Upon your arrival at Baku International Airport, a tour guide will greet you and arrange your transfer to the hotel, ensuring a smooth transition into the heart of Azerbaijan. As you travel through the city, the striking contrast between Baku's historic and modern architecture becomes immediately evident—from the ancient walls of the Old City to the contemporary skyline shaped by cutting-edge design. After reaching your hotel, complete the check-in process and take a moment to unwind. Use this time to relax or explore the surroundings at your own pace, preparing for the exciting journey ahead.

Travel Details: Arrival in Baku International Airport; Expected travel distance ~25; Overnight at a hotel in Baku (-/-/-)

Today’s exploration of Baku begins with a panoramic view of the city and the Caspian Sea from Highland Park, the highest point in the capital. Walking through Martyrs’ Alley, a place of remembrance and quiet dignity, the Flame Towers rise above the skyline—a modern symbol of Azerbaijan’s enduring spirit.

From here, the journey continues into the heart of the city: Icherisheher, the UNESCO-listed Old City. Passing through its ancient gates, you step into a world of narrow stone streets and rich history. The iconic Maiden Tower stands at the center of many legends, while the Shirvanshahs’ Palace reveals the refined architecture of medieval Azerbaijan. Along the way, caravanserais, mosques, and traditional bathhouses reflect centuries of daily life and trade. In the afternoon, walk along Nizami Street, Baku’s vibrant central boulevard, before visiting the Haydar Aliyev Center — a striking contemporary landmark designed by Zaha Hadid. Its flowing white forms contrast sharply with the historic cityscape, providing ample time to explore the surroundings and take photographs.

The day concludes at Yashil Bazar (Green Bazaar), one of Baku’s most authentic local markets. Here, stalls overflow with fresh produce, herbs, nuts, and spices brought from villages across the country, offering a final glimpse into everyday Azerbaijani life.

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Highlights of the Day:

• Baku City Tour: Discover Baku’s past and present with a panoramic view from Highland Park, a visit to Martyrs’ Alley, and an exploration of Icherisheher (Old City), a UNESCO site featuring the Maiden Tower, Shirvanshahs’ Palace, and historic caravanserais. 
• Yashil Bazar: A visit to Baku’s most authentic local market, filled with fresh produce, spices, nuts, and village-made goods that reflect everyday Azerbaijani life.

Travel Details: Expected travel distance: ~20 km round trip; Overnight at a hotel in Baku (B/-/-)

After breakfast, you leave Baku behind and begin the journey inland, where the landscape gradually shifts from lowlands to the rising foothills of the Greater Caucasus. Your first stop is Shamakhi, one of Azerbaijan’s oldest cultural centers. Here, you visit the Juma Mosque—the first mosque in the Caucasus—a quiet and dignified place that reflects the region’s deep Islamic heritage.

Continuing north, the road winds through the dramatic Girdimanchay River Canyon, where steep slopes and mountain scenery signal your approach to the highlands. By midday, you arrive in the historic village of Lahij, home to the Tats people, situated over 1,500 meters above sea level. Once an important stop on the Great Silk Road, Lahij is renowned for its cobbled streets, stone houses, and long-standing craft traditions. You visit local workshops of blacksmiths, potters, and carpet weavers, discovering skills passed down through generations.

In the afternoon, the journey continues toward Gabala. Along the road you stop at the peaceful Nohur Lake, surrounded by forested hills and fresh mountain air—a quiet place to pause and enjoy the scenery.

Upon arriving in Gabala, you have time to explore the Tufandag Mountain area, with the option to take a cable car ride (optional) for sweeping views of the surrounding landscape. In the late afternoon, you continue eastward to Sheki, one of Azerbaijan’s most authentic historic towns.

‍Highlights of the Day:

• Shamakhi & Juma Mosque: Visit one of Azerbaijan’s oldest cities to see the first mosque in the Caucasus, a site of profound historical and spiritual significance.
• Lahij Village: An atmospheric Silk Road settlement with cobbled streets and traditional workshops, where copper crafting, pottery, and carpet weaving continue centuries-old traditions.
• Caucasus Landscapes: Enjoy scenic drives through the Girdimanchay River Canyon, take a moment to relax at the tranquil Nohur Lake, and admire the mountain views around Gabala before arriving at historic Sheki.

Travel Details: Expected travel distance: ~340 km; Overnight at a hotel in Sheki (B/-/-)

After breakfast, the morning is dedicated to exploring Sheki, one of Azerbaijan’s oldest towns, set at the foot of the southern Greater Caucasus. Once an important Silk Road center, Sheki is renowned for its silk, embroidery, and rich craft traditions. A walk through the UNESCO-listed historic center takes you along cobbled streets and past finely detailed brick buildings that reflect the town’s layered history.

A short drive takes you to the village of Kish, where you can visit one of the earliest Christian monuments in the Caucasus. Traditionally linked to the Apostle St. Elisæus and built on the site of an ancient pagan sanctuary, the church stands as a quiet reminder of the region’s early spiritual heritage.

Back in Sheki, you explore the medieval fortress area, including the Palace of the Sheki Khans, a UNESCO-protected architectural gem. Its beautifully decorated interiors and intricate shebeke stained-glass windows reveal exceptional craftsmanship, created entirely without nails or glue. Nearby workshops introduce local artisans who continue to produce pottery, traditional headwear, musical instruments, and wooden crafts using techniques passed down through generations. You will also visit the historic Sheki Caravanserai, once a key stop for Silk Road merchants, with free time to explore the area and browse local shops. After some free time for lunch, you will begin the journey back to Baku, arriving in the evening.

‍Highlights of the Day: 

• Sheki Old Town, Palace of the Sheki Khans & Caravanserai (UNESCO): A walk through Sheki’s historic Silk Road center, exploring its cobblestone streets, the richly decorated Khan’s Palace with its famous shebeke windows, and the atmospheric caravanserai once used by merchants.
• Kish village & ancient church: A visit to one of the earliest Christian monuments in the Caucasus, traditionally linked to the Apostle St. Eliseus and reflecting the region’s early spiritual heritage.

Travel Details: Expected travel distance: ~ 320 km round trip; Overnight at a hotel in Baku (B/-/-)

After breakfast, you leave Baku and travel north toward the eastern edge of the Greater Caucasus. The road leads through regions that were once part of ancient Caucasian Albania, an area historically inhabited by many tribes whose descendants still live in northern Azerbaijan today, preserving their languages, customs, and traditional ways of life.

The first stop is in the Khizi region, where the striking Candy Cane Mountains rise in soft bands of red, pink, and chalk-white. This unusual landscape offers time to walk, observe the natural formations, and enjoy the quiet beauty of one of Azerbaijan’s most distinctive geological sites.

Continuing through Guba, the journey ascends higher into the mountains toward Khinalig, one of the most remarkable villages in the Caucasus. Set high in the Greater Caucasus Mountains, Khinalig is considered the highest continuously inhabited settlement in Europe. Its residents, who identify as Ketish, have preserved their unique language and traditions for centuries. Lunch is shared with a local family (optional), offering a simple and authentic glimpse into daily life in this remote mountain community. After lunch, you take time to walk through the village, passing stone houses and narrow paths framed by wide alpine views. In the afternoon, you begin the return drive to Baku, arriving in the evening.

‍Highlights of the Day:

• Khizi – Candy Cane Mountains: A walk among Azerbaijan’s most distinctive geological formations, with softly layered red, pink, and chalk-white hills shaped over millions of years.
• Guba Region: A journey through the foothills of the eastern Greater Caucasus, an area shaped by the ancient Caucasian Albanian heritage and its enduring local cultures.
• Khinalig Village (Greater Caucasus): Visit one of Europe’s highest inhabited settlements, where the Ketish community preserves its language, traditions, and mountain way of life.

Travel Details: Expected travel distance: ~420 km round trip; Overnight at a hotel in Baku (B/-/-)

Today, you leave Baku for a short drive toward the semi-desert landscapes south of the city. The day begins with a visit to one of the region’s remarkable mud volcanoes, where cool mud slowly bubbles to the surface, shaped by underground gases. The quiet, lunar-like setting offers a striking introduction to Azerbaijan’s unique geology.

Nearby, you continue to Gobustan National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site overlooking the Caspian Sea. Often described as an open-air museum, Gobustan preserves thousands of prehistoric rock carvings etched into stone by early inhabitants.

After a break for lunch, the journey continues along the Absheron Peninsula, a landscape deeply connected to Azerbaijan’s ancient fire-worship traditions. You visit Ateshgah, the historic Fire Temple, built above natural gas vents that once fueled an eternal flame revered by Zoroastrians. The story of fire continues at Yanardag, the Fire Mountain, where flames still naturally emerge from the earth, burning steadily on a hillside near the capital.

In the evening, you return to Baku for a gala dinner at a local restaurant, accompanied by traditional folklore music and dance—a fitting conclusion to a journey shaped by nature, belief, and ancient history.

‍Highlights of the Day:

• Mud volcanoes near Gobustan: Visit one of Azerbaijan’s most unusual natural phenomena, where cool mud bubbles gently to the surface in a stark, otherworldly landscape.
• Gobustan National Park (UNESCO): Exploration of an open-air rock art museum overlooking the Caspian Sea, with thousands of prehistoric petroglyphs depicting early human life and rituals.
• Absheron Peninsula – Ateshgah & Yanardag: Discover Azerbaijan’s ancient fire-worship traditions at the Fire Temple and the naturally burning hillside of Yanardag, where flames continuously rise from the earth.

Travel Details: Expected travel distance: ~70 km; Overnight at a hotel in Baku (B/-/D)

The final morning in Baku offers time to reflect on the journey through Azerbaijan. From ancient rock carvings and eternal flames to mountain villages and Silk Road towns, the experiences of the past days come together as a clear and lasting impression.

At the scheduled time, a transfer takes you to Heydar Aliyev International Airport for your departure. You leave with a deeper understanding of the country’s landscapes, traditions, and everyday life encountered along the way. For those wishing to continue, the journey may be extended with a visit to the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.

‍Travel Details: Transfer to Baku International Airport for departure or to join the extension to the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. (B/-/-)