Private tour: 4-day Baku and Shemakha Tour with World's Unique Crude Oil Spa and Azerbaijan Cuisine Cooking Class

Itinerary

Day 1: Incredible Baku

Stop At: Baku Old City, Neftchilar Ave, Baku 1000 Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan’s capital has all the traits of a historic city, from bubbling mud volcanoes to revolving sky bars. This tour will seek out some of the more surprising highlights of Azerbaijan’s must visited capital. Baku is one of those cities that divides travellers opinions. Baku is situated right where East-meets-West and has enough charms to win over most travellers.

Pick up from the hotel and travel to main city's highlights in Baku. The tour will start with a visit to the Old Town, also known as Icheri Shere.

The Old Town used to be a whole town is UNESCO listed and is the best place to picture its history. It is completely encircled by the old city walls with their medieval gates. The winding streets and alleyways are home to private homes, mosques and madrassahs, carpet merchants and small shops.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Stop At: Fountain Square, Baku Azerbaijan
You will visit the main features including the Fountain Square, adjacent square.

Take some time to stroll about Fountain Square and the adjacent square. The square is a pedestrian plaza, a place to sit and relax, and a great vantage point from which to people-watch.
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: House Museum of Nobel Brothers in Baku Villa Petrolea, Nobel Avenue, 57/2 Behind Luna Park, Baku 1025 Azerbaijan
After a tasty lunch your tour will take you to Villa Petrolea, which is the Nobel Brothers’ Museum. The history of Baku’s oil boom is caught up with the Nobel family, namely Alfred, the man who established the Nobel Prizes. About 12% of the money he used to fund prizes came from Alfred's interest in the Branobel Oil Company, founded by siblings in 1876. Villa Petrolea is where the Nobel brothers lived, built on the border of the "White City," the residential section, and the "Black City," the industrial section of Baku. Using ships that took away the oil, fertile soil was imported and used to create landscaped gardens around the Villa. You will be dropped off at your hotel for the night.
Duration: 2 hours

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 2: Azerbaijan Cuisine Cooking Class

Stop At: Bibi-Heybat Mosque, Baku Azerbaijan
Your first stop will be Bibi-Heybat Mosque, that was originally constructed in the 13th century in honor of the sister of Imam Ali. Today, it sits near one of Azerbaijan’s first oil fields, which grew during the first oil boom in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum, Mikayil Useynov, 28 The Seaside Boulevard, Baku 1001 Azerbaijan
You will visit the State Museum of Azerbaijani Carpets and Applied Folk Art. Admire the creative colors and bold designs of Azeri, Caucasian and Iranian carpets. The carpets date as far back as the 16th century.

After spending some time looking at the sights, you will be taken to your cooking lesson. Travelers of all skill levels are welcome and even the most advanced foodie would be amazed by fine tastes and delicate flavor of the Azerbaijan cuisine. There are no cooking recipes from the book, all recipes are passed from generation to generation. After your class, you will enjoy a glass of local wine and a wonderful food cooked with your newly acquired cooking skills. At the end of your meal, you will receive a recipe card. Return to your hotel.
Duration: 3 hours

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 3: World's Only Crude Oil Spa

Stop At: Gobustan Rock Art, 60 km South of Baku, Baku Azerbaijan
On day three of the tour you will be taken to Naftalan, situated 320 kilometers north-west of the capital Baku. There you will stop at the famous Gobustan State Reserve that contains rock art spanning approximately 40,000 years. You will then have time for lunch.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Chinar Hotel & SPA Naftalan, Shirvan, av. 12, Naftalan 4600, Azerbaijan
After lunch you will continue your travel to Naftalan’s famous crude oil baths that draw tourists from all over the world. The oil is known to have healing properties and is a unique grade of oil that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. Afterwards you will have a tasty meal and spend overnight at the hotel.
Duration: 2 hours

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 4: Fabulous Shemakha

Stop At: Juma Mosque, Nariman Narimanov St., Shamakhi Azerbaijan
Check out of your hotel after breakfast and travel to Shemakha, which was once the capital. Explore the town with your guide, passing by the recently completed Friday Mosque that built on the site of one of the oldest mosques in the Caucasus.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Yeddi Gumbaz Mausoleum, DNdN Qorqud St., Shamakhi 5600 Azerbaijan
Across the valley is the Yeddi Gumbaz royal mausoleum where the Shirvan khans were buried. From this spot you will be able to look back at the twin hills that overlook Shemakha where citadel stood during its years as a capital. After enjoying lunch, return to your coach and travel to Baku, where your tour ends.
Duration: 1 hour

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.