DAY 1 – WELCOME TO BAKU

• Arrival at Airport
• Transfer from Airport to Hotel. Check in. Free time
• Assembly at hotel lobby in sunset time. Proceed to evening city view tour with car
• Proceed to Funicular ride
• Visit to Highland Park-Alley of Martyrs, The National Assembly- also transliterated as Milli Majlis, Flame towers-the tallest skyscraper in Baku.
• Back to Hotel

DAY 2 – BAKU CITY TOUR

• Breakfast at Hotel
• Our tour program starts with Old City or Inner City, the historical core of Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan. The Old City is the most ancient part of Baku, which is surrounded by walls were well protected. In 2007, the Old City had a population of about 3000 people. In December 2000, the Old City of Baku, including the Palace of the Shirvanshahs’ and Maiden Tower, became the first location in Azerbaijan to be classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
• Miniature Books Museum is also the biggest miniature book museum in the world. You will be fascinated by 3750 mini books that were published in 73 different countries as well as the book that is 0.75 mm and only can be read by a microscope.(If it’s opened)
• Group will experience the happening street of Nizami Street known for shopping. The street’s history could be traced back to Baku’s town-planning project of 1864. The street runs through the city’s downtown from west to east. It begins from Abdulla Shaig Street, in the mountainous part of the city and ends at railroad bed on Sabit Orujov Street, near a monument to Shah Ismail Khatai in “Black City”. Total length of the street is 3,538 m.
• Fountains Square is a public square in downtown Baku, capital of Azerbaijan. The square was previously called Parapet and is often referenced to by the same name now. The name of the fountains square derives from the presence of dozens of fountains throughout the square first constructed during Soviet rule of Azerbaijan. The square is a public gathering place, especially after business hours and during the weekend.
• Walking through Baku Boulevard which stretches along a south-facing bay on the Caspian Sea. It traditionally starts at Freedom Square continuing west to the Old City and beyond. Since 2012, the Yeni Bulvar (New Boulevard) has virtually doubled the length to 3.75 km.
• Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum is a museum located in Baku that displays Azerbaijani carpets and rugs with historical and modern weaving techniques and materials. It has the largest collection of Azerbaijani carpets in the world. First opened on Neftchiler Avenue in 1967, it moved to a new building on the Baku’s seafront park in 2014.(Photo shoot outside)
• Little Venice” in Baku Boulevard is a small town built in 1960. It was expanded up to 10.000 sq.m. in 2012. The town has two large and several small islands, which are connected by decorative stone bridges, and gondolas can be seen traveling in the channels full of still and clean water.(Photo shoot)
• Proceed to Ferris Wheel to observe beautiful views of the city and the Caspian Sea.(Photo shoot)
• Back to Hotel

DAY 3 – SHAMAKHI TOUR

• Breakfast at Hotel. Check out
• Transfer to Shamakhi
• The Diri Baba Mausoleum is a mausoleum of Sheikh Diri Baba, located in Gobustan (town) of Gobustan district of Azerbaijan. The mausoleum was described in diaries of K. de Bryuin and A. Oleariy, and also in a work of B. Dorn. The mausoleum stands in a square located on a glyptic cliff.
• Juma Mosque – This oldest and largest mosque in Azerbaijan, Shamakhi Dzhuma, according to the legend was built in the 8th century when Shamakhi was chosen as residence by an Arabian caliph. The initial Arabian inscription on the portal of the mosque said that the mosque had constructed in 744. Therefore Shamakhi Dzhuma is considered as one of the earliest mosques of Transcaucasia.
• At the foot of Gulistan Fortress is located Yeddi Gumbez Mausoleum or “Seven Domes”. This is how people named Shamakhi tomb of Shirvan Dynasty rulers. There the notorious representatives of Shirvan Dynasty were buried. The monument’s name is defined by the number of gravestones in the crypt. Today the gravestones look like half-destroyed stone domes as if grown directly from under the ground in the middle of a deserted graveyard. Therefore the atmosphere of this district seems a little mysterious.
• Transfer to Gabala Riverside Hotel 5*. Check in. Overnight in Gabala

DAY 4 – GABALA TOUR

• Breakfast at Hotel
• Tour in Gabala
• Excursion in: Tufandaq ”Winter-Summer Tourism Complex offers cable car rides at any time of the year, skiing on the ski tracks of different difficulty levels, ski training and ski school, catering service (cafe and restaurants), entertainment centers for kids, hotel, and other services.
• Seven Beauties Waterfall – You can enjoy climbing up the Gabala rocks to reach the last of the “seven beauties”, a multilevel waterfall. (Visiting this place depends on weather conditions)
• Nohur Lake – It is located in Qabala, another region of Azerbaijan that one passes when traveling to Sheki. Lake is not on the way but if you go a bit deeper towards the mountains this beautiful view opens up in front of you.
• Back to Gabala Riverside Hotel 5*. Overnight in Gabala

DAY 5 – SHEKI TOUR

• Breakfast at Hotel
• Drive to Sheki
• Visit the Palace of Sheki Khan’s Palace in which was a summer residence of Shaki Khans. It was constructed in 1761-1762 as a summer residence of Hussein-khan Mushtad (grandson of Gadzhi Chelebi). The basic material for the Palace construction was raw bricks, river stones, plane trees and oaks. The most amazing is that not a single nail or glue drop was used for the construction! Everything is in place due to a special solution the formula of which was lost forever.
• Later visit Caravanserais. Swift development of trade in the Middle Ages enhanced importance of caravanserai existing in the territory of Azerbaijan at that time and favored construction of new ones. Generally caravanserai were built in form of castles with one gate, closing of which made them impregnable during dangerous incidents.
• The Church of Kish, also known as Church of Saint Elishe or Holy Mother of God Church is an inactive 12th or 13th century Caucasian Albanian church located in the village of Kish approximately 5 km north of Shaki. The church became the “spiritual center and the place of enlightenment of people of the East”.
• Proceed to Sheki Bio Garden. BioGarden was created in 2009 within an area of overall 8 hectares in order to create one of modern agritourism enterprises in the Republic of Azerbaijan. Various kinds of fruits and berries brought from the regions of the Republic, as well as from other countries of the world are cultivated as ecologically clean and organic. In this charming garden, you can not only taste organic fruits, which differ in taste and aroma, but also have a wonderful rest. There is a possibility to spend your spare time Nature walks, Fishing, take care of farm animals. The mission of Bio Garden is to educate customers and visitors in details of farm life.
• Back to Gabala Riverside Hotel 5*. Overnight in Gabala

DAY 6 – GANJA TOUR

• Breakfast at Hotel. Check out
• Transfer to Ganja – Azerbaijan’s second largest city
• On the way to Ganja, visit to the Mausoleum of Nizami Ganjavi. The Nizami Mausoleum built in honor of the 12th-century poet Nizami Ganjavi, stands just outside the city of Ganja, Azerbaijan. The mausoleum was originally built in 1947 in place of an old collapsed mausoleum, and rebuilt in its present form in 1991.
• Arrival to Ganja City. Check in at Ganja Baku Hotel 4*.
• Ganja Khan’s Garden – one of the most ancient parks of Caucasus and Azerbaijan. Khan garden was planted at the same time when the city walls have been constructed in 996 (Hegira calendar); it has 414-415 years of history.
• Continue with Juma Mosque of Ganja-a mosque located in the centre of Ganja. The mosque was built in 1606, according to a project of Sheykh Baheddin Mohammad Amil.
• The mosque is also often called “Shah Abbas Mosque”, because it was built on the instructions of Shah Abbas the Great during his reign. In 1776, two minarets were attached to the mosque. The mosque was built of red brick, which was traditional for Ganja. There was functioned a madrasah at the mosque for a long time, where the eminent Azerbaijani poet and scientist Mirza Shafi Vazeh taught at that time.
• Near the Shah Abbas Mosque visit to the Javad Khan’s Grave- the grave of the last Khan of Ganja.
• Heydar Aliyev Park– this is the biggest park of Ganja.
• Back to Ganja Baku Hotel 4*. Overnight in Ganja

DAY 7 – GOYGOL TOUR

• Breakfast at Hotel. Check out
• Visit to the ancient German settlements and the famous Goygol lake in Goygol district – a district in northwestern Azerbaijan. Formerly known as Khanlar, the region was renamed “Goygol” after Lake Goygol, the famous blue lake. The administrative center of the rayon is the city of Goygol. The city of Goygol was founded as the German settlement of Helenendorf in 1819 and was renamed as Khanlar in 1938.
• Drive back to Baku. Check in at Hotel.

DAY 8 – GOBUSTAN TOUR

• Breakfast at Hotel
• Tour starts with Gobustan which is best known for being the home to the famous rock petroglyphs. The area has been settled since the 8th millennium BC. It is known for hosting thousands of rock engravings spread over 100 square km depicting hunting scenes, people, ships, constellations, and animals. Its oldest petroglyphs date from the 12th century BC. In 2007, UNESCO included the ‘Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape’ in the World Heritage list.
• Visit to Mud Volcanoes
• Visit to the Bibi-Heybat Mosque – historical mosque in Baku, Azerbaijan. The existing structure, built in the 1990s, is a recreation of the mosque with the same name built in the 13th century by Shirvanshah Farrukhzad II Ibn Ahsitan II
• Tour continues with the visit to the charming example of modern architecture – The Heydar Aliyev Center – a 57,500 m2 building complex in Baku, Azerbaijan designed by Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid and noted for its distinctive architecture and flowing, curved style that eschews sharp angles. The center is named after Heydar Aliyev, the first secretary of Soviet Azerbaijan from 1969 to 1982, and president of Azerbaijan Republic from October 1993 to October 2003. (Photo shoot outside)
• Back to Hotel

DAY 9 – GUBA TOUR

• Breakfast at Hotel.
• Departure to Guba.
• Guba tour perfectly suits for the travelers who are fun of mountains & nature. Guba is one of the most beautiful cities in the country and is pretty in the spring and summer when it’s many gardens and parks bloom. Guba is famous for its apples which have long become its symbol. Besides it, Guba is a recognized center of carpet weaving. Local people believe that traditional Guba carpets Chichi, Ag Gul, Pirabadil are the best in Azerbaijan.
• In this tour, you will be able to see the beautiful Qachrash Forest, ancient handmade carpets factory, mountain areas, and Red village.
• Guba Carpet Factory – After reaching Guba City the first stop of our Guba Tour will be the Guba Carpet factory. You will visit the handmade carpet factory of Guba to see how the women of the City making carpets on steady devices using only their hands and eyes. To make 1 wool carpet it takes 4-5 months approximately.
• Qechresh Forest – On the way to Khinaliq village, we will have a stop at the beautiful Qechresh forest one of the most visited forests in Azerbaijan, road cuts through the trees, offering a panoramic way to enjoy. Many restaurants are ready to give you national chai (tea) and meals to make your experience unforgettable.
• Red Village (Jews Settlement Area) – The last destination of the Guba Tour is a Red Village which has a population of 3,598 and is believed to be the world’s only all-Jewish town outside Israel and the United States. The village is located across the Qudiyalçay River (or Kudyal River) from the larger town of Quba. It is the primary settlement of Azerbaijan’s population of highland or Mountain Jews who make up the population of approximately 4,000. The most widely spoken language in Qırmızı Qəsəbə is Juhuri. The formal creation of Krasnaya Sloboda (Red Village) is traced back to the 18th century. In 1742 the Khan of Quba, Fatali Khan, gave the Jews permission to set up a community free of persecution across the river from the city of Quba. During the Soviet time, the number of people in the village was around 16,000. After the independence of Azerbaijan, most of the population moved to Russia and Israel. Red Village is full of Villas and expensive buildings as well as Synagogues and a Jewish school.
• Stop at the Chenlibel lake
• Back to Baku.

DAY 10 – FLAME & SHOPPING TOUR

• Breakfast at Hotel
• Tour starts with Ateshgah (Fire Worshippers Temple) Based on Persian and Indian inscriptions, the temple was used as a Hindu and Zoroastrian place of worship. “Atash» is the Persian word for fire. The pentagonal complex, which has a courtyard surrounded by cells for monks and a tetra pillar-altar in the middle, was built during the 17th and 18th centuries.
• Trip to “Fire Mountain – “Yanardag” – a mountain on Absheron peninsula, 25 km from north of Baku. Literally, word “Yanardag” means “Blazing mountain”. Blazing bodies of flame dance on stones and floor. Yanar dag is a natural gas fire which blazes continuously on a hillside on the Absheron Peninsula on the Caspian Sea near Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, which itself is known as the “land of fire.”
• Start Shopping tour at Deniz mall: Located on land reclaimed from the Caspian Sea, Deniz Mall is a 120,000m² entertainment, leisure and dining destination over five floors. With its unique architectural concept, it will host brands such as Casa Culinary Art School of Azerbaijan, Beverly Hills and Chill Box, Big Chef, TGI Friday, Dine Hall, Kinderland for the first time in Azerbaijan, along with several well-known brands such as Starbucks, Nike, Swarovski, Pandora, Paul, Go Sport, Alma Store, LVIV Handmade Chocolate, Cinema Plus
• Back to Hotel. Overnight in Baku

DAY 11 – DEPARTURE

• Breakfast at Hotel
• Departure to Airport for return flight

INCLUSIONS

• Accommodation in Hotel including breakfast: 6 nights in Baku + 3 nights at Gabala Riverside Hotel 5* + 1 night at Ganja Baku Hotel 4*
• Sightseeing in districts (Baku, Absheron, Gobustan, Shamakhi, Gabala, Sheki, Ganja, Goygol, Guba)
• Meals as per itinerary: BB
• English speaking guide
• Entrance fee: Funicular ride, Flame temple, Fire mountain, Gobustan Museum, Mud volcano (Transfer), Diri Baba Mausoleum, Gabala cable car (2 lines), Sheki Khan’s Palace, Church of Kish, Sheki Bio Garden, Goygol Reservoir
• 2 Bottles (0,5 lt.) of water per person per day
• All transfers according to program including airport transfers: Sedan car (1 – 2 pax), Mercedes Vito (3 – 6 pax), Mercedes Sprinter (7 – 12 pax)

EXCLUSIONS

• Anything not mentioned in inclusions.
• Porter service.
• Meals.
• Hard drinks.
• Charges in hotels for additional services & penalties.
• Any additional persons joining the group at the destination or any of the services will need to pay
• Visa
• Flight tickets

NOTE

• The Hotel check-in time 14:00 PM and check-out time is 12:00 PM.
• Transfer – Guide service working time is 10:00 am – 8:00 pm
• In the restaurants, duration for having meals is 1.5 hours for normal dinner and lunches
• Outside liquor is not allowed in the restaurants. Corkage charge is – 20-30 USD per bottle
• Meals should be eaten at the restaurant, we are not responsible for take away. For cancellation or change for any restaurant information should be given 24 hours before for free cancellation.
• The vehicle will move accordingly to the time schedule mentioned on the program. All groups should leave Hotel for dinners at the given time in the program for starting the tour in the morning and moving for dinners in the evenings.

CANCELLATION POLICY

• Cancellation policy depends on the chosen hotel. Grand Service is free cancellation.
• Any cancellations during the program (which are not under our responsibility) are non-refundable.