For a tourist looking for extraordinary beauty of nature, ancient monuments of history and delicious traditional cuisine, there is no better place than the Caucasus. Due to the difficult political situation, tourism in this region has not yet received proper development. Today, excursions in Azerbaijan help guests get to know the country from the inside, see the famous mud volcanoes and streets of ancient Baku, the erupting flame of Yanardag Mountain and the petroglyphs left by the ancient inhabitants of the Gobustan plateau.
Walks in the capital
The most popular excursions in Azerbaijan are excursions around Baku, an ancient and beautiful city with ancient architecture, colorful bazaars, and an amazing atmosphere. The duration of the tour in the capital is about 4 hours, the cost is $ 70 for an individual excursion, $ 250 for a group excursion (up to 25 people).
On your first visit to the Azerbaijani capital, it is more convenient to order a sightseeing walk, including a visit to the most famous historical monuments, palaces and mansions of oil magnates who lived in Baku in the late 19th - early 20th centuries. Among the architectural sights of the city, tourists will be able to see the following objects: Maiden's Tower; Baku Seaside Park; Heydar Aliyev Center, including a museum, library, congress center.
The capital of Azerbaijan surprises not only with its ancient architecture, but also with modern masterpieces of architecture, which you can get acquainted with during a separate excursion. It will last 2-3 hours, empty the tourist's wallet for $ 30-40 (depending on the number of people in the group), but will give a lot of vivid impressions and gorgeous photos as a keepsake.
One of the most memorable masterpieces of modern architects is the Crystal Hall, a large concert complex. It was in it that the participants of the Eurovision Song Contest performed in 2012. Dynamic lighting installations allow you to create the most fantastic effects that are visible both inside and out. After the young contestants, world pop stars enter the concert venues. If a tourist is lucky enough to get to Baku during a public holiday, he will be able to become a spectator of an enchanting light show.
Historical and natural attractions in Azerbaijan
You can continue your acquaintance with the country by going on a trip around the outskirts of the capital. Travel time is 6-7 hours, prices start at $ 90 (per person), a trip with a company will cost much less. The first stop awaits guests at the Temple of Eternal Flame, known as Ateshgah.
The cult place got its name due to the natural gas that came out of the ground and burned in contact with oxygen. The ancient Zoroastrians could not find an explanation for this strange phenomenon, therefore they considered it sacred. Later, representatives of the Sikh caste built a temple, which tourists can still see today.
Travelers will make their next stop in the village of Gala, where an open-air museum has been created. It is organized at the site of archaeological excavations and gives an idea of the life of the ancient inhabitants of these territories. You can see burial mounds, residential buildings that appeared before our era.
The third important object on this excursion is Yanyrdag, a limestone hill, at its top you can see a column of flame about 10 meters wide and 1 meter high. But this is not a volcano, as many tourists assume, gas is burning coming out of the bowels of the earth. Local old-timers assure that many such "fiery" heights can be found on the territory of Azerbaijan.
Ethnographic travel
Excursions, during which tourists get acquainted with the ancient Azerbaijani culture, have recently gained popularity. The first place on the list is at the ancient settlement of Lahij, located high in the mountains. The excursion will take a whole day, the cost is from $ 150 to $ 200 for a company of 6 people.
Today Lahij is one of the most famous historical and cultural complexes of the country. It is distinguished by its extraordinary architecture, a dialect that is spoken only in this area. The first inhabitants of these lands were the Persians, their descendants, who today live in the village, preserve not only the language, but also the culture, traditions, customs, and crafts.
During the trip, tourists will take a sightseeing tour of Lahij, they will be able to test their own courage, walking along the suspension bridge thrown across the Girdymanchay River, visit the museum expositions, where important artifacts and the results of archaeological finds are presented.
A trip to craft shops will empty the wallets of more than one guest, but it will allow you to purchase extraordinary gifts for family and friends. Azerbaijani souvenirs will remind you of visiting this amazing country for a long time.
