General Information About tour

"Persian Motives" - Azerbaijan-Iran

Tour Duration: 15 Nights / 16 Days

Regions: Baku-Absheron-Guba-Lankaran-Masule-Ardabil-Tabriz-Urmia.

1 Day

Meeting at the airport. Transfer to the hotel, accommodation.

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 "Heydar Aliyev Center". The center of Heydar Aliyev is a cultural center, which is a complex building, which includes an auditorium (congress center), a museum, exhibition halls, administrative offices. The famous architect Zaha Hadid designed the project of the centre. Baku is a city that combines modern and ancient, traditional and unusual. After inspecting the center, we are on our way to 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. After viewing the observation deck, we go down the stairs and head towards the "Bibi Abyat Mosque". Bibi-Heybat Mosque (Azerbaijan's Bibiheybət məscidi) is a mosque located on the shore of Baku Bay, in Azerbaijan. The existing structure, built in the 1990s, is a reconstruction of the mosque of the same name, built in the 13th century by Shirvanshah Abu-l-Fath Farrukhzad and destroyed by the Bolsheviks in 1936, when a fierce struggle with religion was going on throughout the territory of the USSR. The Bibi-Eybat complex, in addition to the mosque, includes tombs and tombs of revered people (including the grave of Ukeima Khanum, the descendant of the Prophet Muhammad), as before destruction, and today is a spiritual center for Muslims of the East and one of the significant monuments of Islamic architecture of Azerbaijan. The mosque was once visited by Abaskuli-aga Bakikhanov, Alexander Dumas, Khurshudbanu Natavan. The local population in the past called it "the mosque of Fatima". Using the same name, described the mosque and visited it in the 40 years of the XIX century, Alexander Dumas. At the end of the modern Baku tour we visit the world's first oil well drilled in the Bibi-eibat oil-bearing region.

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. Ateshgah 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.

19:00. Excursion. "Lights of the Evening Baku".

Tour "Lights of Evening Baku" begins with a visit to Mountain 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 "Burning Flame Tower" shows the city with all its bright lights bordering Baku Bay reflecting the measured pace of life in the evening Baku. Further, we continue our excursion to one of the favourite places of the walk of the Baku guests of the city of all ages and social groups, a place where no one is in a hurry in the evening - "Baku Boulevard". The national park, sometimes called the "diamond necklace of Baku", stretches along Baku Bay for 16 km. At each time of the day the boulevard has its charm - in the morning you can walk in silence, feel unity with nature, go in for sports, during the day, especially on weekends, the boulevard is fully revived thanks to the small inhabitants of the capital, riding on attractions, rollerblades and bicycles, in the evening it turns in the magical world of dreams for all lovers. In addition, the original illumination and illumination of the park, fountains and other innovations give our boulevard a special charm. At the end of our excursion "Lights of Evening Baku», we will go to the most lively and central street of the city of Nizami "Torgovaya street" as it is also called from the old times. Trading is the longest of Baku's streets (its length reaches 3.5 km). It is also called the most beautiful street in Baku - it has a large number of architectural monuments, beautiful houses, cinemas, parks, many modern boutiques and shops.

Transfer to the hotel and free time

Overnight at the hotel.

4 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’ve 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 colour 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 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

5 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.

Walk along the arched bridge

The only surviving bridge, called the Gudyalchay Bridge, is one of the seven that existed in the Guba district in the 17-19 centuries. This longest bridge was built in 1894 by the project of Alexander III in order to strengthen Russia's military presence in the Caucasus. Fourteen of its spans with a total length of 275 meters and a width of 8 m are made of baked bricks. The multi-span construction allows the bridge to remain intact even during heavy mudflows and floods that raise the water level in the river. A bridge of similar construction built in the 19th century is the only one in Azerbaijan.

Admire the Juma Mosque

In the very center of the city, near the central park, there is one of the oldest mosques in the city - the Juma Mosque (Friday Mosque), built at the very beginning of the 19th century. Featuring a rich architectural style, the mosque was built of red brick in 1802 with the financial support of Haji Ismail Efendi. The architecture of this religious building is typical only for the mosques of the Guba province.

Juma Mosque is one of the oldest religious centers not only in Guba, but also in all of northeastern Azerbaijan.

Get acquainted with the historic bath

The baths in Azerbaijan at all times occupied a special place in the life of people, being a favorite place for the enjoyment of body and spirit. The Guba bathhouse, built of red brick in the 18th century, is crowned by a large dome, which allowed the room to maintain the desired temperature and humidity. This quadrangular structure is also called Suhur (Chukhur) hamam, i.e. bath built of special rocks. The bath has 6 compartments, 2 doors and 6 windows.

At one time, the French writer Alexander Dumas bathed in this bath, and 150 years later his great-grandson visited these places. Until 1985, the bath was used for its intended purpose, but now this pearl of Oriental architecture is protected as a historical monument.

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.

Transfer to Baku

Overnight in hotel

6 Day

09:00 Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Lankaran

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.

Overnight in Lankaran

7 Day

09:00 Breakfast at the hotel.

Excursion. "Fire Lenkoran". One of the most ancient cities of Azerbaijan. The time of its foundation, however, is unknown. It is only certain that it was part of the Caucasian Albania, and in the 18th century it was the center of the Talish Khanate. During the Russian-Persian war, Lankaran was destroyed by the Persians, who built a fortress here. In 1813 Russian troops stormed Lankaran, after which the city became part of the Russian Empire. The city itself is interesting by the Lankaran fortress (XVIII century) and the Kichik-Bazar mosque (XIX century). In 100 km. north of Lenkoran lies one of the most beautiful cities of the Middle Ages - Hanega, in which fortified walls (XII-XIV centuries), the mosque and burial vault of Pir Hussein, the minaret and other ancient structures were preserved.

Lenkoran fortress. The Lenkoran fortress (tower) was built in the 18th century. It was one of the main fortresses of the city in the Talish Khanate. In those days, according to eyewitnesses, the fortress did indeed strike a striking impression with its high stone walls, crowned with a series of battlements, because of which the menacing canals of guns looked everywhere. In addition, the fortress was surrounded by deep moats, which, if necessary, were filled with water. Traditionally, battles were fought from two tower fortifications - the northern and southern ones - located quite far apart.In 1812, as a result of a bloody battle and heavy losses on both sides, the fortress was taken by Russian troops. After the capture of the Lenkoran fortress, the Gulustan peace treaty was concluded between the parties. Previously, the fortress consisted of two bazaars: Big and Small. In the territory of each of the bazaars mosques were built in the beginning of the 20th century. These two mosques have turned into the main religious buildings of the city. They can be seen today.

This place has long been considered a shrine that preserved the power of a holy elder (Pir-Hussein). The authority of this holy place spread far beyond the boundaries of Shirvan.

The house of Miramhad Khan. Right in the center of the city is the Miramhad Khan House - one of the most beautiful architectural monuments of Lankaran. The palace was built in 1913. When building a house with skill, elements of national architecture were used, and, despite the fact that it was built by French architects. This three-story palace is considered to be the first multi-storey building that appeared in the city. The north and west facades of the house were built of brick and white stone, and the eastern and southern ones are only made of red brick. The top of the entrance is decorated with figures of mythical animals.

Excursion. "Astara-Edge of Tea and Mandarins". Astara is one of the ancient cities of the country. Through her lands passed in the old days the famous Silk Road. The city had trade links with India, China, Europe, Central Asia and Anatolia. During the archaeological excavations on the coast of the Astara River, caravan-sarai ruins dating from the 7th century were discovered. The ancient city was famous for silk production and its masters. The best view of the famous silk was for sale in Istanbul, Venice, Damascus, the city of the Hanseatic Union, where it was very popular among their inhabitants. Local craftsmen used silk threads to make velvet fabrics. Astara was also famous for its various crafts, in particular pottery and the production of faience.

Near the city in the village of Mashgan in the 13-14 centuries, a mint was discovered, where coins with the name Astara were issued. During the reign of Emir Teymur, the coins of the city were those that had the inscription "Astara under attack".

Until 1747, the city was the capital of the Talysh region and was it until the ruler Karakhan transferred the capital to Lankaran. After the territorial and administrative transformation, the fortresses and ancient structures were destroyed. According to historical documents and evidences of contemporaries, the lands of Astara were so fertile that one grape branch gave a large harvest basket. Also, the Hyrkan Reserve plays a connecting role, as a corridor linking Europe and the Near East. Free Time 

Overnight in Lankaran

8 Day

09:00 Breakfast at the Hotel

Checkout from the rooms and departure to the border with Iran

Astara-Masouleh (3 h 20)

Welcome to Iran! Completing border formalities and meeting with your guide. Transfer to Masouleh with its unique architecture. En-route you will be amazed by the greenery. Upon you arrival, we will visit this beautiful village, stroll in its local bazaar and meet local people. Free time for shopping souvenirs. For dinner, we will taste a delicious local food Overnight in Masuleh

9 Day 

09:00 Breakfast at the Hotel Masouleh-Ardebil (4 h)

After a traditional breakfast prepared with local products, we will head toward the city of Ardebil. Your lunch will be served in a traditional restaurant. Transfer to the Hotel for check-in and a short rest. Then, we will visit Sheikh Safi al-Din Khānegāh and Shrine Ensemble (UNESCO’s World Heritage Site) and traditional bazaar of Ardebil. Based on the program, we can also visit Shourabil Lake 

Overnight in Ardebil.

10 Day 

09:00 Breakfast at the Hotel Ardebil-Kalaybar –Tabriz

After breakfast, we will drive to Kalaybar (3 h 45) to visit Babak Fort, a large citadel on the top of a mountain in the Arasbaran forests. Driving to Tabriz (3 h). On your arrival in Tabriz, you will be transferred to your hotel. Tonight get enough rest to stay energized to continue the journey. 

Overnight in Tabriz

11 Day 

09:00 Breakfast at the Hotel Tabriz

Breakfast in the hotel. Today we will  have a full-day city tour of Tabriz: the Grand Bazar of  Tabriz (UNESCO World Heritage Site), the Blue Mosque, it was once one of the most famous buildings of its time and Azerbaijan Meuseum, the major archaeological and historical museum in Tabriz. Your dinner will be served in a traditional restaurant near Elgoli Park and we will enjoy our time in the side walk of the Elgoli lake

Overnight in Tabriz

12 Day 

09:00 Breakfast at the Hotel Tabriz-Jolfa (about 2 h)

Breakfast in the hotel. Transfer Jolfa. We will visit Monastery of Saint Estepanos and enjoy the beautiful views of Aras River. Drive back to Tabriz

Overnight in Tabriz

13 Day 

09:00 Breakfast at the Hotel Tabriz-Urumieh

Breakfast in the hotel. We will drive to Urumieh. En-route, we will visit Kandovan village which exemplifies manmade cliff dwellings which are still inhabited. Then we will continue our way to Urumieh. Before our arrival we will see Urmia Lake. 

Overnight in Urmiya

14 Day 

09:00 Breakfast at the Hotel Urumieh

In Urumieh, we will visit St. Mary Church, an ancient Assyrian church,

Lake Urmia and Band Resort, Segonbad (means three domes) and Urmia bazaar. 

Overnight in Urmiya

15 Day 

09:00 Breakfast at the Hotel Urumieh-Bilesuvar

The last day of your tour in Iran. You will be transferred to the Bilesuvar Boarder for your departure (about 6 hours).

Transfer to Baku

16 Day 

09:00 Breakfast at the Hotel

Check out from the rooms 

Transfer to the airport.

Local currency: Manat and Rial

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 USD per person for a stay in Double room includes:

Accommodation in hotel 4 * double room on the program based on breakfast and Lunch

Transfers and transportation according to the program.

Excursions on the program.

Services of English-speaking guide.

Entrance tickets to museums.

Additional paid: 

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