AMAZING AZERBAIJAN

Arrive Baku Airport, meet our representative then transfer to hotel in Baku (approx. 45min) (check in time 14.30hrs). Overnight in Baku Overnight stay: Baku Meal: No Meals

Breakfast at the hotel. Pick up from hotel at 10:00. Absheron tour ( Ateshgah, Yanardag): Our first stop is Ateshgah Fire Temple in the village of Surakhani that for centuries has been attracting crowds of thrill seekers. Built in the 17th–18th centuries around naturally burning flames which were previously worshipped by Zoroastrians, the site then had become an important place of pilgrimage for fireworshipping Hindus until the 1880s. Today it houses a well-designed open-air museum. And the final stop of our “fiery tour” is State Historical, Cultural and Natural Reserve Yanardag (literary “Burning Mountain”), a complex built around the hill located on the top of the natural gas pocket causing continuous flame eruption. Most probably the fire has been burning in Yanardag for over 20,000 years. These natural flames were described by Marco Polo in the 13th century and continue to mesmerize those who visit the site.Gobustan & Mud Volcanos- Have you ever seen where one of the first civilizations has started? Seek no more, because Gobustan Historical-Artistic Preserve is exactly what you need! Included in the UNESCO heritage list, being one of the cradles of human civilization, Gobustan located barely one hour drive from Baku. It has an astonishing collection of over 6,000 ancient petroglyphs depicting the ways of life dating back as far as 40,000 years. Innovative technology will help you to get closer to the prehistoric times in Gobustan State Historical- Artistic Museum using itstouch screens provided with special multimedia programs, educational and entertaining games, interactive displays, 3D video, etc.Not far from Gobustan there is a second miracle that will amaze you no less than the prehistoric drawings on the rocks – these are Mud Volcanoes. NASA geologists have concluded that they are similar in structure to the hills on the planet Mars. Azerbaijan ranks first in terms of the number of mud volcanoes: 350 out of 800 mud volcanoes in the world are located here, one of which is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest in the world. To reach volcanoes you will have to drive through off-road deserted land on the cross-country vehicles. Overnight in Baku Overnight stay: Baku Meal: Breakfast Only

Breakfast at the hotel - Gabala tour Pick up from hotel at 10:00. Drive to Qabala Gabala is one of the most beautiful provinces of Azerbaijan with rich and ancient history. For 600 years the city named Kabala used to be the capital of Caucasian Albania, an ancient state that used to exist on the territory of modern Azerbaijan back in the days. The ruins of the ancient city and the main gate of Caucasian Albania had survived until today.Gabala region is rich with natural assets. Nohur Lake has a fabulous location with a spectacular view to the Caucasus Mountains. In winter it is gradually covered by thick ice. Yeddi Gozel (Seven Beauties) waterfall is situated near Vandam village in a mountainous area with dense forests. The name of the waterfall comes from the seven cascades falling from the highest peak of the mountain. Wooden stairs are leading to the very top. In spring and summer teahouses dot every mountain road, where guests can enjoy tea with traditional types of Gabala jam (for example, walnut or white cherry jam).Spend time in Tufandag Winter-Summer Tourism Complex which provides green and blue ski slopes for beginners and moderate skiers, as well as red and black slopes for professionals. It is possible to rent needed skiing equipment in the skiing center on the territory of the resort. If you want to take ski lessons, professional instructors will be at your disposal.Have a breathtaking drive in a cable car: four ropeways extending over 5.5 km will take you for a journey up to a mountain top at 1920 m height, opening spectacular views of Gabala and surrounding mountains. There are also other activities available, like hiking, snowmobiling and snowboarding. At Gabala Shooting Club in the village of Bum you can improve your aim and enjoy its beautiful natural surroundings. It is a multi-purpose and world-class shooting facility that can serve both as a recreational and entertainment center. Overnight in Baku Overnight stay: Baku Meal: Breakfast On

DAY 4 Day 04: BAKU CITY TOUR Breakfast at the hotel. Your tour will start with visiting Heydar Aliyev Centre designed by world-famous architect Zaha Hadid and devoted to national leader Heydar Aliyev. It is vast and jaw-dropping majestic statement of fluid 21st-century architecture forming abstract waves and peaks that seem to melt together. The real delight is simply pondering and photographing the extraordinary exterior from ever-changing angles. Make a stop next to the popular “I love Baku” sign to take some pictures.Want to have a close look at the Baku`s most popular landmark? Baku business and hotel complex Flame Towers Baku is composed of 3 buildings. The surface of the Towers is fully covered with LED screens reflecting different visual characters in motion, easily visible from the far corners of the city in the evening. Walk along the Alley of Martyrs which is usually being included in the protocol visits of the foreign officials. Enjoy the panoramic view of the city and its bay from Baku's Highland Park (also called Upland Park), the highest point in the Azerbaijani capital. Walk down to Baku Boulevard to view the International Mugham Center created in order to widely promote Azerbaijani 'mugham' (folk musical composition) in the world and shaped as the national musical instrument - 'tar'. Here you will also see Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum, designed by Austrian architect Franz Janz and looking like a rolled carpet. Wander between the decorative stone bridges of so-called Little Venice, a small town on the water and one of the jewels of Baku. It has two large and several small islands and its gondolas are travelling in the channels full of still and clean water.Cross the street and enter Icherisheher (Inner City), known as a “Fortress” or "Old City", a unique historical and architectural conservation area in the center of Baku. This is one of the most ancient places of the country where archaeological excavations revealed burial vaults of the Bronze Age. Maiden Tower (12th century) and The Palace of Shirvanshahs (13th-16th centuries) are the best known historical monuments located in the Old City. Besides, there are a lot of other unique monuments such as mosques, minarets, the remnants of caravanserais "Multani" and "Bukhara", ancient baths, etc. Stroll down the paved streets of this ancient city and drop to some of the numerous souvenir shops where you can buy national clothes, kerchiefs, scarves and caps, dishes and handmade carpets.After leaving Old City move to the modern downtown, straight to the Fountain Square, the most popular public place with many restaurants and shops, main location for public festivals, shows and celebrations and pedestrian Nizami street, old trading zone with lots of shops and boutiques.

DAY 5 Day 05: DEPARTURE Check out from hotel. Departure transfer from Baku to GYD Airport. Meal: Breakfast Only