Azerbaijan at golden hour
    Azerbaijan

    Winter Escape

    Best for

    Couples, Photographers

    Duration

    5N/6D

    Season

    November–March

    Difficulty

    Easy

    Vibe

    Wintry, Scenic

    Traditional food of Azerbaijan
    A portrait moment in Azerbaijan
    Baku architecture at night
    Shahdag, Azerbaijan
    Azerbaijan from above

    Winter Escape

    5N/6D, 2 cities, Price on request

    A Tibro Journey

    Five nights chasing winter. Two nights up at the Shahdag snow resort in the Greater Caucasus, then back down to Baku's old city and the burning hills.

    Urban Winter Escape: Baku + Shahdag is a 5N/6D snow & aurora journey through Azerbaijan. Highlights include Shahdag snow & roller coaster, Heydar Aliyev Center, Yanardag flames.

    Signature Moments

    Three Mornings You'll Remember

    Shahdag snow roller coaster — Azerbaijan

    No. 01

    Shahdag snow & roller coaster

    Shahdag snow & roller coaster

    Heydar Aliyev Center, Azerbaijan

    No. 02

    Heydar Aliyev Center

    Heydar Aliyev Center

    Yanardag flames — Azerbaijan

    No. 03

    Yanardag flames

    Yanardag flames

    Day by Day

    5N/6D, in order

    01
    India on day 1, Azerbaijan

    Day 1

    India – Baku – Arrival

    Welcome to Azerbaijan – The Land of Fire! Upon your arrival at Heydar Aliyev Airport, you’ll be seamlessly transferred to your hotel by a private vehicle. After checking in and settling into your room, take some time to relax before starting your adventure in the morning. Overnight stay at hotel.

    02
    Baku on day 2, Azerbaijan

    Day 2

    Baku to Shahdag –

    08:00 Hrs - Enjoy a sumptuous breakfast at the hotel. Proceed for a drive to Shahdag Ski Resort. The journey will take approximately 3 hours 25 Mins, offering picturesque views along the way. 12:00 Hrs - Check in at your resort and take some time to relax and unwind in your beautiful surroundings. 13:00 Hrs - After settling in, enjoy a leisurely lunch at the resort. Spend the afternoon exploring the resort’s amenities or simply soaking in the tranquil atmosphere. In the evening, gather for a delightful dinner at the resort’s restaurant, savouring local flavours and dishes. After a day of travel and relaxation, enjoy a restful overnight stay at the resort, ready for the adventures that await.

    03
    Shahdag on day 3, Azerbaijan

    Day 3

    Shahdag – Snow Activities

    09:00 Hrs - Enjoy a sumptuous breakfast at Shahdag Mountain Resort, the first and largest ski resort in Azerbaijan, nestled in the breathtaking Greater Caucasus range. 10:00 Hrs – Have lunch at the resort, embark on an exhilarating winter. Experience the stunning views with a scenic cable car ride before diving into the excitement of the ultimate roller coaster ride, which spans 2590 meters with thrilling climbs and descents, reaching speeds of up to 42 km/h. 13:00 Hrs - Return to the resort for a hearty lunch, perfect for recharging after your morning activities. 19:00 Hrs - After a relaxing afternoon enjoying the snow, where you can savour delicious local and international dishes. Finally, retreat to your cozy accommodations for a restful overnight stay, ready to embrace another day of adventure in the pristine beauty of Shahdag. Overnight stay at the resort.

    04
    Baku City — Azerbaijan

    Day 4

    Baku City Tour

    Wake up to the breathtaking views of Shahdag Resort and enjoy a delightful breakfast to kickstart your day. 09:00 Hrs – Check out and proceed to Baku. Check-In at the Baku Hotel. 15:00 Hrs - Proceed for a tour of Old Baku, also known as the Inner City, which is the historical heart of the capital. Have lunch at a local restaurant. With a population of about 3,000 as of 2007, this UNESCO World Heritage Site includes the iconic Palace of the Shirvanshahs and the Maiden Tower, both steeped in rich history. 16:00 Hrs - Explore the vibrant Nizami Street, famous for shopping and a lively atmosphere. 17:00 Hrs - Afterwards, visit Fountains Square, a popular gathering spot, often referred to by its previous name, Parapet. 19:00 Hrs -The tour continues with a visit to the stunning Heydar Aliyev Center. Designed by renowned architect Zaha Hadid, this architectural marvel spans 57,500 m² and is celebrated for its unique, flowing design. 20:00 Hrs - After a day full of exploration, return to your hotel for dinner and an overnight stay, reflecting on the rich experiences of your day in Baku. Overnight stay at hotel.

    05
    Flames — Azerbaijan

    Day 5

    Flames Tour

    08:00 Hrs - Start your day with a sumptuous breakfast at the hotel. 09:00 Hrs - Afterwards, your tour begins with a visit to Ateshgah which is 25 mins drive from Baku (Fire Worshippers Temple), a captivating site featuring Persian and Indian inscriptions. This historic temple, used for Hindu and Zoroastrian worship, boasts a pentagonal complex with a courtyard surrounded by monk cells and a tetra pillar-altar, built during the 17th and 18th centuries. 11:30 Hrs - Proceed to “Fire Mountain,” or “Yanardag,” located just 25 km north of Baku on the Absheron Peninsula. The name “Yanardag” means “Blazing Mountain,” and here you'll witness the remarkable natural gas fire that blazes continuously on the hillside, creating a stunning display of flames. 14:00 Hrs - After exploring these extraordinary sites, return to the hotel around for a leisurely lunch. 15:00 Hrs - Spend the afternoon at your leisure, and in the evening, enjoy a delicious dinner at the hotel. After a day filled with cultural and natural wonders, relax with an overnight stay at the hotel, recharging for more adventures to come.

    06
    Baku — Azerbaijan

    Day 6

    Baku - Departure

    Enjoy your sumptuous breakfast in the hotel. Check out from the Hotel. 13:00 Hrs – Assembly at hotel lobby. Have lunch at a nearby restaurant. Proceed to city view tour with your private car. 14:00 Hrs - Visit to Highland Park-Alley of Martyrs, The National Assembly- also transliterated as Milli Majlis, Flame towers- the tallest skyscraper in Baku. 15:00 Hrs - Walking through Baku Boulevard which stretches along a south-facing bay on the Caspian Sea. It traditionally starts at Freedom Square continuing west to the Old City and beyond. Since 2012, the Yeni Bulvar (New Boulevard) has virtually doubled the length to 3.75 km. 16:00 Hrs - You’ll have the chance to ride the Baku Eye, a striking ferris wheel, before concluding your evening. 17:00 Hrs – Feel free to explore the surroundings and afterwards board for your flight back to home, reflecting on the unforgettable winter escapade filled with incredible experiences and cherished memories. ***END OF TOUR***

    Where You'll Stay

    Hand-Picked Hotels

    A hotel in Baku, Azerbaijan

    Baku

    Wyndham

    A hotel in Shahdag, Azerbaijan

    Shahdag

    Shahdag Resort & Spa

    Honestly

    Things most travel sites won't tell you.

    On-the-ground details your designer wishes every guest knew before they landed.

    Things to Look Out For

    field notes
    1

    The e-visa, and the other stamp

    Indian passport holders get the ASAN e-visa online in three working days. Straightforward. The catch is older: if your passport carries an Armenian stamp, expect hard questions at Baku immigration. Azerbaijan and Armenia are not on speaking terms, so don't try to combine the two on one trip unless your operator has routed it carefully.

    2

    Two Bakus in one skyline

    The walled Icherisheher. The old city, with the Maiden Tower and the Shirvanshahs' palace. Sits a five-minute walk below the three Flame Towers that light up the ridge at night. Do the old city in the morning before the heat, and ride up to the Highland Park terrace after dark for the flame-light show across the bay.

    3

    The land of fire is literal

    Azerbaijan sits on so much gas that the ground itself burns. Yanardag is a hillside that has been alight for centuries; Ateshgah is a fire-temple where Zoroastrian and Hindu pilgrims once tended an eternal flame fed from below. Go to Yanardag at dusk. The flames read as orange daylight and as a wall of fire after dark.

    The Details

    What's Included

    Included

    • Accommodation as per the mentioned hotels on Breakfast basis.
    • 3 Nights Baku
    • 2 Nights Shahdag
    • Sightseeing in districts (Baku, Absheron, Shahdag)
    • English Speaking Driver

    Not Included

    • 5% Government Service Tax is applicable in addition to the total invoice.
    • 5-20% Tax Collected at Source (TCS) based on slab
    • Airfare and Airport Taxes

    Plan Your Timing

    When to Go

    Baku sits on a windy spit in the Caspian, and its weather is milder than the latitude suggests. The sweet spots are spring, April to June, when the Absheron is green and the Caspian breeze is soft, and autumn, September to October, warm and dry. July and August are hot and humid in the city, though Shahdag and the Caucasus stay cool. Winter is grey and wet at sea level but it's the season for the snow resorts up north.

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    Azerbaijan
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    Your Memoir

    Here's how you'll remember it.

    Shahdag, Azerbaijan

    Day 2. The road up to the snow

    Day2
    ✦ Memoir

    The drive from Baku climbs three and a half hours north into the Greater Caucasus, and you watch the warm oil-coast give way to pine and then to snow. By the time we reached the Shahdag resort the Caspian heat was a different country entirely.

    Shahdag01
    Toboggan run — Shahdag, Azerbaijan

    Day 3. Toboggan run, thin cold air

    Day3
    ✦ Memoir

    A full snow day at Shahdag. The gondola up, the slopes, the tubing run, hot drinks with the peaks all around. For a trip that started on a warm coast, a day of proper alpine snow felt like a small magic trick.

    Shahdag02
    Baku, Azerbaijan

    Day 4. The Maiden Tower back in Baku

    Day4
    ✦ Memoir

    Back down to sea level and the city day. The walled Icherisheher, the Maiden Tower, the Shirvanshahs' palace, the Flame Towers above. The contrast with the day before, snow to old stone, was the whole shape of the trip.

    Baku03
    Yanardag — Baku, Azerbaijan

    Day 5. Yanardag, fire after snow

    Day5
    ✦ Memoir

    The last full day was the flame tour. Ateshgah and Yanardag's burning hillside. We'd had two nights of snow and now stood by a wall of fire that comes out of the ground and never stops. Azerbaijan, it turns out, does both at once.

    Baku04

    Vol. 5, A Tibro memoir, printed on archival paper, shipped after you return.

    Azerbaijan at golden hour

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