Azerbaijan
From Ancient times, Azerbaijan was known as 'the land of the sacred fire', due to natural oil and gas deposits erupting from the earth, and as a centre of the Zoroastrian religion it attracted fire worshippers from all over the world. You'll certainly receive a warm welcome here.
Baku, the capital, is a fascinating city built around a bay on the Caspian Sea, and a cosmopolitan European town with a flavour of the East. Predominantly speaking Russian and Azeri, a Turkic language with Arabic, Persian and Iranian influences, travelling in Azerbaijan requires a great bilingual guide or phrasebook: just the way intrepid travelling should be.
Highlights of Baku include the medieval walled old town of Icheri Sheher which houses caravanserais, mosques, the carved stone Palace of the Shirvan Shahs and the mysterious Maiden's Tower, a symbol of Baku. Stroll the atmospheric streets and you'll also come across turreted stone towers and the elegant domes of the Hadji Haib baths. If you get the impression they haven't changed for centuries, you'll be right.
Azerbaijan is a country still untouched by tourism where you can enjoy the sights all to yourself, and no matter where you travel you will find a most hospitable welcome.
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What to do in Azerbaijan
See mud volcanoes at Gobuston
Baku
Enjoy a excursion to Gobuston home to the volcanic desert to the south-west of Baku. You will also see the bizarre mud volcanoes bubbling away. Also, drive into the mountains and walk into the caves to see the Gobuston Rock Art. There are thousands of rock paintings dating from the early Stone Age (c.10,000 BC) to the Bronze Age (1,500 BC). They show animals, hunting scenes, dances and ships and even graffiti left by passing Roman armies.
Climb Baku's Maiden Tower
Baku
This morning enjoy a half day guided walking tour of Baku including the main historical sights. A walk though the modern city and Fountains Square brings you to the medieval walled city "Icheri Sheher" with its narrow alleyways, historic caravanserais, mosques and Palace of the Shirvan Shahs. Visit the 12th century Maiden's Tower whose function has never been established and climb to the top of its tower. Also, see the imposing mansions of the oil barons, built in the oil boom of 1870-1914 and Martyr's Alley with its superb views over the Bay of Baku.
Enjoy the Opera in Baku
Baku
Well, its far from La Scala Milan,but opera, theatre and music are all a great and vibrant tradition in Baku. The story goes that the gorgeous Opera House, perhaps the finest building in the city, was built in 1911 by the Georgian millionaire Daniel Mailov, after he and Baku were snubbed by the beautiful Russian soprano AntoninaNezhdanova, for the town's wealth, yet lack of real cultural facilities. He and his brother took cultural revenge on the 'tactless' diva by spending a lot of money, but if you want Georgian drama off-stage, in 1987 it mysteriously burnt down! It has been restored and reopened for evenings of beauty, grace and cultivation.
Explore Sheki's Khan's palace
Sheki
Sheki is known for its charm and is one of the most ancient towns in the Caucasus. It dates back to the late Bronze Age, playing a vital role in the development of Azerbaijani culture and was a great Silk Road trading post. Visit the Palace of the Sheki Khans with magnificent frescoes, typical Azeri shebeke windows and mosaics. Other highlights include the history museum and the house of craftsmen and a walk through the village of Kish which sits at the foot of the Caucasus mountains.
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Where to stay in Azerbaijan
Balion Hotel
Baku
The three star Balion hotel is well located in Baku centre and has clean, comfortable rooms, its own restaurant and 24...
Hyatt Regency Baku
Baku
This is the best four star hotel in Baku. Extremely well appointed with quality finishes, it has large rooms...
Kish Guesthouse
Kish
This guesthouse offers some of the best available accommodation in Kish with simple rooms, shared bathroom facilities...
Rigs Hotel
Baku
The three star Rigs hotel is in the part of town where most of the embassies are, and Baku's main sights are within...
Sheki Saray
Sheki
Completed in 2006, the four star Sheki Saray enjoys an excellent location in the centre of the town with views of the...
Yukhary Caravanserai Sheki
Sheki
This is a converted XVIII century caravanserai where traders of the Silk Road once stayed.The stone built domed...
How to book a trip
Suggested Itineraries
How to book a trip
Azerbaijan Travel Guide
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, caravanserais and narrow alleyways, whilst the boom town area houses the mansions of the oil barons built during the oil boom of the late 19th century. This was a time when the Nobel and Rockefeller families made their fortunes from Baku Oil. The second oil boom took place when the "deal of the century" was signed in 1994.
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 of the 18th century ruling khans makes a journey here worthwhile. The Ancient Town of Shemakha is one of the country's oldest settlements and a former capital of the Shirvanshahs.
Kish
The Church of Kish, located in the village of Kish, is referred to as the 'Mother of All Eastern Churches' and is believed to be the first church built in the Caucasus. According to tradition it was established in 62 A.D. by Saint Elishe, a disciple of Thaddeus of Edessa. Archeological work has shown that people have inhabited this area for thousands of years and objects found suggest that it was a site of pagan ritual before the time of St. Elishe.
Shamakhi
The ancient town of Shamakhi was founded in the 6th century AD and the city became the capital of the rulers of the influential and powerful principality of Shirvan. Despite numerous earthquakes an important number of historical monuments have remained intact, such as the Juma (Friday) mosque, the Yeddi Gumbez (Seven Domes) mausoleum and the ruins of the Fortress of Gulistan. The town was a powerful trading centre and one of the most important stop-overs on the Silk Road. It was also the birth place of a considerable number of Azeri poets, philosophers, architects and scientists. The district of Shamakhi is rich in forests and meadows and is famous for its wine and carpets.
Lenkoran
This is a small seaside city near the southern border with Iran. The city is quite recent, dating from the 16th century. And was for a long time the capital of the Talysh Khanate, which enjoyed varying degrees of independence throughout history. The Lenkoran region is famous for its tea, which is processed at a local tea factory. Lenkoran's streets are broader and reveal better urban planning than most cities in Azerbaijan and sights to see include the 'Maiak', a cylindrical former jail and the history museum built on the site of the Khans palace. The main mosque, located near the bazaar, is impressive too.
Guba
The town of Guba is located 170km to the north of Baku in the Caucasus Mountains. In the 18th century Guba was the capital of a small Khanate. In spring the town is full of white and pink blossom and in autumn of sweet rosy fruit. Famous for its carpets Kutaisi charm also lives in the old architecture of the backstreets and its mosques.In the 18th century Guba was the capital of a small Khanate (traditional Azeri Dutchy). It is famous for its 19th century architectural landmarks such as the Juma (Friday) Mosque, the Mosque of Sakineh Khanum, Ardabil Mosque, and the dome shaped bathhouse.
Nakhchivan
Nakhchivan is one of the oldest towns in the country; settlement dates back to the second millennium BC, and is the capital of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. This is an arid semi-desert region separated from the main part of the country by Armenia. Nakhchivan city was an ancient trading centre. The city's main sights are the 12th century Momine Khatum Mausoleum, the historical museum and the literary museum, the baths and the Uzbek styled blue-domed Imamzade- the tomb of Abu Muzaffa Bahdur Khan.
How to book a trip
Azerbaijan Travel Information
Visa Information
UK Passport holders require a visa to visit Azerbaijan, which should be arranged before departure.
Your passport must be valid for at least six months after the end of your trip, and it must have at least one blank page for each visa required. Please ensure the passport details we hold for you are correct.
Please note it is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct visa documentation when starting your trip. Country entry regulations can alter daily and it is always best to check with the relevant embassies for any changes.
The visa can be arranged either by you at the relevant embassy, or through a visa company such as:
Travcour (UK)
Tempo House
15 Falcon Road Battersea
London
SW11 2PJ
Tel: 020 7223 5295
Fax: 020 7738 2617
Email: info@travcour.com
Website: www.travcour.com
If you are travelling on a non-UK passport, please contact your nearest consulate/embassy for up to date visa information.
Insurance:
Insurance that provides cover for emergency repatriation in case of a medical emergency is compulsory for all tours.
You should be aware that many standard insurance policies may not cover you adequately for all aspects of a Wild Frontiers trip and so we strongly recommend that you purchase a suitably designed insurance policy.
One such policy is the "Wild Frontiers" policy underwritten by Ace European Group Limited (ACE " firm reference 202803), which is available to EU residents (which excludes Norway & Switzerland) through our website or via the insurance company direct on 0845 345 3456. Under this policy there are two different levels of cover available.
Standard policy: a comprehensive travel insurance policy that provides cover for all Wild Frontiers activities, including trekking up to 6,000m. This policy does not provide cover for travel to areas where the FCO is advising against all or all but essential travel.
Elite policy: provides the same comprehensive level of cover as the standard policy. In addition the Elite policy also provides cover for travel to areas where the FCO is advising against all or all but essential travel. The policy will not provide cover for any claims arising from or relating to the reasons why the FCO is advising against travel.
If purchasing the Elite policy you also have the option to extend the cover provided by the policy to include cover for claims arising from a terrorist act in an area where the FCO is advising against travel. You can add this cover to your policy when purchasing online or over the telephone.
These policies are only available to those travelling on a Wild Frontiers holiday.
For more information and to purchase your policy online please visit the Insurance section of our website.
The cover is underwritten by Ace European Group Limited (ACE), and is arranged by Travel & General Insurance Service Limited. Both companies are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA). Wild Frontiers Limited is an Introducer Appointed Representative of Travel & General Insurance Company plc, details of which can be found at the FSA's website www.fsa.gov.uk.
To contact them please visit their website at www.travel-general.com or call 0845 408 0583.
Health and Vaccinations:
There are no mandatory immunisations for travellers to Azerbaijan, although you should be up-to-date with Typhoid, Tetanus, Polio and Hepatitis A. We recommend you seek advice from your local GP or travel centre as to the correct immunisations and preventative treatments.
We also recommend:
• A dental check-up prior to travelling.
• You inform us of any pre-existing medical conditions or medication.
To be on the safe side you can also check on www.fitfortravel.scot.nhs.uk
