Parachute & Paragliding In Azerbaijan

Parachute & Paragliding In Azerbaijan is a popular adventure sport that attracts both locals and tourists. There are several locations in the country where one can experience the thrill of skydiving with a parachute according to the period of the year and weather condition

One of the most famous destinations for parachute activity in Azerbaijan is Guba and nearby, a city located in the picturesque mountains of the country. The activity offers breathtaking views and ideal weather conditions for parachuting. There are trained instructors and professional skydiving centers that provide safety measures and equipment for the activity.

Introducing parachute activities like never before. We, as a leading tour operator, invite you to embark on an unforgettable journey above the breathtaking Azerbaijani landscapes. Get ready to dive into the clouds and witness the world below in a whole new light.

Whether you’re a seasoned skydiver or a beginner looking for an adrenaline rush, our parachute activities cater to all skill levels. Our team of experienced professionals ensures your safety and provides comprehensive training, so you can feel confident and secure throughout the entire journey. From beginner tandem jumps to advanced skydiving courses, we have something for everyone.

Not only will you experience the thrill of a lifetime, but you’ll also gain a newfound appreciation for Azerbaijan’s natural wonders. Marvel at the picturesque landscapes from a bird’s-eye view and witness the country’s beauty like never before. This is a chance to create memories that will last a lifetime and leave you with stories to share for years to come.

Book your parachute activities in Azerbaijan now with our trusted tour operator and elevate your adventure to new heights. Get set to redefine your limits and experience the thrill of a lifetime in one of the most picturesque landscapes on Earth. Don’t just imagine it – take the leap and let the parachute guide you on a journey you’ll never forget in Azerbaijan.

Best Time To Visit Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan is a special travel destination. It’s a nation with everything, from bustling cities to stunning natural beauty. The best time to visit Azerbaijan is an important consideration when planning your trip. We will talk about the best times to visit Azerbaijan and what to expect in each season in this blog.

Spring in Azerbaijan (From March to June)

Spring is one of the most amazing times to visit Azerbaijan. The temperature ranges from 20 to 25 degrees Celsius (68 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit). The wide open is lavish green and blossoming, making it an ideal season for nature sweethearts. During this time, Baku’s flame trees bloom, creating a stunning scene in the city. During the spring, you can take part in outdoor activities like hiking, trekking, and camping.

Summer in Azerbaijan (from June to September)

Azerbaijan’s summers can be scorching, with temperatures as high as 35°C (95°F). Tourists visit to Gabala, Guba, Sheki, Lahij, Qakh, and similar green areas believed to have relaxing, enjoying, and healing properties, during this time of year. During this time, the Caspian Sea is also warm and inviting, and beach activities like swimming and sunbathing can be enjoyed by visitors. Many cultural festivals and events, like the International Mugam Festival, are worth attending during this time.

Autumn in Azerbaijan (September through November)

is another great time to visit Azerbaijan. The weather conditions are gentle, with temperatures going from 20 to 25°C (68-77°F), making it an ideal time for outside exercises like climbing and pony riding. In addition, the fall foliage is beautiful, and you can see it in places like Guba, Lahij, and Laza. Azerbaijan’s wine regions are also a great time to visit, offering some of the best wines in the country.

Winter in Azerbaijan (December to March)

Winter can be cold, with temperatures decreasing to – 8°C (17°F). However, this is an excellent time to visit the Caucasus Mountains’ ski resorts. In addition to skiing and snowboarding at the Shahdag Mountain Resort and Gabala Tufandag Resort, visitors can take advantage of the region’s snow and winter activities. Furthermore, the Hirkan Public Park is a wonderful object to visit throughout the colder time of year, and you can observe a portion of the country’s most uncommon creatures like the Persian Panther.

In conclusion,

The best time to visit Azerbaijan depends on the planned activities and experiences you want to have. Summer is ideal for beach activities and cultural events, while winter is ideal for skiing and snowboarding. The seasons of spring and autumn are ideal for nature lovers. Remember to pack a fitting dress while visiting during these seasons. Partake in your outing to Azerbaijan and live it up by investigating this novel country.

 

If You Plan to Visit Azerbaijan, Caspi Tours can help You to organize this trip!

+994 99 300 42 52 / [email protected]

Top Visiting Places in Gabala

Top Visiting Places in Gabala – Many of you want to relax in nature, away from the noise of the city, relax with your loved ones or explore the regions of Azerbaijan from abroad. Of course, first of all, you are interested in where to go, what type of transport, what sights to visit there and how much this trip will cost. So don’t miss this article.

Caspi Tours is starting a series of articles that will be a tourist guide. In these articles, everything that is interesting to those who want to travel to the regions of Azerbaijan, from prices to places of interest, will be mentioned.

Thus, the first article is dedicated to Gabala, which is called the pearl of the Caucasus. If you want to breathe the fresh mountain air, drink ice-cold water from mineral springs, take pictures of the beautiful scenery of Lake Nohur Lake, drink delicious tea by the lake, ride a boat, see historical places famous for the remains of Caucasian Albania and dozens of other historical monuments, and relax in newly created recreation complexes, here head over there. Gabala is one of the most attractive places in Azerbaijan. Most travelers admire it.

How to go?

Gabala is located 225 km from Baku. It is possible to use a private car, a taxi, and a bus to go on vacation here. It takes about 3 hours to drive from Baku to Gabala.

For those who want to travel by bus, there are Baku-Gabala, Ganja-Gabala, Mingachevir-Gabala, Sumgait-Gabala, and Zagatala-Gabala bus routes.

Buses depart from Baku-Gabala daily from Baku International Bus Station from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The price of a seat on the bus is 6 manats.

For those who want to travel to Gabala, Caspi Tours company also offers one-day travel packages.

 Hotels

The number of tourist-recreational complexes in Gabala is increasing rapidly. It is possible to spend the night here, from private houses and cottages to five-star hotels offering the highest service. Prices for one night in popular hotels here vary from 40 USD to 200 USD. This price includes breakfast, a swimming pool, and entertainment facilities. Cheaper prices are offered here in two- and three-star hotels.

Sights / Sightseeings

Remains of Caucasian Albania. Gabala is also called the Switzerland of Azerbaijan. Along with its beautiful nature, the harmony of ancient and modern is reflected here. The city of Gabala, which has existed for more than 1,800 years, was the capital of Caucasian Albania for 600 years.

Although it is not Caucasian Albania, Gabala still lives in this culture. The ruins of ancient Gabala are located 15 km from the district center, in the area between the Karachay and Jovurlu rivers. The exhibits consisting of stone inscriptions and remains of the ancient city are preserved in the Gabala History and Local History Museum.

Nohur lake

Nature lovers can go to Nohur Lake in Gabala, go boating, take pictures of the beautiful scenery, or fish. Lake Nohur is located 3 km east of Gabala, 1 km north of the village of Nohurgishlaq, in a natural hollow between the Gullyburun, Goydag, and Yumuru mountains, at an altitude of 700 m above sea level.

Lake Nohur was a natural lake until 1949. In 1949, an earthen dam was built in the southern part of this lake – between Güllü nose Mountain and Yumuru Mountain, and a water reservoir was created.

The water of the Demiraparan and Vandam rivers flows into the Nohurgishlaq reservoir. Nohurgishlaq reservoir is also important in terms of the development of lake fishermen (aquaculture) and sports (rowing). Currently, there are recreational zones on the northern, southern, western, and eastern shores of the reservoir.

“Seven beautiful” waterfall

One of the fascinating beauties of Gabala is the “Seven Beautiful” waterfall. The waterfall is located at a distance of four kilometers from Vandam settlement, at the foot of the mountain, in a mountainous area with a dense forest.

Although there are not seven waterfalls, there are seven stairs here, and you can climb the mountain with these stairs. Thousands of tourists come to see the waterfall every year.

Gabaland Entertainment Center

Gabala is not only a natural wonder but also a man-made wonder. One of the most famous amusement parks of Azerbaijan – Gabaland is located here. There are brilliant attractions designed for children and adults.

“Tufandag” Mountain-Skiing Summer-Winter Recreation Complex

Gabala is not only a summer vacation destination, but it is also an amazing place for those who love winter tourism. “TufanDag” Mountain-Skiing Summer-Winter Recreation Complex was established here. The complex is located about 4 kilometers from the city. The first stage of the complex was opened in January 2014 with the participation of the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.

The purpose of the “Tufandağ” Winter-Summer Tourism Recreation Complex is to develop mountain tourism throughout the year and provide high-level recreation for local and foreign tourists. The complex offers tourists year-round cable car rides, winter skiing on trails of various difficulty levels, skiing training, skiing school, and other services.

For those who want to spend the night here, the Qafqaz Tufandag Mountain Resort Hotel operates in the complex area, and the price for one night here starts from 110 USD.

The ride on the ropeways in the complex is free for children under 6 years old, and 10 USD for children over 6 years old. The clothes needed for skiing on ski trails are offered for 20 USD for half a day, 30 USD for one day, 45 USD for two days

The tourist routes of Gabala do not end with the ones we mentioned.

While in Gabala, don’t forget to visit Nic settlement and Muchukh waterfall, the highest waterfall in Azerbaijan, located at the beginning of the Demiraparan river, in Laza village of Gabala, to get acquainted with the culture and cuisine of Udin.

Tourists are usually looking for a place with both beautiful scenery and relaxation while traveling. From this point of view, Gabala is a very beautiful place. Here you can relax, improve your outlook, and learn the history of Azerbaijan. You know that Gabala was the capital of ancient Caucasian Albania.”

Thus, we have briefly provided information about Gabala that we think will be of interest to you. It is up to you which mode of transport you will use and where you will spend the night.

You Can Book a Gabala trip!

Fire Temple Baku – Atesgah

Where the flame “plays” with the wind
According to historical sources, “Ateshgah” is a sacred shrine built in the 17th-18th centuries on the site of eternal, unquenchable flames from which natural gas was released. The earliest construction of the temple is attributed to approximately 1713 AD. The central temple shrine was built in 1810 with the funds of the Indian merchant Kanchanagara.
Ateshgah has located a short distance from the sea, in the southeast part of the Surakhani village on the Absheron peninsula, near the oil fields.
Currently, this place is surrounded by oil wells from all sides. The relief of the place where the monument is built is plain. According to historians, the cells and the chapel were built at different times during the 17th-19th centuries. The cells were fenced in at the end of the 17th century. It is believed that “Ateshgah” was built by the Indian community who came to Baku and settled here and originally belonged to the Sinkh sect from northern India.

The construction of Ateshgah,

reminiscent of medieval caravansaries, is in the form of a closed pentagon and consists of 24 cells and one room, which were once used for serving pilgrims. In the middle of the courtyard formed by closed pentagonal walls, there is a chapel in the form of a rotunda. The natural gas (methane) coming out of the well in the middle of the temple once burned day and night.

During the construction of the fireplace, stone bowls were installed on the four corners of the dome of the temple. The Temple of Fire itself, which has a classic quadrangular shape, is surrounded by entrance doors that are open from all sides. An inscription in Hindi is installed on the arch on the northern wall of the temple in the direction of Balakhani village. There are similar inscriptions engraved in the Indian alphabet on the entrance of other cells. Out of twenty such inscriptions, only one is in Persian.

On the northeast side of the temple, there is a square Chala, which is completely filled with stone. It is believed that the bodies of Indians who died here were burned in the “holy fire”. There is another well filled with stone on the southeastern side of the fire pit. Researchers believe it is a water well.

In general, Surakhani “Ateshgah” consists of the main temple itself, the cells of the Indian monks, and rooms for pilgrims. According to some historians, Ateshgah was built by local craftsmen based on the Indian plan. Ateshgah, which does not match the existing elements and stylistics of pre-Islamic oriental architecture, has attracted the attention of travelers, writers, artists, and scientists in all periods.

An interesting fact is that this Temple of Fire is home to chemist-scientist Mendeleev, famous Russian artist Vereshchagin, French writer Alexander Dumas (father), Nobel brothers, Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, world-famous film director Raj Kapoor, orientalist-scientist Dorn, and many other famous personalities. attracted to him. Duma, who was very surprised by what he saw in the Surakhani Fire Station, described this Fire Temple with a very emotional and amazing pen in his work “Caucasus Trip”.

He wrote about it like this: “When going from Baku to Ateshgah, the holy temple of fire worshipers, more than half of the road was along the sea shore. It took us two hours to reach the apartment. When he climbed the hill, an unimaginable strange sight opened in front of him. Buildings in the firing range and hundreds of large and small trees blowing smoke and flames seemed like a handful. As the wind blew, the tongues of burning flame seemed to dance strangely, sometimes they boiled like a spring, sometimes the wave attacked from one side and rose to the branch, and sometimes it rose unexpectedly. It seemed as if the wind was playing with the fire, they were wrapped around each other, and then they fell into each other’s arms. No matter how hard the wind tried, it could not extinguish the fire.”

Indian Firefighters

Zoroastrianism was dealt a crushing blow during the period of Arab expansion that began in the 7th century with the formation and spread of Islam and lasted for three hundred years. Firefighters are persecuted, and ceasefires are broken. It is assumed that the ancient Temple of Fire, which occupied the place of the current Ateshgah, was also destroyed during the Arab invasion. As a result of the development of economic and cultural relations with India after the 15th century, Indian fire worshipers came back to Absheron and restored the Surakhani Fire Station. According to information from medieval sources, in the 18th century, rich fire-loving Indian merchants built the present Fire Temple and cells for Indian pilgrims in Surakhani, on the site of the ancient fire before Islam. they tried to destroy their physical bodies.

It is also clear from the contents of the inscriptions in Ateshgah that Surakhani fire worshipers were of Indian origin. Ateshgah itself reached its highest progress in the 18th century. It is interesting that the current cells were fenced at the same time. It is clear from historical sources what the holy pilgrimage to Mecca and the Hajj means to the Muslims of the world, the Surakhani Ateshgah once played the same role in the life of the fire worshipers. According to researcher-scientist Sharden, in the 60s of the 18th century, the Surakhani Fire Temple was visited mainly by Indian fire worshipers, but also from the Near and Middle East, Iran. Fire-loving Persians also came to visit from Afghanistan.

 

From the Persian inscription in cell No. 8 of Ateshgah, it is clear that in 1745, Iranian Zoroastrians were regular visitors to the fire temple. In 1950, the Indian scholar Mahaphaputra Unvala read the 16 inscriptions in Ateshgah, including the one written in Persian, according to his proposed method and took photographs of the monument, and published them in various media.

Five inscriptions of Surakhani Fire Station were sent to India by historian-scientist V.Sisoyev and were read there. Those inscriptions were translated from English to Russian and published in 1946. English traveler Jackson noted 18 inscriptions in Ateshgah. Fifteen of them are dedicated. The first inscription dates back to 1713, and the last one to 1827. According to official information, most of the Indians living in Ateshgah came from northern India – Lahore, Tennessee, Kachbudi, Multan, and other places. They spoke Hindi among themselves. Indians, who used the financial aid of their countrymen – Indian merchants, spent their days comfortably watching the sacred fire.

Brahmins were in charge of worship. In 1860, academician B. Dorn visited Ateshgah. At that time there were five Indians in the temple. One of the local residents of Baku, B. Dorn, informed that the Indians were divided into four sects: the followers of the first sect burned their dead in the fire (atashi), the second set blew their ashes to the wind (badis), the third ones poured the ashes into the water (abis), and the fourth ones buried the corpses in the ground (khakis). . In 1880, the last Indian left alone in Ateshgah left Absheru and returned to his homeland – India.

Miracles of the temple

According to some researchers, the construction of the Temple of Fire dates back to BC. Currently, there is such a ceasefire in only two places in the world – North India and Azerbaijan. The highest worship and worship temple of fire worshipers is the Surakhani Fire Station in Azerbaijan.
When entering Surakhani Ateshgah, one of the oldest sanctuaries in the world, one feels that the voice of ancient spirits is coming from here. The late psychic Etibar Elkin said that this is the most sacred place in Azerbaijan and is guarded by many spirits. It is clear from the conversations that every tourist who enters the cells of Ateshgah can clearly feel the strangeness, or rather, the miracles in this place. For example, when you enter the 12th cell and look at the flame burning in the dome of the quadrangular building in the courtyard of Ateshgah, you witness a very strange sight.

At this time, it seems to a person that you are standing one step away from the flame. Or, after entering cell 18 and standing here for a while, you hear strange sounds. It seems to the person that someone is talking. The muffled voices are clearly heard, but what they are saying is not understood.

According to one of the local residents, everyone who enters Ateshgah feels the difference in the atmosphere here. In every cell in the yard, it is possible to hear the aura of fire worshipers who once lived and died in the bar, which has an extraordinary effect. Even today, the bathtub-like stone pit where dead fire worshipers were cremated creates extraordinary emotions. According to experts, sensitive and emotional people witness a number of strange things when they visit Ateshgah. From the conversations, it is clear that even ordinary pets behave strangely in the courtyard of this Fire Temple.

Belief

It is said that once one of the guests who came to Fire Temple Ateshgah was walking through the cells and a cat appeared somewhere in the doorway. This common everyday pet looks at the visitor with a very strange and terrifying look and starts making incomprehensible sounds. And then he suddenly disappears as if he wanted to pounce on the guest. The bewildered guest says that he has never met a cat that makes such noises in his life and says that it is related to the spirits in Ateshgah.

Respect for history, care for the past…

It is no coincidence that the Absheron Peninsula, which is one of the unique tourist corners of the world, and the material and cultural monuments with ancient history in this place leave a strong impression on the rich past and unique culture of our nation on every foreign visitor to Azerbaijan. In this regard, the decree signed by the President of the Republic Ilham Aliyev on December 19, 2007, regarding the declaration of the Ateshgah area in Surakhani as the “Temple of Ateshgah” State historical-architectural reserve is of great importance. The preamble of the said state document states:
“Natural eternal fires burning in Azerbaijan since ancient times had a strong influence on people’s religious beliefs and created the belief of worshiping fire. One of the places that people considered as a temple was the territory of the current Ateshgah temple in the Surakhani district of Baku city.

Fire temple was built in the 17th-18th centuries on the remains of the ancient temple of fire worshipers, in the place of the eternal torch from which natural gas was emitted, this temple consists of 26 cells and a central shrine. Currently, the Ateshgah Temple operates as a branch of the State Historical-Architectural Reserve-Museum “Shirvanshahs Palace Complex”, but its specificity, uniqueness, and inclusion in the Preliminary List of UNESCO’s World Heritage make it necessary for the independent activity and protection of the “Ateshgah Temple” monument. it is also a manifestation of respect for our great history and care for our rich past.

Currently, “Ateshgah” with an area of ​​1368 square meters or 0.14 hectares has been operating as a museum since 1972, but after its restoration in 1975, it became a branch of the State History-Architecture Museum-Reserve. As before, hundreds of tourists come here every year. Among them, there are representatives of different religions. It is not tourist interest that brings most of these people to Ateshgah. They also visit this holy place – the Temple of Fire, like their great ancestors, and pray to fire, and benevolent spirits. During the Nowruz holidays, Muslims who come here also make sacrifices. As a unique masterpiece and a national material treasure, the Surakhani Campfire remains the first of two rare campfires in the whole world, which provides the most detailed information about the followers of Zoroastrianism, an ancient religion.

Source: Caspi Tours

General requirements for obtaining a visa to Azerbaijan

In accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Azerbaijan, with an entry visa regime regulated. Depending on the country of arrival, there are different privileges and restrictions for foreign citizens to obtain a visa:

– visa-free entry regime;
– get a visa on arrival;
– to get an electronic visa (e-visa);
– to get a visa at the embassy.

Visa-free entry

There are a number of countries where citizens have the right to enter the territory of Azerbaijan without a visa for up to 90 days. This list includes the following countries:

Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russian Federation, Uzbekistan, , Ukraine, Tajikistan

Visa on arrival

In order to facilitate and speed up the issuance of visas, citizens of some countries can obtain visas on arrival at the airports of Azerbaijan. This visa will allow Azerbaijan to stay in the country for up to 30 days. This list includes the following countries:

China, Bahrain, Macau, Indonesia, Israel, Kuwait, Japan, Malaysia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Singapore, Turkey, and UAE.

Electronic Visa (E-Visa)

Also, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has introduced the possibility of obtaining an e-visa and you can get it by filling out the form available on the official website. Electronic visa registration lasts from 3 to 5 days. Visa payment is accepted through VISA and MasterCard payment systems.

Countries eligible for EVISA

Albania, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg,  Macedonia, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates,  the United Kingdom of, Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, and Viet Nam

Visitors to Azerbaijan may apply for Evisa through the government’s official website: https://evisa.gov.az/az/

For further information kindly please contact Caspi Tours

 

 

TOURISM OF AZERBAIJAN

Azerbaijan is a country located at the crossroads of East and West, the main historical point of the Great Silk Road, and open to travelers and traders from all over the world for centuries. Caravans loaded with silk, sweets, gold, and pearls passed through here to European and Eastern countries.

The famous English traveler and merchant Anthony Jackson (16th century), the Russian traveler Afanasy Nikitin (15th century), the famous writer and traveler of the 19th century, Alexander Dumas, and others, have visited Azerbaijan.

It is not surprising that the rich historical, cultural and natural heritage of Azerbaijan attracts tourists from many parts of the world to this country. The warm Caspian Sea, mild climate, and untouched nature are the basis of beach, active, and hunting tourism.

Tourism development is a must in any country with beautiful nature and natural resources like Azerbaijan. The country is rich in well-maintained places and high-class resorts that are not inferior to world resorts. Recently, magnificent hotels have been built all over the country: the “Shahdag” ski center with six hotels in Gusar; The second ski resort in Gabala; The beautiful “Guba Palace” hotel in Guba, etc.

Azerbaijan is an amazing country!

Everything here – its nature and culture, history and architecture, customs and traditions are extraordinary. Hot water comes out from underground in Nakhchivan, Kalbajar, Lankaran, and Babadag, there is a fire temple Ateshgah in Surakhani, and there are a number of other attractions. Anyone who wants to restore and strengthen their health turns to numerous health centers in Azerbaijan. Thanks to the unusual climate of the southern region, there are numerous healing centers in Lankaran and surrounding areas. The world-famous Naftalan resort has unique biological quality treatment methods. Naftalan is a place where a special type of oil field, which has healing power, has no equal in the world. All these factors are indicators that encourage the emergence and development of medical tourism in Azerbaijan.

Unique architecture, primitive culture, and diverse samples of national cuisine attract tourists from all over the world to this place.

Mugham, which is considered a traditional musical genre of the Azerbaijani people, was included in the list of UNESCO’s non-cultural heritage and created a new tourism trend, mugham tourism tours.

During the summer, ecological tours – walking through nature reserves and hunting routes are trendy in Azerbaijan. These can easily be combined with ethnographic tours. It is also very interesting to visit Lahija, which is located in the ancient village of Khinalig, Ismayilli, in Guba.

Tourists in Baku, the capital of the country, definitely want to go to Icherisheher, which has a historical-architectural reserve – the palace of the Shirvanshahs and the “Giz Castle”, which is included in the UNESCO world heritage list.

Azerbaijan has already become a tourism center in the region. Every year, the country hosts a large national exhibition – “Tourism and Travel” AITF, which brings together hundreds of people from all over the world.

In 2018, the State Tourism Agency was established on the basis of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The State Tourism Agency operates as a central executive authority that implements state policy and regulation in the field of tourism.

The most famous hotel chains located in the capital of Azerbaijan are Four Seasons Hotel Baku, Hyatt Regency, JW Marriott Absheron Baku Hotel, Grand Hotel Europe, Fairmont Baku, Intercontinental, Pullman Baku, and Hilton Baku.

There are also hotels, recreation places, entertainment, and sports centers in the provinces of Azerbaijan, including Shahdag Mountain Resort, “Qafqaz Riverside”, “Shamakhi Palace Sharadil”, “Chınar Hotel Naftalan”, “Rixos Guba Azerbaijan”, Markhal Resort, “Galaalti”. , Duzdag hotel in Nakhchivan, Shahdag and Tufandag winter-summer tourist complexes, Agbulag Ski Center in Nakhchivan, and about 50 Olympic sports complexes and facilities with important infrastructure are at the disposal of tourists throughout the year.

Currently, a tourism development strategy is being prepared in the liberated territories. In the near future, Karabakh and East Zangezur region will be presented to the world as a new tourist destination and will become the main tourism center of Azerbaijan.

History of Azerbaijan

The Renaissance period of Azerbaijan’s history was beginning, as a result of the establishment of independent states, an awakening in all spheres of political, economic, and cultural life.

The establishment of local states (Sajids, Shirvanshahs, Salarians, Ravvadis, Shaddadis, Sheki rule) after Sassanid and Arab enslavement lasting up to 600 years, the transformation of Islam into the main monotheistic religion throughout the country played an important role in the ethnic evolution of the Azerbaijani people.

Islam, at the same time, in a historical environment where the various feudal dynasties that rule Azerbaijan are often interchangeable, also played a progressive role in uniting as a united force against foreign invaders.

After the decline of the Arab caliphate, the role of the Turkic-Islamic empires increased in the Caucasus, as well as in the entire Middle East, from the middle of the ninth century. Sajid’s, Shirvanshahs, Salaries, Ravvadis, Shaddadis, Sheki rulers, Seljuks, Eldenizs, Mongols, Elkhanids-Hulakuls, Shepherds, Jalayirs, Teymurids, Ottomans, Garagoyunlular, Aghgoyunlular, Safavids, only Turks-rulers, Afshars They have left a deep mark on the history of statehood not only in Azerbaijan, but also in the South Caucasus as a whole, but in the entire Middle East.

In the 15th and 18th centuries and beyond, the culture of statehood in Azerbaijan became even richer. During this period, the Garagoyunlu, Aghgoyunlu, Safavi, Afshar, and Gajar empires, which covered a large area of ​​the East, were directly ruled by the Azerbaijani dynasties.

This important factor has a positive impact on Azerbaijan’s domestic and international relations, expands the scope of the military and political influence of our country and people, the field of activity of the Azerbaijani language, created favorable conditions for further development of material and spiritual culture of the Azerbaijani people. During this period, the Azerbaijani states played an important role in international relations, the military and political life of the Middle East, as well as in European-Eastern relations.

During the reign of the great Azerbaijani statesman Uzun Hasan (1468-1478), the Aghgoyunlu empire became a powerful military-political factor in the entire Middle East. The culture of statehood in Azerbaijan has further developed. Uzun Hasan pursued a policy of creating a strong centralized state covering all Azerbaijani lands. He drafted a special “Legislation” for this purpose. The great ruler translated the Holy Quran into Azerbaijani and wrote an Oghuznama called “Kitabi-Diyarbakiriya” to Abu Bakr al-Tehrani, a prominent scientist of the time.

At the end of the 15th and the beginning of the 16th centuries, Azerbaijani statehood entered a new stage in its historical evolution. Uzun Hasan’s grandson Shah Ismail Khatai (1501-1524), a prominent statesman, completed the work started by his grandfather and was able to unite all the lands of north and south of Azerbaijan under his rule.

A single, centralized Azerbaijani state, with its capital city of Tabriz, the Safavid state, emerged.

During the Safavid rule, the culture of public administration in Azerbaijan increased even more. Azerbaijani became the state language.

As a result of successful reforms and domestic and foreign policies implemented by Shah Ismail, Shah Tahmasib, Shah Abbas, and other Safavid rulers, the Safavid state became one of the most powerful empires in the Middle East.

Nadir Shah Afshar (1736-1747), a prominent Azerbaijani commander who came to power after the fall of the Safavid state, further expanded the borders of the former Safavid Empire. In 1739, this great ruler from the Afshar-Turkish province of Azerbaijan conquered northern India, including Delhi. However, the plans of the Azerbaijani ruler to create a powerful centralized state in this vast area did not materialize.

After the death of Nadir Shah, the vast empire he ruled collapsed. While Nadir Shah was still alive, local states were established in the lands of Azerbaijan, which fought for freedom and aspired for independence. Thus, in the second half of the 18th century, Azerbaijan was divided into small states, khanates, and sultanates.

At the end of the 18th century, the Azerbaijani dynasty, the Gajars (1796-1925) came to power in Iran. In time, the Gajars began to pursue a policy of re-subordinating all their territories under the rule of the Karakoyunlu, Aghkoyunlular, Safavids, and finally Nadir Shah, including the Azerbaijani khanates, to the central government.

Thus began a period of protracted wars between the Gajars and Russia, which sought to occupy the South Caucasus.

Azerbaijan has become a battleground between two great powers and according to the Gulustan (1813) and Turkmenchay (1828) treaties, Azerbaijan was divided between two empires: Northern Azerbaijan joined Russia, and South Azerbaijan joined the Gajar-ruled kingdom of Iran.

Thus, in the subsequent history of Azerbaijan, new political-geographical concepts emerged: “Northern Azerbaijan” (or “Russian Azerbaijan”) and “Southern Azerbaijan” (or “Iranian Azerbaijan”).

In order to establish itself in the South Caucasus, Russia massively relocated the Armenian population from neighboring countries to the occupied Azerbaijani lands, especially to the mountainous regions of Karabakh, the territory of the former Yerevan and Nakhchivan khanates. An “Armenian province” was created artificially and for a special purpose in the territories of Western Azerbaijan bordering Turkey – the territory of the former Yerevan and Nakhchivan khanates. Thus, the foundation of the future Armenian state was laid on the lands of Azerbaijan.

In addition, Russia abolished the independent Albanian Church in 1836 and subordinated it to the Armenian Gregorian Church. Thus, more favorable conditions were created for the Gregorianization and Armenianization of the Christian Albanians, the ancient population of Azerbaijan. The groundwork was laid for new territorial claims of Armenians against Azerbaijanis. Not content with all this, Tsarist Russia pursued a more ugly policy: arming the Armenians against the Turkish-Muslim population and committing massacres against the Azerbaijanis. Thus began the era of genocides against Azerbaijanis and the entire Turkish-Muslim population of the South Caucasus.

The struggle for freedom in northern Azerbaijan has resulted in unprecedented tragedies. The Dashnak-Bolshevik government of S. Shaumyan, who seized power here, committed a terrible genocide against the Azerbaijani people in March 1918. Brother Turkey helped Azerbaijan. The liberation movement won. On May 28, 1918, the first democratic republic in the East, the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, was established in Northern Azerbaijan.

The Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, the first parliamentary republic in the history of the Azerbaijani people, was also the first example of a democratic, legal and secular state in the whole East, including the Turkic-Islamic world.

During these six months, the first Azerbaijani Parliament, acting under the name of the National Council of Azerbaijan and consisting of 44 Muslim-Turkish representatives, made very important historical decisions. Our first Parliament declared the independence of Azerbaijan on May 28, 1918, took over the country’s management, and adopted the historic Declaration of Independence.

Azerbaijan

Baku, Azerbaijan package - Private Day Trip to Take to Gobustan, Fire Mountain & Fire Temple Gabala
History of Azerbaijan,

parliamentarian of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, the Second Period or the Baku Period lasted only 17 months from December 7, 1918, to April 27, 1920.

Special mention should be made of the law adopted by the Parliament on September 1, 1919, on the establishment of Baku State University. The opening of the National University was an essential historical service of the Republican figures to the native people. Although the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic later collapsed, Baku State University played an unprecedented role in the survival of the ideas of the Republic and the re-independence of our people.

More than 270 bills were submitted to the parliament, of which about 230 were adopted. The laws were discussed in a lively and businesslike atmosphere and were adopted only after the third reading.

Despite living only 23 months, the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic has proved that even the most brutal colonial and repressive regimes are incapable of destroying the ideals of freedom and the traditions of independent statehood of the Azerbaijani people.

As a result of the military aggression of Soviet Russia, the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic collapsed. Independent Azerbaijani statehood has come to an end in Northern Azerbaijan. On April 28, 1920, the establishment of the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic (Azerbaijan SSR) was announced in the territory of the Republic by Members

Immediately after the Soviet occupation, Azerbaijan began to dismantle the system of independent public administration established during the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic.

“Red terror” was raging all over Azerbaijan. Anyone who could resist the strengthening of the Bolshevik regime was immediately the victim of “red terror” in the name of “enemy of the people,” “counter-revolutionary” or “subversive.”

Thus, after the March 1918 genocide, in fact, a new genocide against the Azerbaijani people began. The difference was that this time the elite of the nation – prominent statesmen of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, generals, high-ranking officers of the National Army, leading intellectuals, religious figures, party leaders, political figures, and famous scientists were destroyed. This time, the Bolshevik-Dashnak group deliberately destroys only the “cream” of the people and tries to decapitate it.

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Travel to Azerbaijan with Caspi Tours

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What does Azerbaijan attract tourists with?

 Our historical monuments and ancient culture attract tourists. On the other hand, Azerbaijan is a modern country and the tourism infrastructure has developed very well here. Our excellent cuisine, beautiful climate, and hospitable people make it very appealing to tourists. The beauty of blending Asia and Europe gives Azerbaijan unique architecture, typically the Baku Flame Towers, the iconic eternal flame of Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan. Nature is very favorable to the country located in West Asia when it owns 9 out of 11 climate zones on earth, a summer tourist paradise for tourists with many interesting tourist activities taking place everywhere.

Besides, you can also visit other mysterious and unique landmarks such as the Yanar Dag firewall, the Caspian Sea – the world’s largest salt lake, and the world’s famous mud volcanoes. A wonderful country with many wonders, don’t miss Azerbaijan for your next trip!

 To attract more tourists to Azerbaijan

, the government simplified the visa regime, creating the “ASAN” Visa System to process electronic visas within three days of application (three hours with payment of an expedited fee) for citizens of eligible countries 

The most famous places-destinations in Azerbaijan-Land Of Fire: Baku, Gobustan, Gabala, Guba, Shahdag, Sheki, Absheron, and Mud volcanoes

We would advise you to visit Azerbaijan at least once and you will not exclude yourself from these beauties.  Own beautiful nature, culture, food, and warm atmosphere Azerbaijan will amaze you. If you are looking for a place to travel for 4 or 5 nights, Azerbaijan can be a suitable place for you. The capital Baku will astonish, with its architecture, street lights, and neatness. On the outskirts of Baku, history and natural beauties await you. With the support of the local tourism company Caspi Tours, you can make this trip even more beautiful.

Best Things To Do In Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan is a country that fascinates

Caspi Tour’s blogs are a source of the most reliable information about Azerbaijan. Our team scrupulously visited all the resorts, popular attractions, and places of interest in Azerbaijan. We will never provide you with misleading information. For this purpose, we make information demonstrating where and how you can get the maximum of fantastic impressions.

Absheron Excursion

A trip along the central and eastern parts of the Absheron peninsula will acquaint you with the historical and architectural monuments of this amazing place. We will get a chance to visit Yanardag mountain, which has been burning for several millennia, and attend the Temple of fire-worshipers Ateshgah and the museum complex with artifacts. You will examine the cultural heritage and sights of the archaeological and ethnographic Gala complex museum dedicated to the history of the Absheron peninsula. Many of the monuments were brought to the museum from different parts of the country, restored, or recreated. On the premises of the Gala, there are exhibits of ancient artifacts of everyday life and ornaments.

Please see the detailed itinerary of the excursion here: “Excursions

Night tour of Baku

Nighttime Baku is a unique phenomenon of urban illumination of incredible proportions, a striking effect where the deeper the night – the brighter the city! Indeed, Be sure to visit a night excursion when you are here. You will see the whole panorama of the city in your palm, admiring the spectacular view from the height of Upland Park. City fountains, museums, mosques, park areas, squares and boulevards, modern buildings, and architectural monuments will appear completely different.

Book an excursion on our site and you will have a night of unforgettable impressions!

Welcome to Azerbaijan!

Azerbaijan is a historically and culturally rich country with numerous architectural monuments, old buildings, museums, ancient mosques, nature reserves, parks, and a highly developed tourist destination. Each city preserves its centuries-old history; local residents value, revere, and take pride in this history.

Recently, more and more tourists from all over the world choose the resorts of Azerbaijan for comfortable recreation or fascinating travel. This trend is completely justified. Apart from delightful cultural, historical, and natural attractions, the country offers a huge variety of first-class hotels, beach areas, numerous entertainment facilities, and various services.

Azerbaijani cuisine is delicious as well as beautiful

Cooking in Azerbaijan is an art honed to an amazing taste. The local cuisine abounds in piquant dishes and relies on an amazing variety of recipes with spices and herbs. They add a note of seductive flavors to the taste.

A true marvel is dushbara (soup made with small pelmeni), dolma (rice with meat and onion in grape leaves), Qutab (meat with greenery rolled in dough), and of course the famous Azerbaijani pilaf with saffron, chestnuts, and raisins, bozbash, kalah-pacha, dovga, piti.  The love of meat recipes gave rise to such table delicacies as saj (tender veal with an abundance of vegetables), bozartma (chicken soup), traditional lyulya-kebab, kizartmma, basturma, dolma, kufta, taydir toyug. As for drinks, the popular ones include sherbet, ayran, bulama, doshab, shoshab, iskayandzhebi. Local sweet treats are just as various. The most popular ones include shekerbura, baklava, sheker-chorek, Baku kurabe, nan, kyata, tykhma, kyulcha, mutaki, Sheki halva, and countless varieties of jam. Local residents are particularly fond of tea, which is considered a symbol of hospitality and respect.

We offer an excursion and gastronomic tour to Azerbaijan that you can order on our website.

Amazingly beautiful nature of Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan is an amazingly beautiful part of the world full of unusual natural contrasts. There are majestic mountains, plains, alpine meadows, beautiful forests, steep slopes, gorges, and canyons. Nature has bestowed this area with 9 of the 11 existing climatic zones. Another key point, in Azerbaijan, you can simultaneously visit the snowy peaks of the mountains, descend to alpine meadows, enjoy the spring scent of forest lands and soak up the sunshine on the beaches of the sea coast.

Correspondingly, the natural mountain forest landscape of the Guba, Gabala, and Sheki districts is particularly delightful. Even more, While the attractions of the Tengealty canyon, the Tenga gorge, the famous Geshresh forest, the Yeddi Gozel, the Afurdzhyn waterfalls, the Gobustan nature reserve, and the picturesque Caucasus mountains will make a unique impression on you.

Planning a tour? you can book a directly on our website – not only to Baku but also to any part of Azerbaijan!

These beautiful places make you fall in love with this place forever

The city of Gabala, nicknamed “Azerbaijani Switzerland”, is one of the oldest cities in Azerbaijan and a frequently visited tourist destination. Breathtaking natural attractions, picturesque forests, chestnut and walnut groves, rivers, lakes, and numerous architectural monuments surround the ancient city all around.

Excursions to Gabala from Caspi Tours are full of unique facts and various sights. Come to this amazing corner of the world and you will be fascinated with it forever.

 

Amazing open-air museum

There are 1200 mud volcanoes in the world, 387 of which are situated in Azerbaijan. The country is home to the highest mud volcano in the world Dyurar-Kolany and the most active one – Lokbatan. Over the past 200 years, it has erupted 57 times. Large and small mud volcanoes in the southeastern part of the highland area are located in the Gobustan reserve.

The Gobustan reserve zone is included in the UNESCO list of cultural heritage. It is one of the most haunting localities of Azerbaijan. There are flat rocky peaks Beyukdash, Kichikdash, and Jingirdag, the hill of Yazili. It was here that over 6,000 rock paintings, images, and inscriptions of the Neolithic period.  As well, 40 ancient burial mounds, an extinct volcano in the Dashgyn mountain area, and an active volcanism volcano Dashgil were discovered. In the vicinity of Böyükdash mountain, there is a small museum and an excursion path leading to the main rock carvings and stone inscriptions in Latin.

Baku is a modern city with medieval coloring.

Baku is an amazing city with unique architecture, history, customs, and traditions. It is the capital of Azerbaijan, a big industrial, economic, and cultural center of the country. Located in the southern part of the Apsheron peninsula. Baku is considered one of the best seaside resorts on the Caspian Seashore. A huge number of popular attractions, monuments, palaces, museums, temples, mosques, and ancient buildings surrounding Azerbaijan

Check it out for yourself – create a tour of your choice with our manager at “Caspi Tours

Check our packages and start planning an unforgettable vacation in this amazing country. For any details, please contact us via e-mail: [email protected]

Entry rules in response to coronavirus (COVID-19)

Traveling to Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan has opened its borders for some travel, while many restrictions remain in place domestically. Few flights to Azerbaijan are available, for citizens, residents, their family members, and a few other exceptions.

Vaccinated and recovered citizens and residents of Austria, Belgium, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Russia, Turkey Bahrain, Hungary, Israel, Qatar, the UAE, UK, and the US may also enter Azerbaijan for any reason.

Check with Caspi Tours about routes and availabilities, Travel Advice for information. Azerbaijan’s land borders with all neighboring countries remain closed.

Screening

The Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan has issued a decree that all passengers 1-year-old and over traveling to Azerbaijan will require a negative PCR COVID-19 test taken no more than 72 hours before your flight’s departure to Azerbaijan. Some British nationals 18 years old and over require a ‘COVID-19 passport’, a document confirming full vaccination against COVID-19, or a document showing immunity to COVID-19 in order to enter Azerbaijan.

Entry requirements can change with no notice. You should check with your airline before flying for the most up-to-date information and to see what documentation they will need.

Anyone who displays symptoms of COVID-19 on arrival in Azerbaijan will be directed to the medical station at the airport. From there the case will be reported to the Emergency Medical Services.

There is no longer a requirement for arrivals to Azerbaijan to self-isolate.

Demonstrating your COVID-19 status

Azerbaijan will accept the proof of COVID-19 recovery and vaccination record.

Departure from Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan does not require you to produce a negative COVID-19 test to depart the country. However, you should check any testing requirements of the airlines that you are boarding, the country you are traveling to, as well as any countries you may be transiting to see what testing requirement they may have to enable you to travel. You should seek to have any test results you need to produce to fly received via email and printed off or a paper certificate.

A list of laboratories testing for Coronavirus accredited by Caspi Tours

Regular entry requirements

Visas

Nationals traveling to Azerbaijan need to get a visa in advance. The ASAN Visa (e-Visa) service is now open to all nationals. E-Visas normally takes 72 hours to process. Urgent service is available for an additional fee. E-Visas are normally valid for 30 days and are single entries. If you apply for an e-Visa check the ‘Screening’ requirements for entry above.

You can also apply for a visa through the Azerbaijan Embassy-affiliated Visa Service Centre in the UK. When applying for a visa through the Azerbaijan Embassy-affiliated Visa Service Centre you should apply for a visa at least one month ahead of your intended travel date. Check the ‘Screening’ section above before applying for a visa.

Passport validity

Your passport should be valid for a minimum period of 6 months when you enter Azerbaijan.

Registration

If you’re staying in Azerbaijan for longer than 15 days you must register with the State Migration Service within 15 days of arrival by either visiting the State Migration Service in person or Online. Hotels may provide this service for their guests, but visitors staying in apartments or private residences will have to register by themselves. Each traveler is responsible for ensuring that the registration has been completed.

If you’re staying longer than 30 days, you will need to obtain a temporary residence card unless applying to extend your visa on compassionate grounds. For more information refer to the State Migration Service.

 

COVID-19 and PCR Testing – Clinics in Azerbaijan

You can contact CASPI TOURS to organize the PCR Covid Test in Your accommodation.

Baku, Azerbaijan VISA PCR - Cool Day Trip to Take to Gobustan, Fire Mountain & Fire Temple
Waterfront in downtown Baku Azerbaijan during sunset.