Wine Tour in Azerbaijan - Walking
and Wine - Dervish Way
Duration of the tour: 6 nights / 7
days
Regions:
Baku-Absheron-Sheki-Ganja-Goygel-Tovuz.
1 Day
Meeting at the airport.
Accommodation at the hotel 4 * in the city
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.
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. This
applies to the religions represented here and our next attraction is the church
of the "Holy Wives of the Myrrhbearers". In the Soviet period, the
temple was closed one of the first in 1920. First, there was a warehouse in it,
and then a gym. In the days of the January events of 1990, two shells hit the
bell tower of the temple, due to which it was partially destroyed, the floor
sagged, the walls cracked, and the roof collapsed. In 1991, the dilapidated
building of the church was transferred to the Russian Orthodox Church. On May
27, 2001, His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia made a great
consecration of the Holy Mother of God Church and conferred on him the status
of a cathedral of the diocese. After inspecting the temple, 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
08:00 Breakfast at the hotel.
Excursion.
"Sheki ".
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.
Free Time
Overnight in Sheki.
4 Day
09:00 Breakfast at the
hotel
Departure to Ganja on
the way check in for a wine tasting.
Azerbaijani wine producer “ASK Şəki Şərab” will present its brands “Bouquet Sheki” and “Askona”. Under the brands “Bouquet Sheki” and “Askona”, wines are made from grapes harvested in Azerbaijan, such as Rkatsiteli, Saperavi, Madras, Muscat, Chardonnay and Merlot. "These wines of very high quality are completely Azerbaijani products, they are made according to European technologies."
After tasting, departure to
Ganja.
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.
Chokyak-Hamam is a bathhouse consisting of two communicating rooms.
In the center of the large hall are a swimming pool and a fountain (it is intended
for relaxation), a small one is designed for swimming. Built from red brick,
the bath has two large and five small domes. At the top of the large domes
there are half-domes that played the role of a fan: from them the ventilation
pipes dispersed through the space inside the walls, in the winter it was hot
there and in the summer it was cool. The sauna was heated with firewood. In the
basement there were two steam boilers. Steam was fed into the halls along
ceramic pipes, which also pass through the walls and the floor of a bath. Steam
evenly circulated and heated the entire room. This unique system of the
400-year-old bathhouse worked perfectly until 1963. And all these centuries the
bath was very popular among the townspeople.
Caravan-sarai is the third time building in the ensemble of Sheikh
Bahauddin. Today, the building of the medieval caravanserai plays the role of
the Temple of Knowledge. At the end of the 20th century, the Ganja Humanitarian
College is conveniently located here. The caravanserai is a two-storey
building, comprising 15 rooms and 54 rooms. The museum also houses the museum
of the poetess Meskheti Ganjavi.
Dzhavadhan
Mausoleum. Not long ago, on the
territory of the historical ensemble, in the courtyard of the mosque, on the
site of the grave of the fearless ruler of Ganja - Javadkhan, who died on
January 3, 1804, while protecting Ganja from foreign invaders, a tomb was
built. In the 1990s, the remains of Javadhana were moved here from the ancient
city cemetery. The construction started in 2004 lasted several months. When it
was erected, the builders adhered to the requirements of the medieval
architecture school. The monument was opened in 2005 and occupied a worthy
place among other monuments of the 17th century.
Mausoleum of Nizami Ganjavi. Nizami Ganjavi, born in 1141, was one of the most
educated people of his time. World renown he received as the author of
"Hamsa" (Pyateritsy), in which five poems were combined, reflecting
not only the high skill of the poet's pen, but also his ethical and
philosophical views. Most of Nizami's lyrics are devoted to love. Other
world-famous works by Nizami are the poems "Khosrov and Shirin",
"Leyli and Majnun", "Iskender-nime".
To this day, the
mausoleum remains a place of pilgrimage and the worship of poets. It is located
at the entrance to the city from the south-west side. The tomb is a modern
monumental structure of a cylindrical form made of red granite, carved in the
manner of semicircular facets. Below is the entrance, which seems just tiny on
the background of the grandeur of the whole building. The name Nizami is carved
in gold right above the entrance.
Return to the hotel.
Overnight in Gandzha.
5 Day
09:00 Breakfast at the
hotel.
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.
Visiting a wine store and tasting the Khan company
The LLC Vinagro company
was legally registered in May 2006 and one of its divisions was OJSC Gökögel
Winery, which is a wine-making industrial enterprise combining primary and
secondary branches of production. Under the Soviet economic management system,
the Khanlar Agro-Industrial Complex (the name of that period) was focused on
the production of wine and brandy products and their sales throughout the
Union. The volume share of brandy produced by this enterprise amounted to about
7% of the all-Union. After the devastation of this area in the
"anti-alcohol period", the current "Goygol Winery" rose from
the ruins. At present, it is a modern industrial enterprise combining the
latest equipment and classic technology.
Departure to Ganja.
6 Day
09:00 Breakfast at the
hotel Departure to Tovuz for tasting
Visiting a wine store and tasting the company TOVUZ-BALTIA
Azerbaijan is a country
that preserves the ancient traditions of viticulture and winemaking. In the
Tovuz region, located in the west of Azerbaijan, winemaking was developed in
the 7th century. During the USSR, Azerbaijan was one of the largest
wine-producing republics. On the territory of this country, more than 300
thousand hectares of vineyards were cultivated.
One of the main wineries
in Azerbaijan today is the Tovuz cognac and wine factory. The company has
reserves of high-quality cognac spirit aged in oak barrels of 100-year-old oak,
in an amount of at least 10 thousand decalitres. There are cognac spirits, the
age of which varies from 5 to 50 years. Stocks are constantly replenished by
harvesting from their own vineyards, which are 25 thousand hectares.
Cognac, pomegranate and
quince wines produced here are successfully sold in 75 countries of the world.
Visitors will have the opportunity to taste before purchasing products.
The Tovuz Baltiya company presents the best names of cognacs from the Tovuz region of Azerbaijan, as well as pomegranate wines and quince wines. Cognacs are made by traditional technology from selected cognac spirits. Cognac spirits are aged in a new barrel, after which this oak packaging is no longer used. The company buys bottles for wine and cognac in the Czech Republic and France.
The assortment of the
company consists of cognac "Tovuz" V.S., aged at least 5 years,
cognac "Tovuz" V.S.O.P. aged not less than 10 years, cognac “Tovuz”
H.O. aged from 3 to 30 years.
The real pearl of the
product range of the enterprise is a unique pomegranate wine, quince wine,
quince and pomegranate champagne. It is bottled under the name
"Tovuz" variants - semi-dry and semi-sweet. This wine has a healing
effect: it improves appetite, lowers blood pressure, increases hemoglobin level
and reduces the harmful effects of radiation.
The Tovuz Baltia company
considers the continuation and development of the traditional technologies of
viticulture and winemaking in Azerbaijan, existing for more than ten centuries,
as the main goal of its activity. The company "Tovuz Wine" has
repeatedly been awarded honorary diplomas for the quality of its products.
We bring to your attention:
White Wines
Red wines
Fruit Wines
Champagne
Vodka
Whiskey
Cognac
Juices
After tasting at lunch at a
local restaurant in Ganja.
Departure to Baku.
7 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 999 USD per person for a stay in Double room
includes:
Accommodation in hotel 4 * double room on the program based on breakfast &
lunch.
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:
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 if 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