Liya R-va
Guía — tours privados
Azerbaiyán

I was born and raised in Baku, and I have spent my best years exploring this vibrant city. As a true local, I've loved walking around and discovering my city since I was a teenager. I've lived in various neighborhoods across Baku, which has deepened my knowledge and personal connection to this beautiful place.

As a local, I want to share with my guests the authentic 'for locals' Baku. I’ll gladly reveal hidden corners and show you the most stunning spots, including villages, lush green mountains with snowy peaks, and the Caspian Sea. Treat yourself to a genuine Azerbaijani tea with traditional sweets and unique jams (olive, tangerine, pomegranate, watermelon, and even eggplant jam). I’ll also take you to local cafes that are still off the beaten path, where you can taste delicious Azerbaijani dishes like dolma, pilaf, kutab, levengi, and more. I enjoy creating unique tours and visiting places other travel companies might overlook.

As an experienced traveler, I understand how crucial a guide can be in enriching your experience. Exploring a new place with a local makes all the difference. I aim to help you discover Baku not just as a tourist, but as a local. My tours are designed for travelers seeking an authentic Baku experience—walking the same streets locals do, while I share insights about our culture, history, and traditions.

Believe me, a tour with an experienced guide is a whole different experience. If the guide knows the country well and shares fascinating stories in an engaging, artistic, and sometimes humorous way, inspiring curiosity and love for the sights, you'll walk away with wonderful memories and genuine emotion!

Here are my suggestions for enjoying Baku:

- Spend your first day exploring Old City (Icheri Sheher) and its surroundings.

- Visiting the Carpet Museum and Heydar Aliyev Center is a must!

- Want something different? Check out Fairy Mountain Yanardaq and the mud volcanoes.

I offer a wide variety of tours within and around Baku—walking, driving, or a mix of both. My vehicle is a late-model business-class Nissan Sunny from 2012, and I love sharing my passion for history, traditions, food, nature, Azerbaijani politics, and social life. Azerbaijan is a complex country, that's true.

My basic tour is a full-day introductory walk through both old and modern Baku, uncovering hidden streets and diverse neighborhoods. I also offer full-day countryside tours—my favorites! These include visits to unique spots and fun activities like baking bread in a traditional clay oven.

With a background in law and interpretation, I also manage a consulting business when I’m not guiding. For business travelers visiting Azerbaijan, my consulting firm provides professional support for meetings, exhibitions, conferences, interpreting, and translation services. I can also offer legal and business outsourcing assistance.

Having lived abroad in Canada, Russia, and Turkey, I enjoy meeting guests from all over the world. I’ve traveled extensively and know exactly what it takes to enjoy a foreign country—walking a little, having fun, learning brief history lessons, taking photos, taking coffee and lunch breaks, sharing stories, smiling, and simply enjoying. As a local, I know the best places for all of that!

I look forward to meeting you and sharing my love for this incredible hometown and beautiful country.

Welcome to Azerbaijan. I can’t wait to see you soon!

It’s impossible not to fall in love with Azerbaijan. We fall in love at first sight!

I’d be happy to share this love with you!

CREDENTIALS

I hold a Master's degree in History from Baku State University and a Bachelor's in Regional Studies from the Institute of Foreign Languages.

I also studied Business English in Toronto, so you can expect everyday conversational English from me.

I have held a driver's license since 2000, and for countryside tours, I drive my own late-model Nissan Sunny, which can hold up to four guests.

I also have a certificate from a Hands-on Tourist Guiding course.