New Delhi, June 25 -- I have always wondered if it is possible to experience global bucket-list destinations with a touch of high-end luxury without draining a multi-year mutual fund portfolio. The answer is almost always yes, but it requires throwing out the default luxury travel playbook.

I wanted to understand what a curated, semi-luxury 5-night itinerary for two adults in Azerbaijan would look like-a country where Europe meets the Middle East, increasingly hyped for its dazzling Baku skyline and private cruises on the Caspian Sea.

I wasn't looking for a bare-minimum backpacker route; I wanted five-star boutique hotels, private guided transfers through the Caucasus Mountains, and indulgent dinners featuring local Shah pilaf and black...