The Pearl of the Caspian, Baku Route

EXAMPLE (etc.) HOTELS

4* Hotels etc.

The Central Point Baku etc.

Wyndham Hotel Baku etc.

Qafqaz Sahil Hotel Baku etc

5* Hotels etc.

Baku Marriott Boulevard etc.

Sheraton Baku Intourist etc.

Hyatt Regency etc.

PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENT             

This tour is organized with a minimum participation requirement of 30 people.  If sufficient participation is not achieved, the final cancellation notice date is 20 days before the start of the tour. The tour canceled due to insufficient participation will be notified to you through your agency.

VISA

Ordinary Passport    Visa not required              

Green Passport         Visa not required

Service Passport  Visa not required

You must have a passport valid for 6 months from the end date of travel and not older than 10 years.

For destinations requiring a visa, the visa application must be made with the documents specified in the “Documents Required for Visa” list that your agency will provide you for the visa application.

To avoid problems with customs police at the border of the country to be visited due to torn, worn, wet and/or similarly damaged passports; such passports must be renewed, and if the country applies a visa to Turkish citizens, the relevant visa must be in the new passport. Otherwise, responsibility belongs to the traveler. Since our guests under the age of 18 traveling alone or with only one of their parents may be asked by the police officer on duty at the country entry/exit points for a document showing the mutual consent of the parents; we recommend that our guests under 18 and their parents be sensitive on this matter.

HEALTH

We do not think you will encounter any health-threatening problems with meals taken in the region's good restaurants and hotels. However, when you are not with the group, we recommend that you be careful about food and drink, definitely consume bottled water, avoid ice, milk and dairy products, eat meat and fish products that you are sure are well cooked, and for fruit, eat fruits that can be peeled such as bananas and pineapples. Current vaccination/PCR rules must be followed at country entry and upon return home.

FLIGHT TIMES

Istanbul - Baku                            2 hr 45 min

Baku - Istanbul                            3 hr 45 min

OPTIONAL TOURS & ACTIVITIES

Optional tours and activities are organized by the local agency we receive service from with a minimum participation requirement of 20 people, and there is no obligation to participate. If sufficient numbers are not achieved, the excursions may not be held, or optional tour/activity prices, content, and the vehicle used may vary depending on the number of participants. In addition, the days and times of optional tours/activities may be changed by the guide depending on whether museums, ruins, or venues at the destinations to be visited are open/closed and on weather conditions.

ACCOMMODATION 

During periods such as fairs, congresses, and official events, hotels outside the city center may be used.

Extra beds provided in 3-person rooms may be folding or small-sized beds. When making a reservation, it is assumed that this situation is accepted. Child discounts are valid for only one (1) child staying in the same room with two adults and within the specified age range. Breakfasts are served in continental or local style in accordance with the hotel culture in Azerbaijan, and may be offered in a separate hall for group guests.

CURRENCY

The currency of Azerbaijan is the Azerbaijan Manat (AZN).

It is recommended that you carry USD or EUR with you. Currency exchange can be done at hotels or at exchange offices in the city center.

TIME ZONE

Azerbaijan is 1 hour ahead of Turkey.

(When it is 12:00 in Turkey, it is 13:00 in Baku.)

TELEPHONE USE

It can be used if your mobile phone line is open for international calls (roaming).

CLOTHING AND NECESSARY ITEMS            

For the summer season: Lightweight clothes, t-shirts, cotton pants, sunscreen, a hat, comfortable walking shoes, and a light jacket/sweater for the evening coolness are recommended.

For the winter season: A coat that protects against the cold, a sweater, scarf, gloves, and thick shoes are recommended.

FOOD CULTURE

Azerbaijani cuisine is very close to Turkish cuisine. Meat-based dishes, varieties of kebab, stuffed vegetables, and pilafs are quite common. Among local flavors, distinctive delicacies such as “plov,” “dushbara,” “kutab,” and “shah plov” stand out. Drinks such as turnip juice and kefir are also consumed locally.

ELECTRICITY

Electrical outlets are the same as in Turkey.

SHOPPING

In Baku, in addition to modern shopping malls, traditional handicrafts, carpets, and souvenirs can be found on Nizami Street and in the Old City. Bargaining is common in local markets.

IMPORTANT NOTES       

Having a valid passport and visa does not guarantee entry into the country. The final decision at border gates belongs to the Azerbaijani passport police authorities. In such cases, Bin Rota cannot be held responsible.

BinRota is an intermediary between the airline and the passenger and is subject to the Hague Protocol dated 28.09.1955. Schedule changes and delays may occur on scheduled flights. Passengers are deemed to have purchased the tour knowing this possibility. Panoramic city tours included in the tour package are guided exterior sightseeing tours conducted by vehicle, generally lasting 2-3 hours. Museum and archaeological site entrance fees are not included. Bin Rota is not responsible if the tours cannot be carried out due to local authorities’ bans, road closures, or weather conditions at the points to be visited. Some excursions may be carried out on foot or by public transportation depending on transportation restrictions.