FLAVOURS OF CAUCASUS

Arrival in the airport named after Heydar Aliyev. Meet with the local staff and transfer to the hotel. Check-in at the hotel. Free time till the next day.

The day starts with the discover of the most anscient part of Baku, the Old City. Here you'll discover tha past of Azerbaijan and formation of the personality of the city. Walking part starts from the main gate of the Old City the Double Gate, crossing Main Square and the great Silk Road. Visit includes middle age Karavansarays, the most anscient building of the city Maiden Tower 8 century b.C, Juma mosque, Shirvanshahs' Palace the residence of local dinasty of 9-16th centuries and various souvenir shops. For lunch we offer you an enigmatic place with local food and wine. We invite you to taste the most typical meal of shephards, Sadj. Delicate pieces of meat or chicken fried on brazier flavoured by spices and served on the iron wok with yogurt. Tour continuous with the famous Fountain square, the living heart of the city and Nizami street, the shopping artery of Baku. After all you'll be able to admire amazing panoramic view of Baku's bay from the altitude of the Martyrs' Alley. For the dinner we invite you to the traditional show and magic dance with the main course prepared specially for you. Taste our Shah Pilaf, the governor of all pilafs of the world. A tiny dough that hides inside tasty rice and a mix of dried fruits will not leave you indifferent!

Early morning we invite you to visit the most anscient settlement in surroundings of the city opened now like a historical and archeological preserve. Depart to the south of the country where in 65 km from Baku you'll discover the caotic landscape of rocks and cavesof Paleolithic age. Visit local interactive museum and original petorgliphes of prehistorical ages. After that you can continue exploring natural phenomenon of mud volcanoes here not far from the reserve. Your lunch is orginized on the seashore where you can taste mysterious fish kutum in levenghi style. It is a whole fish stuffed with mushed walluts and onion, served with pomegranate sauce. Coming back to the city center you'll study one of main reasons why merchands from all over the world visited our contry. The visit to the richest bank of Azerbaijani carpets is wating for you. After a walk on Boulevard you're offered by a typical meal of Azeri men - kebab. Delicate lamb chops, chicken and beaf tenderloin fried on brazier without any drop of butter.

This day you will depart to the famous Absheron peninsula where in one of suburbs is hidden a temple of misterious fireworshippers Ateshgah. At the end you'll see a symbol of the country that gives the name to the Land of Fire an amazing natural phenomenon called Yanardagh or Burning mountain. Instead of lunch a tea ceremony is waiting for you. There are so many types of tea and jams in Azerbaijan, that it will be really such a pity to leave the country and don't taste them. After that we invite you to admire an architectonical miracle of Zaha Hadid, the Cultural Center named after our national lider Heydar Aliyev. The dinner is in not typical touristic place, where you will be among locals and taste local home food. The main dish of the evening is dolma. Grape leaves stuffed with mincemeat and rice and baked into clay pots.

Early departure to the north of the country, taking the famous Silk Road that leads up through Caucasian mountains. On the way visit historical Djuma mosque in anscient capital of Azerbaijan Shemakha city. After that continue by Mughanly pass and Girdimanchay canyon to famous artcrafting settlement Lahidj, considering to be the capital of copper elaboration. Looking back to the middle ages, here in Lahidj the lunch is served in the local house, where you can deeply feel the real life of the people. After lunch departure to famous Silk and Sweets capital of Azerbaijan Sheki city in 305 km from Baku. Here, for dinner a tense consome of lamb and chick pea is a main dish of the table. Be careful with the amount of meal served!

This day is dedicated to exploring of famous Sheki and its history. Start with the fortress of 18 century old and a masterpiece of local artist Sheki Khans' Summer Palace. After that visit handcrafting and souvenir stalls on the territory of fortress. Going down to the city center you will stop on a beautiful example of hostelry, the Karavansaray of 18 century old. Before you go back to the city center, visit the Mother of Churches, a church of Caucasian Albanian time of 1st century old. Short stop in the main mosque of Sheki Djuma mosque and lunch in local restaurant. In Sheki you can find a variety of interesting dishes among which there are numerous sweets. Baklava of Sheki it is a symbol of the community and unique dish of the region. We will show you a process of preparing and a style of eating of this unusual dish. After lunch, departure back to Baku. This nigh you have a modest dinner in hotel in Baku.

This morning we invite you to see by your own eyes all those ingredients that you have tasted already in typical food selling in local bazaar. And during the lunch we invite you to touch the local cuisine by your fingers. In Azerbaijan there is its own fast food  called kutab. It is a kind of flat bread stuffed with meat or cheese, or greens, pumkin and chestnuts. Any good Azeri woman is able to prepare them. We invite you to study the way of kutab preparation with us and share it after among your friends. We promise you fun, plenty of wine and good mood. You'll go back only with good memories about Azerbaijan and its people. Departure to the airport according to flight time. Good luck and sweet trip!