Baku, Quba, Sheki and Lankaran: 7-day sightseeing tour

Day-by-day itinerary

1. Day 1

   The first day is arrival and settling in. After the transfer to the hotel and check-in, free time remains, and you can spend it as you wish. It is worth walking along Nizami Street — an old shopping area with shops and boutiques, and then going out to the Seaside Boulevard, where you can ride a pleasure boat around Baku Bay in season. Among the local treats, try white cherry jam and pakhlava with tea. Night at the hotel in Baku.

2. Day 2

   The second day is a sightseeing tour of Baku, and this is the most urban day of the trip. It will begin with the Heydar Aliyev Center, and then you will see Flame Towers Baku, walk along the Alley of Martyrs and go up to Baku Highland Park for the panorama. Descending to Baku Boulevard, you will examine the International Mugham Center and the Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum, and stroll across the bridges of Little Venice. A separate impression is Icherisheher with the Maiden Tower and the Palace of the Shirvanshahs. Night at the hotel in Baku.

3. Day 3

   The third day leads to the mountains — this is the most packed and longest excursion. In Quba you will see the Juma Mosque and the Sakina Khanum Mosque, the mausoleums in Agbil and the Chukhur Hammam bathhouse, and also look into the carpet-weaving factory and the park named after Nizami Ganjavi. Then — the ancient arched bridge Gudi Alchay and the Red Settlement with its synagogues. After lunch in the Gachresh forest you will set off for Khinalug — a high-mountain village with houses on a steep slope, its own language and traditions. Return to Baku, night at the hotel.

4. Day 4

   The fourth day is the road to Sheki with stops in the Shamakhi and Ismayilli regions. The first stop is at the Diri Baba Mausoleum in the village of Maraza, built into the rock. In Shamakhi you will see the Yeddi Gumbaz Mausoleum by the Gulistan Fortress and the Juma Mosque, and to the south of the city — the Kalakhana Mausoleums. In Gabala you will examine the ruins of the ancient city, then visit the village of Nij — a place of compact settlement of the Udis, the Udi Ocaghi museum-restaurant and the Church of Jotari of Saint Elisha, as well as the Church of the Holy Mother of God Mary (Bulun). Lunch of Udi-Albanian cuisine — optionally and at your own expense. Overnight at the hotel in Sheki.

5. Day 5

   The fifth day is entirely devoted to Sheki — the city of crafts on the Great Silk Road. Here you will visit workshops and see how shebeke, Sheki pakhlava and tekelduz are made, and also get acquainted with the production of kelagai. Then visit the Summer Palace of the Sheki Khans with frescoes and window mosaics, look into the Caravanserai and the ancient Albanian church in the village of Kish. Return to Baku, check-in and night at the hotel.

6. Day 6

   The sixth day is a trip to the south, to Lankaran, the land of subtropics and Talysh culture. On the way, a stop at Citrus Valley: the hostess of the farm will tell about citrus cultivation, you can take part in fruit picking in season or simply try and buy oranges, lemons, tangerines, kiwis and feijoas. After a village-style lunch and tea with jam — a visit to the Lankaran Fortress, the Kichik Bazar Mosque and the Palace of Mirahmad Khan. Then Hirkan National Park with Lake Khanbulan and the Nilado tea plantation, where you can take part in tea picking. Return to Baku, night at the hotel.

7. Day 7

   The seventh day is the end of the trip. After breakfast at the hotel you check out and go to the airport. This is the day of the transfer and departure home.