8-Day Best of Azerbaijan Tour

Day 1 Baku

1. 1

   Baku

   On arrival at Baku’s international airport you’ll be met by our representative for your transfer to the hotel. After check in there’ll be free time.

Day 2 Baku - Shamakhi - Kish - Sheki

1. 1

   Shamakhi

   3 hours

   Azerbaijan has a long history, as demonstrated by places such as Shamakhi. It was once the capital of the Shirvan Empire and the base of the Shirvan Dynasty. These days Shamakhi is famous for its winemaking. Visiting this city you’ll have an opportunity to acquaint yourself with the Yeddi Gumbez mausoleum, whose imposing domes rise mysteriously above an almost silent valley. From here there are stunning views back to Shamakhi. Not far away, you’ll encounter the tombs of Diri Baba. Equally atmospheric, the structures are built into the rock giving the appearance of an eagle’s nest. As we approach, only the front is visible; the other sides are disguised by the cliffs from which they were hewn, giving the impression that the tomb is suspended off the ground. The monument has two storeys: while the lower floor was probably for servants, the upper, reached by stairs, would have been the salon. Whether it is a sacred site or a place of burial is up for interpretation.

2. 2

   Church of Kish

   1 hour Admission ticket included

   Continuing towards Sheki, we stop at Kish. This village is the site of a centuries-old Albanian church which was incorporated into the Armenian Apostolic Church back in 1836. Near the church you’ll find an ancient cemetery where, visible through a glass cupola, you’ll see numerous human remains. These bodies are impressively tall, appearing to be 2.5 metres or more. The Albanians who once resided here were giants with white skin and golden hair, very unlike the inhabitants of the modern Caucasian nations.

Day 3 Sheki - Baku

1. 1

   Palace of Shaki Khans

   3 hours Admission ticket included

   An excursion to Sheki will delight; this is the oldest city in Azerbaijan. In ancient times people sold silk here. It was famous among merchants from the Great Silk Road. There’s much to see here including the history museum. The star of Sheki’s show is Khan's Summer Palace with its wonderful façades built from brick, river stones and oak, decorated with floral motives. Its interior design impresses even more. Within its six rooms, you can see different frescoes painted by talented craftsman; some of them feature flowers, while others give us pictures of hunting or battle scenes. There are two beautiful mirrored balconies, ornate decoration using rare coloured Venetian glass and exquisite paintings featuring colourful depictions of birds and animals. The first floor of this palace shows Khan’s richness and powerful reign. A great number of animals and hunting motifs on the walls are thought to be symbols of nobility.

Day 4 Baku

1. 1

   Baku

   2 hours

   Panoramic city tour. We begin our discovery of the city of Baku, enjoying a sightseeing tour of Baku’s most absorbing sights. We’ll visit to the city’s main monumental, historical and architectural attractions before climbing to the city’s highest point at Upland Park for an impressive panorama of the Azeri capital and its bay.

2. 2

   Baku Old City

   2 hours Admission ticket included

   We’ll descend to the old city, known locally as Icheri sheher. This was all there was of Baku until the mid-19th century when, as a result of the oil boom, a growth spurt caused the city to spill beyond its defensive walls. This tiny area measures just 22 square hectares and yet it contains so many significant sights, including the Shirvanshakhs Palace, the Maiden Tower and the Karavansaray, once the place of merchants’ rest. Today, just 1300 families call Icheri sheher, this city within a city, home. It’s a delightful place to take an evening stroll through the maze of streets to the gathering place of Fountains Square.

Day 5 Baku - Gobustan - Yanar Dag - Baku

1. 1

   Gobustan Rock Art

   3 hours Admission ticket included

   Today after breakfast our guide will be waiting to collect you for your included excursion to Gobustan. Gobustan National Park is situated in East Azerbaijan and borders the southern slopes of the Major Caucasus ridge to the north, Pirsaat River to the west, the Harami and Mishov Mountains to the south and the Caspian Sea and Absheron peninsula to the east. Gobustan is an archaeological reserve and a culturally important landscape of historic rock carvings. Over 6000 petroglyphs have been discovered here together with ancient caves and archaeological remains. Incredibly, some are thought to date from as early as the 18th century BC and offer a fascinating insight into the evolution of human activity, showing scenes of mountain goat hunts, maritime imagery and ceremonial dances as well as domestic tableaux.

2. 2

   Yanar Dag

   30 min Admission ticket included

   We make a stop at Yanar Dag. This intriguing natural phenomenon is known as the Burning Rock. It’s fuelled by seepage of natural gas and regularly sees flames up to three metres high rising from the sandstone hillside. It’s thought by some that Yanar Dag is the reason Azerbaijan has the nickname, the Land of Fire.

Day 6 Baku - Ateshgah - Ramana Castle - Baku

1. 1

   Ateshgah - Fire Temple

   2 hours Admission ticket included

   We'll have a guided tour to Ateshgah - the temple of fire worshippers, This open air museum has been recently restored and declared a State historical-architectural reserve.

2. 2

   Ramana Castle

   2 hours Admission ticket included

   Ramana Castle is estimated to date back several centuries. The height of the fortress’ main tower is an imposing fifteen metres and is built of stone. It is assumed that it was built to protect a palace and was used during the reign of Shirvanshahs.

Day 7 Baku

1. 1

   Baku

   4 hours

   Modern Baku. We will visit some of the sights associated with modern Baku: the waterfront area of Baku Boulevard, the carpet museum, Heydar Aliyev Cultural Centre, and many more.

2. 2

   Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum

   2 hours Admission ticket included

   We will visit the carpet museum in Baku.

3. 3

   Heydar Aliyev Cultural Center

   1 hour Admission ticket included

   We will visit the Heydar Aliyev Cultural Centre in Baku.

Day 8 Baku

1. 1

   Baku

   1 hour

   Today marks the end of your tour. Our driver will be waiting for you at the hotel lobby ready to transfer you to the airport or any other departure point. No activities are planned for the departure day.