12 Days Azerbaijan Discovery Tour Package

Tour overview

Duration

12 days, 11 nights

Tour starts

Baku

Tour type

Private Tour

Tour highlights

Caucasus Mountains and Villages. Experience Khinalig village, Goygol Lake and the striking red-and-white Candy Cane Mountains.

Sheki's Heritage and Local Traditions. Visit the Palace of Shaki Khans, traditional workshops and a local home for an Azerbaijani cooking class.

Gobustan's Ancient Rock Art. Discover prehistoric carvings, natural mud volcanoes and the remarkable landscapes of Gobustan.

Baku's Historic and Modern Landmarks. Explore the UNESCO-listed Old City, Flame Towers, Caspian Boulevard and Azerbaijan's fire heritage.

1. Day 1

   Arrival in Baku – Welcome to Azerbaijan

   

   Highlights: Arrival in Baku, private airport transfer, hotel check-in

   • Welcome to Azerbaijan! Upon arrival at Heydar Aliyev International Airport in Baku, complete immigration and baggage collection before meeting your representative or English-speaking guide for the transfer to your hotel.
   • The drive into Baku takes approximately 30 minutes, covering around 25 kilometres. After checking in, enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. You may relax at the hotel or explore the surrounding area on your own, depending on your arrival time.
   • Overnight in Baku.

   Meals: None

2. Day 2

   Baku City Tour – Old City, Flame Towers and Caspian Boulevard

   

   Highlights: Highland Park, Martyrs Alley, Flame Towers, Icherisheher, Maiden Tower, Shirvanshahs' Palace, Miniature Book Museum, Nizami Street, Baku Boulevard

   • Start your Baku city tour at approximately 10:00 AM with a visit to Highland Park and Martyrs Alley, overlooking the Caspian Sea, the city centre and the Flame Towers. At 11:00 AM, explore Icherisheher, Baku's UNESCO-listed Old City, where you will see the Maiden Tower, Shirvanshahs' Palace, Miniature Book Museum, historic caravanserais, mosques and traditional bathhouses along its narrow streets.
   • After a lunch break at 1:00 PM, visit Nizami Street at 2:00 PM, one of Baku's main pedestrian and shopping areas, lined with shops, cafés and historic buildings. At 3:00 PM, continue to Baku Boulevard, a waterfront promenade along the Caspian Sea. You may also take an optional 45-minute boat tour for views of the city from the water, at additional cost.
   • A dinner stop is scheduled at 7:00 PM before returning to the hotel. Lunch and dinner are at your own expense.
   • Overnight in Baku. Approximate driving distance: 20 kilometres.

   Meals: Breakfast

3. Day 3

   Absheron Peninsula – Heydar Aliyev Center, Yanardag and Ateshgah

   

   Highlights: Heydar Aliyev Center exterior photo stop, Yanardag Fire Mountain, Ateshgah Fire Temple

   • Begin at approximately 9:00 AM with an exterior photo stop at the Heydar Aliyev Center, designed by architect Zaha Hadid. The building is known for its curved architecture and has become one of Baku's most recognisable modern landmarks.
   • At 11:00 AM, visit Yanardag, also known as Fire Mountain, where natural gas escaping from the hillside produces flames that burn continuously. After a lunch break at Ateshgah Restaurant at 1:00 PM, continue at 2:00 PM to Ateshgah Fire Temple. Explore the historic temple complex and learn about its association with fire worship and the religious traditions of the region.
   • A dinner stop is scheduled at 6:00 PM before returning to Baku. Lunch and dinner are at your own expense.
   • Overnight in Baku. Approximate driving distance: 72 kilometres.

   Meals: Breakfast

4. Day 4

   Gobustan National Park, Mud Volcanoes and Bibiheybat Mosque

   

   Highlights: Gobustan Mud Volcanoes, Gobustan National Park, prehistoric rock carvings, Bibiheybat Mosque, historic oil well

   • Depart at approximately 9:00 AM for Gobustan, beginning with a visit to the mud volcanoes. These natural formations are created when underground gases push mud and water to the surface, forming small cones and bubbling pools.
   • At 11:30 AM, visit Gobustan National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its prehistoric rock carvings. The park contains thousands of petroglyphs depicting animals, hunting scenes and daily activities from ancient settlements. After a lunch break at 1:30 PM, continue at 3:00 PM to Bibiheybat Mosque, an important religious landmark overlooking the Caspian Sea. The tour also includes a visit to a historic oil well associated with Azerbaijan's early petroleum industry.
   • A dinner stop is scheduled at 7:00 PM before returning to the hotel. Lunch and dinner are at your own expense.
   • Overnight in Baku. Approximate driving distance: 150 kilometres.

   Meals: Breakfast

5. Day 5

   Baku Museums, Carpet Heritage and Evening City Tour

   

   Highlights: Military Trophies Park, Villa Petrolea, National History Museum, Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum, Deniz Mall, Baku Nights tour

   • Begin at approximately 9:00 AM with a visit to Military Trophies Park, where military equipment associated with the 2020 Karabakh conflict is displayed. At 10:15 AM, continue to Villa Petrolea, the Nobel Brothers' House Museum, which documents the family's involvement in Azerbaijan's oil industry.
   • At 11:30 AM, visit the National History Museum of Azerbaijan, housed in the former residence of Haji Zeynalabdin Tagiyev. After a lunch break at 1:00 PM, explore the Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum at 2:00 PM, where traditional Azerbaijani carpets, weaving techniques and decorative patterns are presented through its collections.
   • At 3:00 PM, enjoy free time at Deniz Mall for shopping or relaxing at one of its cafés. Following a dinner break at 7:00 PM, head out again at 10:00 PM for the Baku Nights tour, passing the city's illuminated buildings and landmarks after dark. Lunch and dinner are at your own expense.
   • Overnight in Baku. Approximate driving distance: 20 kilometres.

   Meals: Breakfast

6. Day 6

   Baku to Gabala – Shamakhi, Lahij and Zarnava Village

   

   Highlights: Diri Baba Mausoleum, Shamakhi Juma Mosque, Yeddi Gumbez Mausoleum, Girdimanchay River Canyon, Lahij village, Zarnava suspension bridge

   • After breakfast and hotel check-out, depart Baku at approximately 8:30 AM towards Shamakhi. Along the way, visit the Diri Baba Mausoleum in Maraza, a historic tomb built into a rocky hillside. At 11:00 AM, continue to Shamakhi to visit Juma Mosque and the Yeddi Gumbez Mausoleum. An optional visit to the seventeenth-century Kalakhana tombs may also be arranged, depending on the available time.
   • After a lunch break at 1:00 PM, travel through the Girdimanchay River Canyon at 2:00 PM to Lahij, a mountain village known for its cobbled streets, copper workshops and traditional handicrafts. Walk through the village and see the workshops where local artisans continue to practise metalworking techniques passed down through generations.
   • At 3:00 PM, continue towards the suspension bridge at Zarnava village, which connects the settlement across a mountain valley. At approximately 5:00 PM, depart for Gabala, with a dinner stop scheduled at 7:00 PM before checking in at the hotel. Lunch and dinner are at your own expense.
   • Overnight in Gabala. Approximate driving distance: 200 kilometres.

   Meals: Breakfast

7. Day 7

   Gabala Waterfall, Tufandag Mountain and Journey to Sheki

   

   Highlights: Yeddi Gozal Waterfall, Tufandag Mountain Complex, Savalan Winery, journey to Sheki

   • After breakfast and hotel check-out, begin at approximately 9:30 AM with a visit to Yeddi Gozal Waterfall, located in the forested mountains near Gabala. The waterfall consists of several cascades flowing down the hillside, with walking paths and viewing areas around the site.
   • At 12:00 PM, visit Tufandag Mountain Complex, a mountain resort with views of the surrounding Caucasus ranges. Enjoy free time around the resort or take an optional cable car ride at additional cost.
   • At 2:00 PM, continue to Savalan Winery, located among vineyards in the Gabala region. Learn about the area's wine-producing traditions, with an optional guided wine tasting available at additional cost. Afterwards, travel to Sheki, arriving at approximately 5:30 PM for hotel check-in.
   • A dinner stop is scheduled at 7:00 PM at a local restaurant, at your own expense.
   • Overnight in Sheki.

   Meals: Breakfast

8. Day 8

   Sheki Heritage Tour and Traditional Azerbaijani Cooking Class

   

   Highlights: Sheki Bazaar, Kish Albanian Church, Palace of Shaki Khans, Historical Museum, Round Temple exterior, artisan workshops, shebeke studio, Sheki Caravanserai, traditional cooking class.

   • Begin at approximately 9:00 AM with a visit to Sheki's traditional bazaar, where you will have around 45 minutes to explore stalls selling fresh produce, handicrafts and everyday goods. At 10:00 AM, continue to Kish village to visit the ancient Albanian Church, one of the region's important early Christian monuments.
   • After a lunch break at 1:00 PM, explore Old Sheki at 2:00 PM, starting with the medieval fortress and the UNESCO-listed Palace of Shaki Khans, known for its decorative interiors and intricate shebeke windows. Continue to the Historical Museum and view the Round Temple from the outside. The afternoon also includes visits to artisan workshops and a shebeke studio, where traditional wooden latticework and coloured glass are assembled into decorative patterns. There will be free time around the historic Sheki Caravanserai to browse local handicrafts and shops.
   • At 6:00 PM, visit a local home for a traditional Azerbaijani cooking class, where you will learn about regional dishes and take part in their preparation. Dinner is included as part of the experience. Lunch is at your own expense. Overnight in Sheki. Approximate driving distance: 30 kilometres.

   Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

9. Day 9

   Sheki to Ganja – Mingachevir and Historic City Tour

   

   Highlights: Mingachevir Kur River embankment, Nizami Ganjavi Mausoleum, Imamzade Complex, Bottle House exterior, Shah Abbas Mosque, Javad Khan Mausoleum, First Parliament Building, Khan's Garden, Aleksandr Nevski Church

   • After breakfast and hotel check-out, depart at approximately 9:00 AM towards Ganja, stopping in Mingachevir to visit the Kur River embankment. You may take an optional boat excursion along the river at additional cost.
   • At 11:00 AM, visit the Mausoleum of Nizami Ganjavi, dedicated to the Azerbaijani poet whose works remain an important part of the country's literary heritage. At 12:00 PM, continue to the Imamzade religious complex and view Ganja's Bottle House from the outside, a building decorated with thousands of glass bottles.
   • After a lunch break at 1:00 PM, arrive at the hotel at approximately 2:00 PM for check-in and a short rest. At 3:00 PM, explore Ganja's historic centre on foot, visiting the caravansary, Shah Abbas Mosque, Javad Khan Mausoleum, First Parliament Building, Khan's Garden and Aleksandr Nevski Church.
   • A dinner stop is scheduled at 7:00 PM. Lunch and dinner are at your own expense.
   • Overnight in Ganja. Approximate driving distance: 180 kilometres.

   Meals: Breakfast

10. Day 10

    Goygol Mountain Lake, Helenendorf and Return to Baku

    

    Highlights: Goygol Mountain Lake, Lesser Caucasus forests, Helenendorf, German Lutheran Church

    • After breakfast and hotel check-out, depart at approximately 9:00 AM for Goygol Mountain Lake, located around 1,500 metres above sea level in the Lesser Caucasus. Formed following an earthquake in 1139, the lake is surrounded by forested mountains and is known for its clear waters. Spend time at the lake and its viewing areas before continuing towards Helenendorf.
    • At 12:00 PM, visit the German Lutheran Church in Helenendorf, a former German settlement established during the nineteenth century. The church is one of the remaining buildings associated with the German community that once lived in the area.
    • After a lunch break at 1:00 PM, travel back to Baku, passing through towns and countryside along the route. The journey covers approximately 340 kilometres in total, with a dinner stop scheduled at 7:00 PM before returning to the hotel. Lunch and dinner are at your own expense.
    • Overnight in Baku.

    Meals: Breakfast

11. Day 11

    Guba, Khinalig Village and Candy Cane Mountains

    

    Highlights: Guba, Khinalig mountain village, local family lunch, Chanlibel Lake, Candy Cane Mountains, gala dinner with folklore performance

    • Depart Baku at approximately 9:00 AM for Guba, travelling towards the Greater Caucasus Mountains. At 11:00 AM, continue towards Khinalig, a high-altitude village known for its stone houses, narrow pathways and distinctive local language. The village has maintained many of its traditional customs due to its remote mountain location.
    • At approximately 12:00 PM, walk through Khinalig and visit a local family home for an included lunch featuring traditional dishes. This is an opportunity to experience the hospitality and everyday food traditions of the mountain community.
    • At 2:00 PM, continue to Chanlibel Lake, a countryside location surrounded by hills and open landscapes. At 4:00 PM, visit the Candy Cane Mountains in Khizi, where natural mineral deposits have created red-and-white striped patterns across the hillsides. Stop for photographs before departing for Baku at 4:30 PM, with arrival expected at approximately 6:30 PM.
    • At 7:00 PM, enjoy an included gala dinner at a local restaurant, accompanied by traditional Azerbaijani folklore dancing.
    • Overnight in Baku. Approximate driving distance: 400 kilometres.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

12. Day 12

    Departure from Baku – Farewell Azerbaijan

    

    Highlights: Hotel check-out, private airport transfer, departure from Baku

    • Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before checking out and transferring to Heydar Aliyev International Airport according to your departure flight schedule.
    • Your 12-day Azerbaijan holiday comes to an end after visiting Baku, Gabala, Sheki, Ganja and the mountain villages of the Caucasus.
    • Thank you for travelling with Fayyaz Travels. We hope to welcome you on another journey soon.

    Meals: Breakfast

What's included

• Accommodation
• Meals
• Transfers
• Sightseeing
• Tour Guide
• Entry Fees

Frequently asked questions