About this experience
Azerbaijan's trump card - national cuisine. Foodies, you're in luck! I know places near Baku where dishes made from the freshest sturgeon, beluga, and sevruga caviar are served. From a fishing boat, fish delicacies will go straight to your table. We won't forget about spiritual food either: on the way through Baku's Riviera, we will visit Zoroastrian shrines, literary places, and a crystal mausoleum.
What to Expect
Caspian Treasures
Can you visit Baku and not try the king of fish, the famous sturgeon? If you decide to embark on a culinary adventure, I hasten to warn you: in Baku restaurants, there is a risk of getting a dish made from frozen or farm-raised fish. And at an inflated price too!
It's best to buy sturgeon directly from the boat - right before your eyes, they will prepare shish kebabs, kebabs, pilaf, or even dolma made from fish from the morning catch. I will take you to the outskirts of the city, to picturesque places on the coast and to the fish market. There you will discover the real Azerbaijan - hospitable, delicious, with a rich history and colorful residents.
Suburbs of the Ancient Capital
Around Baku, there are plenty of attractions. It is understandable: tribes that gave names to small villages settled here for centuries: mardy (in the village of Mardakan), Massagetae, and even Romans (the memory of them remains in the village of Ramana). Arriving here, you cannot stop marveling at the beauty of the local nature (no wonder there are so many five-star hotels and luxurious residences here!), as well as the special comfort and settledness.
The glorious past of these places is reminded by the rich architectural heritage. Here is what we will see on the way:
- Fire worshippers temple Ateshgah and a small museum of wax figures;
- Nobel oil fields and the 'Little Baltic';
- The city of Mardakan and the village of Shagan, which inspired Yesenin for the cycle 'Persian motifs'.
Fishy Spot
And here before us is the village of Nardaran. Here you will learn what 'fish on the boat' is, taste and optionally purchase the world-famous Caspian black caviar and other delicacies at a favorable price. I will tell you how to choose the most delicious sturgeon correctly and help you take stunning photos. Then we will observe how merchants skillfully disassemble a 1-2 meter fish, clean it, and make basturma with local spices for the future kebab.
Then we will head to one of the coastal eateries, where sturgeon will be prepared for you on the grill and served to the table with narsharab sauce, Baku tomatoes, herbs, and cheese. All this - combined with excellent local wine. It will not just be delicious, but very delicious! And also much cheaper by several times than in a capital restaurant. After the meal, I will drive you - satiated and content - back to beautiful Baku.
Organizational Details
- The tour is conducted year-round
- Cost includes: fish (sturgeon, beluga, sevruga), transport (sedan, minivan, bus), entrance tickets to the Fire Worshippers Temple and Crystal Mausoleum
- Additional expenses: 5-10€ per person for service at the restaurant, snacks, drinks
- Optionally, we can visit a generous wine tasting nearby (up to 15 varieties), the fiery Yanardag Mountain, the house-museum of Sergey Yesenin, and the beach
- Children under 12 receive a 40% discount
