Azerbaijan Timeless Discovery

On arrival at Heydar Aliyev International Airport, we meet you and transfer you to your hotel. As evening falls, you'll begin a panoramic introduction to Baku – the City of Winds – taking in Highland Park for sweeping views over the Caspian Sea, the Flame Towers and Martyrs’ Lane, a clear snapshot of the city’s blend of historic character and bold contemporary design.

Round off the day with a welcome dinner at a local restaurant – a first taste of Azerbaijani hospitality and flavours. Today’s touring lasts around four hours in total – including driving between sites – with clear explanations throughout from a professional guide.

Head across the Absheron Peninsula for a day shaped by fire, craft and the seafront. At the Ateshgah Fire Temple you'll learn about Zoroastrian traditions centred on natural gas flames, then continue to Yanardag – the Burning Mountain – where the hillside burns continuously.

Back in Baku, explore the Azerbaijan Carpet Museum to see centuries of weaving and design. We round off the afternoon with a stroll along the Seaside Boulevard – Baku’s waterfront promenade – and a visit to a local synagogue that reflects the city’s diverse religious life. The day runs for around 6–8 hours, combining driving between sites with guided visits led by an expert guide. Finish with a relaxed dinner in the city.

After breakfast in Baku, drive north into the Greater Caucasus for a full day in Quba and Khinalug. You begin in Krasnaya Sloboda – the Red Settlement – a rare, longstanding Jewish town that has preserved its identity for centuries. Afterwards, continue to the Quba Carpet Factory to see traditional handwoven rugs and hear how regional patterns reflect local heritage.

After lunch, we switch to specialised 4x4 vehicles and climb along mountain roads to Khinalug, one of the world’s oldest and highest continuously inhabited villages. Explore the settlement and take in the mountain views as our professional guide shares its history and way of life.

As the afternoon light fades, descend from the highlands and return to Baku for dinner. Expect a full 10–12 hours today, combining scenic drives with guided visits – with the mountain section covered by 4x4.

After breakfast, check out and drive west towards Shamakhi – a historic centre of the Shirvan region. You'll begin at Yeddi Gumbaz Mausoleum, the 18th century royal burial site of the Shirvan Khan dynasty, where three domes remain and views stretch across the town and valleys. A short drive takes you to the village of Maraza to see the 15th century Diri Baba Mausoleum, set into the rock face and linked with local legends. Back in Shamakhi, we visit the Juma Mosque – founded in the 8th century and rebuilt several times after earthquakes – an enduring example of early Islamic architecture in the Caucasus.

Thereafter, continue into the Greater Caucasus to Lahij, a mountain village known for cobbled lanes, stone houses and artisan workshops. Explore its traditional bazaars and metalworking studios, with finely engraved copperware among the highlights, and note the village’s historical infrastructure – a 5th century underground sewage system and stone houses designed to withstand earthquakes.

The journey continues to Basqal, a quiet village with a long tradition of silk weaving and roots along the Silk Road. Take a gentle walk to see its traditional architecture and working looms.

End the day in the Ismayilli region for dinner and an overnight stay – surrounded by forested hills and fresh mountain air. Today’s programme runs for approximately 10–12 hours, including travel time and guided commentary throughout.

Drive into Azerbaijan’s northwest for a day that blends mountain scenery with Silk Road heritage. In Gabala, we ride the modern cable car with two lines to Tufandag Mountain Resort for wide views over forests and valleys – and, depending on the season, peaks that may be dusted with snow.

Continue to the town of Oguz to visit the local synagogue, a concise window into the area’s longstanding multicultural traditions.

In the afternoon we reach Sheki, a historic Silk Road hub. We tour the Sheki Khan’s Palace – celebrated for its intricate shebeke stained glass, vivid frescoes and fine woodwork – then continue to the village of Kish to see the Kish Albanian Church, associated with some of the earliest Christian communities in the Caucasus. We also explore the Sheki Art Centre and the historic Caravanserai, a former inn that once served traders along these routes.

The day ends with a traditional dinner in Sheki and an overnight stay. Expect around 10–12 hours in total, including travel between sites, with expert commentary from a professional guide throughout.

After breakfast and checkout, you'll drive west to Ganja, Azerbaijan’s second largest city with more than a thousand years of recorded history. Start at the Mausoleum of Nizami Ganjavi – the 12th century poet whose Khamsa influenced Persian and Turkic literature – then continue to the 17th century Shah Abbas Mosque and the Javad Khan Mausoleum, a tribute to the last ruler of the Ganja Khanate. A stroll through Heydar Aliyev Park offers a pause among grand avenues and landscaped gardens. We break for lunch at a local restaurant before heading into the highlands.

In the afternoon, you explore Helenendorf – now Goygol – a settlement founded in the 19th century by Swabian immigrants, where traces of German heritage remain, including Lutheran churches, old wine cellars and neatly planned streets. Then continue to Goygol National Park to see Lake Goygol, a clear alpine lake formed by a 12th century earthquake and framed by the Lesser Caucasus, with forests and meadows around its shores.

Return to Ganja for dinner and an overnight stay. Today runs for approximately 11–13 hours including driving, with a professional guide providing commentary throughout.

After breakfast you'll drive southwest to Gobustan National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With our professional guide, begin at the modern museum to set the context with exhibits and archaeological artefacts, then continue to the open-air rock art sites to see the prehistoric petroglyphs.

A short drive takes you to the mud volcanoes, where cool mud and gas bubble through a stark, shifting landscape – more than half of the world’s mud volcanoes are found in Azerbaijan. In the afternoon you'll return to Baku and stop at Yashil Bazaar (Green Market), a lively spot for spices, dried fruits, nuts and seasonal produce – you can browse the stalls, chat with vendors, sample snacks and pick up edible souvenirs.

Round off the day with a traditional dinner in Baku and an overnight stay at the hotel. Today runs for around 10–12 hours, including driving and guided commentary throughout.

After breakfast and checkout, set out on a guided walk through Icherisheher, Baku’s UNESCO listed Old City. Winding through its narrow-cobbled lanes and sandstone buildings, you'll see the Maiden Tower, the 15th century Shirvanshahs’ Palace, and the historic caravanserais and bathhouses that once served Silk Road travellers.

Afterwards, shift to modern Baku with time along Nizami Street and Fountain Square – lively centres of shops, cafés and city life – before continuing to the Heydar Aliyev Centre, the celebrated landmark designed by Zaha Hadid, where exhibitions present Azerbaijani art, culture and innovation.

The afternoon is free – you can shop for last minute souvenirs, pause for a coffee, or take a relaxed stroll along Baku Boulevard or in one of the city’s parks. Later, we transfer you to Heydar Aliyev International Airport for your departure.