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|hitch = ? <rating country='az' /> }} '''Azerbaijan''' is an [[Asia]]n country in the [[Middle East]]Caucasia. It has borders with [[Russia]], [[Georgia_Georgia (Countrycountry)|Georgia]],[[Armenia]], [[Iran]] and via the enclave [[Nakhchivan]] to [[Turkey]].English is not very widespread, but many people have at least a basic command of Russian, and almost anybody will be able to understand you if you speak Turkish.  

Hitchhiking The concept of hitchhiking (more likely: Avtostop or Otostop in Russian resp. Turkish) is -- depending on the definition -- either very easy in Azerbaijan, because well-known or not so well-known at all. People stop quite easily as locals rarely do italso very commonly wait by the side of the road for a ride. On the other side, and therefore drivers often expect money. ([[User:Zenit|Zenit]] had a foreigner waiting with his thump up is an attractionPorsche driver stop for him who asked for money). Help people identify you as foreignerThis seems to become less likely the smaller the road gets. Many cars act as taxis Local hitchhikers have reported to just accept rides and may want not talk about these topics, preferring to win you as customerdeal with potential expectations of the drivers at the end (but insisting that they never pay). Therefore If you should ask them, where they are going and if they answer something 'd like "wherever you want to" make clear avoid that (at the danger of losing some lifts), the following vocabulary can come in handy: *Russian: ''bezplatno mozhna?'' (Is it okay to go for free?) / ''dingi nyet'' (I don't have money)*Turkish: ''parasiz (gitmek) mumkun?'' (Is it okay to go for free?) / ''param jok'' (I don't have money) It can help if people can readily identify you are not looking for as a taxiforeigner, eg "taxi yokh - avtostop". Taxi drivers can be very pushing, they grab your luggage without your permission, cheat you with the price etcespecially a western foreigner. Avoid hitchhiking in [[Baku]] and [[Ganja]] − and in smaller cities don't hitchhike near the taxi stand.Hitchhiking is really great in remote mountain areas − but only in those with solid roads.  UPDATE: Actually hitchhiking its perfect all over Azerbaijan. Even in Baku or Ganja. You just have to be clear about not paying and that's all. Probably you will spend your travel explaining how do you do to travel without money (Azeri people don't know so much about hitchhiking) but it will be funny most of the times.([[User:Simimoch|Simimoch]] Two spanish guys, with no Russian or Azeri managed to travel across Azerbaijan without paying any cent, hitchhiking even from the main cities. "Manat niet" and the direction we were going was the only thing we were saying to the drivers at the beginning at it was always fine. They don't use to know the Russian or Turkish word of Avtostop or Otostop with us. Drivers where mostly friendly, offering always tea and sometimes even food or accommodation. We never waited more than 10 minutes.  Hitchhiking in Azerbaijan is not more or less dangerous than elsewhere on the world. But be aware of regions in the southwest, the border to Armenia and the region [[Nagorno-Karabakh]] where sometimes local conflicts escalate. In the border region to Armenia there is the additional danger of landmines. == License plates == Azerbaijan has a system in which you can recognize from the license plate which of the country's many ''rayon''s a car is from. Baku, for example, is ''10'', ''90'', and ''99'', Ganja is ''20'' and Sheki is ''55''. See [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicle_registration_plates_of_Azerbaijan here] for a complete list.

=== [[File:Azeri-GeorgiaBorderZaqatala.jpg|thumb|right|Georgia - Azerbaijan [[border crossing]] near [[Balakan]]Kazakhstan]]===The border to Armenia is closed and there are also landmines and border conflicts. * You are not allowed to pass to border to Russia if you are not of the nationality of one of can take the [[CIS]] nations or have hitchhiking a special permission. To Iran you will need a valid visa. Thats also the case when travelling with the [[boat|ferry]] from [[Baku]] to [[TürkmenbaşyAktau]], [[TurkmenistanKazakhstan]] (go to the Baku page for more information).It is possible to get Kazakh visa in Baku in a day or to two. The [[AqtauEmbassy]]of Kazakhstan Republic is on Gandjlik m.st., 82 Hasan Aliyev st., phone: (+99412)4656248/4652121 === [[KazakhstanArmenia]]. Getting the ferry should be absolutely hard by hitchhiking, prices for tickets are higher for foreigners and it seems to be hard to get one. ===* The border to Georgia [[Armenia]] is open for hitchhikingclosed and there are also landmines and border conflicts.=== [[Russia]] ===

I have copied the following from a forum entry at [http://wwwThe border used to be closed for non CIS passport holders.tripadvisorThe situation has changed in late 2012, now it is possible to cross with valid visas.com tripadvisor[[Pite]] went through the border in August 2013, border police were surprised to see Europeans here, but they let him go.com]:

It === [[Iran]] ===* You will need a valid visa to cross the border to Iran, but it is possible a regular, not impossible to get Kazakh visa in hitchhike border.=== [[Turkmenistan]] ===* You can take the [[hitchhiking a boat|ferry]] from [[Baku in a day or ]] to [[Türkmenbaşy]], [[Turkmenistan]]. === [[Georgia]] ===* There are twoborders with Georgia opened for travelers and good for hitchhiking. The Embassy of Kazakhstan Republic It is on Gandjlik m.st.a relatively easy to hitchhike here; Azeri people are quite friendly with foreigners, 82 Hasan Aliyev stand there are big truck parking areas in both sides of the border where you should be able to hitch a ride easily., phone: (+99412)4656248/4652121

3-Ferry to Kazakhstan goes once in a week. There is no any steady schedule. Not to miss From the ferry, you have to go to Deniz Vokzal beforehand and put yourself down on a waiting list of passengers. Take "Red Bridge" border the phone number of information bureau and call them every early morning next main city is [[Ganja]] (very easy to ask if the ferry is full. When the ferry will be full, they will tell you the exact time and date of ferry departure.On the date of departure reach in an one hour-two beforehandor less), you have to be on Deniz Vokzal and buy from the ticket. If you are lateLagodekhi/Balakan border, they will not wait for you and close to the ferry will leave Baku without youmountains, despite the fact that you have been on a waiting listclosest main city in [[Sheki]]. (+994 12) 4930868 (+994 12) 4939606

[[Category== Links ==https:Middle East]]//www.facebook.com/groups/256467861393520/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel Azerbaijani hitchhikers's facebook group.  == Nomadwiki & Trashwiki == {{nomadwiki}}