SIGHTSEEING & TOURS

Cultural tours:

Gobustan - Petroglyphs and Mud Volcanoes - On a Daliesque rockscape above the town of Gobustan lie some of the world's most important petroglyphs - stone and iron-age figures carved thousands of years ago and now considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site. And on a rock beside the approach lane there's the most easterly known graffiti by a Roman legionnaire. Even if you're not especially taken by rock scribbles, there's a fine new museum at the petroglyph site whose setting is magical with wide views out across the opal Caspian. And the trip can be combined with a visit to a lovable series of Mud Volcanoes, little grey mounds and pools that bubble and burp merrily around 10km further south. Allow: Half Day

Absheron Excursions - castles, fire temples and curiosities - Folk culture, fortress towers, a fire temple and burning hillside... the Absheron Peninsular has an off beat series of attractions quite aside from its many popular Caspian beaches. And it's all within an hour or so of Baku city centre. We won't pretend that the landscapes are pristine - for that head to Sheki or Laza. However, for some visitors the remnant areas of decaying old oilfields form an attraction to be seen before they are fully cleaned up. Other intriguing features include colourful salt lakes and old village cores in some of the settlements, notably at Gala where the region's millennia of human habitation are impressively outlined in an archaeological- cultural centre. The popular getaway of Mardakan has a couple of castle towers and is home to the remarkable Pir Hassan, one of the most visible places to witness very unauthodox local folk ‘cures' - but we won't spoil the surprise... see for yourself! Superstition and religion come together in a particularly creative way down the road in Shuvelan at the Mir Movsum Mausoleum (Namazgah) where a new shrine with mosaic patterned blue-majolica domes is the nearest Azerbaijan gets to the classic Central Asian scene. Allow: Half Day/Full Day

Master Classes:

Blacksmithing Master Class - the master class is conducted as a workshop at the ethnographical museum located 35km far from Baku. The workshop can accommodate up to 20 persons, but it is possible to split a large number of people into groups and conduct classes in turn.
Master class on carpet weaving - carpet weaving is one of the most common types of folk decorative art. This craft has a variety of advantages: it soothes, gives a new way to set up your home and realize your creative abilities. Master class can be organized during gala dinner at the selected restaurant. The number of people is not limited. Throughout the evening professionals weave carpets, and everybody can try themselves in carpet weaving or just watch the work of masters.

Master class on national dances and ancient art of Hnayahdy - These master classes were designed to ensure that you have the opportunity to get acquainted with the Eastern traditions and to show you the beauty of Azerbaijani customs. Hnayahdy is the ceremony, which is usually carried out 3-7 days before the wedding. Women's hands are decorated with beautiful henna patterns by true professionals of this ancient art. At the same time during the master class, specially invited national dance instructors teach men to dance like "dzhigits” to win the hearts of Eastern beauties.