Baku, Shamakhi, Gabala and Nij: 5-day sightseeing tour

Day-by-day itinerary

1. Day 1

   Arrival in Baku and a meeting at the airport, after which — free time. You can stroll along the pedestrian Nizami Street, where shops and boutiques are concentrated, or set off to the Seaside Boulevard — a favorite recreation place of the townspeople. On the boulevard it is worth taking a ride on a pleasure boat along the Baku Bay, but this is available in season. You can also visit the large shopping centers "Deniz Mall" and "Crescent Mall". In the first days of winter, the New Year fair "Cold Hands — Warm Hearts" operates on the Fountains Square.

2. Day 2

   Breakfast at the hotel, then a walking tour of Baku devoted to the mansions of the oil barons. You will see the building of the National Museum of Azerbaijan Literature named after Nizami Ganjavi, the Ismailiyya Palace and other architectural monuments of the beginning of the last century. The walk passes through the Philharmonic Garden and leads to Icherisheher — the old city with the Palace of the Shirvanshahs and the Maiden Tower. Here you can also look into the souvenir shops. Lunch in a national restaurant of the old city — optionally and for an additional fee, and tickets to the museums of the Maiden Tower and the Palace of the Shirvanshahs are purchased separately. At the end of the day — free time, and again you can visit the New Year fair.

3. Day 3

   Breakfast at the hotel and departure to the Gobustan Reserve, where thousands of rock carvings and petroglyphs have been preserved. The Gobustan Museum with interactive screens and 3D video helps to transport yourself to prehistoric times. Nearby — the tourist complex of mud volcanoes, which, according to the conclusions of NASA geologists, are similar to the elevations on Mars. Further — a journey to the Land of Fire, but this part of the program is available for an additional fee: the Ateshgah fire temple and the Yanar Dagh nature reserve with an eternal flame. Tickets to the museums of Yanar Dagh and Ateshgah are also purchased separately. The day ends with a view of the Heydar Aliyev Center from outside and an ascent to the Highland Park, from where a panorama of evening Baku and a view of the Flame Towers open up.

4. Day 4

   Breakfast at the hotel and a drive to Shamakhi — the ancient capital of the Shirvanshahs. The first stop at the Diri Baba mausoleum in the village of Maraza, built into the rock. At the entrance to Shamakhi a view of the city and the "Yeddi Gumbaz" mausoleum opens up, and in the city itself you will see the Juma Mosque. Then — the "Azgranata" winery with vineyards and pomegranate orchards, where they will show the production and the cellar with oak barrels. Tasting of five varieties of wines with snacks — for an additional fee, entrance tickets to the winery — optionally. Further — the village of Nij, a place of compact residence of the Udis, where the Albanian-Udi Church of Jotari of Saint Elisha and the Church of the Most Holy Mother of God Mary are located. Return to the hotel in Baku.

5. Day 5

   Breakfast at the hotel, then we leave the hotel and go to the airport. If there is still free time before departure, it can be spent at the local "Yashil Bazar": there you will be able to try various treats and look for delicacies and products for the road.