Nakhchivan Extension

Azerbaijan

Extend your Azerbaijan trip to the region set apart from the rest of the country.

3 days Ask us for pricing This is the price per person for a private tour (based on 2 people travelling) excluding international flights. Contact us for pricing for other group sizes including individuals.
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Intro, Dates & Prices

Intro

Fly into the disconnected region of Azerbaijan and explore the mausoleums and places of legend in Nakhchivan, including Prophet Noah's monument and the Ashabi-Kahf cave. Travel along the Iranian border to the medieval city of Ordubad and hike up to the impressive Alinja Fortress before delving into the underground tunnels of the Duzdagh salt mines.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

  • The sacred cave, Ashabi-Kahf
  • The medieval Caucasus city of Ordubad
  • Daridagh thermal spring
  • Alinja Fortress

Places Visited

Nakhchivan - Ashabi-Kahf - Ordubad

What's Included

Arrival & departure transfers
Ground transport with driver
Domestic flights (return to Baku)
Accommodation
Meals (refer to itinerary for meal plan)
English-speaking guides
Entrance fees to sites & parks

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Itinerary
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Overview Itinerary Detailed Itinerary
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Day 1 : To Nakhchivan

Fly from Baku into Nakhchivan where you will be met by a guide and transferred to your hotel to check in, then begin a tour of Nakhchivan. Sites you will see include Prophet Noah's monument, Momina Khatun's monument, Rahim Khan's house, the tomb of Yusif Ibn Kuseyir, and the Ashabi-Kahf caves. Overnight in Nakhchivan.

Overnight in Grand Nakhchivan Hotel, Nakhchivan

Meal plan: Breakfast

Nakhchivan is the disconnected section of Azerbaijan stretching from the awesome shadow of Mt Agri (Ararat) to the historic town of Ordubad. During the bulk of the Soviet era, this was a secret military zone. Its only moment of international press coverage occurred in 1988 when jubilant crowds, sensing an end to the USSR's iron grip, tore down frontier posts with Iran and reunited themselves with long-lost relations. In 1991 Nakhchivan became the first Soviet republic to declare independence, only to rejoin Azerbaijan two weeks later. The place remains a little-known entity for most Westerners even though it consistently produces Azerbaijan's leaders and is the only part of the country with a direct land border to Turkey.

Prophet Noah's Monument is said to be the tomb of Noah, the prophet who warned of the great flood in the Old Testament. The building was originally constructed around the 8th century, and the current mausoleum was built in 2006 on top of the old site.

The mausoleum of Momina Khatun was built in 1186 by the Nakhchivan architect Ajami Abubakir for the founder of the Azerbaijan Atabay state's wife. It is also known as the Atabay tomb, and used to stand 34m high but over time it has crumbled and now is just 25m high. Restoration took place after the Nakhchivan mausoleums were awarded UNESCO World Heritage Status in 1998. The Kufic words on the monument arch read: "We pass away, but only the wind is left behind us. We die, but only a work is left as a present."

Located in the Old Fortress quarter of Nakhchivan, Rahim Khan's house was built in the Eastern architectural style of the 18th and 19th centuries. Rahim Khan was a leader of the Nakhchivan khanate at this time. The house was built on a hilltop called the "Khan height" to make it seem more magnificent and offer a spectacular view of the town.

The tomb of ​Yusif Ibn Kuseyir was built in 1161-1162 with Ajami Abubakr as the architect. The octagonal building was built from baked brick and has a pyramid shaped roof, with a Kufi inscription written above the tomb stating who is buried there.

Ashabi-Kahf cave, meaning "the cave possessers" in Arabic, is one of the possible locations for the Christian and Islamic legend of the Seven Sleepers. In the legend, seven youths hid inside a cave to escape persecution and ended up sleeping for 300 years. It is an important pilgrimage site and each year tens of thousands of people journey to visit it.
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Day 2 : Nakhchivan - Ordubad - Nakhchivan

Take a train ride to Julfa, along the Araz River and close to the Iranian border, where you will then meet your driver who will take you to visit the Gulustan mausoleum, and onto Ordubad for a city tour. After lunch, drive to visit the Daridagh thermal springs and then head back to Nakhchivan and visit the carpet museum. Overnight in Nakhchivan.

Overnight in Grand Nakhchivan Hotel, Nakhchivan

Meal plan: Breakfast

Also known as the Dasht Mausoleum and the Vardut Mausoleum, the Gulustan Mausoleum is named for the green hollow where it stands, with Gulustan meaning "heavenly garden". It is built out of red sandstone, reflecting its original name of Vardut, which means "roses" in Armenian.

Ordubad is a medieval city of the Caucasus and its modern town was founded in the 18th century. It is known as the pearl of the Nakhchivan province for its fruit and spices exports and its cuisine. The name is a mix of Turkic and Persian, meaning "army town", as the city was likely first founded during the Mongol period. Multiple archaeological excavations have been carried out and found remains dating back to the 4th century, including a necropolis.

The spring water from Nakhchivan is rich in various minerals such as sodium, potassium, and magnesium. The Daridagh thermal spring contains five springs and 32 wells with mineral water that contains chemical compositions similar to places in Poland, France, and Russia.
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Day 3 : Nakhchivan half day tour

Begin the day with a visit to the Alinja Fortress and before you depart for the airport, you will visit the Garabaghlar mausoleum and the Duzdagh salt mines. Fly to Baku.

Meal plan: Breakfast

Located on a mountain slope up some 1500 steps the impressive ruins of Alinja Fortress are sometimes nicknamed Azerbaijan's Machu Picchu. It is one of the strongest defensive constructions of the 12th century, managing to hold off a seige for 14 years during Teymur's attack on Nakhchivan from 1386.

The mausoleum in Garabaghlar was built early in the 14th century, but has strong influences from the 12th and 13th centuries. It is cylindrical in shape with twelve semicircular facets rising up to 30m, and is covered with blue mosaic on the outside.

The former Duzdagh Salt mine tunnels have been converted into a salt therapy centre that speacialises in treatment for asthma and bronchitis. For a truly authentic experience, patients can spend the night in these underground caverns to soak up the pure natural salt and silence.
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Accommodation

Accommodation

All accommodation subject to availability. Final accommodation choices will be confirmed after booking.

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Grand Nakhchivan Hotel

Nakhchivan (2 nights)

Located centrally in Nakhchivan, the Grand Hotel offers a comfortable and convenient place in which to base yourself for touring the city and surrounding areas. All rooms are fitted with air conditioning, satellite TV, and refrigerator. Free Wi-Fi is also provided. For dining, a buffet breakfast is served every morning and there is a restaurant with a choice of international cuisine.

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Hike The Azerbaijani Caucasus (5 days)

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Around the South Caucasus (12 days)

Three small countries. All neighbours. All totally different.

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Get under the skin of Azerbaijan's multi-faceted history, diverse cultures and unique landscapes

Reviews

We had a fantastic time on our Best of the Caucasus tour. We loved eating with the families in Georgia and visiting the Molovan family in Armenia, definitely highlights of the trip. Our Georgian guide in particular was the best you could possibly have, giving a true insight into the country. He should be recommended for an award!

Pam Bowers & John Simpson , Best of the Caucasus

We asked Travel the Unknown to come up with an unusual trip to 6 counties of the Caucasus and the ex-Soviet Union countries. They did so in a tour that flowed seamlessly the whole 38 days. The most impressive part was when Ukrainian Airlines cancelled our connecting flights from Kiev to Minsk, for 2 consecutive days. We contacted Travel The Unknown that morning and asked them to arrange an overnight train with a sleeping compartment. When arrived in Kiev, we were met at the airport, driven to the train station where tickets where waiting for us. They arranged for our pickup at the station in Minsk, as we left the train, and we went on our planned tours without losing a minute. That is what I call great service!

Irwin Drangel & Linda Schain , Tailor-made Caucasus and Soviet Fringes

Loved the Caucasus with Travel the Unknown. I learnt of their ancient history and the current geopolitical significance of the cross roads between West and East. Another first class trip from Travel the Unknown with extremely knowledgeable guides and great hotels.

Margaret Small , Best of the Caucasus

The trip to the Caucasus was both illuminating and fun. It was particularly interesting to visit all three countries, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia, to try to understand the area and the problems they face from each country's very different perspective. The scenery in the whole area is breathtaking. The tour introduced us to many local people who were all very hospitable and generous. They welcomed us warmly and joined in our enjoyment of "having a go" at various crafts, eg bread making, felt-making, learning a bit of Georgian script, etc. In each of the three countries, religion is fundamental to their lives and visits to mosques, temples, churches, monasteries and cathedrals were a large feature in the tour. I would highly recommend the tour to anyone who likes an activity-packed holiday in places that are off the beaten track.

Doreen , Best of the Caucasus
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