Nancy O'Hare, Author
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Azerbaijan: Get Here before Mass Tourism Does

4/18/2019

6 Comments

 
Thinking of travelling to the Caucasus? These places were some of my favourite destinations in Azerbaijan and worth adding to your itinerary.
Azerbaijan-Mountains
Greater Caucasus Mountain Range
All Photo credits go to: Chad O'Hare

Azerbaijan is a place where genuine hospitality remains engrained in its culture. Whether an elderly gentleman points out the way to an ancient Caucasian Albanian church or a waiter decides to give you complimentary çay (“tea”), the Azeris certainly make you feel welcome.

​As far as things to do, this nation offers a diverse mix. Stroll through restored archeological palaces or step back in time at a Zoroastrian fire temple. View petroglyphs thousands of years old or stretch your hiking legs in the Greater Caucasus Mountain Range. If you time it right, you can even catch the Formula One Grand Prix race through the streets of Baku.
Explore the distinguished Palace of the Shirvanshah in Baku’s Old City, set against a skyline where modern and medieval unite. Savour grilled sturgeon from the Caspian Sea drizzled in pomegranate sauce. In April for the next few years, you can catch the Formula One Grand Prix race through central Baku’s twisty streets.

Where: Baku, the capital city of Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan-Baku-Architecture
Zaha Hadid’s Heydar Әliyev Cultural Centre
Azerbaijan-Art
Zaha Hadid’s Heydar Әliyev Cultural Centre
Azerbaijan-Baku-Skyline
View of the Flame Towers from the Palace of the Shirvanshah

Hike shepherds’ trails between remote villages in the Greater Caucasus Mountain Range. Discover a land where food is hearty and views are vast. Women use fresh milk from the family’s cows and goats to churn butter and cheese. Men toast guests with a round of vodka, repeated as often as you can handle it!

Where: Start in the village of Khinaliq. Spend your first night in the quiet community of Qalakhudat and the second night in the cliff-top village of Qriz.

How: Camping Azerbaijan arranges group or private tours along this route and others. They are working with local families and the government to build sustainable eco-tourism in the region.

Azerbaijan-Trekking
Greater Caucasus Mountain Range
Azerbaijan-Qriz
An old tombstone in the town of Qriz
Azerbaijan-Guide
Our guide Elvin sharing a cup of çay (“tea”) at our homestay in Qalakhudat
Azerbaijan-Griz
View from our homestay in Qriz

Before the prophets of Islam and Christianity arrived, the religion of Zoroastrian captured people’s minds. The symbol photographed below represents the Zoroastrian belief that humans can choose between good and evil, with the left wing reflecting bad ideas, thoughts and deeds and the right wing representing the good elements of human nature. This central figure has turned his back on evil. He is surrounded by a large orb - the sun, believed to be associated with fire - which burns easily across Azerbaijan’s gas-rich soils.

Where: Suraxani Fire Temple, a twenty-minute drive from the capital city of Baku
Azerbaijan-Zorastrian
Symbol of Zoroastrians

Wander among boulders etched in petroglyphs dated to be around twelve-thousand-years old. At that time, lions and leopards roamed the shores of the Caspian Sea. A modern and informative museum sits at the base of the site to give you a flavour of the cultural history surrounding these artistic designs.

Where: Qubustan Petroglyph Reserve, a forty-minute drive southwest of Baku.
Azerbaijan-Prehistoric
Qobustan Petroglyph Reserve
Get more travel ideas through short stories and travel tips in my latest book, Searching for Unique - available at most online bookstores as a paperback or eBook.
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6 Comments
Millie
4/20/2019 08:43:18 am

Excellent optics & interesting comments, fascinating part of world we know little about. Look forward to more of your views & experiences .



Reply
Nancy
4/21/2019 09:21:50 am

I am so glad you enjoyed this! More destinations to come ...

Reply
Dad
4/22/2019 12:17:50 pm

Some of those buildings are obviously a part of a modern type city,realize we know so little of many areas of the world
Good travelling

Reply
NANCY
4/26/2019 08:39:46 am

Thanks! Baku has such an exciting mix between the new and old structures.

Reply
Jackie Hugill
5/8/2019 08:37:40 am

Nancy ... thanks for sharing these pics and the stories behind them ... as always you entice me to travel to these distant realms ... if only I could!

Reply
NANCY link
5/8/2019 09:38:44 am

Thanks so much Jackie,
I am glad you can travel along with us through the photos and blog!
All the best
Nancy

Reply



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  • Home
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  • Books
    • The Man in the Barretina Hat
    • From Wages to Riches
    • Reclaim your Financial Wits
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