Azerbaijan
Baku & Sheki in Seven Days
Discover Azerbaijan through Baku’s atmospheric streets, Gobustan’s ancient rock carvings, the flames of Absheron, and the Silk Road charm of Sheki.
The experience
Overview
Discover Azerbaijan through Baku’s atmospheric streets, Gobustan’s ancient rock carvings, the flames of Absheron, and the Silk Road charm of Sheki. This private journey combines cultural discoveries, local flavours, and scenic countryside, with your final night in Baku for a comfortable departure.
- Duration
- 7 days / 6 nights · Private journey
- Overnight stays
- 4 nights in Baku · 2 nights in Sheki
- Arrival
- Heydar Aliyev International Airport, Baku
- Departure
- Heydar Aliyev International Airport, Baku
Along the way
Schedule
- Day 1
Upon arrival at Heydar Aliyev International Airport, meet your representative and enjoy a private transfer to your hotel in Baku.
After check-in, the rest of the day is yours to settle in and relax before your journey begins.
- Day 2
After breakfast, begin your guided discovery of Azerbaijan’s capital.
Explore Icherisheher, Baku’s UNESCO-listed Old City, where narrow lanes lead past sandstone houses, historic buildings, and quiet courtyards. Visit the Palace of the Shirvanshahs and stop outside the Maiden Tower, one of the city’s most recognisable landmarks. An interior visit to the tower can be arranged on request.
Continue to Highland Park for panoramic views over Baku Bay and a photo stop near the Flame Towers. Enjoy a walk along Baku Boulevard, taking in the capital’s seaside setting.
Visit the grounds of the Heydar Aliyev Center for an exterior photo stop, admiring the flowing architecture designed by Zaha Hadid. An interior exhibition visit is optional.
Finish your sightseeing around Fountains Square and Nizami Street, with time to enjoy the lively atmosphere, cafés, and shops.
- Day 3
After breakfast, depart for a full day exploring Azerbaijan’s ancient history and unusual natural landscapes.
Begin at Gobustan State Historical and Artistic Reserve. Visit the museum before exploring the designated paths among ancient rock carvings depicting animals, hunting, boats, and scenes of communal life.
Continue to the Mud Volcanoes Tourism Complex, where bubbling mud formations rise from a stark, almost lunar landscape. Enjoy time to observe these geological features and photograph the surrounding scenery.
Stop at Bibi-Heybat Mosque before continuing towards the Absheron Peninsula, with a lunch break along the way.
Visit Ateshgah Fire Temple to discover its connections with merchants, pilgrims, and fire-related religious traditions. Continue to Yanar Dag, where flames fed by natural gas emerge along the hillside.
Return to Baku in the evening.
- Day 4
After breakfast and check-out, leave the capital behind and travel towards the countryside of north-western Azerbaijan.
Stop in Shamakhi to visit the Juma Mosque, taking time to appreciate its architecture and peaceful atmosphere.
Continue towards Sheki, with scenic stops and a break for lunch along the way. As the journey progresses, the dry landscapes around Baku give way to greener hills and rural settlements.
Arrive in Sheki and check in to your hotel. Enjoy the remainder of the evening at leisure.
- Day 5
After breakfast, discover the heritage and traditions of Sheki.
Visit the Palace of the Sheki Khans, admired for its decorative interiors and colourful shebeke windows. Learn about the craftsmanship that gives this former royal residence its distinctive character.
Walk through the historic quarter and stop at the Sheki Caravanserai, once a resting place for travelling merchants. Explore accessible areas and hear about the town’s Silk Road connections.
Later, drive to Kish village to visit its historic church and enjoy the village surroundings.
Return to Sheki for a relaxed evening.
- Day 6
After breakfast and check-out, begin your return journey to Baku, travelling via the Gabala region.
Stop at Nohur Lake, where wooded hills frame the water. Enjoy a gentle lakeside walk, take photographs, or simply pause to appreciate the peaceful setting.
Arrive in the capital, check in to your hotel, and enjoy your final evening at leisure. Revisit a favourite neighbourhood, browse for souvenirs, or arrange an optional farewell dinner.
- Day 7
After breakfast, check out from your hotel.
At the scheduled time, meet your driver for a private transfer to Heydar Aliyev International Airport for your departure flight.
Destination Highlights
- Baku Old City and the Caspian waterfront
- Gobustan and the Absheron Peninsula
- Shamakhi Juma Mosque
- Palace of the Sheki Khans and the caravanserai
- Kish village and its historic church
- Gabala and Nohur Lake
Signature Experiences
- Admiring the colourful shebeke windows of the Sheki palace
- Enjoying a traditional tea break with Sheki halva
- Browsing the historic streets and craft shops of Sheki
- Stopping by Nohur Lake on the return to Baku
Inclusions and Exclusions
What’s included
- Private airport transfers on arrival and departure.
- Six nights of accommodation with daily breakfast: four nights in Baku and two nights in Sheki.
- Accommodation in the selected hotel category, with hotel names and room types confirmed in the quotation.
- Private transportation in a comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle throughout the scheduled programme.
- Professional guide speaking your preferred language during the sightseeing tours, subject to availability.
- One traditional tea break with Sheki halva tasting.
- One bottle of water (0.5 L) per person per day.
Not included
- International flights.
- Visa fees, where applicable.
- Lunches, dinners, and additional food and beverages.
- Personal travel insurance.
- Interior visits to the Maiden Tower and Heydar Aliyev Center.
- Optional activities and additional sightseeing.
- Entrance tickets to the Palace of the Shirvanshahs, Gobustan Reserve and museum, Mud Volcanoes Tourism Complex, Ateshgah Fire Temple, Yanar Dag, Palace of the Sheki Khans, and Kish church.
- Early check-in and late check-out.
- Personal expenses and gratuities.
- Any services not expressly listed as included in the tour price.
Make it your own
Optional experiences
-
Welcome or farewell dinner in Baku at a selected Azerbaijani restaurant.
Enjoy Azerbaijani cuisine at a welcome or farewell dinner in a selected Baku restaurant, arranged around your itinerary.
-
Traditional cooking masterclass with a local host.
Discover traditional Azerbaijani cuisine through a hands-on cooking masterclass with a local host.
-
Azerbaijan Carpet Museum visit, with the city tour adjusted accordingly.
Discover Azerbaijan’s carpet-weaving traditions and the collection of the national Carpet Museum. The city tour will be adjusted to accommodate the museum visit.
-
Private photography session in Baku.
Capture memorable moments of your journey with a professional photographer at selected scenic locations.
Your journey with Arivio
Let’s plan your journey.
Tell us your preferred dates and a little about your plans. We’ll help you explore the options for this journey.
Baku & Sheki in Seven Days
info@ariviotravel.com