Highlights of Azerbaijan

Discover the highlights of Azerbaijan on this 6-day private tour, combining the vibrant capital of Baku with the country’s rich history and scenic regions. Explore Baku and the Absheron Peninsula, visit Gobustan’s ancient rock carvings and mud volcanoes, and travel through Shamakhi, Lahij, and Gabala to the historic city of Sheki.

Day 1:
 Arrival in Baku

Upon arrival at Heydar Aliyev International Airport, your private driver will meet you and transfer you to your selected hotel.
Check-in is available from 14:00. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight in Baku.

Day 2:   Old City, Central Baku & Panoramic City Tour

After breakfast, enjoy a full-day sightseeing tour of Baku, where historic architecture, Eastern traditions, and modern city life come together.

Baku Old City (Icherisheher)
Begin with a walking tour through Baku’s UNESCO-listed Old City, the historic heart of Azerbaijan’s capital.

During your visit, you will see:
- Maiden Tower (exterior)
- Palace of the Shirvanshahs (exterior)
- Juma Mosque
- Historic caravanserais
- Market Square
- Traditional craft workshops and souvenir shops
- Narrow medieval streets of Icherisheher

Central Baku Walking Tour
Continue through the vibrant city center, where elegant early-20th-century architecture reflects Baku’s rich oil-boom history.

Highlights include:
- Nizami Street
- Fountains Square
- Puppet Theatre
- Baku Boulevard
- Little Venice
- Azerbaijan Carpet Museum (exterior)
- Baku Ferris Wheel (exterior)
- Ismailiyya Building
- Mukhtarov Palace
- Governor’s Garden
- Azneft Square

Panoramic Baku City Tour
Discover the modern side of Baku on a combined driving and walking tour, with stops at some of the city’s most beautiful viewpoints.

During the tour, you will see:
- First Oil Well (historic landmark)
- Aquatic Palace (drive-by)
- Baku Boulevard
- Government House
- White City district
- Little Venice
- Azerbaijan Carpet Museum
- Flame Towers
- Highland Park – panoramic views of Baku Bay and the Caspian Sea

Heydar Aliyev Center (option to visit inside)
Admire one of Baku’s most remarkable architectural landmarks, designed by world-renowned architect Zaha Hadid.
An optional interior visit offers the opportunity to explore exhibitions dedicated to Azerbaijan’s history, culture, and art (additional entrance fee).

Return to your hotel. Overnight in Baku.

Day 3:   Gobustan, Mud Volcano Complex & Absheron Peninsula

After breakfast, set off on a full-day tour to discover Azerbaijan’s prehistoric heritage, unique natural wonders, and famous fire-related landmarks.

Gobustan National Park (UNESCO)
Explore the UNESCO-listed Gobustan archaeological reserve, famous for its ancient rock carvings and prehistoric settlements.
Highlights include:
Ancient petroglyphs and rock carvings
Prehistoric human settlements
Panoramic views of the Caspian Sea

Mud Volcano Complex
Discover Azerbaijan’s remarkable mud volcanoes, one of the country’s most unusual natural attractions.
Bubbling mud craters
Unique geological formations
Extraordinary, almost Martian landscapes

Bibi-Heybat Mosque
Visit one of Baku’s most important religious landmarks, known for its beautiful Islamic architecture and historical significance.

Ateshgah Fire Temple
Explore the historic fire temple on the Absheron Peninsula, associated with Zoroastrian and Hindu worship traditions and Azerbaijan’s rich fire heritage.

Yanardag (Burning Mountain)
Witness a remarkable natural phenomenon where flames fueled by underground natural gas continuously burn along a hillside.

Return to Baku in the evening. Overnight in Baku.

Day 4:   Baku – Shamakhi – Lahij – Gabala – Sheki

After breakfast, depart Baku for a scenic journey through the foothills of the Greater Caucasus Mountains, visiting historic towns, traditional villages, and beautiful mountain landscapes along the way.

Diri Baba Mausoleum (Optional Stop)
An impressive 14th-century mausoleum built into a rocky hillside near Shamakhi.

Shamakhi Juma Mosque
Visit one of the oldest mosques in the Caucasus, an important historical and architectural landmark of Azerbaijan.

Lahij Mountain Village
Explore a charming mountain village famous for its cobblestone streets, traditional copper workshops, and centuries-old craftsmanship.

Nohur Lake
Enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of this picturesque lake surrounded by forests and mountain scenery.

Tufandag Mountain Resort (Optional)
If time permits, enjoy a cable car ride offering spectacular views of the Greater Caucasus Mountains (additional charge).

Nij Village & Udi Church
Visit the village of Nij, home to the Udi people, and discover its historic church associated with the ancient Christian heritage of Caucasian Albania.
Arrive in Sheki in the evening. Overnight in Sheki.

Day 5:
  Sheki & Kish – Baku

After breakfast, explore the historic city of Sheki, famous for its Silk Road heritage, traditional architecture, and UNESCO-listed historic center.

Sheki Khan’s Palace
Visit the magnificent 18th-century palace, renowned for its colorful murals and intricate shebeke stained-glass windows.

Sheki Old Town (Yukhary Bash)
Discover the historic heart of Sheki and its main landmarks:
Sheki Caravanserai
Juma Mosque
Traditional streets and historic buildings

Kish Village & Albanian Church
Visit the picturesque village of Kish and its ancient church, an important monument of the region’s Caucasian Albanian Christian heritage.

Local Cuisine
Enjoy the opportunity to try Sheki’s traditional specialties, including piti (a local meat stew) and the famous Sheki baklava (meals at your own expense).
Return to Baku in the evening. Overnight in Baku.

Day 6:
Departure from Baku

After breakfast, enjoy some free time before departure.
Check-out from the hotel by 12:00.
Private transfer to Heydar Aliyev International Airport for your departure flight.