AZERBAIJAN – KEEP EXPLORING! Day 1: Home country-Baku Arrive in Baku International Airport Private transfer to your hotel with the Professional guide Overnight at your hotel (check in after 14:00) No lunch and dinner in HB or FB options Day 2: Baku-Gobustan-Baku Breakfast at your hotel Visit to the Martyr's Avenue, located on the higher slopes of the city's west-end. This is the best place for viewing the city and the Bay of Baku. A beautiful photo shoot. We proceed to the Old Town-Icheri Sheher, which is also a fortress. The heart of the historic city is Ichari Shahar (the Inner City, or Old Town). While Baku had a reputation of a city blighted by old extraction, it has recently been completely transformed into a gorgeous capitol city of seaside promenades and extraordinary architecture, including Zaha Hadid, Sir Normal Foster and others from the list of the most famous architects of our time. Gone are the crumbling Soviet buildings of the 1960’s, replaced by brand-new, limestone-clad almost Parisian architecture of the new Baku. In many ways, this is a city, indeed country, reborn with the oil wealth that for the first time is being spent at home. The Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the oldest continuously inhabited parts in the region – and indeed in the Middle East. Archaeological digs have revealed Bronze Age burial chambers, dating Baku to over 1,500 years old. This is the most popular area of the city, a maze of alleys, dead ends and caravanserais sometimes called the 'Acropolis of Baku.' You’ll see carpet shops and cafes and you shouldn’t miss a stop into a tea café to sample hot lavash bread as it is pulled straight from the clay over that greets you as you enter. Later, your guide will take you to the Shirvanshah’s palace that was built between 1761 and 1762, and is surprisingly small. Here in Old Town, you’ll also see the Maiden Tower and can climb to the top for a wonderful panoramic view of the historic neighborhood. Lunch at the local restaurant Depart to Gobustan. This open-air historical- artistic preserve with Neolithic rock drawings. It has come 6000 inscriptions that go back 12000 years (along with 2000-year-old Latin graffiti to boot). Stone Age folks sporting loin- cloths pose, hunt and boogie down in the petroglyphs. 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. Because of huge rocks, leaned heavily, 20 caves and tents formed there, which were shelter for inhabitants in bad weather. Gobustan is included to the UNESCO’s World Heritage List. Gobustan reserve clearly showing the longships that led Thor Heyerdahl to trace his Viking roots here. "Scandinavian mythology describes a god called Odin that came to northern Europe from a place called Azer. I have studied the writings and concluded that it is not mythology. It is real history and geography” wrote Thor. He found similarities in the drawings to those found in Scandinavia, particularly some in Alta, Norway. According to Icelandic Sagas, written in the 13 th century, the Norse God Odin (Wotan) migrated from the Caucasus in the first century AD. By local legend a skeleton found underneath Kish temple near Sheki (Azerbaijan) showed these early Vikings to have been two metres tall, and blond with blue eyes. You will also have a chance to visit quite a unique site where 300 of the planet's estimated 700 mud volcanoes sit Gobustan, Azerbaijan and the Caspian Sea. Many geologists as well as locals and international mud tourists trek to such places as the Firuz Crater, Gobustan, Salyan and end up happily covered in mud which is thought to have medicinal qualities. In 2001 one mud volcano 15 kilometers from Baku made world headlines when it suddenly started spewing flames 15 meters high. Dinner at the local Restaurant Overnight at your hotel Day 3: Baku-Shamakhi-Sheki Breakfast at your Hotel This morning we travel by road to Shemakha, for a long time the capital and trade Centre for western Azerbaijan and now a small town. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence. It is famous for its traditional dancers, the Shamakhi Dancers, and also for giving its name to the Soumak rugs. In its history eleven major earthquakes have rocked Shamakhi, but through multiple reconstructions it maintained its role as the economic and administrative capital of Shirvan and one of the key towns on the Silk Road. The only building to have survived eight of the eleven earthquakes is the landmark Juma Mosque of Shamakhi, built in the 10th century. The Juma Mosque, is a very large and attractive building. Construction date of the mosque- 743-744 – relies on research of a geological commission coming from Tbilisi, which was led by Prince Shahgulu Qajar. This date was defined with Arabic ligature on the facade of the Friday Mosque, stating the year 126 according to Islamic calendar as the establishment year. Lunch at the local restaurant Later we will visit Yeddi Gumbez 'Seven Tombs', yet only three of these desecrated octagonal royal tombs remain reasonably complete. Yeddi Gumbaz mausoleum – is a cemetery located 1,5 km south to Shamakhi where three mausoleums from “Yeddi Gumbaz” group are still saved. Other mausoleums of the group are partly destroyed and are without cupola or walls. The mausoleum belongs to the beginning of the 18th century. This architectural monument was built for a family of Mustafa khan – the last khan of Shamakhi. The name of the architect – ustad Taghi – is also known due to a ligature on the mausoleum. The monument belongs to Shirvan-Absheron architectural school. The most ancient of them is dated to 1810, which is testified by a ligature carved on the mausoleum. This mausoleum is eight-edged. Its external edges have niches, which are covered with arch shaped half-cupolas. Drive to Sheki – it is one of the most ancient settlements and cultural centers of Azerbaijan. Situated 2,300 feet above sea level, like an amphitheater surrounded by mountains and forests of oak trees, Sheki rises above fertile pastures and fields. It was founded more than 2,700 years ago on the southern slopes of the Major Caucasus Mountains chain. During its millennial history the town was devastated numerous times, so most of the historic and architectural monuments currently preserved date from the XVIII-XIX centuries. In the town you will see brick houses, shaded streets, weeping willow trees, and canals carrying spring water. Sheki is famous for the Royal Summer Palace of Sheki Khans with magnificent frescos (one of them is 80 feet long) and exquisite stained glass work. It was constructed in 1762 without a single nail and is one of the most marvelous monuments of its epoch. Visit "Yukhari Caravanserai" an architectural monument. The setting here is stunning - lying in forested hills with views of the Caucasus. You will then drive into the countryside to the village of Kish with the oldest church in the Caucasus dating from the first century and enjoy walks in the surrounding Caucasus foothills. Dinner at the local restaurant. Overnight at your hotel. Day 4: Sheki - Lahij - Baku Breakfast at your hotel Depart to visit Lahij a craftsmanship village located at the hills of Greater Caucasus Mountains: This village is located in Ismayilli, which is one of the most beautiful corners of Azerbaijan lying at the foot of the Great Caucasian Mountains - the land of rivers, lakes and waterfalls. Three climatic zones are represented at the same time in this region, ranging from snowy mountains to hot planes. The itinerary crosses Lahij village famous for its skilful craftsmen. This village is inhabited by hereditary braziers, tanners, engravers, potters, and blacksmiths, metal and wood carvers. During the excursion you will see the bridge connecting two villages, the stone water-pipe of the 16th century, and specimens of dwellings of the 19th century with wall paintings, Museum of regional studies where ancient carpets and brass articles are kept. Lunch at local restaurant If enough time visit Nidj Udin village to see temple in Gabala: The It is known for a unique architectural monument of the Caucasian Albania - Udin Temple. The Udins are absolutely special ethnic group who are considered descendants of Alabanians (only 10,000 of them left). They have managed to preserve their traditions, language, material and spiritual culture up to now. Just recently the temple has been restored and today it is open for church-goers of Udin Christian community and tourists wishing to witness the most ancient landmark of Azerbaijan. The restored temple was constructed in the17th - 18th centuries on the site of an ancient Albanian church which had been built at will Saint Eliseus - the Christian ecclesiast and educator honored in the Caucasian Albania. The present day temple has been named after him. Depart to Baku Arrive and dinner Transfer to your hotel Day 5: Baku – Absheron - Nakhchivan Breakfast at your hotel Visiting the local Bazar to see local art of shopping. Like in many Middle Eastern cultures, the bazaar is the place where seasonal and local produce is offered as juiciest melons, sweet-scented peaches, great tomatoes and etc. You will visit the Heydar Aliyev Cultural Center. The Heydar Aliyev Center is a 619,000-square-foot 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.