AZERBAIJAN
ARTS, CULTURE & HERİTAGE
One of the world’s most ancient nations — the nation of Azerbaijan — has the right to feel proud for its history, material and cultural monuments, literature, arts, and music heritage. The wonderful nature, climate, natural resources of the country produced a significant impact on the artistic thinking and creation skills of Azerbaijani people as well. In spite of the long and difficult way undergone by different types of arts in Azerbaijan, they still represent unity and provide outstanding opportunities for the creation of a full idea of the fine arts of Azerbaijan. The folk arts of Azerbaijan are multi-colored, complete, and rich, as its natural resources.
Azerbaijan was rich in architectural pieces one of the branches of folk art along with works of fine art since ancient times. Maiden tower and Shirvanshahs palace in Baku, Momina Xatun and Yusif ibn Kuseyr mausoleums, created by architect Acami in Nakhichevan, Natavan’s home, pictures on walls of Shaki khan palace and other patterns are rare pearls of architecture.
Picture of people, dancing Yalli, represents special interest among the Gobustan rock pictures. This picture testifies Azerbaijan people’s interest in music since ancient times.
The motherland of Azerbaijan people possessed rich musical and cultural heritage is famous as Land of flames.
AZERBAIJAN CUISINE
Azerbaijani cuisine was influenced by Iran, Turkey and the Mediterranean, yet managed to preserve its distinctive national flair. The dishes are diverse and healthy, combining a variety of meat, fish, vegetables, delicate herbs and savory spices.
Vegetarians will be pleased to find a selection of raw fruits and vegetables in Azerbaijan. Baku boasts of several vegetarian restaurants, plus meat-free appetizers and side dishes at most local cafes. Try the delicious pomegranate and manqal salads, both of which offer the rich flavors of fresh local produce.
Meat lovers will enjoy local kebabs, prepared with various seasoned meats and vegetables, and plov, a rice dish cooked with aromatic herbs, fried meat and vegetables. If you prefer mutton, try the famous lyulya kebab made of barbequed minced lamb on skewers, and delicious kufta bozbash, the meat-filled national soup of Azerbaijan.
Seafood is an important part of food tourism in Azerbaijan. The country’s best-known delicacies include black caviar, white sturgeon, Caspian salmon and sardines.
Azeribaijani dolma has more than twenty-five varieties. Although they vary by region and season, most are a combination of minced mutton and rice flavored with herbs and spices. You’ll find it wrapped in vine leaves in the winter and spring, eggplants and peppers during the summer and cabbage leaves in autumn.
Food tourism in Azerbaijan would not be complete without the rejuvenating taste of local tea – served in pear-shaped glasses and accompanied by jams and candies – which will infuse your busy day with a warm, revitalizing energy.
AZERBAIJAN NATURE & ADVENTURE
If an unconventional, action-packed vacation is on your bucket list, adventure tourism in Azerbaijan is up to the task. The British Backpacker Society agrees, for based on its 2020 rankings, Azerbaijan should be your next adventure tourism destination.
Adventure and nature tourism in Azerbaijan is an exploration of the country’s untouched landscapes, rich natural resources and diverse, magnificent scenery. Your Azerbaijan adventures can begin with a daring 4×4 off-road journey to the famous mud volcanos at Gobustan State Reserve, followed by discovery of impressive prehistoric cave paintings. Warm up at Yanar Dag, Azerbaijan’s eternally burning mountain, or go for a swim in the Caspian Sea.
Breathe in the freedom of Mount Shahdag as you hike its trails, visit remote villages and camp under the starry night sky. Among the villages of Quba, Azerbaijan, activities include trekking its mountain trails, which lie steeped in enchanting views, and interacting with remote villagers in some of the highest settlements of the Caucasus. The city of Gabala (Qabala), located in the heart of the Caucasus, offers stunning green mountains in summer and snow-capped hills for skiing in winter, while Shahdag and Tufandag Resorts have the power to transform your winter holiday into a snowy white wonderland.
Azerbaijan is famous for its abundance of national parks, where outdoor enthusiasts will find countless trails to follow into the heart of no-man’s land. Discover sundry flora and wildlife at Absheron National Park before resting near the water on its pristine beaches, or immerse yourself in the rich blue colors of Lake Goygol.
Bordered by the Caspian Sea and the lush Talysh Mountains, Lankaran is ideally placed between two of Azerbaijan’s best nature reserves. The swamps of the Gizil Aghaj reserve on the Caspian coast just north of Lankaran city are famous for being home to a multitude of water birds, not least the flamingo which migrates here from Africa each winter. Meanwhile, the vast Hirkan National Park spreads throughout the Lankaran and Astara regions. It’s a botanist’s paradise home to a huge variety of trees, including ancient iron trees that survived the last ice age as well as the very endangered Caucasian leopard.
AZERBAIJAN HEALTH & WELLNESS
Choose Azerbaijan for an amazing adventure, extraordinary holiday, and useful treatment for strengthening your health. Here you can enjoy the breathtaking nature with a surprisingly local zest, see many great ancient monuments and combine the pleasant leisure with useful recreation. The health resort and treatment will help you to have a rest and improve your health thanks to curative natural resources.
Today health tourism is growing everywhere turning into a global tendency of the modern tourism industry.
Our country has a mild climate with the breathtaking landscape including forests, mountains, rivers and waterfalls. It is famous for its resort paradise and is rich in inexhaustible mineral water resources, medicinal muds, naftalan oil, numerous salt caves. Health tourism also helps people to solve their health problems and strengthen their organisms.
It would suffice to mention the world famous Istisu, Galaalti, Naftalan, Duzdag recreational resorts. Adoption of the State Program for Development of Resorts in Azerbaijan in 2009-2018, announcement of 2011 as the year of Tourism, implementation of the State Program for Development of tourism in 2002-2005 and 2010-2014 created favorable conditions for the development of tourism, including health and medical tourism. The Public Union for Support to Health and Thermal Tourism has been created in Baku, Nakhchivan and other regions alongside the opening of modern medical and healthcare centers, mountain resorts, and general health centers.
Undoubtedly, this trend has a great potential and will further develop in the future. For this purpose, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism is working constantly with concerned structures to restore the health tourism facilities and create new world-class resort areas.