Azerbaijan, 3rd: With Excursions to Georgia (Azerbaijan (with Excursions to Georgia)) [Paperback]

Mark Elliott (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2004 | Series: Azerbaijan (with Excursions to Georgia)

Third edition of the guide that was the first and still remains the only dedicated guide to Azerbaijan. Features 200 maps with 180 explanatory visuals--vital in a country where there are few reliable maps. Includes full historical background, cultural tips, visas, where to stay, and where to eat for all budgets.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Azerbaijan by Mark Elliott (Trailblazer) is an excellent guidebook with useful maps that make exploring in and around Baku possible. It is much more detailed than the new but disappointing Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan (Lonely Planet)."
--The Guardian (UK)

"Recommended reading."
--The Financial Times (UK)

"As the first modern guide to Azerbaijan it is a real tour de force...meticulous research and evident affection for Azerbaijan."
--Daily News (Azerbaijan)

From the Back Cover

Perched beside the oil-rich Caspian Sea, compact, hospitable Azerbaijan is astounding in its scenic variety. Painted moonscape deserts, snow-capped Caucasian peaks, subtropical forests and flower-filled grasslands all lie within a few hours' drive of Baku, the artistically vibrant, cosmopolitan capital with its UNESCO-recognized walled Old City.
Since the first edition in 1999 this map-packed book has become the definitive guide for visitors and residents alike. Now in its expanded and fully-updated third edition it's more practical than ever.
Inside you will find: practical information about Visas, getting to Azerbaijan, where to stay, and where to eat; discover bubbling mud volcanoes, linguistically-unique stepped villages, ruined castles, a flaming hillside and fire-temple, iron-wood forests, water that "catches fire", "magical" rocks kissed smooth by superstitious wish-seekers. On foot, by car, 4WD, bus, train or horse be among the first tourists to explore delightful Azerbaijan since Noah sailed across the country 5000 years ago, his Ark carving a great gash through Nakhchivan's Snake Mountain; over 190 maps, illustrated with over 160 sketches and diagrams. As well as showing hotels, restaurants, bus stops, etc. these maps also include landmarks at key unsigned junctions to help motorists and hikers; history, language and cultural tips; excursions to neighboring Georgia.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Trailblazer Publications; 3rd edition (October 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1873756798
• ISBN-13: 978-1873756799
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.7 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,228,273 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #12 in Books > Travel > Asia > Georgia
  • #27 in Books > History > Asia > Georgia

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Travel Guide to Anywhere!, May 26, 2003

By 

Philip Bragdon (Baku, Azerbaijan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Azerbaijan, 2nd: With excursions to Georgia (Paperback)

I picked up this book shortly before I left to come to Azerbaijan for a year. It has been my constant companion while living in Baku (the capital) and in making countless excursions out of the city. Having been here almost a year, I can safely say it's the best travel book I've ever read for any place. It is delightful to read and its author's warm and quirky sense of humor make it a constant source of entertainment.

Perhaps the best recommendation for this books comes not just from the many expatriots who rely on it, but from the native Azeris who are astounded at how well Mark Elliott (native of UK) knows their country. Azeris are famous for assuming (perhpas rightly so) that the rest of the world knows nothing about their country. So, when Azeris recommend a book about their country, written by a foreigner, it is a pretty good endorsement.

By far the best aspect of the book are the scores of maps and illustrations--all done by the author. As a trained geographer, I appreciate the excellent maps loaded (almost overloaded) with information. They are easy to read maps that make it difficult for the traveler to get lost. I am particularly impressed by how a map can simultaneously accurate and amusing! My favorite entry is the map of the fascinating town of Quba that includes "Old Men" sitting in the park. Damned if they weren't still sitting there. On another map, the author suggests looking for grey beards at the point where you're supposed to make a particular turn. Sure enough, there they were.

Living in Baku, my family and often make use of Elliott's recommendations for restaurants. Of course restaurants come and go, but the information is nearly always accurate and detailed.

My eight-year-old son and I have enjoyed taking his "scavenger hunt" for artistic architectural oddities in the city. I think we've now found all the objects in the second edition, but a third one is already on the drawing boards.

Mark Elliott has a delightfully respectful attitude towards Azerbaijan and the Azeris. This is different form many travel books (Including the Lonely Planet Guide to the South Caucasus) which often take on a preachy attitude which tends to poke fun at the local cultures rather than respectfully describing them as Elliott does.

In addition to being a good travel book, this book also is a worthy source of information on the country for anyone interested in learning about it.

Having lived or traveled extensively in over fifty countries I can recommend this book most highly.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The travel bible that makes Azerbaijan accessible/enjoyable, May 20, 2000

By 

Tamsin Wilson - See all my reviews

This review is from: Azerbaijan With Georgia (Trailblazer) (Paperback)

Before this book there was nothing written at all to help people travel around, enjoy and get a cultural understanding of this place. But thanks to this guide, a lot of us that thought Azerbaijan was goint to be an oil-hardship posting have discovered that it's a really beautiful, varied and incredible place. The book is stuffed full of maps and little pictures. Even shows sketches of bus stops where you need to turn (there aren't many road signs) and has pages and pages of food words which has helped us venture into some of the non-expat restaurants. The title is Azerbaijan with Georgia, but the Georgia section is relatively small - again lots of maps, but seems to be included just for people going there on weekends from Baku. The Azerbaijan sectin - the overwhelming majority - is very comprehensive. I heard that a Lonely Planet book for the Caucasus is coming out later this year, but it's hard to imagine that it would really compete - has to cover three countries. I would suggest that anyone coming to Baku / Azerbaijan seriously considers getting this 'bible' before they come - it is difficult to find a copy here in Azerbaijan.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Topical, relevant, useful travel guide; Spring 1998, November 5, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Azerbaijan With Georgia (Trailblazer) (Paperback)

In the style of "Lonely Planet" guides, this recent book is worth its weight in gold to help take the apprehension out of travel in the South Caucasus. Full of useful information balanced between travel logistics (travel modes, accomodation, money and eating), country history and today's culture, this book not only lists the tourist's highlights of the two countries, but also the pitfalls to avoid in searching them out, as well as a selection of quirky oddities for those who tire of museums and cathedrals. The book's maps are highly useful.

Intended as a guide to Azerbaijan, the section on Georgia is a serviceable, useful bonus. A similar detailed guide to the equally fascinating country of Georgia begs to be written!

(Be sure to read the book before you visit AND to bring it with you. And don't forget your recording walkman for the amazing sounds of Georgia.)