Best of Azerbaijan Discovery

On arrival at Heydar Aliyev International Airport, our local representative meets you and we transfer by private vehicle to your hotel in central Baku. After check‑in, you have time to rest and freshen up.

In the evening, you'll head out for a panoramic city tour – an ideal first look at Baku’s blend of historic and modern landmarks. We begin at Highland Park, the city’s prime viewpoint with wide vistas over the skyline and the Caspian Sea. Here you also pause at Martyrs’ Lane – a solemn memorial to those who lost their lives in Black January and the Nagorno‑Karabakh conflict – and the adjacent Eternal Flame Monument.

You'll then return to the hotel for the night. The evening programme lasts around four hours and includes private transport throughout with engaging commentary from an experienced guide.

After breakfast, we delve into Icherisheher, Baku’s Old City – a UNESCO World Heritage Site of winding lanes and centuries of stone architecture. We begin at the House of Baku Khans before continuing to the Multani and Bukhara Caravanserais – key Silk Road stops. We then reach the Maiden Tower, taking in views from its 12th century walls, and visit St Bartholomew Church, regarded as the site of the apostle’s martyrdom.

Continue through Juma Mosque, Muhammad Mosque and the Aga Mikayil Bathhouse, which together reflect the city’s Islamic and civic traditions. At the Miniature Book Museum, we see one of the world’s smallest book collections. The Old City circuit concludes at the 15th century Palace of the Shirvanshahs, a royal complex that anchors Icherisheher’s medieval heritage.

In the afternoon, you'll shift to modern Baku at the Heydar Aliyev Centre – Zaha Hadid’s flowing architectural landmark – to explore exhibitions on national heritage, contemporary art and innovation. Along Baku Boulevard by the Caspian Sea, we visit the Azerbaijan Carpet Museum, instantly recognisable for its rolled carpet design and celebrated displays of regional weaving styles and craftsmanship.

A short stroll brings us to Little Venice, where you may choose a gentle gondola ride or simply enjoy the calm canals before we continue into the city centre. Round off the day around Nizami Street and Fountain Square – lively districts with European style architecture, boutiques, street performers and open-air cafés – where you can unwind, browse for souvenirs or pause for coffee. After a full day – around 8–10 hours – with comfortable transfers and engaging commentary throughout, we return to the hotel for an overnight stay in Baku.

After breakfast, you'll head south from Baku to Gobustan National Reserve, about 65 kilometres from the capital – a UNESCO listed landscape between the Caspian Sea and the semi desert plains of the Greater Caucasus foothills, known for its prehistoric rock art and striking geology.

Begin at the Gobustan State Historical–Artistic Reserve Museum, a modern visitor centre with interactive displays, 3D reconstructions and multimedia that introduce the area’s archaeology, geology and early human settlement.

A short uphill drive brings us to the open air rock art site, where we walk among sandstone cliffs to see thousands of petroglyphs – some over 40,000 years old – depicting hunting, dance and ritual scenes, animals and celestial symbols. Our guide explains carving techniques and the context of key motifs as we follow the trail.

Then continue to the mud volcanoes – Gobustan is home to nearly half of the world’s examples – to explore a remote field of small cone shaped vents where cool mud bubbles and creates miniature eruptions.

By mid-afternoon you'll drive back to central Baku. You can unwind at the hotel before the evening. Today’s programme runs for approximately 6–8 hours, including guiding at each site and travel time, with an overnight stay in Baku.

After breakfast, drive across the Absheron Peninsula to explore its fire heritage – a landscape shaped by underground natural gas for millennia. Our first stop is the Ateshgah Fire Temple in Surakhani, around 30 kilometres east of Baku. We tour the pentagonal complex, with its central altar and surrounding cells once used by monks and pilgrims and learn how enduring natural flames helped define the region’s identity as the Land of Fire.

Continue north to Yanar Dag – the Burning Mountain – where flames flicker continuously along a hillside. There is time to walk the ridge, observe the fire up close and visit the information centre for clear context on the site’s geology and cultural associations.

Return to Baku in the early afternoon, after which the rest of the day is yours – you may browse Taza Bazaar, enjoy a coffee near Fountain Square or stroll the Caspian promenade. Today’s programme runs for around 6–8 hours, with expert guiding and all transfers included, and ends back at your hotel in Baku.

After an early breakfast and check out in Baku, drive west to Shamakhi – about 120 kilometres through rolling hills, semi-arid plains and the rising forests of the Greater Caucasus. Once the capital of the Shirvan Kingdom and a key Silk Road hub, Shamakhi pairs deep history with mountain scenery.

En route, you stop at the Diribaba Mausoleum near Maraza, a 15th century shrine hewn into the cliff and dedicated to Sheikh Diri Baba, long regarded locally as a place of spiritual significance. On arrival in Shamakhi, we explore the Juma Mosque, founded in the 8th century and rebuilt several times after earthquakes – a landmark of the region’s Islamic heritage. We then continue to Yeddi Gumbaz, the hilltop Seven Domes mausoleum of the Shirvan royal family, where three domed tombs remain and views open across vineyards and mountains.

To round out the day, visit a nearby alpaca farm to meet the animals, learn about sustainable wool production and enjoy a gentle walk around the grounds. Next, at Abgora Wine House, we join a guided tasting of local wines – including examples matured in clay vessels – paired with light snacks such as cheeses, nuts and dried fruits. We finish at Silent Lake (Sakit Göl), a calm spot encircled by forest that’s ideal for a short walk or a quiet pause by the water – you can simply breathe the fresh mountain air.

In the early evening, you'll check in to a local guesthouse or countryside hotel in Shamakhi. You can unwind and enjoy dinner in this peaceful setting. Overnight in Shamakhi. Today’s programme lasts around 7–9 hours, including travel time and guided commentary throughout.

After breakfast and check-out in Shamakhi, drive into the forested foothills of the Greater Caucasus to the Shamakhi Astrophysical Observatory. Set at almost 1,500 metres and named after Nasraddin Tusi, this modern research centre opens its domes and large telescopes to us on a guided tour, with exhibits on solar activity and the story of astronomy in Azerbaijan – on clear mornings, the mountain views are expansive.

Continue northwest along winding roads into the Ismayilli region for a scenic pause at the Zarnava Hanging Bridge, taking a short, gently swaying walk across the span for striking views over the canyon and forested cliffs. From here, ascend to Lahic, a highland village at around 1,200 metres known for cobbled lanes, stone houses and a centuries-old metalworking tradition. We explore on foot and step into working copper studios to see artisans' hand-forge intricate pieces, after which you have a little free time for tea in a local teahouse or an unhurried wander through the lanes.

In the afternoon you drive on to Gabala through valleys, river crossings and wooded countryside, arriving to check in at our hotel. The evening is at your leisure – you can relax in the quiet surroundings or enjoy a simple dinner – before an overnight stay in Gabala. Today’s programme runs for approximately 7–9 hours, including travel time and guided commentary throughout.

After breakfast in Gabala, you'll begin at Tufandag Mountain Resort on the edge of town. You may choose to ride the cable car, gliding above forested slopes to broad viewpoints with sweeping vistas of valleys and, in season, snow-covered peaks – you can stroll the ridge or pause for tea at a café. We then continue to the calm shores of Nohur lake for a leisurely walk beside the water; you can opt for a gentle boat ride if you wish. A short forest trail brings us to Yeddi Gozel Waterfall, where cascades tumble through the trees – you can relax at simple teahouses along the path.

In the afternoon, you travel to Nij Udi Village to see the restored Chotari Albanian Church and learn about the Udi community, descendants of the ancient Caucasian Albanians. We also stop at Bio Garden for a guided walk through an organic orchard with seasonal tastings and a look at local farming practices. Later, drive on to Sheki for a brief orientation, including the historic Sheki Caravanserai. Before checking in, we call at a traditional halva shop to watch Sheki halvasi being prepared and to sample this local speciality. Today’s programme runs for approximately 10–12 hours, including scenic drives and guided commentary throughout, and ends with an overnight stay in Sheki.

After breakfast, explore Sheki’s fortified Upper Town, beginning at the 18th–century Palace of the Sheki Khans. Inside, vivid frescoes and finely carved wooden ceilings showcase the artistry of the former ruling dynasty. Continue to the ABAD Ceramics and Applied Arts Centre, supported by the state–run ABAD initiative that champions family businesses and artisans, where we watch craftspeople at work and try simple clay moulding to appreciate traditional techniques.

Move on to the Museum of History and Local Lore in a former caravanserai, where archaeological finds, ethnographic displays, costumes, coins and manuscripts trace Sheki’s development into a 19th–century trading hub. At the Sheki Art Gallery, we view works by local painters, sculptors and folk artists.

In the Craftsmen’s House, you'll meet masters of shebeke – delicate stained–glass latticework assembled without glue – and observe the patterns and methods behind this rare craft. End at the Fazil Necropolis, a serene hillside cemetery with centuries–old gravestones inscribed in Arabic script. We then return to the hotel for an overnight stay in Sheki. Today’s guided programme runs for approximately 4–5 hours, including transfers between sites.

After breakfast in Sheki, take a short scenic drive to Kish at the foot of the Caucasus. Here we explore the Kish Albanian Church – often called the mother church of Caucasian Albanian Christianity – with origins attributed to the 1st century AD and later rebuilding in the 12th century. Now a small museum, it sits among chestnut trees and an old graveyard, and inside a glass floor reveals earlier foundations and skeletal burials alongside artefacts that underline the site’s importance.

Back in town, tour the elegant Shekikhanovs’ House, a 19th century mansion showcasing intricate woodwork, shebeke stained glass and hand‑painted interiors that reflect the refined taste of Sheki’s nobility. Thereafter, continue to the Sheki Silk Factory to follow the sericulture process from silkworm to woven fabric, watching demonstrations of dyeing, pattern printing and the making of kelagayi silk scarves – you can browse the factory shop for authentic pieces if you wish.

After a break for lunch, visit the Khan Mosque, an active place of worship with a tall minaret and a simple, spacious prayer hall, before stepping into the historic Abdulkhaliq Hammam. Though no longer operational, its restored warm, hot and cooling rooms offer a clear picture of the traditional hammam ritual that once shaped urban life here.

Round off the afternoon at the Az Abrau Wine Museum for a guided introduction to local winemaking heritage and a tasting of several wines made from indigenous grapes, paired with cheeses, nuts and dried fruits. As daylight softens, you'll call at the lively Sheki Bazaar, where stalls brim with textiles, spices, preserves, nuts, honey and halva – you may like to sample a few treats or pick up souvenirs while chatting with friendly vendors. You then return to the hotel for an overnight stay in Sheki. Today’s programme covers around 5–6 hours of guided touring with comfortable transfers between all sites.

After breakfast in Sheki, set out on a full‑day excursion to the Qakh and Ilisu regions near the Georgian border. The scenic drive takes around 1.5 hours through valleys, forests and rivers. Begin at Kurmuk Temple, a hillside chapel dedicated to Saint George reached via a short forest path – a long‑standing pilgrimage site linked to the region’s Caucasian Albanian Christian heritage. We then continue to the early medieval Qum Basilica, a modest, partially restored church that illustrates the spread of Christianity in the Caucasus, with context from our guide.

Carry on to the highland village of Ilisu, once the summer residence of the Ilisu Sultanate, where stone lanes and mountain views frame the day. Highlights here include the 17th‑century Sumug–gala Fortress overlooking the valleys, the 17th‑century Ulu Bridge spanning the Ilisu River, and the nearby 18th‑century Ulu Mosque at the heart of village life. Back in Qakh, wander through the Icheri Bazaar to meet local artisans and browse handmade textiles, copperware and dried fruits. In nearby Lekit Village, we stop at a Honey House to learn about age‑old beekeeping methods and sample natural honey products – supporting sustainable rural tourism.

Round off at the Qakh History and Ethnography Museum, where exhibits trace the region’s multi‑ethnic story through archaeological finds, traditional dress and everyday objects. You return to Sheki in the early evening for an overnight stay. Today’s programme runs for approximately 7–8 hours, including travel time and guided commentary throughout.

After breakfast and check-out in Sheki, drive west to Ganja – a scenic 3–3.5 hours through rolling hills, farmland and village life. On arrival, you begin at the Mausoleum of Nizami Ganjavi, set in landscaped gardens on the city’s edge, where we take in the grand granite tomb, statues and fountains as our guide outlines the 12th‑century poet’s legacy.

Continue to the Imamzadeh Mausoleum, an important pilgrimage site with origins in the 8th century and later expansions. Beneath blue‑tiled domes and slender minarets, learn about Imam Ibrahim – regarded as a descendant of the Prophet Muhammad – and the site’s enduring spiritual role.

In the city centre, visit the 17th‑century Shah Abbas (Juma) Mosque, a red‑brick Safavid landmark that forms part of a historic complex with a madrasa and caravanserai. Step inside to appreciate its calm, understated interior and hear how it has served Ganja’s community over the centuries.

Next comes one of the city’s most distinctive sights – the Bottle House – created in the 1960s by Ibrahim Jafarov using more than 48,000 glass bottles in memory of his brother missing in the Second World War. We admire its craftsmanship and meet the family caretakers who maintain it as a living museum.

Thereafter, explore the Ganja Caravansarai, a stone‑arched inn from the Silk Road era whose courtyard and restored chambers evoke the city’s mercantile past. To round off the afternoon, we stroll through Khan Baghi, Ganja’s oldest public park, shaded by mature trees and dotted with fountains and pavilions – you can pause for a coffee or simply watch daily life unfold.

As evening approaches, we check in to our hotel in Ganja for an overnight stay, reflecting on a day that blends poetry, pilgrimage, ingenuity and urban character.

After breakfast and check out in Ganja, drive about 45 minutes to Lake Goygol in the foothills of the Lesser Caucasus. On arrival at Goygol National Park – with entrance formalities handled by our team – we meet a local guide who shares concise insight into the area’s history, geology and ecology. We spend unhurried time taking in the calm alpine setting.

Afterwards, begin the journey back to Baku, a drive of around five hours as the scenery shifts from wooded hills to open plains before the capital’s skyline appears. Reaching Baku in the late afternoon or early evening, we transfer you to your hotel or directly to Heydar Aliyev International Airport, according to your onward plans, and assist with luggage and final arrangements. This day brings your journey to a smooth close – from peaceful mountain landscapes to the energy of the capital.