Azerbaijan's Rich Heritage: Baku Tour

After baggage and check-in procedures at Istanbul Airport International Departures Terminal, departure for Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, on Turkish Airlines flight TK332 at 08:35. Arrival in Baku at 12:30 local time.

Upon arrival, we begin our first acquaintance with the city with a panoramic Baku city tour on our private bus waiting for us at the airport. We discover the following important points panoramically:

• Heydar Aliyev Cultural Center, dazzling with its modern architecture
• Venice Park with its peaceful atmosphere
• Baku Boulevard stretching along the coast
• Impressive Flame Towers
• Meaningful Turkish Martyrs' Memorial
• Carpet Museum
• National Assembly Square

After the tour, transfer to our hotel. After settling into our rooms, free time. Overnight at our hotel.

We start the day with breakfast at the hotel. We meet in the lobby at the time specified by our guide. After meeting, we set out for the "Absheron Peninsula & Ateshgah & Yanar Dag & Shopping Tour" with lunch.

Our first stop is the Ateshgah Temple, considered one of the holy centers of Zoroastrianism. This special place, famous for the legend of the "Eternal Fire", still preserves its mystical atmosphere of the past.

Next, we visit Yanar Dag, one of nature's extraordinary wonders. In this region, where natural gas coming from underground ignites and has never extinguished for centuries, you will see one of the symbols of Azerbaijan, which Marco Polo described as the "Land of Fire".

After returning to Baku, we have lunch at a designated restaurant and in the last part of the day, we head to Port Baku / Crescent Mall, the address for shopping. Stores of world-famous brands, modern restaurants, and a pleasant atmosphere await you. You will have free time here for shopping and relaxation.

Return to the hotel after the tour. Overnight at our hotel.

We start the day with breakfast at the hotel. We meet in the lobby at the time specified by our guide. After meeting, we will do the "Gobustan & Mud Volcanoes and Heydar Aliyev Museum Tour".

The first stop of our tour is Gobustan, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage List and bears prehistoric traces. This open-air museum-like area on the shores of the Caspian Sea sheds light on thousands of years ago with its rock engravings and pictorial stones.

Afterwards, we closely observe the Mud Volcanoes, a unique natural phenomenon found intensely in Azerbaijan and only in certain regions of the world. These vivid geological activities will fascinate you with their uniqueness.

In the afternoon, we return to Baku and visit the Heydar Aliyev Cultural Center, a masterpiece of modern Azerbaijani architecture. This iconic structure, brought to life by world-renowned designer Zaha Hadid, attracts attention both with its exterior and the exhibitions inside. Within the cultural center, in addition to Heydar Aliyev's personal belongings, there are ethnographic and archaeological collections.

Return to our hotel after the tour.

Extra: In the evening, an "Azerbaijani Night with Dinner" (80 EUR per person) organized by our guide for those interested will take place. This enjoyable night, where we will experience local flavors and Azerbaijani culture accompanied by traditional music, will be an unforgettable memory from your trip.

Return to the hotel after the tour. Overnight at our hotel.

After breakfast at the hotel, check-out and vacating our rooms. Meeting in the lobby at the time specified by our guide and then we begin the "Baku Old Town & Surahani Ship Museum Tour".

On this tour, we will first visit the Surahani Tanker, which played an important role in Azerbaijan's maritime oil transportation history and was converted into a museum in 2017 after extensive maintenance and repairs. At 123.5 meters long and weighing 4,696 tons, various innovative solutions have been implemented in the halls of the Surakhani tanker museum. Here, we learn about the following topics:

• The history of the Caspian Sea
• Oil production in Absheron
• The development of maritime affairs
• Ships and sea giants considered among the world's firsts
• Navigation facilities that are an integral part of maritime affairs
• Marine knots with a history of about 5,000 years
• Equipment used to operate ships

After our museum visit, we take a journey among the stone streets of the historic Icheri Sheher (İçəri Şəhər) district and closely see the following important structures:

• Maiden Tower
• Palace of the Shirvanshahs
• Miniature Book Museum
• Historical baths

Finally, there is free time on Nizami Street, one of the liveliest spots in Baku and reminiscent of Istanbul’s Istiklal Avenue, formerly known as Targovi.

After free time, we meet at the time specified by our guide and head to Baku Heydar Aliyev Airport. After arriving at the airport, we complete our passport and baggage procedures, then fly to Istanbul on Turkish Airlines flight TK341, departing at 17:45. Arrival in Istanbul at 20:00 local time and end of our tour.