Azerbaijan Tours & Holidays
Small Group Tours & Tailor-Made Holidays
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Overview
Since ancient times, Azerbaijan has been known as 'The Land of the Sacred Fire’. With rich reserves of oil and natural gas deposits erupting continuously from the earth, it positioned itself at the heart of the Zoroastrian religion for centuries, attracting fire worshippers from all over the world. Still remarkably untouched by tourism, the fires of Zoroastrianism may be long extinguished but you can still enjoy the promise of a warm welcome.
Its capital is Baku, a fascinating ...
Since ancient times, Azerbaijan has been known as 'The Land of the Sacred Fire’. With rich reserves of oil and natural gas deposits erupting continuously from the earth, it positioned itself at the heart of the Zoroastrian religion for centuries, attracting fire worshippers from all over the world. Still remarkably untouched by tourism, the fires of Zoroastrianism may be long extinguished but you can still enjoy the promise of a warm welcome.
Its capital is Baku, a fascinating city built around a bay on the Caspian Sea. A place blessed with an engaging mix of European flair and eastern promise, it is home to a number of impressive highlights including the old caravanserais and mosques of the medieval walled settlement of Icheri Sheher, the carved stone palace of the Shirvan Shahs and the mysterious Maiden's Tower.
A stroll through its atmospheric streets will also reveal turreted stone towers and the elegant domes of the Hadji Haib baths. With many of the sights to yourself, discovering the riches of Azerbaijan takes a little time and a good guidebook…just the way intrepid travel used to be.
Start your journey
Group tours
Travel to Azerbaijan with like-minded people on one of our small group tours (usually max size 12), featuring knowledgeable local guides and an expert tour leader.
TAILOR-MADE HOLIDAYS
Whether you want to travel on one of our award-winning itineraries or build your own journey from scratch, our expert consultants will help create the perfect tour for your tastes and budget. Below are a few suggestions of the kind of trips we can offer, all of which can be tailored to you.
EXAMPLE ITINERARIES
HIGHLIGHTS OF AZERBAIJAN
BEST EXPERIENCES
Enjoy the opera in Baku
Take in an evening of beauty, grace and cultivation with a visit to the gorgeous Opera House, built by Georgian millionaire Daniel Mailov in 1911 and considered by many to be the finest building in the city.
See mud volcanoes and cave paintings
Explore the otherworldly landscape of Gobustan National Park, home to dramatic mud volcanoes and ancient cave paintings. Discover thousands of rock art showing animals, hunting scenes, dances and ships and even graffiti left by passing Roman armies
Visit the land of sacred fire
Home to an abundance of natural oil and gas deposits, Absheron is a fascinating area to visit. Discover the ancient and modern methods of oil extraction, as well as the various religious cults associated with oil, with a visit to a Zoroastrian fire temple.
Discover Baku’s many museums
Baku is home to several fascinating museums, including the Azerbaijan History Museum, housed in the 1896 mansion of Z. Taghiev, the richest of the oil barons, as well as the unusual Fizuli Museum of Manuscripts and the many 'house museums', former famous houses or apartments now open to the public.
Explore Sheki's Khan's palace
Visit the stunning Palace of the Sheki Khans, once the summer residence and a must-see for any visit to Azerbaijan. With its magnificent frescoes, typical Azeri shebeke windows and mosaics, the palace was recently added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Hunt for Silk Road treasures
Sheki is one of the oldest towns in the Caucasus, founded more than 2,700 years ago. Here discover the work of jewellers, potters, engravers and embroiders, who for centuries have sold their goods to Moscow, St Petersburg and even Western Europe.
Visit a 1st century church
Explore the village of Kish, home to the oldest church in the Caucasus. Researchers are now working together to learn more about the history of this beautiful church, believed to be one of the oldest in Christendom, dating from the 1st century AD.
Discover Azerbaijan’s handicrafts
Home to ancient cobbled streets bursting with artisanal charm, Lahij is the heart of Azerbaijan’s handicrafts industry. Here you will meet carpet weavers, leather traders, jewellery makers, and of course the famous ‘UNESCO’ coppersmiths.
TOP PLACES TO VISIT
Baku
Baku is a pleasant city, built around a bay on the Caspian Sea, with a wide and shady promenade. Central Baku is made up of the medieval walled city known as "Icheri Sheher" with its medieval mosques,...
Lahij
The heart of Azerbaijan’s handicraft industry, the village of Lahij in the Ismayilli region boasts ancient cobbled streets and stone houses bursting with artisanal charm. One of the oldest cultural ...
Sheki
The Ancient Town of Sheki was at the centre of the trade routes crossing the region. Silk embroidered in gold by local craftsmen was exported from Sheki to the four corners of the known world. The palace ...
Discover more
WHEN TO GO
When To Go The weather conditions can be extremely varied, even within the course of a day. The Greater Caucasus Range moderates local climate by serving as a barrier against cold air from the north and the relatively small territory covers different climatic zones, which are determined by distance from the Black Sea and by altitude. The climatic zones range from humid subtropical to snow and glaciers.
Meet the expert, Natalie
Natalie is our Causcaus expert, who has travelled extensively in the region.
Speak to Natalie by calling
+44 (0)20 3944 6258
LGBTQIA+ Guidance
When planning to travel as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, there may be additional things you wish to consider doing, such as:
- Speaking to one of our travel experts for information about travelling in your chosen destination and local attitudes towards members of the LGBTQIA+ community
- Checking the Human Dignity Trust map which highlights regions and countries which are potentially dangerous to LGBTQIA+ people, or Equaldex, which tracks the progress of LGBTQIA+ rights around the world.
- Checking the ‘Local laws and customs’ section of your country's official foreign travel advice page
- Looking for any updates for your desired destination on the Human Rights Watch LGBTQIA+ rights page
- Buying a recommended guidebook, as many include an LGBTQIA+ section and advice for LGBTQIA+ travellers
USEFUL INFORMATION
Health and Vaccinations
There are no mandatory immunisations for travellers to Azerbaijan though you should be up to date with Typhoid, Tetanus, Polio and Hepatitis A. Please note we are not medical professionals and so we highly recommend you seek advice from your local GP or travel centre as to the correct immunisations and preventative treatments.
Currency
In Azerbaijan the official unit of currency is the Azerbaijan Manat (AZN).
To check out the latest exchange rate for the places that you are visiting you can go to www.oanda.com.
Cultural Sensitivity
On our tours we frequently interact with local people, each with their own distinct customs and traditions. We therefore ask you to be considerate and to treat them with respect. Your guides will be able to advise you accordingly.
In the churches and cathedrals women should cover their heads with a scarf or hat, while men should take their hats off.
Language & Religion
The official language of Azerbaijan is Azerbaijani belonging to the Turkic language family. Azerbaijani is closely related to Turkish, Qashqai and Turkmen. 99% of Azerbaijan’s population are Muslims belonging to the Shia sect which is the 2nd highest Shia population outside of Iran.
Time
Azerbaijan is 5hrs ahead of GMT.
A useful website to check the time zone differences is www.worldtimezone.com.
Food and drink
Azerbaijani food is characterised by its use of fresh and healthy ingredients. Meals often begin with salads: tomatoes, small cucumbers, white cheese and a variety of delicious herbs. Caviar from the Caspian Sea washed down with a glass of iced Vodka is a speciality, cheap (compared to the West) and widely available. These may be followed by a hearty soup, for instance dyshbara (dumplings in broth), piti (lamb and peas) or dovga with meatballs, herbs and sour cream. Popular main courses are shashlyks or kebabs cooked over a charcoal fire and fish, particularly sturgeon fresh from the Caspian Sea. It is also delicious grilled in the same way over charcoal and served with a pomegranate sauce – Narsharab.
Travelling Solo In Azerbaijan
All of our small group tours are designed to cater for solo travellers: the number of solo travellers will vary from tour to tour, but usually over half will be travelling alone. Get all of the excitement of discovering new places combined with the security of travelling with an organised group, with like minded people.