CBP5880WW
Baku
– Arrival in Baku. Greeting guests at the airport, and transfer to hotel.
– Guests will take their time at the hotel, they will later have a chance for the first impression of the traditional Azerbaijani cuisine (lunch or dinner). This first impression will bring one of the most picturesque city restaurants – «Gala Bazaar». «Gala Bazaar» is a unique creative and historical restaurant, built in the spirit of the Middle Ages. It is a venue for the dance festivals and concerts, as well as for large-scale exhibitions, performances, fashion shows and other events.
Main course: Lamb kebab – One of the most ancient dishes of the East. It is considered a traditional dish of the Eastern and Caucasian cuisine. The dish is served along with fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers and herbs.
– Breakfast at the hotel
– 10:00 Visit the Highland Park and Old City. The history of the capital of Azerbaijan, Baku, goes back to the antiquity, although the precise date of its origin is still unknown. The territory of the Absheron Peninsula, where the city is located on, has a favorable geographical position: a calm bay, a warm dry climate, fertile soil and natural resources. Therefore, the emergence of the ancient settlements here was quite natural.
– The Highland Park is located on a hill in the Western part of the city. This is the best spot to overview the city itself, along with the Baku Bay and the Seaside Boulevard, which celebrated its 110th anniversary in 2019.
– Further, the guests will get acquainted with the Old City, which is called «Icheri Sheher». Many historical and architectural monuments are concentrated on its territory, including the Palace of the Shirvanshahs, the symbol of the city of Baku – Maiden Tower, Caravanserais, mosques, etc.
– 13:00 Lunch at «Dolma» restaurant
Main course: Dolma / Stuffed grape leaves
Dolma is a unique traditional dish that consists of grape leaves stuffed with boiled minced lamb meat and rice. The name of the dish, «dolma», is common to several Turkic languages and it has a meaning «to fill» or «to stuff».
– 14:00 Our tour goes on with a visit to the Heydar Aliyev Center. The Heydar Aliyev Center was built by world-famous architect Zaha Hadid. An Internationally recognized architectural work, the building of the Heydar Aliyev Center has become a signature landmark of modern Baku due to its innovative and cutting-edge design. The Center achieved a famous «Design of the Year Award» back in 2014. Extending on eight floor levels, the center accommodates a 1000-seat auditorium, temporary exhibition spaces, a conference center, workshops, and a museum.”
– 18:00 Return to the hotel
– 19:00 Dinner at «Shirvanshah» restaurant
Main course: Azerbaijani pilaf with chestnuts and meat
This kind of pilaf is slightly different from the ones made in Central Asia or Turkey. First comes the rice cooked in a special way, and then, the accompanying dishes as the additions to the main one. Onion chopped into half rings with the addition of turmeric is fried in ghee, over the low heat. Meanwhile, the meat is cooked separately in salted water. At the end of cooking, the meat is sprinkled with fried onions, dried cherry plums and fried chestnuts.”
– Breakfast at the hotel
– 10:00 On the territory of Azerbaijan, called «The Land of Fire», there is a «burning mountain», «Yanardag». It is one of the most amazing natural attractions of the Absheron Peninsula. Yanardag is a flaming mountain slope that cannot be extinguished either by rain or covered with sand, which has been burning for several millennia. The fiery landscape can be explained very simply: natural gas is released from the upper layers of the soil. When it comes into contact with oxygen, it turns into a flame. Lots of legends are associated with this mountain slope, so the locals and the pilgrims from all over the world still consider Yanardag a sacred place of the worship.
– Next on our tour is the Temple of Fire Worshipers – «Ateshgah» Azerbaijan is one of a few places on Earth where even today you may find elements of the fire cult and the remains of the ancient religion of Zoroastrianism. These places, where oil oozes from the ground and natural gas bursts out into flaming torches, have always attracted fire worshipers from all over the world. Baku, its oil, «the burning land» have been known far beyond its borders since ancient times. The official religion in the reigns that arose in the 7th century BC, such as Manna and Media, was Zoroastrianism. The spread of this religion was related to the self-igniting sources of oil and gas.
– 13:00 Culinary master class and lunch
After visiting the sights of Absheron peninsula, the male part of the group will have a chance to acquire unique skills in making kebabs under the guidance of a professional chef who will teach the cooking basics in the best traditions of Azerbaijani cuisine. For the ladies of the group there will be a master class on cooking kutabs, thin dough cakes with meat or vegetable filling. ”
Main course: Lula kebab
Lula kebab is a type of kebab made from minced lamb seasoned with spices.
– 15:00 Return to the hotel and free time
– Breakfast at the hotel
– After checking-out from the hotel, guests will have a convenient transfer to the Heydar Aliyev international airport. Depending on the time of departure, there is a chance to visit colorful Eastern Bazaar called «Yashil Bazar». The guests may buy some dried fruits, traditional Azerbaijani tea, nuts and sweets there.
– End of Service
