Top Baku Day Trips - page 2

I would have reviewed this trip well anyway purely because of the spectacular scenery we got to see on the way and in Khinaliq itself. It was so great being able to have the Caucasus mountains accessible from Baku because of a tour like this. Hats off to the drivers willing to drive for near on 12hours to allow tourists to do this. However, this tour was made even more special because of my guide Layla. She was approachable, friendly and had a great energy about her. She was quick to learn names and made an effort to get to know us which was really appreciate for a mere day tour. She is also an excellent photographer. I’m a solo traveller and hate being in front of the camera. Layla never forced me to have photos of myself but at the same time put me at ease of having them as she was always on hand to take them and gave suggestions on where to sit or stand. I also appreciated meeting Inset in Khinaliq. He runs a guesthouse in the village, his English is excellent and he shared with me his work (as a fellow historian). I was grateful for his kindness and hospitality as his uncle made me a coffee at his house whilst we chatted. All of this with no expectation of something in return which is more than I can say for the young boys from the house we had lunch at who were keen to ‘show us around the village’ and then started demanding money.. be mindful of this. Leyla did speak to them upon finding this out from the other guests upon departure. It’s funny, we probably would have tipped them. But their demands and lack of manners led to me at least to be dismissive of them and I refused to engage with them. A pity as their mother showed great hospitality at lunch - the food was a nice touch and allowed us to learn about their culture too. Few tips: bring a good litre of water, sturdy shoes for the village, a layer and some suncream as the UV is strong in the mountains.

One of the best group tours. Huseyin as a host of this trip was an amazing communicator and knowledgeable to provide us with the history of each place. I faced a problem to navigate my way to the pick up point and he made sure to wait and pick me up from that spot. I highly recommend anyone travelling solo to be part of this journey. The hike up to the khinaliq village for views and the food is definitely worth it all.

This was a very well organized trip with an itinerary that covered all major attractions on the outskirts of Baku and around the city. Had an absolutely wonderful experience with our tour guide, Elcin. He explained everything in great detail and shared the rich history and culture of Azerbaijan in a very engaging way. He is very knowledgeable and clearly well-versed with the country’s history and places. Our guide Elcin impressed us with his language skills and broad knowledge, always adding interesting extra insights. Our trip became much more meaningful because of him. Highly recommend Elcin to anyone visiting Azerbaijan!