South Azerbaijan – Best tea and Special Fish meals

Meeting with local guide and departure to South Azerbaijan – Lenkeran. On the road transfer to Gobustan open-air museum. Gobustan is an open-air museum lettered with Neolithic rock drawings. Just 65 km south from Baku, Govustan has come some 4000 inscriptions that go back 12.000 years (with 200 year old Latin graffiti to boot). The well-preserved sketches display ancient populations travelling on reed boats, men hunt antelope and wild bulls, wome dance. Famous Norwegian anthropologist Thor Heyerdahl returned many times to Azerbaijan between 1961 and his death in 2002 to study the site, which he argued to be evidence that modern-day Scandinavians migrated north through the Caucasus in prehistoric times. He found similarities in the drawing to those found in Scandinavia, particularly some in Alta, Norway. According to Iceland Sagas, written in the 13th Century, the Norse God Odin (Wotan) migrated from the Caucasus in the first century AD. After that you will also have a chance to visit quite a unique site where 300 of the planet’s estimated 700 mud volcanoes sit Gobustan, Azerbaijan and the Caspian Sea. Many geologists as well as locals and international mud tourists trek to such places as the Firuz Crater, Gobustan, Salyan and end up happily covered in mud which is thought to have medicinal qualities. In 2001 one mud volcano 15 km from Baku made world headlines when it suddenly started spewing flames 15 meters high. Transfer to Lenkaran City. Check in at hotel. Transfer to local restaurant. Special organized for you, local meals. Transfer to hotel. Overnight in Lenkaran.

Meeting with local guide and city tour in Lankaran. There are plenty of historical attractions in Lankaran and among them the most attractive is Lankaran Fortress, to be more exact its fragments remained. It was built in the XVIII century and reputed to be one of the most important fortifications in the Talysh khanate. Its walls made a huge impression with their large forms and rows of strong teeth. The fortress was surrounded by traditional for medieval times moat filled with water when required. The main objects of this building were North and South towers from where an aimed fire on attackers was conducted. At the territory of the fortress was also a city market instead of which a century ago there were built two mosques which have become in time one of the most visited objects for pilgrims throughout the region. The brightest architectural landmark in Lankaran is the house of Mirakhmad khan located in the heart of the city. This palace was built in 1913 and was the first three-storey building in the city. Despite the fact that two French architects were involved into this project there is clearly seen a presence of the features of the national Azerbaijani architecture. Facades on the west and north side are made of brick and white stone and the eastern and southern facades are finished exclusively in red brick. Above the main entrance there are figures of mystical animals visible. In the morning we will start a city tour and visit important historical sites of these places - Kichik Gala; Khan Evi (Khan Palace); Ballabyur fortress and a monument to the twice Hero of the Soviet Union, a legendary commander of a tank division Hazi Aslanov. We will continue our journey in Hirkan Reserve. On the way we will be surrounded by the relict forests of the place. Lankaran region is unique for its flora and fauna - iron tree, found only in this area, there are also cheetahs, which are listed in the Red Book of Azerbaijan. Did you know that the Lankaran, located in the subtropical climate zone, is a country of tea and citrus? Therefore, the tea ceremony with the same lemon - the most important part of our acquaintance with Lenkaran. Transfer to Lerik. Among the main attractions of Lerik are the following: mausoleum of Khoja Sayyid in the village Khanagah (XIV century); the mosque of XIX century in the village Lyulyukyaran; ancient settlement “Giz Yurdu” near Mistan village at an altitude of 2430 m; the mausoleum of Baba Hassan at the village Jonu; the mausoleum of Baba Isa in Mondigah village; mausoleum of Pir Yusif at the Kekonu village; mausoleum of Jabir (XII – XIV centuries) located on the road from Lerik to Dzhengemiran village. Stone statues of rams are preserved in many villages. There is a mausoleum of Khalif Zakariya near Dzhengemiran village. Old trees as well as historical monuments are protected in this village. The famous French writer Alexandre Dumas visited the village during his trip to the Caucasus and saw the sights of the ancient monuments and talked with villagers. It was told about the woman from this village in one of the works of Dumas. Visiting regional museum in Lerik. Overnight in Lerik.

After breakfast meeting with local guide and transfer to Baku. On the road tour to Tea Plantation. After plantation transfer to local restaurant. Lunch and tea time. Overnight in Baku

Transfer to Airport.