Join Azerbaijan Traveller for a free walking tour as an excellent introduction. Heres our recommendations on how to spend 14 days exploring the unexplored. Really! Next, stop at the magnificent Juma Mosque. Caravansarai, once housing Silk Road traders and the Palace of the Sheki Khans are the towns most important historical attractions. The airline operates direct flights to Baku from New Delhi and London.
I wouldnt be surprised if Sheki stole your heart, so if youre travelling on a long trip, you may well spend another day and night there. We went expecting high-rises in Baku and historical treasures in the countryside. And now, with this blog post, Im going to take my mum back to Azerbaijan next year I think, I just havent told her yet! Quba is a 3 hour drive from Baku. Apart from enjoying the architecture, visit Baku Boulevard along the Caspian Sea and ride the funicular for views of Baku Bay. Did you fly from Delhi to Baku or from London? 1 WEEK+: I would follow the 5 day itinerary above, but after Lahich head north to Quba for a night or 2 hiking, and check the Tengealti canyon. I use HeyMondo. I immensely gained from Bruisedpassports post and thought could add a few things that might help others , Glad to hear you had an amazing trip to Azerbaijan and that our itinerary was helpful . Citizens of most countries need to apply for an Evisa prior to visiting Azerbaijan. Once youve had your fill of culture, venture back to the waterfront where you can stroll along the Bulvar, sampling all the national drinks ranging from the wonderful Azeri sherbert (a home-grown fruit juice with a generous helping of sugar and a touch of rose water) to the flavorful local teas, and maybe grab yourself a beer for sunset. It can get really windy in Baku as well as the countryside so carrying a light windcheater definitely helps. Few know anything about this eastern Caucasus nation and even fewer visit Azerbaijan. Guys your detailed itinerary suggestion was very helpful for my 8 day trip. Ive Canceled my trip to Azerbaijan last year because of the pandemic and I plan to visit it this year, and this guide will help me a lot. Your last stop on the 5 night itinerary, Lahich. Hey how about Lankaran and qabala in Azerbaijan.. also how is lagich.. is it worth visiting ? Azerbaijan is a super safe country to explore. Of all the restaurants we tried in Guba, a doner shop opposite our hotel and restaurant Sarin (10 minute walk from the hotel) were the best. 
A 4 hour winding mini-bus ride from Lahich to Baku, or a 2.5 hour taxi journey and youre back in the Capital just in time for your flight. There is no dearth of nightclubs, restaurants, and sightseeing opportunities in Baku. The next morning get a driver and visit the Ghizil-Agaj State Reserve, home to about 250 birds and several species of animals. But this is easily skippable as it isnt anything special. If youre vegetarian or vegan, there are lots of options for you too. display: none !important; Head south to Kanarmesha where youll find the best beaches. As you walk around the barren, semi-desert landscape of Gobustan youll be catapulted back in time amongst the cave paintings themselves, a true highlight of any trip to Azerbaijan. But you can ponder all the historical significance on either the five-hour bus or train journey from Baku. On, Buy the ticket, take the ride. Perfect! You want to know the main things to do in Azerbaijan? Use your time to see the attractions you missed including The Palace of Shirvanshahs and Maiden Tower in Icheri Sheher and the Carpet Museum. A meal at either of these will cost you around $15 per person and its well worth it. Who wants to, I got married in Thailand! Xinaliq is the highest village in Europe and a must stop on your visit to Northern Azerbaijan. As you know, blogging changed my life. It was a long journey to Quba and back and an even longer one to Lankaran tomorrow. That might have tempted us into having baklava for breakfast dont judge #bruisedpassports #love #travel #ExperienceAzerbaijan #azerbaijan, A post shared by Travel & love : Savi and Vid (@bruisedpassports) on Oct 14, 2019 at 5:31am PDT. The sleepy resort town hugs the Caspian Sea to the east with the highlands flanking the west. Car rentals start at around $40 per day and fuel is really cheap In Azerbaijan (around $0.5 per litre perks of being an oil stronghold!). Like what you see? You will find high street shops, designer boutiques, cafes, and restaurants in the area. Qabala is very nice and you can easily see it if you stay overnight in Shamakhi. After paying your respects youre rewarded with the most breathtaking views of the entire city. Why did we enjoy our week-long trip to Azerbaijan SO much? You can get away with 3 days if youre in a rush, you would be able to visit Baku, and the Gobustan Natinal park (the UNESCO world heritage site home to the mud volcanoes). Migratory birds from Siberia and Northern Europe fly here to escape the bitter cold winters.
After a long journey from Lankaran, youre probably going to want to relax when you arrive in Shamakhi. Once strategically located in the centre of the Silk Road, rulers fought to control an influential part of trade between East and West. Visitors can see several ancient monuments including a 1000-year-old defence tower, a 13th-century mosque, and a mausoleum from two centuries ago as well as modern architecture. Hiking in the mountains, seeing the waterfalls and visiting Tenghi Canyon are just some of the natural highlights. For a self-drive rental, expect to pay around $30-$40 per day for an economy car. The museum attached to the rock carvings will whet your appetite just enough before you go searching for the carvings. You can even sign up if you're already overseas and traveling, pretty cool. We rented with Avis and the process was seamless. If you eat meat, youre in for a treat in Azerbaijan. Yes we dont see a reason why your toddler wont enjoy it Most of the hotels have kids clubs. After lunch by the hall, venture to the rickety funicular railway and take the free ride all the way to the top of Martyrs Alley. It costs $25 to get it within 3 days, and $51 to get it within 3 hours. (Cheapest possible backpacking budget). Regular buses leave from Baku International Bus Terminal to Quba taking anywhere between two to four hours. You could think of it as a mix of Abu Dhabi & Marrakech. The ancient town dates back almost two and a half thousand years and became the Shirvan Empires capital between the 9th and 16th century. This is tricky. You can get it online here. Food is incredible everywhere you go. 
In the day and age of the mighty internet, it is hard to find surprises while travelling. Jump in a taxi, book a tour or from Maiden Tower hop on Bus 88 or 120 to take bus number 88 or 120 to the Field of 20 stop, then Bus 195 to the National Park. Explore Sheki Heydar Aliyev Memorial Park near the train station has a few restaurants and open-air bars. Old Gabalas partially excavated ruins are 15 kilometres (9.3 miles) from the centre.
We visited Azerbaijan in October and got everything from bitterly cold and windy days to scorching heat. Dont forget to stop at one of the many supermarkets along the way to sample local fruits and vegetables. The capital Baku has undergone a huge resurgence over the past 10 years. Most international flights land at the brand new terminal, which makes for an amazing first impression. I overlanded from Iran, and then on through the Georgia, Armenia, Nagorno-Karabkh, back to Armenia, back to Georgia, into Turkey and all the way across Turkey. Yet now awash with new optimism, Azerbaijan is buoyed by its newly minted status as a major player in oil. You could think of it as a clean 3-4 star hotel, which is the best youll get in the city centre. The capital deserves at least a full day, ideally two or three. But we met amazing people, saw natural wonders, visited the northernmost villages of Europe, and had some of the best meals weve had in a while travelling. You could also spend 2 weeks and see the whole country! Spin around and youll see Bakus and Azerbaijans newest icons in all their glory the Flame Towers.
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Also, (if you're like me, and awful with tech-stuff) email me and my team can get a blog up and running for you, designed and everything, for $300 - email johnny@onestep4ward.com to get started. After that, Sheki is a place where you will just wander around and soak up the gorgeous views and beautiful architecture. It's just $10 a week, and it's amazing! Every little attraction has been documented or photographed by someone or the other. Required fields are marked *. The sombre graveyard pays tributes to those who fell in World War II. Heres a detailed guide to Azerbaijan and a day-by-day itinerary for a planning your week long trip to Azerbaijan. Women also need to carry a scarf to cover their head. You can book a 3 day trip to Guba and Xinaliq with any travel agency or tour guide.
Tour guides will rent a car with a driver for you and pick you up and drop you back at your hotel. Just another 10km or so beyond Qobustan is one of the more obscure destinations to be found in Azerbaijan or the surrounding region. Just finish the process by putting in your email below and Ill mail it right out to you immediately. Built exclusively for the 2012 Eurovision song contest, the hall never fails to impress. Thanks for the detailed description its is both interesting and enriching. Sheki is very highly recommended. The Great American Road Trip: A 4-Month Itinerary Around the USA, Visiting Iceland: Detailed Itineraries for the Land of Fire and Ice. We and our partners use cookies to better understand your needs, improve performance and provide you with personalised content and advertisements. Roman is knowledgable, flexible, and extremely punctual. He doesnt have a website but you can drop him a WhatsApp message on +994 70 367 51 39 and he is extremely prompt to respond. 1. Rowing Across the Atlantic Ocean; My Experience, How Do Bloggers Make Money (and how much do bloggers make?! Like most spots, Lankaran boasts a rich history with archaeologists uncovering settlements believed to date back to Neolithic times. Pack more if youre going during winter months. He also has amazing knowledge of local food joints and historical treasures. I use SafetyWing for my digital nomad insurance. But, if you live in the real world, and your holiday time is set-in-stone, then its time to get moving. Azeris are friendly and while English isnt widely understood, they are always willing to help, However do keep a couple of things in mind. Highlights include an attractive square near Shah Abbas Caravanserai, churches, the Bottle House (a house made from bottles) and the Tomb of Nizami. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Savi and Vid are storytellers, photographers, and above all two happy souls who love travelling the world and writing about their adventures and misadventures on this website and social media. Krasnaya Sloboda on the opposite side of the river from Quba houses the Juhuro, or Mountain Jews, in the only all-Jewish town outside of Israel. You can negotiate cost of excursions with tour agents or guides. Renting a car with a driver costs approximately $100 for 1 day. Tourists visit Quba to appreciate the culture and ancient ways of life. One minute youre surrounded by glittering high-rises and luxury hotels, the next you have tiny eateries and colourful carpet shops in a local market. Would you buy, Want something cool to do from Chiang Mai, Thailan, Mauritania trip is confirmed! Anyway, I love travelling in Caucasus region, home to Georgia, Armenia, South Ossetia, Abkhazia and Azerbaijan. I hope this answers all your questions about planning an incredible trip to Azerbaijan. If you visit Azerbaijan, regardless of your itinerary, try not to miss out on these, especially numbers 1-7! Nizami Ganjava, the famous 12th-century poet, who lived and died in this town. Thats because traffic in Baku can be nightmarish. 4. If you visit Azerbaijan and want to see the former capital of the Caucasus Albanians who ruled for 600 years (no relation to modern day Albania), head to Qabala. Shopping malls, high-rises, luxury hotels, and a picture-perfect promenade youll find it all here. Dating back to the 6th-century, Ganja has been fought over and destroyed several times. But it is quite affordable coming at under $90. We are going to be based out of Baku. Take a half-day tour to Ateshgah and Yanardag. You could also take a day trip to the dramatic cliffs and mud-volcanoes of Gobustan. Tha, My mum on the left, me on the right.
Thanks. Your email address will not be published. But I believe they are currently suspended due to the pandemic. But keep lots of time for stopping along the way because the scenery and mountain roads are absolutely spectacular. Visit Hyder Mosque (a bit of an offbeat gem at the moment), especially at night when its all lit. Most of the fresh produce in Azerbaijan is organic and tastes incredible. The stripey mountains are a unique site but you might have them all to yourself, especially if you go on a weekday. For this reason, we would recommend ordering only off the menu and taking a screenshot of the menu for reference in case there is a discrepancy in the bill. If you enjoy truly local experiences, then we suggest spending 1 night at a home stay in Xinaliq. Both restaurants are beautifull, so expect walls adorned with carpets and rooms dotted with traditional artefacts. 7/16 spots gone! Very safe. Ancient Quba (pronounced Goo-ba), 170 kilometres (105.6 miles) northwest of Baku, attracts local tourists for the cooler climate, old mosques and traditional carpets in beautiful alpine surroundings. In case you want to venture out for a meal, there are a handful of restaurants in Guba. The Best Digital Nomad Insurance (now covering COVID-19 too! Azerbaijan is a fairly progressive country, so you will see locals wearing short skirts and sleeveless tops, especially in Baku. In the meantime, check out my super easy blog post on how to start a travel blog in under 30 minutes, here! Overlanding to Georgia, and on to Armenia:If youre going to Georgia, you can take a night train directly from Baku to Tblisi (Georgias Capital) but that means skipping Sheki, dont do that, Sheki is so lovely. However conservative clothing is preferred in the countryside. Its amazing, and often people consider it the highlight of there trip here. Day trips to the ancient villages of Khinalig, a major Zoroastrian centre, and Qusar make for interesting excursions. The mud volcanoes are definitely worth adding to your itinerary. You can sign-up here. This makes it really seamless to explore places. Read our experience below: Explore Baku
Do not expect elaborate meals but theres no shortage of Azeri tea and flatbreads stuffed with spinach. But here are some things you should definitely do in Baku. I have visited Azerbaijan in jan 2020 with my wife. Breakfast is passable and it even has a terrace restaurant for lunch and dinner. If you do travel to Azerbaijan, Id really, really, really recommend making it at least a 2-week trip and doing an overland Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia trip (in that order, if you go to Armenia first, you cant go to Azerbaijan due to their break down in relations). I hope you guys will share the love I have for this region after your week or so in Azerbaijan. If youre not staying in Xinaliq, just drive back to your accommodation in Quba for the night. Historical attractions include the 900-year-old Gulistan Fortress, various medieval archaeological sites and mausoleums of former rulers. Morning taxi back to Baku, but go via Gobustan and the mud volcanoes, sleep in Baku. Baku Old City: Take a local breakfast on the citys waterfront promenade, Azeri cheese and bread, and, head by foot to the old town and immerse yourself in what Baku used to be. Can we drive in Azerbaijan with Indian DL (english) or will need IDP, Hello an IDP is preferable though some local car rentals also accept Indian DL . Dont worry, Ill try to keep it simple and not talk too much, you can scroll down to top 10 things to see in Azerbaijan, or my 5 day Azerbaijan itinerary and ignore the rest! }. If youre there in Azerbaijan for more than 5 days and enjoy independent and travel, then we would recommend renting a self-drive car after youre done exploring Baku. Azerbaijan holidays are suddenly on the up and its easy to see why Wedged in the beautifully scenic Caucasus mountains (where you can climb Mt Elbrus, Europes highest mountain), between the semi-desert and the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan is still carrying the memories of a difficult 20th century. PS You even get 5% off if you use MY LINK! One of the top 10, Attempt 2 of uploading on sketchy internet in Maur, We are back in Mauritania, West Africa and deep in, Ever heard of the wine marathon in France ea, Adventure + giving something back to the local com, 30 days until I take a group to perhaps the cooles, After rowing the Atlantic, I was destroyed, mental, 5 weeks until I return to Mauritania! However if you want to visit just Baku and Shamakhi, then December is also a good time to visit as the roads in this area are good and you can witness snow-laden panoramas. Suddenly its rich, and its not afraid to show it. Lankaran towards the Iranian border is worth visiting in Azerbaijan. Just make sure to spend some time in the sandstone Palace of the Shirvanshahs, home to the Azeri dynasties who led during the middle ages. Sharing's caring! ), Riding the Iron Ore Mauritania Train across the Sahara Desert, The BEST Bangkok Itinerary (3-5 days in Bangkok), Travel to Somalia; How I Traveled to Mogadishu, Marathon Des Sables; My Experience Running 6 Marathons in 6 Days in the Sahara, Why You NEED To Visit the Faroe Islands; The Perfect Faroe Islands Itinerary (5 days), Visiting the Colosseum in Rome; All you NEED to Know, A Short Story about Kindness; Missing flights, Breaking Bones, and Losing Bags on Christmas Day, How to Visit Plitvice National Park, Croatia, How much does it cost to travel the world? If youre planning to stay in Baku and do a couple of day trips around Baku, we would not suggest renting a car. Try the Lyulya/Lule kebabs (mince-meat skewers), dolmas (steamed grape leaves stuffed with minced meat), and chicken kebabs. The couple of days we spent driving in the Northern part of Azerbaijan made for a special road trip through the Azeri countryside. The last photograph on the beautiful road atop the car is which place? Lahich is kind of like Sheki before Sheki realised how beautiful it was. Bruised Passports, conceptualised by Savi and Vid in 2013, is an award-winning mlangeof impactful writing, captivating photography, and colourful fashion from around the world. Most countries are eligible.
Wake yourself up with a wonderful local coffee at one of the endless coffee shops west of Fountain Sq. Beautiful, cultural, friendly and yet to be overwhelmed with tourism. If you have any other questions, leave them down below and well definitely answer them soon , Montenegro might be an unusual destination but it offers an incredible mix of stunning panoramas, turquoise beaches, historical cities, seaside, Think of city breaks in Scandinavia and the bustling capitals of Denmark and Sweden come to mind. Ive never really seen a city like Baku. With both ex-pats bars and local hangouts aplenty, everyone is spoiled for choice when wanting to cut loose in Baku. We would highly recommend him if you want to plan a short or long trip around Azerbaijan. NOTE: If youre a fast tourist or super-pushed for time, you could squeeze Day 1, Day 2 and Day 3 into just 2 days. Also, if you want to start a blog, and start to change your life, I'd love to help you! An amazing day, with, One of the few products I can recommend (and comes, Ever trekked with mountain gorillas in Uganda? It takes an hour and a half to drive to Xinaliq from Quba. Popular day trips include Ateshgah Fire Temple, Yanar Dag (the burning mountain), Mud volcanoes and to Gobustan National Park to see 40,000-year-old rock carvings. Day trip to historical treasures of Shamakhi The best time to visit the country is between March and June and then from September to November. The intricate and gorgeous Mosque is a photographers delight and the best part is, there are rarely more than a handful of people around. 4 DAYS: I would spend Day 1 in Baku and do the Old city, take the night train to Sheki. Its certainly not cheap. 3. Perhaps that is why we enjoyed our trip to Azerbaijan so much it was after a long time that we visited a country where there were surprises at every corner. The bus to Sheki from Gabala takes approximately two hours. Baku, Azerbaijans modern capital, combines a medieval old town (Icheri Sheher), a surrounding Old City from the late 19th century and a few shiny skyscrapers. This is because it gets very hot during peak summer months (July and August) and a lot of the mountainous roads are blocked or snowed under during winter months (December- February). half-day trip to Ateshgah and Yanardag You can do a full day trip from Baku which covers 7 attractions including Qobutsan Rock Museum, Mud Volcanoes, Yanardagh & Ateshgah.
For me the journey to Lahij was more interesting than Lahij itself. go on a free walking tour with Baku Free Tour. Your email address will not be published. Since then, I started a blog, then a digital media company, Ive made more than $1,500,000 USD, bought 4 properties and visited (almost) every country in the world. The best part? I left Ireland broke, with no plan, with just a one-way ticket to Thailand and no money. ), The Best Digital Nomad Insurance (now covering COVID-19 too! Pack a shawarma and take the funicular to Highland Park at sunset or once its dark. So you might want to choose another hotel such as Fairmont Baku (located in one of the flame towers) or Four Seasons Baku if you enjoy your luxuries. And I did it all from my laptop as I travel the world and live my dream. We cant find a country that matches your search. Check out my Azerbaijan 5 day itinerary, full of Things to do in Azerbaijan, I hope it helps when you reach the country! Please try again. Personally, though, I think 5 nights is the perfect amount of time to spend in Azerbaijan. The Caucasus is a wonderful, ancient region to travel in. We suggest spending at least 3 days in the city. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); I left Ireland 10 years ago for a gap year, worked out how to make money blogging, made over $1m and now Im never going back to the real world 9-5. Visit Ganja and Lake Goygol. Hi Srav there are usually direct flights from both Delhi to Baku & London to Baku via Azerbaijan Airlines. You can also avoid this altogether by using Uber or moving around with a tour guide. And if you just want to get cracking, use BlueHost at a discount, through me. There are dozens of amazing restaurants in Baku but 2 mid-range restaurants we really recommend for scrumptious Azeri Meals are Shirvanshah Museum Restaurant and Qaynana restaurant. Also, Lankaran and Lagich are decent put stops but would suggest prioritising places like Shamakhi, Xinaliq and Goygol if you have limited time as they are prettier and have more to offer . = 1. Travel Bucket Lists; A List of travel things to do before you die. You wont go wrong with either option . You can find nice luxury hotels for less than $100 per night. Although Georgia is my favourite country in the region, Azerbaijan is the country most full of fascinating contradictions, and there is a lot of things to do in Azerbaijan. Theyre extremely humble rooms in locals houses, so this is ideal for solo travels and couples. However set aside at least 5 hours for the drive because you definitely need to stop at Candy Cane Mountains on the way. In Lahich, you may be the only tourist there, now that is a trip worth making! Highly recommended from my side. You dont need to start too early from Baku and can easily leave after breakfast. One last week in Mauritania with my last group. To say its good would be the understatement of the year. But if you do, youll be greeted warmly. 10 Things to do in Azerbaijan & My 5 Day Azerbaijan Itinerary. 49? how to start a travel blog in under 30 minutes, here! NOTE: If you only have 3 or 4 days in Azerbaijan, you can skip Lahich and go straight back to Baku. Restaurants often tend to overcharge tourists by bringing specials to the table or including caviar in a mixed platter of kebabs etc. A brilliant, brilliant trip, and a route Id recommend so highly. Make sure you are wearing something that covers your elbows and knees. Choose one in downtown Baku or the old centre so that you are close to the main sights of the city. The city is attractive, but the real magic starts further afield.
TIA, Yes you could drive further up to Gabala instead of Shamakhi. It feels like he was my childhood friend. This is a seamless and straightforward process but it helps to have hotel bookings and a rough itinerary before applying for a visa.