Press Release Summary = \'Azerbaijan24\', young tour operator, created by a team of enthusiastic Azeri individuals now enters its 3d season with their new-guided tour in Azerbaijan. \'Azerbaijan24\' biking and walking itineraries allow their clients to venture off-the-beaten path and experience the country in a more personal fashion, meeting the locals and seeing the sights through their eyes.
Press Release Body = As the gateway to Central from the East and lapped by the waters of the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan history is dominated by the old trade routes of Eurasia - especially the Silk Road. Some 6,000 historical monuments dating from thousands of years ago and built by a myriad of cultures beckon travelers to this nation in the Caucasus.
In the antiquity and in the Middle Ages Great Silk Road crossed the territory of Azerbaijan as from the East to the West, as from the South to the North. It has made possible an active participation of Azerbaijan in the trade and the information exchange with many countries throughout the world. It is symbolical that even in the remote antiquity, alongside with other goods, petroleum was exported from here, known worldwide as \"the midian oil\".
Ancient cities and towns, palaces, mausoleums, churches and mosques, chapels, caravanserais and watchtowers are just some of the monuments which remain to fascinate visitors, warmly welcomed by the Azeri people whose reputation for hospitality is legendary.
Besides its historical attractions, Azerbaijan also offers the stunning natural beauty of its diverse landscape which includes the seashore, forest, mountain and plain, and a climate so diverse that one can experience the four seasons in one day in various parts of the country.
The tour starts in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, where you will spend 3 days enjoying its sights and using as a base for making raid in suburbs. Azerbaijan's community philosophy is beautifully expressed with the word \'salam maleykum\'. In the spirit of Azeri hospitality, salam maleykum encompasses the cultural strength of the people here; the amazing geological forces of the region; the natural beauty of the sea, lakes and mountains; and the development of sustainable tourism. It is also your invitation to discover the very essence of Azerbaijan in this exceptional region. Baku has been voted Caucasus's most beautiful city and with its striking beauty, wide streets and the fascinating mix of Orient and Western architecture that gives the city a unique character. Beyond the urban center, a backdrop of geothermal steam, more than a half or world\'s mud volcanoes and the longest boulevard in Europe remind you that this region was undeservedly left with little attention from tourist wo rld. One of the few countries where there are still practically no tourists, Azerbaijan offers a unique culture, tasty food and hospitable people.
Gobustan Tour begins with a moderate drive of 1 hour and continues on through the Gobustan Valley past boiling mud volcanoes, geysers and steaming vents. Gobustan is also an open-air museum littered with neolithic rock drawings. Just 65km south of Baku, Gobustan has some 4000 inscriptions that go back 12,000 years (with some 2000 year old Latin graffiti to boot). Stone Age folks sporting loin cloths pose hunt and boogie down. Their dances are thought to have been accompanied by the melodious strains of the Gaval-Dashy (Tambourine Stone) - a rock that has a deep, resonating tone when struck.
Moving on the group leaves Baku and heads to ancient Shemkaha located at the foothills of the Big Caucasus Mountains Chain. Ancient city Shamaha is situated in 180 km from Baku and located at the foothills of the Big Caucasus Mountains Chain. The general elevation of Shemakha is 800 meters over the sea level. One of the most ancient oriental trading cities, it claims to be the city of Kmakhia mentioned by the ancient Greek geographer Ptolomy in his book \'Geography\'.
High in the Pirgulu mountains, 13 km from Shemakha, 1.400m above seal level, is located the Tusi astronomic observatory, built in the 1960s named after the 13-th century Azeri astronomer, it has the biggest mirror telescope in the CIS. You will have an excursion to the observatory. Pirgulu mountains can be recommended as a good skiing spot, but there are no lifts, so all you can do is cross-country skiing - scandinavian style! Mild climate of this temperate zone, rich soil, abundant forests, alpine meadows are distinctive features of this part of Azerbaijan. The wine tradition is quite old and the area even has its own grape variety, Matrassa used for excellent dry red wines. Local legend claims that the first French vines came from Shemakha! In fact the wine produced along the western Caucasus came a long way. As early as the late 15th century wines from this area were bought by some of the more demanding wine connoisseurs in western Europe: the Portuguese. Scores of traders, soldiers, priests and adventurers followed Portuguese expansion in Asia, creating a local market for the caucasian wines. A few bottles even reached the Shores of Portugal itself.
In Shamakha you will visit two-storied Deri Baba mausoleum (15th century), survey Djuma mosque, mausoleum Seven Domes, Pir Imam Zade, fortress Gulustan, ruins of ancient city \"Sheher Gah\", have a brief tour to Shamakha itself, visit historic-architectural monumental resort of Lahij, built in the 5th century. There you will have an opportunity to admire ancient mosques and bath-houses, medieval water-supply and sewage systems. The program includes attendance of number of workshops where you can purchase different kinds of artefacts which will always remind you of an ancient area named Shamakha.
And the last point of Shamakha tour is Pirkuli resort where you will be provided with an opportunity to taste a local wine and cognac known as the best in Azerbaijan. You will visit the space observatory with the largest mirror telescope in the CIS. You will be settled for the night in this resort area in the comfortable cottages or in hotel \"Baba Yurt\".
On the 6-th day of the tour you will be transfered to Sheki, which is is one of the most famous and ancient places of Azerbaijan. Situated 700m above sea level like an amphitheatre surrounded by mountains and forests of oak trees this ancient city was long famed as a silk centre and an important stop on the Great Silk Route. There is an assumption that the name of the town goes back to the ethnonim of the Saks, who reached the territory of Azerbaijan in the 7th century BC.
Sheki is long famed as a silk centre and an important stop on the Silk Road. Sheki still has the site of a huge factory that was once the Soviet Union\'s largest silk plant (such a big factory was naturally named after Lenin...).
On arrival to Sheki you will be settled in \"Yuhari Karavansaray\" the hotel which was used by Great Silk Route travellers on their way to Europe. After lunch in the hotel you will start your Sheki tour from visiting 18th century Khan\'s summer palace with magnificent frescos (one 24 m long) and exquisite stained glass work (northern part of the city). Sheki History museum with artifacts from several periods, but notorious for pieces relating to silk manufacturing and trade. Also you will visit Royal Palace of Sheki Khans (Kings) and Sheki fortress (\"Will come - Will See\") an impressive structure with the total length of 1300m, the northern wall is 4m high, the southern wall is 8m high. The wall thickness is 2,2 m.
Certainly you won\'t miss an opportunity to visit one of a silk workshops as even now silk is one of the important matter of business in Azerbaijan and Sheki is its centre. You will visit one of the local workshops where it is possible to buy silk souvenirs. Upon your return to the hotel and having a local style dinner you will have a free time with an opportunity to enjoy a scenic view of Caucasus mountains.
The tour concludes in Baku, where you will have in the end the dinner in one of the national restaurants located in the Old City with national dishes, caviar and sturgeon.
Priced at $1100 per person , this trip includes seven nights' lodging, all breakfasts, 4 dinners, all transport, permits and entry fees to all activities included in itinerary. An experienced local guide will accompany you for the duration of the trip, and expert travel planning services of the \'Azerbaijan24\' staff. This tour is available for group bookings, which are eligible for considerable discounts. Available all year round.
About \'Azerbaijan24\' \'Azerbaijan24\' is a creation of the highly successful My Home Bulgaria Ltd., now in its 3d year. The tour format is the same: small and intimate tours that give vacationers a low-cost, high-quality alternative to large group tours. Azerbaijan24 applies the proven tour model of soft-adventure activities like cycling and walking to interesting, unique destinations inside and beyond Azerbaijan. \'Azerbaijan24\' is one that gives tourists the independence to move about their destination and interact with local people as they see fit. This approach to touring also results in \'pure savings\' to the traveler. Because the tours don\'t involve expensive guides, tour busses and other overhead, \'Azerbaija24\' can pass the savings on to tourists - making more of their vacation dollar available to them.
For reservations or additional information, contact Azerbaijan, tel: 00 44 (0)208 552 5920; Web site: http://www.Azerbaijan24.com/
2022
