Azerbaijan
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Explore the National parks set in lush green mountains, with great opportunities for walking
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Walk through the walled city of Baku, with its ancient, historical sites
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Visit the volcanic desert at Gobustan
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Travel through the Absheron Peninsula to see the Atashgah Fire Temple and the Yanar Dagh, a mountain that has been on fire for 1,000 years
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Cross the Caspian Sea to Turkmenistan to venture further into Central Asia
Paul Craven has been with Steppes Travel for 16 years and true 'Travel Beyond the Ordinary' is what he loves most - he is in his element when trekking through remote landscapes, exploring hidden backstreets and generally getting off the beaten track and setting foot where few have done before.
His knowledge of border crossings and their complications would be hard to beat and many of the wonderful trips he prepares for our clients can combine 4 or 5 countries over several months. During his extensive travels Paul has also built up an interesting and often amusing photo gallery of the 'world's worst toilets'!
Paul can tailor-make your holiday to your exact requirements; be it a family adventure, a luxury holiday, a multi-country trip or venturing off the beaten track.
Azerbaijan is a fascinating country of contradictions and contrasts and a captivating network of ancient historical empires, that is still recovering from its Soviet war torn past.
The capital, Baku is surrounded by a semi-desert and located on a wide bay on the oil-rich Caspian. Behind it, on the hillsides are some impressive stone houses and mansions that reflect a latter day oil wealth and prosperity that has once again returned to this city.
Although the nearby Absheron Peninsula is covered in oil wells, a visit will also reveal a much older link to the Zoroastrians, for whom fire is an important symbol and who have erected temples around burning gas vents in the ground. A small number also live in the northern area around Guba, known for its fragrant gardens, virgin forests and alpine meadows, while Lenkoran lies in a sub-tropical zone where rice and tea are cultivated. There are also several national parks in the area.
Gobustan is in a volcanic desert southwest of Baku where the mountainside of outcrops and caves is covered in rock paintings from the early Stone Age, more than 10,000 years old.
A holiday to Azerbaijan is perfectly combined with travel to its neighbouring countries of Armenia and Georgia - for further details on this see our journey ideas.
Journey Ideas For Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan, Armenia & Georgia
Culture, beautiful landscapes and ancient sites
View more Journey Ideas for Azerbaijan