sheki, stop by an Eastern bazaar before entering the Georgian border in Lagodekhi.
Expect two nights’ accommodation at a 3-star hotel in Baku and one night’s accommodation in a 3-star hotel in Sheki. Breakfasts are at the hotel. Local transport may be used to reach some temples.
Turizm AZ is a Baku-based full-service tourism brand with nearly 20 years of experience in the industry, specializing in MICE, destination management and tailor-made tours in Azerbaijan and Georgia.
In a nutshell
Retrace the steps of traders and merchants on this tour along the Silk Road Azerbaijan in 4 Days.
Azerbaijan’s Best Seller – Romantic Getaway
Swastik India Journeys
Location: Azerbaijan
Itinerary: Baku – Shamakhi – Qabala
Group Size: 10
Age Range: 1 to 73
Physical Activity: Medium
Operator: Swastik India Journeys
Length: 6 days
What to Expect
Small group, fully guided tour of Azerbaijan’s top cultural and historic attractions, with generous lake views and a sprinkling of amusement and action.
- City tour
- Old City tour
- Boat trip on the lake
- Russian Village
- Lahic coppersmith village
- Tufandag ski complex
What the Experience Is Like
Meet guide for the welcome ceremony. Enjoy free time after lunch, then start the city tour
with a visit to the funicular and Highland Park, which offers panoramic views of the capital and the Caspian Sea. Gaze up at the Flame Towers, stroll along Baku Boulevard on the Caspian shore, and explore the Old City, which dates back to the 12th century.
Continue your city tour with a closer look around the UNESCO-listed Old City or Inner City. See the palace, the Maiden Tower, and the Juma Mosque. Explore historic streets and shopping corners.
Leaving Baku, travel to Shamakhi for a boat trip on the Silent Lake. Go on a city tour to see its mausoleum, Azerbaijan’s first mosque dating to the 9th century, and its observatory. Drive to Ismailli for a look at their lake and a peek into Ivanovka village, an enclave of Molokans who broke away from the Russian Orthodox Church. Round out the day’s tour with a drive to Lahic to see its coppersmithing traditions and carpet and rug crafts.
Leave for Qabala, visiting Nohur Lake on arrival. Cap off your Azerbaijan holiday with an excursion to the ski complex of Tufandag and the amusement park of Qabaland.
Expect five nights’ accommodation in 4-star and 5-star hotels with breakfasts every day. All tickets to the Baku city tour are covered.
This weeklong nature, history and culture tour is run by India-based Swastik India Journeys. They want their clients to experience destinations as a local would, with a touch of comfort and luxury, by offering personalized tour packages that promote well-being.
In a nutshell
This weeklong Azerbaijan’s Best Seller – Romantic Getaway offers a holistic mix of nature, culture, history and amusement in one nifty package.
Discovery of Azerbaijan in a Week (8D/7N)
Guided Azerbaijan
Location: Eastern, Central, North, and West Azerbaijan
Itinerary: Baku-Gobustan-Shamakhi-Sheki-Ganja-Quba
Group Size: 15
Age Range: 14 to 80
Physical Activity: Medium
Operator: Guided Azerbaijan
Length: 8 days
What to Expect
Medium-sized group, partially guided tour of Azerbaijan’s top sights, from the Caspian coast to the Caucasus mountains.
- City tour
- Mud volcano
- Rock art
- Burning Mountain
- Lahic coppersmith village
- Tufandag cable car ride
- Silk Road villages
- Ethnic villages
- Lakes
What the Experience Is Like
Arrive in Baku and transfer to your hotel. Go on a city tour around the capital to see Highland Park, where you can enjoy panoramic city views and the Caspian Sea. Stroll along Baku Boulevard and continue to visit other city attractions like the Carpet Museum, the Juma Mosque, and the UNESCO-listed Old City. Stroll around the walled city to gaze up at the Maiden Tower and the palace.
Drive to an archaeological site containing rock carvings, and see mud oozing from the ground in Gobustan. Continue to the fire temple of Ateshgah, dating to the 17th century, a sacred place said to have links to the beginnings of Zoroastrianism. Round out your tour today with a visit to the fire mountain in Yanar Dag to see its “eternal flame” fuelled by natural gas leaking from the hillsides.
Drive to Shamakhi City to see its 15th-century mausoleum, observatory, and mosque, one of the oldest in the country. Press on to Lahic, a village known for its coppersmithing and blacksmithing traditions and rug/carpet handicrafts. Lahic is also known for its ancient sewage system that has been in place for a thousand years. Then journey on to Qabala, stopping by the Nohur Lake to admire its placid waters nestled in forested mountains.
Ride a cable car to a mountaintop in Tufandag, a ski complex, on the way to Sheki. On arrival, explore the town’s main sights, like the Khans’ palace, the Albanian church, and the Caravanserai, which once provided lodging to traders and merchants on the Silk Road and continues to operate as a hotel today.
(Do you want to dive into Azerbaijan and experience a heady mix of top attractions that will leave you out of breath? Then this Discovery of Azerbaijan in a Week (8D/7N)
is a good start.)
Discover the second-largest city in Azerbaijan on a tour around Ganja to see its mausoleum, its 19th-century German settlement, and the blue lake of Goygol. Heading back to Baku, drive out to the highland village of Quba, renowned for its carpet weaving traditions.
Further up, visit the village of Khinalig, at more than 2,000MASL. Due to their isolation, little of their way of life changed, including their centuries-old houses. On the way back to Baku, stop by a forest and a Jewish settlement. Enjoy one last night in Baku before your international departure the following day.
Enjoy seven nights’ accommodation in a hotel with breakfasts. Entrance tickets to listed tours are covered.
Highly-rated, Baku-based travel company Guided Azerbaijan is a full-service brand offering guided and non-guided tours around the country, yacht and helicopter tours, ground transportation, and MICE services.
In a nutshell
This Discovery of Azerbaijan in a Week (8D/7N) offers a balanced mix of the country’s most important historical and cultural sights and natural wonders that scratch just deep enough below the surface.
Azerbaijan Caucasus Walking
Explore!
Location: East–Central-Northern Azerbaijan
Itinerary: Baku-Lahic-Sheki- Xinaliq- Shahdag National Park
Group Size: 18
Age Range: 16 to 85
Physical Activity: Active
Operator: Explore!
Length: 9 days
What to Expect
Medium-sized, fully guided hiking tour through the Caucasus, with a generous local cuisine sampling.
- City tour
- Lahic coppersmith village
- Sheki tour
- Shahdag National Park
- Flame Temple
- Mountain/waterfall hikes
What the Experience Is Like
Arrive in Baku anytime and explore the capital at your own pace. Welcome meeting on Day 2 before heading out on a short walking tour of Baku’s UNESCO-listed Old City with its labyrinthine pathways, 12th-century battlements, tower and palace complex.
Leave Baku by bus and travel to the ancient mountain village of copper artisans, Lahic, renowned for their smithing traditions, a UNESCO-protected art form. Enjoy yogurt-based dishes with Turkish and Central Asian influences. Wake up to village life and a walk around town before picking up the journey to Sheki, your base for the next three nights. Enjoy the scenery unfolding as the plains give way to the forested mountains.
On arrival, enjoy a walking tour of Sheki’s main attractions like Khan’s Palace, the glass workshop, and a surviving caravanserai where Silk Road merchants and traders sought safe lodgings. Venture out for the next two days for a walk around the village of Kish and its ancient church before embarking on a hike to an 8th-century ruined fortress hidden deep in thick forest.
After driving to the nearby village of Lekit, go on a walk heading to a monastery or moss-covered waterfalls. There’s an option to hike to another waterfall after a drive through a historic watchtower and fortress.
Continue on to Qirizdene, your base for the next two nights, on a full day’s drive through arid and desolate landscapes, past a chain of mountains eye-catching for their rose-and-white strata, and onto the greener slopes of the Caucasus mountains.
(Want to trace ancient villages on the Silk Road on foot? This Azerbaijan Caucasus Walking tour is a great way to do it.)
Drive up to Xinaliq, Azerbaijan’s highest village, through a dramatic gorge that emerges after a forested river valley. Sit down to a well-earned home-cooked lunch before venturing out to Qala Xudat for another hike on easy terrain surrounded by mountain views.
Cap off your hike in the Caucasus by exploring the Shahdag National Park on foot and Ateshgah’s natural burning flame, a place sacred to locals. Depart for Baku later in the day for one more night in the capital before your international departure the following day.
Expect accommodation for 8 nights in a combination of a hotel and a guesthouse or simple hotel. Eight breakfasts, one lunch, and three dinners will be served. Meals may include eating in local restaurants serving locally grown food. Transport is a combination of bus and 4WD.
Explore runs on this hiking tour through the Caucasus! The company takes pride in offering guests tours that are a “mix of famous sights and hidden gems” for those “unscripted moments of joy.” Explore! has over 40 years of experience and a presence in 100 countries.
In a nutshell
If you want to experience the nature, history and culture of the country at eye level, this Azerbaijan Caucasus Walking tour offers a great start.
If none of these tours work for you in Azerbaijan, please do not worry. There is a wide variety of tour options in the country, and we are confident that there will be something that fits your needs and interests.
Take a look at all the group tours in Azerbaijan now, which you can sort by private or group, maximum sizing, budget, dates and much (much more). The team at TourRadar is always more than happy to answer any questions, provide further information or assist in any way in finding the perfect tour for you.
