3-Day Azerbaijan Caucasus Tour with Sheki, Lahij and Forest Picnic

The journey

Trip highlights

• 01 Pay a respectful visit to the historic Juma Mosque in Shamakhi
• 02 Browse old shops in Sheki for silk, souvenirs, dishes, jewellery, and famous local sweets
• 03 Take in the natural beauty of Nohur Lake beneath the Greater Caucasus Mountains
• 04 Enjoy a picnic in the Ismayilli forest with mixed kebabs, fresh salads, and local home-made wine

Leave the hustle and bustle of the city behind and explore the heart of Azerbaijan on a 3-day journey through the Caucasus region. Discover the country's rich past at the Diri Baba Mausoleum, Juma Mosque, the Palace of Sheki Khans, Sheki Caravanserai, Sumug-gala, and other remarkable monuments, while also enjoying the natural beauty of Nohur Lake, Ilisu, and Lahij. Along the way, browse traditional shops, taste regional specialties, and relax with a forest picnic in Ismayilli.

The palace windows represent the architectural style of shebeke and will amaze you with multi-coloured glass embedded in highly complex ornaments, assembled without the use of glue or nails.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 3 Days

Tour type Shared

Activity level Easy

Accommodation Included · Luxury

Transport Included

Wheelchair access Not applicable

Cities Baku, Shaki, Gobustan National Park, Shamakhi, Ismayilli, Lahıc

Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

1

Day 01

Shamakhi, Ismayilli and Gabala to Sheki

• The tour's first stop is the Mausoleum of Sheikh Diri Baba, located in the city of Gobustan, near Shamakhi. This structure was built into the rock where the cave is located, where Sufi followers once lived and prayed. One of these mystics, Diri Baba, was also buried here. Listening to your professional guide, you will gain unforgettable impressions of this place.
• The second stop on this tour is Shamakhi, the capital of the Shirvanshahs state, which existed for almost seven 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 architectural monument will amaze 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, you will stop for lunch at a restaurant in Ismayilli. Lunch includes a first course of your choice, a mix of kebabs - lamb, lula, chicken, and vegetables - pilaf, a chosen salad, and soft drinks.
• The next stop is Nohur Lake, which will appeal to nature lovers. This lake reflects the mountains of the Greater Caucasus in its green-blue waters. On the lake's territory, you can also ride a catamaran or a boat and visit shops selling 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 2,000 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 first day's program, 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. At this hotel, you can enjoy services such as fitness and spa centres and a restaurant overlooking the Sheki caravanserai.

2

Day 02

Sheki Heritage and Local Flavours

• The next stop on this tour is the Palace of Sheki Khans, built in the 18th century. The palace windows represent the architectural style of shebeke and will amaze you with multi-coloured glass embedded in highly complex ornaments, assembled without the use of glue or nails.
• On the Great Silk Way connecting East Asia with the Mediterranean in antiquity and the Middle Ages, caravanserais served as rest houses for merchants. Feel like a traveller from the distant past, because the next stop is 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, famous for their unique taste and elegance. These culinary masterpieces are the work of entire generations of Sheki halva masters, who have passed down their manufacturing techniques for centuries.
• After the tour, you will have lunch, and only in Sheki will you have the chance to try the local traditional dish called 'Piti', prepared and served in special clay pots, along with a chosen salad and soft drinks.

3

Day 03

Gakh, Ilisu and Lahij Village Discovery

• The next morning, you will have a unique tour of the city of Gakh and its village of Ilisu, which was the centre of the once-existing Ilisu Sultanate. Driving through this village, you will feel as if you have stepped back into the 15th century.
• The first sight in Ilisu is the Ulu Bridge, built over the Kurmukh River in the 17th century.
• The next sight on the Gakh tour is Sumug-gala, a defensive tower in the village of Ilisu, built in the 17th-18th centuries. It is an example of a defensive tower adjoining residential buildings in a mountainous area, built to protect local people from enemies. 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, Sumu Khan.
• The next point is the village of Lahij, reached by a road that passes through the forests and serpentines of the Caucasus Mountains. You will have the opportunity to see a 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 true village of craftsmen and artisans who have preserved their traditions and technologies for working in non-ferrous metals such as copper and bronze. The magnificent works of Lahij craftsmen on copper vessels were exhibited at the World Exhibition in Vienna in 1873 (Weltausstellung 1873). Each quarter has its own unique mosque, which further enhances the impression of this village.
• After visiting the village of Lahij, the professional team will organize a picnic for you in the Ismayilli forest, where you will cook a mix of kebabs - kofte, lamb, chicken, and grilled vegetables - along with fresh salads, and you can also taste local home-made wine.
• After the picnic, the team will bring you to your hotel in Baku.

The route

Where you'll travel

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

• Professional English-speaking guide
• Tickets for the cable car
• Entrance tickets to museums (Kish Church, Sheki Khans Palace)
• A room for two nights at the five-star Shaki Palace hotel
• A picnic in Ilisu, lunch in Sheki on the second day of the tour
• Breakfast at the hotel
• Picnic in Lahij
• A comfortable car with seat belts and air conditioning

What's Not Included

• Dinner and personal expenses

Know before you go

• In this tour:
  • Day 1: Diri Baba Mausoleum, Juma Mosque, Imayilli Forest, Nohur Lake, Tufandag Ski Resort
  • Night at the Sheki Palace Hotel (*****)
  • Day 2: Albanian Church of Kish, Sheki Khans' Palace, Sheki Caravanserai, Sheki Panoramic View, Shops of the 17th century
  • Night at the Sheki Palace Hotel (*****)
  • Day 3: Ilisu Village, Ulu Bridge, Sumug Gala Tower, Ilisu Waterfall, Lahij Settlement, Picnic in Ismayilli Forest.
  • For guests staying in the Old Town, the collection point is in front of the Double Gates of the Old City.
  • You can also replace meals during the tour with a vegetarian menu with prior notice.
  • Meals or drinks not included in the menu can be ordered for an additional fee.

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point

Mausoleum of Sheikh

Tour start

Shamakhi, Azerbaijan

Tour ends at the same location as the start point.