Nestled between Russia, Georgia, Armenia and Iran at the crossroads between Eastern Europe and the Middle East, you’ll find a remarkable country that’s visited by few from the West. Azerbaijan might not yet be on your radar, but that’s about to change. Offering a heady mix of ancient architecture, cultural treasures and varied landscapes, this is one of our most rewarding and underrated destinations.

While technically landlocked, Azerbaijan sits on a generous stretch of the Caspian Sea. It’s here that you’ll find the dynamic capital of Baku, with its gleaming modern architecture, leafy shopping streets and World Heritage Listed medieval city centre. A walk among the stunning stone monuments of Baku Old City reveals the country’s complex history, with Zoroastrian, Arab, Persian, Ottoman and Russian influences evident in the Old City’s beautifully-preserved medieval walls, mosques and minarets.

Among the semi-desert of central Azerbaijan, the World Heritage Listed site of Gobustan is an open-air rock art gallery capturing more than 40,000 years of human habitation. This precious natural and cultural landscape comprises inhabited caves, settlements and burial sites, along with an incredible collection of more than 6,000 individual rock artworks.

And some 300 km west of Baku, in the lush foothills of the Greater Caucasus mountains, you’ll find the beautiful city of Sheki. Once a wealthy trading stop along the Silk Route, Sheki’s World Heritage Listed town centre features historic merchant houses, caravanserais and the impressive Summer Palace of the Sheki Khans.

Take a look at our new Azerbaijan, Georgia & Armenia Explorer itinerary and be one of the lucky few to explore this exciting region!