Tour to the Caucasian Albania

Tour to the Caucasian Albania 
Baku - Lahij - Gabala -Baku 5 days/4 nights   

Two-thousand-year old Gabala – the most ancient city of Azerbaijan, was for 600 years the capital of ancient Caucasian Albania mentioned in the works of antique historians of the 1st century. As a result of many-years archaeological researches conducted here by Azerbaijan archaeologists, there have been discovered referring to ancient epoch big buildings, remnants of fortified walls, material-cultural monuments related with production and workmanship.

                                                                    Day 01 – Arrival

• Meeting of tourists at the Baku airport after Heydar Aliyev.
• Transfer to the hotel. Accommodation at the hotel.
• Departure to Baku city walking tour.

The center of Baku is the Old Town, which is also a fortress. Most of the walls, reinforced after the Russian conquest in 1806, survive. This section is picturesque, with its maze of narrow alleys and ancient buildings. A part of the palace, a mosque, and a minaret date to the XI-th century.

• Boat and walking tour in Baku boulvard 1 hour
• Dinner in national restaurant.
• Return to the hotel. Overnight.

Day 02 – Baku – Lahij – Gabala

• Breakfast at the hotel and check out.
• Transfer to lahij mountain settlement.
• Walking tour to Lahij settlement, one of the beautiful corners of Azerbaijan Republic, situated on the north of the country, on the south slop of the Big Caucasus mountain chain, 1505 m. high above the sea level. Geographical position of the settlement and rich historical architectural andhistorical monuments, crafts, developed among the aboriginal population made Lahij very famous.Tableware and weapon of  Lahij masters were in great demand on the whole Caucasus. Today local craftsmen – braziers, curriers, chasers, potters, smiths, incrustations and engravers on metal and wood, carpet-makers continue the work of their ancestors.
• Lunch in local restaurant.
• Departure to Gabala city.
• Arrival to Gabal, accommodation at the hotel.
• Dinner in national restaurant.Overnight.

Day 03 – Gabala – Baku

• Breakfast at the hotel and check out.
• Travel to Nij village. Visit Udin Temple

Nidzh village, not far from Gabala, is known for a unique architectural monument of the Caucasian Albania – Udin Temple.The udins are absolutely special ethnic group who are considered to be descendants of Alabanians (only 10,000 of them remain alive). They managed to preserve their traditions, language, material and spiritual culture until today.

• Visit to Albanian church of IV-VIII centuries in Amili village, tombs of Sheikh Badraddin and Sheikh Mansur  of XV century in Hazra village, mosque of XIX century in Bum village and others.
• Lunch in local restaurant.
• Travel to Baku city.
• Arrival to Baku and visit fire mountain “Yanardag” and emple of fire worshippers “Ateshgah”
• Dinner in national restaurant.
• Accommodation at the hotel. Overnight.

Day 4 – Baku-Gobustan

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• Transfer to visit State historical and artistic national park Gobustan.

Gobustan is a unique relic of universal importance and was included into the list of World heritage of UNESCO. Here at the territory of537 hectares evidences of inhabitants of this region of the Stone age era and the period after are concentrated – petroglyphs, site, tombstones etc.

• Lunch in local restaurant.
• Drive back to Baku city.
• Visit to exposition “Pearls of Azerbaijan” in Heydar Aliyev Cultural center.
• Free time.
• Farewell dinner in national restaurant with show program
• Transfer to the hotel. Overnight.

Day 5 – Departure

• Breakfast at the hotel, check out till 12:00
• Transfer to airport.