Highlights of Azerbaijan - 6 days (AZ-01)

Upon arrival at the international airport of Baku you’ll be met by our representative for your transfer to the hotel. After check in there’ll be free time. You’ll overnight in Baku. (Dinner)

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. In ancient times the palace was surrounded by beautiful gardens, though nowadays only two big trees remain.

Continuing our journey, we stop at Kish, the site of a centuries-old Albanian church incorporated into the Armenian Apostolic Church in 1836. Near the church you’ll find an ancient cemetery where buried bodies are visible through a glass cupola. The remains impress with their height, appearing to be 2.5 metres or more. Ancient Albanian people were giants with white skin; their hair was golden. They looked unlike residents of the modern Caucasian nations. Overnight in Sheki. (Breakfast, Dinner)

Driving distance: 312 km / 195 ml.

A visit to Azerbaijan reveals a long history. Shamakhi is one such place. Long ago it was the capital of the Shirvan Empire and home to the Shirvan Dynasty. Nowadays Shamakhi is known for its winemaking. Visiting this city you’ll have an opportunity to explore the Yeddi Gumbez mausoleum. Its magnificent domes rise mysteriously above an almost silent valley with stunning views back to Shamakhi. Nearby, the tombs of Diri Baba are equally atmospheric, built into the rock with the appearance of an eagle’s nest. Approaching, we see only one side; the others are hidden in the cliffs, giving the impression that the tomb is suspended off the ground. The monument has two storeys: the lower floor was probably for servants while the upper, reached by stairs, would have been the salon. Whether it is a sacred site or a place of burial is open to interpretation. Later, you’ll be driven to Baku where you’ll check into the hotel for an overnight stay. Overnight in Baku. (Breakfast, Dinner)

Driving distance: 298 km / 186 ml.

After breakfast, we begin our discovery of the city of Baku. You’ll enjoy a sightseeing tour of Baku with a visit to the city’s monumental, historical and architectural attractions as well as taking in a panorama of the Azeri capital and its bay from Upland Park, the city’s highest point. From there we’ll make our way down to the old city, also known as Icheri sheher. This area contained all of Baku until the mid-19th century when, as a result of the oil boom, growth spilled beyond its defensive walls. This tiny area measures just 22 square hectares yet contains many of the city’s must-see sights, including the Shirvanshakhs Palace, the Maiden Tower and the Karavansaray, once the place of merchants’ rest. Today, 1300 families still call Icheri sheher home, this ancient city found within the modern city of Baku. It’s a delightful place to take an evening stroll through the warren of streets to Fountains Square. Overnight in Baku. (Breakfast, Dinner)

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. On our way back to Baku, 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. Overnight in Baku. (Breakfast, Dinner)

Driving distance: 152 km / 95 ml.

After breakfast you’ll transfer to the airport for departure. (Breakfast)