General Information About tour

On Odin's Land or along the Viking Trails

Tour Duration 8 nights / 9 days

Regions: Baku-Absheron-Gobustan-Gabala-Sheki-Ganja-Goygel-Khizi-Shabran-Guba

1 Day

Meeting at the airport.

Accommodation at the hotel 4 * in the city

Free Time

2 Day

09:00 Breakfast at the hotel.

Excursion. "Baku City Tour".

The tour begins with a visit to one of the modern and most recognizable places of the Nagorny Park. It is here that the "City of Winds", as Baku is often called, opens to you in all its glory. The observation platform located on the highest part of the city, near the sleeping "The Languages of Flame" shows the city with all its beauties and greenery bordering Baku Bay.

Visit to the old town of Icheri Sheher

Very often Icheri Sheher is called a fortress, as a well-preserved fortress wall surrounds it. People in the territory of Icheri Sheher lived in the Bronze Age, and by the 8th-11th centuries, it was completely populated. Behind the walls, there are many unique monuments: the palace complex of the Shirvanshahs with a burial vault, a sofa, a mosque; "Gyz Galasy" ("The Maiden's Tower"); mosques and minarets, the remains of caravanserais, baths. Buildings of the old fortress are of a special nature. Because of the lack of the territory of the building, the wall to the wall was erected here from ancient times. There are no gardens, the yards are extremely small and separated by "threads" of narrow streets, lanes and dead ends. When the Shirvanshahs moved their capital from Shemakha to Baku in the 15th century, massive buildings began in Icheri Sheher. During this period the pearl of the fortress was Built - the Palace of the Shirvanshahs. It should be noted that Baku XVII-XIX centuries did not go beyond the boundaries of Icheri Sheher. Here were located the palaces of the rulers, and residential quarters. From 1747 to 1806, there was the capital of the Baku Khanate. Only after the beginning of the oil boom, the city began to expand and goes beyond the boundaries of Icheri Sheher. The fortress wall itself is of interest. Once Baku had two of them, and they were separated by moats, but at the beginning of the XIX century, the city grew so fast that it was necessary to demolish and build the outer wall. Remained only the inner wall. It has 25 towers and 5 gates. They say that back in the 30s. Twentieth century in the fortress there were more than 900 buildings, and by the beginning of the XXI century only half remained.

Free time

Overnight at the hotel.

3 Day

09:00 Breakfast at the hotel.

Excursion. "Fire worships Temple Ateshgyah + Burning Mountain Yanardagh".

The Temple of Eternal Fire - Ateshgyah - is an authentic Azerbaijani exotic. It is well known practically all over the world. It is located 30 km from the center of Baku in the suburb of Surakhany. This territory is known for such unique natural phenomenon as burning natural gas outlets (underground gas coming onto surface contacts oxygen and lights up). The temple in its present state was constructed in the 17th-18th centuries. The Baku-based Hindu community related to Sikhs built it. However, the history of the Temple is even longer. From times immemorial, this was the holy place of Zoroastrians- fire worshippers (approximately beginning of our era). They attributed mystical significance to the inextinguishable fire and came there to worship the relic.

After the introduction of Islam Zoroastrian temple was destroyed. Many Zoroastrians left to India and there continued their worship. But in the 15th -17th centuries, the Hindus-fire worshippers who came to Absheron with trading caravans began to make pilgrimages to Surakhany. The Indian merchants started erection of the temple. The earliest temple part is dated 1713. The latest - the central temple-altar was built with the support of merchant Kanchangar in 1810. During the 18th century chapels, cells, a caravanserai were added to the central part of the temple. On у can find carved inscriptions in Indian lettering there.

In the early 19th century, the Temple acquired its present-day appearance. Ateshgyah is a pentagonal structure with a castellation and entrance portal. In the center of a yard the altar-sanctuary executed in the form of a stone bower on which angles some more centers are located towers. In the center of an altar - a well from which beat "eternally" burning gas.

Burning Mountain Yanardagh

One of the most famous and popular tourist places of the "eternal flame” in Azerbaijan is the mountain of Yanar Dag. Actually, it is rather a hill than a mountain, with natural gas burning on its slope from ancient times. Meter-long tongues of fire are licking the stratified earth approximately for 10 m in width, searing those who approached too close. People occupy the benches to watch the blazing hill in the evening, when the its sight is most effective.

Yanar Dag is located 25 km to the north from Baku, in Mehemmedi village. There are buses running to it from the city, so you can get there fairly cheap and easy. From the year 2007, Yanar Dag is declared a state-protected conservation area.

Excursion. Reserve of rock carvings Gobustan.

The reserve is located 60 km from Baku and is located between the slope of the Great Caucasus Ridge and the Caspian Sea. Gobustan is an open-air reserve reflecting the life and everyday life of primitive people who lived here since the Mesolithic period until the Middle Ages. A special place is occupied by ancient rock carvings pictograms and petro glyph petro glyphs. These ancient monuments of art reflect the worldview, economy, customs and traditions of ancient Azerbaijanis. Gobustan is characterized by male and female images. Men in the drawings are depicted in a hunting appearance with bows and arrows. They are tall, with slender bodies, belted Belts and muscular muscles. On the pictures of the Reserve, you can see pictures of animals that lived here during the last 10 thousand years - gazelles, wild goats, deer, wild pigs, horses, lions, etc. On the rocks, there are also images of birds, fish, snakes, lizards and various insects. Ancient rock carvings along with a variety of topics abound in compositional scenes, reflecting in all the diversity of various spheres of human activity. They were reflected in the Azerbaijani dance of Yally, collective labor, hunting with various weapons, swimming on a Tigris-type boat, reaping of animals, attack of predators on herbivores, etc. Perhaps Yally was performed to the sound, published by the oldest musical instrument "Gavaldash" (a stone with a deep resonating sound). Before the start of the tour of Gobustan, we are waited by a visit to the museum of the same name that was recently built and is distinguished by its high technological level.

Excursion to Mud Volcanoes. After that 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 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.

Transfer to Baku

Overnight in hotel

4 Day

08:00 Breakfast at the hotel.

Excursion. "Shemakha +Gabala+ Sheki".

Shamakhi is an ancient Azerbaijani city. Originated in the 5th century. BC. e. In the IX-XVI centuries. - the capital of the Shirvan kingdom, the residence of the Shirvanshahs is one of the most beautiful cities of the East. From the middle of the XVIII century - the center of Shemakhan khanate. For a long time, Shemakha was one of the most important points throughout the Great Silk Road. This is due to the fact that the city for a long time was one of the centers of the Shirvan-Apheron architectural school and the school of decorative and applied art (carpet making) and miniatures. Located at the intersection of caravan routes, Shemakha was one of the major trade and craft centers in the Middle East, occupying an important place in the trade in silk, as early as the 16th century trade ties between Shemakha and Venetian merchants were mentioned. In Shemakha, Azerbaijani, Iranian, Arab, Central Asian, Russian, Indian and West European merchants were trading, who owned factories there, had numerous silk-weaving, paper-spinning and carpet workshops. The city became famous as the home of many prominent Azerbaijani philosophers, architects and scientists, and poets such as Khagani, Nasimi,Sabir. Famous sights of Shemakha.  

Diri-Baba. Diri Baba is a unique monument, a two-story mosque-mausoleum of the 15th century, located on the road from Baku to Shemakha in the village of Maraza opposite the old cemetery. For a long time, local residents believed that this place was buried and remained an imperishable saint named Diri-Baba. However, this monument is associated with many legends and mystical details. Therefore, since the 17th century, it began to attract many pilgrims and ordinary travelers. The peculiarity of the structure is that the architect, as it were, "built" the tomb in the rock, and it seems as if it is kept "on weight", torn from the ground. The tomb admires the strictness of architecture, the purity of the lines, and against the background of irregularities of the dark rock the light and smooth surface of its walls, standing out, seems solemn.

Juma mosque. This Azerbaijani mosque is the oldest and largest in the Caucasus. According to legend, it was founded in the 8th century, when Shemakha was chosen as a residence by the Arab caliph. The exact date of its construction is 744, which was established as a result of research conducted by the geological commission arrived from Tiflis, headed by Prince Shakuli Kajar. This date was determined by the Arabic inscription on the facade of the Juma mosque, which indicates the 126th year of the Muslim calendar as the date of foundation. It was at this time that construction of new religious buildings (mosques) began in the territory of modern Azerbaijan. The Juma mosque in Shemakha is the earliest mosque in the Caucasus after the Derbent Cathedral Friday Mosque, built in 734.  

Udis village Nij (Chotari Church)

Located just over 20 kilometres south-west of Gabala, the village of Nij is home to the largest population of Udi people anywhere in the world. Udis are a Christian people directly descended from one of the main tribes living in Caucasian Albanian, an ancient state existing across much of today’s Azerbaijan from about 3BC to 8AD. In fact, they still speak an endangered language that is essentially the same as that of the ancient Albanians. Explore the history and culture of this warm community by visiting the beautifully restored 17th-century Albanian church (Chotari Church) which sits shaded by magnificent plane trees not far from the village centre.

Ancient city Kabalaka (Qabala)

Kabalaka (Qabala) - The city during six centuries served as the capital of the ancient state of Caucasian Albania. Archeological investigations give an evidence that Gabala functioned as the capital of Albania as early as 4th century BC. The ruins of the ancient town are situated in 15 km south-west of the modern site of Gabala, in the village of Chukhur Gabala on the territory between Garachay and Jourluchay rivers. Here you can find the ancient walls and towers.

Archaeological evidence indicates that the city functioned as the capital of Caucasian Albania as early as 4th century BC. Up to the present time, there are the ruins of the ancient city and the main gate of Caucasian Albania. Ongoing excavations near the village Chukhur show that Gabala from IV – III centuries BC and up to the XVIII century was one of the main cities with developed trade and crafts. The ruins of the ancient town are situated 15 km from the regional center, allocated on the territory between Garachay and Jourluchay rivers. Gabala was located in the middle of the 2,500-year-old Silk Road, and was mentioned by Pliny the Younger as “Kabalaka”, Greek geographer Ptolemy as “Khabala”, Arabic historian Ahmad ibn Yahya as “Khazar”. In the 19th century, the Azerbaijani historian Abbasgulu Bakhihanov mentioned in his book Gulistani Irem that Kbala or Khabala were in fact Gabala.

In the 60s BC, Roman troops attacked Caucasian Albania, but did not succeed in capturing the Qabala territory. In 262 AD, Caucasian Albania was occupied by the Sassanid Empire, but preserved its political and economic status. In 464, it lost its independence due to years of invasions from the northern nomadic tribes and had to move its capital city to Partava (currently Barda in Azerbaijan).

Departure to Sheki

Overnight in Sheki

5 Day

08:00 Breakfast at the hotel.

Excursion. "Sheki+Kish Village".

Sheki is one of the most famous and ancient settlements of Azerbaijan. It is located 700 m above sea level and as an amphitheater is surrounded by mountains. This ancient city has long been known as the center of silk and an important transit point on the Great Silk Road. We will begin our tour to Sheki with a visit to the Summer Palace of Khan with magnificent frescoes and exquisite handmade window decorations. Then we'll visit the workshop, where we can get acquainted with the process of manufacturing "Shebeke" by local artisans. Next, we will visit the workshop for cooking the delicious "Sheki Pahlavas", famous throughout Azerbaijan.

Excursion to Kish. Our acquaintance with Sheki continues with a visit to the Albanian church, which is located in the village of Kish. According to the legend, this church is the first Christian church built not only in the territory of Caucasian Albania, but in the whole of Transcaucasia. This place is also remarkable, as burial places of people were found on the territory of the temple, which in their structure are very different from the current inhabitants of this region. In 2003, the church was restored to the money of the Norwegian government thanks to the personal efforts of Tour Heyerdahl. Here, next to the territory of the Church, you can find a memorial bust, in honor of a famous researcher set as a token of gratitude from local residents and the state. Departure to Gandzha

6 Day

08:00 Breakfast at the hotel.

Excursion. "Ganja is a city of Khans and Poets".

Ganja, as a fabulously beautiful city, could not appear just like that. According to legend, it was based on the place where the traveler Maazid found a huge treasure - these were pots filled with precious stones and gold. The city was named after this incredible find, and several centuries later became the second most important in Azerbaijan. By the way, the famous Great Silk Road passed through Ganja. Today the city is participating in a project to restore this ancient trade route. Many sights of Ganja are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The old fortress. The remains of the once high fortress can be seen at Khansky Garden in Ganja. Now from its former greatness there were only formless brick blocks. The fortress wall stretched along the entire bank of the Ganjachay River. But over time, the water, which served as the faithful guard of the fortress, crept closer and undermined the already dilapidated walls.

Once there were two powerful towers at a distance of about 600 meters from each other. The famous gates of ancient Ganja served as the gates of the fortress.

Ensemble of Sheikh Bahauddin. The 17th century historical and architectural complex created by Sheikh Bahauddin includes the Juma Mosque (Shah Abbas Mosque), Chekyak-Khamam (medieval bathhouse) and the caravanserai.

Excursion to Goygol Lake.

The road south from Xanlar winds up through the woodland picnic spots of Hacikand and onto a ridge with magnificent views of the dramatic Lesser Caucasus range, crowned by the distinctive cleft peak of Mt Kapaz. For now the valley beyond is out of bounds. However it contains one of Azerbaijan's most celebrated beauty spots, the gorgeous, forest-ringed Goy Gol (blue lake), which is slated to reopen to tourism as a new national park within the next few years.

The distinctive rocky beak of Mt Kyapaz opened in the 1139 earthquake and disgorged such a mass of rock that it dammed the mountain streams in several places. The result was a string of seven idyllic mountain lakes known as the 'tears of Kyapaz'. Most famous are Goy Gol (Blue Lake) formerly a popular sanatorium, camping retreat, and the more secluded Maral Gol (Deer Lake). Lesser known Zali Gol (Leech Lake) and Sara Gol (Yellow Lake) never sounded as appealing. The area is especially magnificent in autumn when green forests are burnished yellow, auburn and red like a pointillist painting rising from Goy Gol's still blue waters to Kyapaz's dramatic crown. The best views are part way to Maral Gol.

Transfer to Baku

Overnight in Baku

7 Day

08:00 Breakfast at the hotel.

08:30 Excursion. "The secrets of the Kingdom of Shabran."

The Red Mountains are a psychedelic, red-pink and white striped area of exposed rock in the Northwest of Azerbaijan. Iron in the ground gives the mountains their deep red color and powdery shale makes up the white parts. Through a geological process, they have mixed together underground, layer on top of layer, and when exposed to the elements, they eroded into a beautiful, completely bizarre sight.

Despite being such a striking natural wonder, almost no one visits them. Though there are a few small trails to be found, the entire area is yours to play around in. If you are willing to hike away from the road, you are rewarded with crazy looking patterns that stretch for miles. Climb over whatever you want, take as many pictures as you can and explore all the small crevices in between. Though the main area exists just off the road, there are plenty of other candy-striped areas in the surrounding valleys. Occasionally in the rocks, one can see the fossilized remains of belemnites, a type of ancient squid. Unlike modern squids, this one contained a skeleton, most notably its bony rostrum, a hard protrusion on the opposite end from their tentacles. It is believed that a similar geological phenomenon happens only in one more place on the planet: the Death Valley in the United States. The formations themselves take their color from ground water that has oxidized iron within the rock.

Beshbarmag on the route.

Here is one of the main natural attractions of the area – the legendary mountain Beshbarmag. Named so because of its unusual shape resembling a stone hand menacingly raised over the ancient caravan route. At the top among the teeth of the rocks are the ruins of the sanctuary “Hyzirzinde” (eternally living Hizir). Any traveler knows this place because it can’t be avoided while driving on the road leading from the capital to the north. And tourists enjoy admiring the forbidding rock. You can exit the car, warm up after a long journey, drink tea, eat barbeque or boiled corn in season. Those interested can visit the mosque here. There are many historical monuments in the area. Beshbarmag tower built in the middle of VIII century is located at the distance of9kmfrom the center of the district.

Excursion to Chirag Gala Castle

Chirag Gala (“Lamp Castle”), a castle from 4th-5th century is located 100 km to the north of Baku on top of a mountain. Chirag Gala was built over a seam of oil and gas which allowed for lighting up signal fires visible to the distance of several dozens of kilometers. Similar castles and towers were located all over the area from Derbent to Baku providing for a warning system against enemy invasions. Today, under the castle, the “Galaalty” urology treatment center is located whose thermal water has a curative effect on diseases of the kidneys, urinary tract and digestive organs.

Arriving in Guba

Overnight in hotel

8 Day

08:00 Breakfast at the hotel.

08:30 Excursion. "Glorious Guba Khanate".

Guba district has long gained popularity among tourists due to its proximity to the capital of Azerbaijan. In Guba, the symbol of which is the ruddy apple, beautiful nature, a large number of historical sights and a carefully protected cultural heritage. Guba carpet weaving school is known all over the world, and the hospitality of the locals is famous throughout the country. The region, which was visited by French writer Alexandre Dumas and Norwegian scientist Thor Heyerdahl, is ready to share his secrets with curious travelers.   

Visit the ancient Khinaligh village

On the territory of Guba, 65 km from the district center, at an altitude of 2500 m above sea level, is located the unique village of Khinaligh. It has about 380 houses and 3,000 inhabitants. The population of the village is a separate ethnographic group and speaks its own language, which no one else in the world speaks. Together with the language, the Khinaligans also retained their ancient customs.

There are always a lot of foreigners here - travelers and scientists who study the unique way of life and traditions of the original nationality.

Return to Baku

Overnight in hotel

9 Day

09:00 Breakfast at the hotel.
Free time to visit the eastern market, shops with sweets and souvenir shops.
Transfer to the airport

Visa upon arrival at international airports of Azerbaijan can be obtained only by citizens of Turkey, Israel, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Japan, China, South Korea, Malaysia and Singapore. For citizens of Russia and the CIS (except for Turkmenistan), a visa is not required to Azerbaijan. Citizens of other countries must obtain a visa prior to arrival, through the consulates of Azerbaijan in their country or to issue an electronic visa through our travel agency. To apply for a visa, contact our managers at least 4 weeks before arriving in Azerbaijan.

Local currency: Manat
The recommended currency for the exchange is: USD or EURO.
Where to exchange currency: Upon arrival at the airport, the guide will provide accurate information on where and how to exchange cash for local currency.
Availability of ATM: Only in large cities.
Accept credit cards: Only in large cities.


The cost of the tour from 867 USD per person for a stay in Double room includes:
Accommodation in hotel 4 * double room on the program based on breakfast.

Transfers and transportation according to the program.

Excursions on the program.
Services of a Russian-speaking or English-speaking guide.
Entrance tickets to museums.
Additional paid:
Lunch - from 15 USD (soft drinks included)
Dinner - from 20 USD (soft drinks are included)
Supplement for single accommodation: $ 199 per tour
The cost of a visa is 40 USD (if not citizens of the CIS),
Charges for photo - and video shooting in museums

The firm reserves the right to change the order of visiting excursion objects, keeping the program as a whole. The company reserves the right to change the cost of the tour provided that it is notified in time.
Dear guests, please send inquiries for individual tourists and tourist groups to e-mail: narmintour@gmail.com, zaurnasibli@gmail.com  and contact us at +99412 4926116, +99450 5968477 Whatsapp: +99450 5895997