Sightseeing tours to Azerbaijan from Almaty: prices

Sightseeing tours to Azerbaijan from Almaty usually take from three to ten days and include Baku, Gabala, Sheki, Naftalan and Shahdag. The best time for the trip is spring and autumn, when the capital is warm and the mountains are fresh. The flight from Almaty is direct; in winter, skiing on Shahdag is added. Money is exchanged on site; in the mountains, a jacket is needed.

What is included in sightseeing tours by region

Such trips are made up of several blocks, and the set depends on which areas you want to see. Below is what is usually in the program.

Routes with visits to old quarters and fortresses

Walks through the old quarters take up about half the time in Azerbaijan tours. In Baku, the route goes through Icherisheher, where the fortress walls have stood since the 12th century, and nearby rise the towers of the Maiden Tower and the Palace of the Shirvanshahs. In Sheki, sightseeing programs lead to the fortress built in the 18th century and to the caravanserai, which still receives guests. In Gabala, tours add the 7th-century fortress of Gavasany and ancient gates, and in Naftalan — old quarters with wooden houses. Naftalan and Shahdag are included in long routes, where fortresses neighbor natural sites. The guide usually gives an hour and a half to two hours per quarter so that the group has time both to listen and to take photos. Comfortable shoes are more important here than in the rest of the route: the pavements are uneven, with steep climbs in places. Sightseeing tours by region are built so that there are two or three old quarters per trip, otherwise the impressions blur.

Programs with tastings and agritourism

Tastings are a separate reason to choose tours to Azerbaijan with a gastronomic focus. In Sheki, the group is taken to a pakhlava and Sheki halva production facility, where the whole process is shown and fresh samples are given. In Gabala and the surroundings, tours include tea plantations and wineries where local varieties are poured. Pomegranate orchards near Goychay receive guests in autumn, during the harvest season. Agritourism in Azerbaijani villages is simple: a family seats guests at the table, feeds them homemade dolma, piti and kutabs, and then shows the farm. Such a stop costs less than a hotel, but the amenities are more modest. Sightseeing programs with an overnight stay with locals are gaining popularity in mountainous areas where there are few large hotels. Tips are not mandatory here, but the hostess is pleased to receive about ten percent of the cost. Azerbaijani cuisine is built on lamb, saffron and pomegranate, so the tasting turns out filling — dinner is better planned without a late lunch.

How to get to remote regions within the country

Distances in Azerbaijan are deceptive: close on the map, half a day by road. Let's break down how people get to remote points.

Night trains and bus transfers

The night train from Baku to Ganja or Sheki saves a day and the cost of a hotel. The carriage is taken in advance, because seats for the desired date may not remain. Bus transfers in Azerbaijan tours are cheaper, but the journey takes more time and depends on the highway. Between Baku and Gabala, the bus takes several hours, between Gabala and Sheki — even longer, and part of the way goes along a serpentine road. To Shahdag and Naftalan, it is more convenient to go with a transfer or in a rented car. Night transfers are chosen by those who do not want to lose daylight hours. The Azerbaijani railway connects the capital with a number of regions, but the schedule should be checked before purchase. On the road, a light jacket will come in handy: the air conditioning on buses works strongly.

Domestic flights and their schedule

Domestic flights between regions of Azerbaijan save time, but the schedule should be checked in advance. Some destinations do not fly daily, and some — only in season. From Baku, you can fly to Nakhchivan and Ganja, then continue by ground transport. For Gabala, Sheki and Naftalan, there are usually no direct flights, and the flight does not replace the overland transfer. Tickets on domestic lines are cheaper than international ones, but baggage is often paid separately. Sightseeing tours with a domestic flight are rare: groups more often travel by bus. If you are building the route yourself, check the departure days before buying the remaining tickets. Airports in the regions are small, and check-in closes early.

When is the best time to plan a trip around the country?

The season in Azerbaijan depends on where you are going: the capital and the mountains live in different climates. Below — by weather and by load.

Weather by season and comfort for walks

In summer, Baku is hot and stuffy, so city sightseeing is more comfortable to plan for the morning or evening. During the day, it is more reasonable to go to air-conditioned museums or the shady courtyards of Icherisheher. In Gabala and Shahdag, summer is milder, around twenty-five degrees during the day, and the evenings are cool. Spring and autumn are the most even time for Azerbaijan tours: Baku is warm, the mountains are still fresh. In Sheki, autumn is beautiful and dry, and in Naftalan, mild weather lasts longer. In winter, the capital is damp and windy, but in the mountains Shahdag operates with ski slopes. In mountainous areas, even in the warm season, the evenings are cool; a light jacket or windbreaker will come in handy in any month. Azerbaijani weather is changeable, so an umbrella will not be superfluous in the off-season.

Holidays, weekends and the load on popular places

On weekends and holidays, popular locations in Baku and Gabala are noticeably more crowded. Sightseeing tours for such dates are better booked in advance, otherwise only distant hotels will remain. Azerbaijani holidays fall on both secular dates and religious ones, so some establishments may not work. In Sheki and Naftalan, the influx happens on the days of local festivals; it is worth asking the guide about them in advance. Weekdays outside school holidays are the calmest time for visiting the old quarters. The morning before eleven o'clock is almost everywhere free of groups. When planning Azerbaijan tours for the May or New Year dates, allow more time for transfers.

What should a tourist from Almaty consider when preparing?

Packing from Almaty differs from packing from other cities: some things are easier to take with you. Let's break down the everyday details.

Money, communications and pharmacies on the route

Azerbaijani manat cannot be bought in advance in Almaty at most exchange offices, so currency is exchanged on the spot. Take dollars or euros and exchange them at banks in Baku or at exchange offices in regional centers. In the capital, cashless payments are common, but in regional centers and at markets, cash manats in small denominations will come in handy. A card from a Kazakhstani bank may not work, so keep a reserve of cash. Mobile communication and internet in cities work reliably, in mountainous areas the signal may drop, so download maps in advance. A local SIM card is arranged upon arrival, it is more convenient than roaming in terms of price. Pharmacies in large cities are well stocked, but specific medicines are better to bring with you from Almaty. In villages there may be no pharmacies at all, so put together a basic first aid kit at home.

Clothing for cities and mountain regions

Clothing for tours to Azerbaijan is divided into urban and mountain, and this is worth considering when packing. In Baku in summer, light items made of natural fabrics are appropriate, but it is better to cover shoulders and knees: in old quarters and mosques this is more respectful. Azerbaijani culture combines a secular way of life and Muslim traditions; in the regions clothing is more modest than in the capital. In Gabala and Shahdag, sneakers with grippy tread are needed: part of the routes to the waterfalls go over stones. In the evening in the mountains, a fleece or windbreaker will come in handy even in July. For Naftalan, take clothes that you do not mind getting dirty: medicinal oil leaves marks. In Sheki in summer it is stuffy, so a spare T-shirt will not hurt. A swimsuit will come in handy if the program includes a hotel pool.

How to choose the format and duration of the trip?

The format depends on how many days you are ready to allocate and how dense you want the route to be. Let's look at two approaches.

Short programs for a few days

Short tours to Azerbaijan are built around one or two cities so as not to waste time on the road. A three-day program usually covers Baku and a trip to Gobustan or Shamakhi. In four to five days, Gabala or Sheki are added to the capital, but transfers eat up half a day. Sightseeing tours for the weekend are most often taken from Almaty with a direct flight, so as not to lose a day on connections. In a short format, the guide follows a tight schedule, and there is almost no free time left. If you want both the old quarters and the mountains, it is better to take five days at once. A short trip is good for a first introduction, not for fully covering the country.

Tours with stays in villages and with local families

Staying overnight with local families in Azerbaijan is a separate format that is gaining popularity. In mountain villages near Gabala and Sheki, hosts rent out rooms and feed guests home cooking. It costs less than a hotel, but the amenities are sometimes shared, and hot water is on a schedule. The Azerbaijani side is developing agritourism, so some houses officially host guests. Hosts usually show the garden, the vegetable plot and treat guests to tea with white cherry jam. The language barrier in villages is more noticeable than in Baku, but many understand basic Russian. Such stops are added to long tours of a week or more. Check in advance whether meals are included in the price and whether there is heating in winter.

Briefly

• Sightseeing programs include old quarters, fortresses and tastings.
• A night train from the capital saves a day, a bus is cheaper but longer.
• Domestic flights do not operate every day, check the schedule in advance.
• Spring and autumn are the most even time for walks around the country.
• Manats are exchanged on the spot; in Almaty they cannot be bought in advance.