From Ancient times, Azerbaijan was known as "the land of the sacred fire", due to natural oil and gas deposits erupting from the earth, and as a centre of the Zoroastrian religion it attracted fire worshippers from all over the world.

Baku the capital is a fascinating city built around a bay on the Caspian Sea, a cosmopolitan European town with a flavour of the East. The medieval walled town "Icheri Sheher" contains caravanserais, mosques, the Palace of the Shirvan Shahs and the mysterious Maiden's Tower, symbol of Baku.

Azerbaijan is a country still untouched by tourism, where you can enjoy the sights to yourself and no matter where you travel you will find a most hospitable and warm welcome.

Weather
The climate in Azerbaijan is continental with cold winters and hot summers. Except for the high mountains, there is a great deal of sunshine all year round. Summer temperatures in Baku in July and August average about 32 °c and can reach a maximum of 38 degrees centigrade, but this is tempered by a cooling breeze from the sea. In the Caucasus Mountains, temperatures are considerably cooler all year round. Spring and autumn temperatures are very pleasant while winter temperatures are very similar to southern England, except of course the high mountains where there is a lot of snow.

Local Customs
When visiting any foreign country it is always polite to respect the local customs and if you can manage a few words of Azeri or Russian, this will be very much appreciated.

People tend to dress quite conservatively in Azerbaijan. Very revealing clothes for ladies and shorts and singlets for men are not really suitable. Ladies should carry a headscarf for use when visiting mosques and shoes should be removed before entering. Take a present with you if you are invited to someone’s house

Visa
British passport holders must obtain an Azerbaijan visa before departure when travelling overland. The consular fee for a single entry tourist visa is currently £55. British and EU passport holders may obtain a visa on arrival at Baku Airport for $100/100E. Most other nationalities also require a visa, visas cost change frequently, please check with your consular office.

Along with our invoice / confirmation, we will send you 1 visa application form per person. You will need 2 colour photos per person and an invitation letter to Azerbaijan, which we will provide. Please note that you cannot apply for the visa more than two months prior to departure. You can either apply to the consulate yourself or we can recommend a visa service, which will handle the process on your behalf.

Vaccinations
Nothing compulsory, but we recommend that your protection against Tetanus, Typhoid, infectious Hepatitis and Polio is up to date. Malaria only exists in the subtropical southern region near the Iranian border, which we do not normally visit on our tours.. It is your responsibility to check all relevant recommendations and also to get the most up-to-date health information for the destinations being visited. You can contact your GP or any of the following organisations:

MASTA: Telephone: 0906 822 4100 www.masta.org
Live Travel Health Line: 09068 633414
www.fitfortravel.scot.nhs.uk

Flight Duration
Flight time to Baku from London is 6hrs with Azerbaijan Airways.

Accommodation and Transport
In Azerbaijan we use good 3 star hotels which are centrally located and where possible with some local character. In more remote areas such as Sheki where the choice of accommodation is limited, we will use the best available local pensions and a traditional converted Caravanserai.

A variety of transportation will be used on tour: cars, 4 wheel drive vehicles, minibuses or coaches, depending on the size of the party.