Azerbaijan Travel Guide

Known as the land of fire, Azerbaijan lives up to this name in and around Baku at least. But stepping away from the capital, into the majority green, mountainous, forested part of the country, you would have no idea where this name came from.

Baku has become synonymous with oil, money, flashy cars, and extravagant buildings. And while, yes, that part of the city is very much evident, there is a more humble side. Wandering Icheriseher gives you a glimpse into what Baku used to be before all the glitz. The historical centre is full of winding narrow alleyways, cobbled streets, crumbling minarets, local spots for cay, and carpet sellers.

Head just a little further out of the city, and you will find cold mud volcanoes, rock drawings that date back 20,000 years, a huge historic Zoroastrian temple, and Yanar Dag (a natural gas fire in a hillside that has been burning steadily since the 1950s).

To get really off the beaten path, jump on a quick internal flight to explore Azerbaijan’s exclave of Nakhchivan. It has a very Soviet feel, and sees next to no tourists, but this small territory is full of diverse natural beauty from lush fields and lakes to arid desert-like canyon landscapes. And you’ll find Azerbaijan’s answer to Machu Picchu here.

And whatever you get up to in Azerbaijan, make sure you try the local thyme tea!

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