Azerbaijan Highlights

Once you have arrived at Heydar Aliyev International Airport, you will be met by your driver and guide and transferred to your hotel for check-in. You will have some time to settle in and rest.

You will then depart for Highland Park, where you will see the Flame Towers, Baku’s iconic modern skyline; Martyrs’ Lane, a memorial dedicated to national heroes; and the Eternal Flame monument, a symbol of remembrance and honour.

Afterwards, you will return to the hotel to spend the night.

Today you will explore Baku’s historic Old City, where you will visit the Shirvanshahs Palace, a UNESCO-listed royal residence; the Maiden Tower, the city’s most iconic landmark; Old Hamams; Bukhara and Multani Caravanserais; Juma Mosque; Muhammad Mosque; the Miniature Book Museum; Vahid’s Garden; Agha Mikayil Bath; traditional caravanserais once used by Silk Road traders; historic mosques; and other notable heritage sites, along with time to browse local souvenir shops.

You will then enjoy a walk along Baku Boulevard, taking in views of the Caspian Sea, with a visit to Little Venice and the Carpet Museum. You can take a break for lunch at a time that suits you, before continuing your tour to the Heydar Aliyev Cultural Centre, renowned for its striking modern architecture. You will then return to the hotel.

Baku - Gobustan - Baku. This morning, you will depart for Gobustan National Park, where you visit the museum and explore the ancient petroglyphs, some dating back thousands of years.

You then continue to the nearby mud volcanoes, one of Azerbaijan’s most distinctive natural features, before returning towards the city centre.

On the way back, you stop at Bibi-Heybat Mosque, where your guide explains the role of religion in Azerbaijan. You also stop near the Aquatic Palace to see the site of the world’s first industrially drilled oil well.

Your tour continues on the Absheron Peninsula with a visit to Ateshgah, the historic Fire Temple once used by Zoroastrian worshippers, followed by Yanardag, known as the Burning Mountain, where natural flames rise continuously from the hillside.

Baku - Shamakhi - Ismayilli - Gabala. After breakfast, you will depart for Gabala, travelling through scenic countryside. After around 90 minutes, you stop at Diri Baba Mausoleum, a unique site built into the rock face with strong spiritual significance, before continuing your journey.

You then travel to Juma Mosque, where you stop briefly to explore this historic religious site, followed by a visit to the Zernava Hanging Bridge in the Ismayilli region, set within a mountainous landscape.

Next, you visit Nohur Lake, located just outside Gabala and known for its fresh air and peaceful setting, surrounded by forested hills at around 700 metres above sea level. Your final stop is the Tufandag Mountain Resort, offering impressive views and a year-round leisure experience, after which you continue to your hotel in Gabala.

Gabala - Sheki - Baku. Today, you will depart for Sheki, a city known for its rich history and traditional architecture. You begin with a visit to the Sheki Khan Palace, a renowned architectural landmark located within the Yukhari Bash National Historical and Architectural Reserve, where you explore both the palace grounds and its ornate interiors.

You then visit the 18th-century Caravansarai, where you experience the atmosphere of a historic trading hub that once hosted merchants travelling along the Silk Road, before continuing to the village of Kish.

Here, you visit the Church of Kish, considered one of the earliest Christian churches in the Caucasus, dating back to the 1st century AD and holding significant religious and historical importance.

After your visit to Sheki, you begin the return journey to Baku, a drive of approximately five to six hours with comfort stops along the way. On arrival, you are dropped off at your hotel.

After your final breakfast, you may have some free time for last-minute shopping, further exploring, or simply relaxing before your transfer to the airport for your onward flight. Safe travels!