The former Soviet republic of Azerbaijan is not well-known by a lot of people around the world. It is a small country hidden away in an obscure area where Eastern Europe meets Asia. However, those that discover Azerbaijan and visit the country themselves are always blown away by the diversity of sites, friendliness of the people, and beauty of the terrain.
Here is a breakdown of what we believe to be the best things to see and do in Azerbaijan!
Baku
Oil-rich Baku is a stunning mix of old meets modern. The medieval walled, UNESCO-listed old town is one of the best areas to wander around in this region of the world, featuring such stunning sites as the Maiden Tower with its eight stories made of stone and the royal complex of the Palace of the Shirvanshahs. In addition to being the cultural and dining hub of the country, Baku is also a fantastic place to get a taste of the Caspian Sea with a cruise. Whatever you choose to do in Baku, you will not be disappointed.
Gobustan National Park
Located in the semi-desert, the mud volcanoes in Gobustan Reserve are home to almost half of world’s 700 mud volcanoes. Exploring this area is a bit like walking into the past, and visiting its nearby UNESCO World Heritage-listed rock art in the area, which dates back tens of thousands of years, is an interesting place to learn about the history of petroglyphs found in this ancient area of the country.
Quba
One of Azerbaijan’s largest cities, and located on picturesque hillsides, the ancient city of Quba is home to some of the best mountain scenery in the country and activities such as hiking is popular in the summer months and skiing in the winter. The city itself is also a fascinating place to explore with its friendly people and many mosques. It also has the distinction of being the apple center of the region — so make sure to try one of Quba’s more than 1000 types of apples!
Shirvan National Park
One of eight national parks in the country, Shirvan NP is relatively new (July 2003), but is a mecca for nature lovers and birders, which is home to 230 species of birds, 34 of them rare, but most people go to see the beautiful, delicate jeyran or Caucasian gazelle, in which Shirvan NP holds the world’s biggest population (with an estimated 7,000 jeyran in its 65,000 hectares). Other mammals include wild boars, wolves, jackals, foxes, badgers and European hares.
Nakhchivan
The Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic borders Armenia to the east and north, Iran to the south and west, and Turkey to the northwest, it shares no land border with Azerbaijan and the only access is by airplane. Full of cultural monuments, 5th-7th century tombs, caves and age-old and traditional villages, Nakhchivan is sure to be one of the most obscure and fascinating places you have traveled to.
** If you are interested in visiting Azerbaijan, we are running a 30-day throughout all of Southern Caucasus and its territories in June/July 2017. If you would like to create your own private tour, please get in contact with our travel team at info@outofboundstours.com **
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