Explore the Caucasus Region of Azerbaijan in 3 Days
Highlights
Ismayilli, Qabala, Shamakhi, Lahıc, Baku
Locations Covered
Ismayilli, Qabala, Shamakhi, Lahıc, Baku
nature, cultural, historical
Group Tour
3 Days
Easy
English
Description
Leave the hustle and bustle of the city to explore the heart of Azerbaijan. Learn about the past from the Diri Baba Mausoleum, Juma Mosque, Albanian Church of Kish, Sheki Khans' Palace, Sheki Caravanserai, Sumug Gala Tower, and many other monuments. Sit down for a picnic in the forest, and gaze upon the Ilisu Waterfall, Ulu Bridge, and Nohur Lake.
Itinerary
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Day 1: Shamakhi, Ismayilli, Gabala
- The tour's first stop is the Mausoleum of Sheikh Diri Baba, located in the city of Gobustan, near the city of Shamakhi. This structure was built into the rock where the cave is located, where Sufi followers lived and prayed. One of these mystics, Diri Baba, was also buried there. Listening to your professional guide, you will get unforgettable impressions about this place.
- The second stop of this tour will be Shamakhi, the capital of the Shirvanshahs state, which has existed for almost 7 centuries. Here you will visit the Juma Mosque, built in the 8th century as the first institution of the Arab Caliphate of the Abbasid dynasty for the spread of Islam in the Caucasus. This monument of architecture will amaze its visitors with its facade and interior, as well as the ruins of the ancient madrasah (the first Islamic school in the region).
- After visiting Juma Mosque, on the way, you will have lunch at a restaurant in Ismayilli, which includes the first courses of your choice, a mix of kebabs - lamb, Lula, chicken, vegetables, pilaf, chosen salad, and soft drinks.
- The next stop will be Nohur Lake, which will appeal to nature lovers. This lake reflects the mountains of the Greater Caucasus in its green-blue waters. Also, on the lake's territory, you can ride on a catamaran or a boat and visit the shops with dried fruit, marshmallow, honey, oriental spices, and Lankaran tea.
- After that, you will go to Tufandag Ski Resort and use the cable car to rise to a height of more than 2 thousand meters, from where you will have a view of Bazarduzu - the highest peak of the Greater Caucasus in the territory of the Azerbaijan Republic.
- After completing the program on the first day of the tour, the professional team will take you to Sheki, the ancient city of Azerbaijan, where you will stay for one night at the five-star Sheki Palace Hotel with breakfast, located in the historic part of the city. In this hotel, you can enjoy such services as fitness and spa centres and a restaurant overlooking the Sheki caravanserai.
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Day 2: Sheki, Gakh
- The next stop on this tour will be the Palace of Sheki Khans, built in the 18th century. The palace windows represent the architectural style of the shebeke, which will amaze you with multi-coloured glass embedded in the most complex ornaments, in the assembly of which no glue or nail was used.
- On the Great Silk Way connecting East Asia with the Mediterranean in antiquity and the Middle Ages, there were caravanserais - rest houses for merchants. Feel like a traveller of the distant past because the next stop will be the caravanserai in Sheki, built in the 17th century.
- At the end of the tour, you will go up to Sheki Park, dedicated to World War II, where you can admire not only the magnificent memorial of the victory over fascism but also a panoramic view of the entire ancient city of Sheki.
- During this tour, you will also visit several old shops, where you can not only buy Sheki silk, souvenirs, dishes, jewellery, and much more but also taste Sheki sweets, which are famous for their unique taste and elegance. After all, these cooking masterpieces are the work of entire generations of Sheki masters of halva, transmitting the manufacturing technique for centuries.
- After the tour, you will have lunch, and only in Sheki will you have the local traditional dish called "Piti", prepared and served in special clay pots and chosen salad and soft drinks.
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Day 3: Gakh, Lahij
- The next morning you will have a unique tour of the city of Gakh and its village Ilisu, which was the centre of the once-existing Ilisu Sultanate. Driving through this village, you will feel yourself in the 15th century.
- The first sight in Ilisu is the Ulu Bridge, built over the Kurmukh River in the 17th century.
- The next sight of the Gakh tour will be Sumug-gala - a defensive tower in the village of Ilisu, built in the 17-18 centuries. This is an example of a defensive tower adjacent to the residential buildings of people living in a mountainous area to protect themselves from the enemy. River stones, lime mortar, and burnt brick were used during the tower's construction. According to legend, the tower was built by the judge of Ilisu named Sumu Khan.
- The next point will be the village of Lahij, the road which lies through the forests and serpentines of the Caucasus Mountains. You will have the opportunity to see the breathtaking natural canyon and stop at the Zernava suspension bridge. Lahij’s special architectural style will undoubtedly stun you with its two-story houses and cobbled streets stretching along the banks of the Girdiman River. Lahij is a real village of craftsmen and artisans who have preserved their traditions and technologies for working in non-ferrous metals (copper, bronze). The magnificent works of the Lahij craftsmen on copper vessels were exhibited at the World Exhibition in Vienna in 1873 (Weltausstellung 1873). Each quarter has its unique mosque, which enhances the impression of guests from the village.
- After visiting the village of Lahij, the group of professionals will organize a picnic for you in the Ismayilli forest, where you will cook a mix of kebabs (kofte, lamb, chicken, grilled vegetables), fresh salads, and you can also taste local home-made wine.
- After a picnic, the team will bring you to your hotel in Baku.
What's Included
What's Excluded
Know Before You Go
Meeting Point
Cancellation Policy
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For cancellations upto 2 days before the tour -
Refund of 80% of the tour price.
Price
Adult | |
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1 to 4 | /person |
Child | |
1 to 1 | /person |
This is a group tour |