«The Secrets of The Ancient Crafts» from 338 $

en Region: Baku - Ismailly - Sheki - Baku
Duration: 7 days, 6 nights
Tour category: Countryside tours
Price: $338
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Period from:

all year round except blackout dates*

Trip To Azerbaijan 

In any place of Azerbaijan, it is possible to find workshops of national craftsmen, whose secrets for centuries have been passed from generation to generation. This journey will reveal to you the wonderful world of Caucasian crafts - silk play, ringing of copper dishes and gold jewelry, patterns of the truly fabulous beauty of Azerbaijani carpets. The opportunity to participate in the process gives you a unique souvenir that you will bring home, taking with you a piece of the soul of Azerbaijan.

Tour program:

Day 1. Arrival in Baku, check-in at the hotel
Check-in at the hotel (from 14:00)
Free day
Overnight at the hotel in Baku

Day 2. Baku sightseeing tour, visiting the “Old City” and the Carpet Factory
Breakfast at the hotel
The tour starts with a visit to the Highland Park. Highland Park is located on a hill in the western part of the city. This is the best place to see the city and Baku bay.
Next, the guests will visit the Old City - with its fortified walls, historic buildings and narrow cobbled streets. Guests will appreciate the main attractions of the Old Town, including the Palace of the Shirvanshahs and the famous Maiden Tower. Just imagine that the stones under your feet keep the history of this ancient city - its honor and glory, misfortunes and sorrows.
During the walk, you will definitely feel that the air here smells like magic - the sea air, smelling of salt and oil, is mixed with the aromas of oriental spices and kebabs, flowing from numerous restaurants. Baku is like a young girl, is full of energy, beautiful, bright and full of life. It is ready to change, but, nevertheless, follows the precepts of the ancestors. Behind the walls the city life rages, and in the Old City everything is quiet and decorous, as it has been for centuries. Baku citizens do not like to live in a hurry.
Lunch (for extra charge)
A trip to the Azer-Ilme carpet factory. 
Next, guests will have a trip to the Azer-Ilme factory - where modern national carpets are made. Azerbaijani carpets, the high quality and fame allows them to spread widely throughout the world, and to be in great demand today. The factory at the modern technological level contributes to the further development of the traditional art of carpet weaving in Azerbaijan, which has made an invaluable cultural and material contribution to the treasury of world civilization. Here you can see the whole process of their creation - from beginning to end. In the dye shop, it will be shown how the threads are dyed with natural colorants, then carpets are woven from these threads in the weaving shop. Then they are washed, dried and ironed. Here you can get familiarized with the work of restorers, carefully restoring old samples of national carpet art.
The Azer-Ilme Gallery presents the best examples of unique Azerbaijani carpets and rugs. Besides it, the factory owns a shop where everyone can buy their favorite carpets, as well as women's silk scarves.
Next, there is a trip to the national restaurant (for extra charge), where the guests will taste the national dishes, as well as will have the opportunity to see the process of tandoor cooking (a special kind of bread) in a special oven of the same name.
Free time. Overnight in Baku.

Day 3. Drive to Ismayilli region and visit the villages of Baskal and Lagich (180 km, 2 hours’ drive from Baku)
Breakfast. Departure from the hotel.
A trip to the village of Baskal. We begin our journey to the Ismayilli region, where you will learn about the unique Kelagai manufacturing process. Azerbaijani “Kelagai” is a traditional women's silk scarf. It determined the age and social status of the woman: the older the woman, the darker were the colors of her scarf — mostly black or blue, whilst young women wore light-colored scarves — white, beige, light blue, etc. “Kelagai” was tied in various ways depending on the region. The process of hot dyeing silk - “batik” - is very complex and is performed in several stages. You will enjoy the work of the masters, as well as will be able to try yourself as a kelagai master.
Moving to the village Lagich (visiting Lagich is possible only under appropriate weather conditions), which is a historical and Architectural Reserve Lagich.
Lagich is a unique monument of Persian urban planning and an architectural object of the Middle Ages. It is a medieval city with cobbled streets and squares, a well-developed water supply and sewerage system. The village is inhabited by tanners, engravers, potters, blacksmiths, wood and metal carvers, passing their knowledge from generation to generation. During the tour you will also see an ancient bridge connecting two villages, a 16th century stone water supply and samples of dwellings from the 19th century with frescoes; we will also visit the local history museum, where ancient carpets and brass items are stored.
Immediately upon arrival in Lagich, you will enjoy a meal at a local restaurant and get acquainted with the peculiarities of local cuisine (for extra charge).
Next, you will be organized a walk through the village, you will visit the workshops of blacksmiths, engravers, potters and other artisans. You can also buy a product you like or order a thing that will be made on the spot.
Dinner and overnight in the local house, where you can experience the very essence of the Caucasian family and live the life of the villagers. 
Overnight in Lagich. 

Day 4. Departure to Sheki, a sightseeing tour of the city, overnight in Sheki (150 km, 2 hours on the road)
Moving to Sheki. Sheki is one of the most famous and ancient places in Azerbaijan. Located at 700 meters above sea level, the city is surrounded by mountains and oak forests shaped as amphitheater. For a long time this ancient city was considered the center of sericulture and was an important node on the Silk Road. We will begin our tour with a visit to the 18th century Summer Khan's Palace, famous for its amazing frescoes and outstanding glass works.
Lunch (for extra charge)
Next, we will visit the Shebeke workshop (hand-made murals), the workshop for the production of the famous Sheki pakhlava and the weaving workshop, where the unique local “Tekulduz” technique will be displayed. Walking along the streets, we will also attend various craft workshops. 
Dinner (for extra charge)
Overnight in Sheki

Day 5. Transfer to Baku, check-in at the hotel, free day
Breakfast in Sheki
Moving to Baku
Free time
Overnight in Baku

Day 6. Absheron tour, ethnographic museum Gala, farewell dinner at a restaurant
Breakfast at the hotel
Excursion to the village of Gala
Gala - Museum-Reserve of Absheron Peninsula History
Ethnographic open-air museum "Gala" is located about 40 minutes from Baku and is a museum that was created on the site of archaeological excavations.
In the village, which is about five thousand years old, there is a number of neighborhoods that have survived to this day. During the tour, guests will get acquainted with the ancient dwellings, with the life of the past time, traditions, methods of farming.
Tour participants will be told about the way of life of people who lived here many centuries ago, and show the real objects of that time. However, the most important thing is not introduction to the museum exhibits, but the opportunity of immersion into the ancient life. In this museum, guests can bake real bread or try themselves clay sculpturing.
Farewell dinner at a traditional restaurant
Return to the hotel
Overnight at the hotel in Baku

Day 7. Transfer to the airport and departure
Breakfast
Free time
Check-out from the hotel
Airport transfer


Tour Price
         Number of Persons      Single       Double / PP
2 Persons $856 $730
4 Persons $649 $523
6 Persons $560 $434
8 Persons $545 $420
10 Persons $512 $387
12 Persons $491 $365
14 Persons $475 $350
16 Persons $463 $338


Price includes:
• Transfers: Airport - Hotel - Airport
• Accommodation for 4 nights at 3* hotel in Baku, 1 night at 4* hotel in Sheki and 1 night in a rural house in the village of Lagich
• Breakfasts at the hotels
• Comfortable transportation during excursions
• Services of an English-speaking guide
• Entrance fees to museums

  Price does not include:
  • Medical insurance
  • Lunches and dinners
  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Additional expenses of the guests
  • Fees for photo and video shooting at museums
  • Visa fee

Blackout dates changeable and will be provided by additional request at the end of the year


Itinerary & Map

Baku - Ismayilli - Sheki - Baku


Visa

Citizens of Turkey, Israel, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, UAE, Japan, South Korea, China, Malaysia and Singapore can obtain visa upon arrival to Baku International Airport. However, for more convenient passport control and to save time, citizens of above mentioned countries might obtain e-visas from our managers.
E-visa is issued within 3-5 working days. The procedure of registration takes 3-5 business days in the regular mode of $35 and $75 for 1 working day in case of urgent visa.
The procedure of registration begins after all documents are submitted and payment is confirmed.

 


Hotel

Accommodation and upgrade:
The cost of the tour provides accommodation at comfortable hotels of 3* category. Accommodation in Baku at Diplomat or Azcot or Qafqaz Park hotels. The exact name of the hotel is informed on the day of booking the tour. Accommodation in the village of Lagich is provided by the villagers in the guest house. Accommodation in Sheki is provided on the basis of the Sheki Saray hotel. At additional payment on request, the category of hotel in Baku and Sheki can be upgraded.
Check-in and check-out policy:
* For the tourists’ convenience, please inform in advance about early arrivals or late departures of your guests.
* Depending on the hotel, guests may be charged for early check-in or late check-out.
Check in until 06:00 am: surcharge of 100% of the cost of one day.
Check in after 06:00 am, but before 14:00: surcharge of 50% of the cost of one day.
Children's policy:
* Children up to 6 years old are free of charge (without an extra bed with accommodation with two adults). In case of placement of one adult + 1 child under 6 years old, surcharge 40% of the cost of the tour.
* Children from 6 up to 12 years get discount in the amount of 30% of the cost of the tour.
Cancellation and penalties:
* All changes and cancellations of already confirmed applications must be made in writing form.
* Cancellation of a confirmed application more than 21 days prior to arrival is not subject to penalties.
* If you cancel a confirmed application less than 14 days or more than 10 days before the planned arrival: a penalty of 50% of the total cost of the tour will be applied.
* If you cancel a confirmed application less than 10 days or after the date of the planned arrival: a penalty of 100% of the full cost of the tour will be applied.


Practical Information


Сontacts: 


Tags:tours in Baku and Absheron, weekend in Azerbaijan, craft tours, handicraft tour to Azerbaijan, excursion to Gala, Sheki, Lagich, Ismailly, excursions in Baku 

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