Day 01: Azerbaijan Cultural Highlands Tour - Shamakhi, Lahij, Gabala to Sheki
Depart from Baku in the morning for a full-day journey through Azerbaijan’s cultural highlands, combining sacred architecture, living craftsmanship and dramatic mountain landscapes. Explore Shamakhi and visit the historic Juma Mosque, one of the oldest Islamic monuments in the Caucasus admired for its classical design and resilience through centuries of earthquakes.
Continue into the Caucasus Mountains to Lahij, a preserved artisan village where you walk stone-paved streets, observe master coppersmiths at work and discover workshops producing copperware, silver, carpets and woodcraft using techniques passed down for over a thousand years.
Travel onward to Gabala, stopping at tranquil Nohur Lake for panoramic views, then experience a cable car ascent at Tufandag Mountain Resort, revealing expansive Caucasus scenery. Visit the Seven Beauties Waterfall, a multi-tier cascade hidden in a forested gorge, before continuing to Sheki, where the day ends with hotel drop-off and overnight stay. Duration: 10-12 hours.
Day 02: Sheki Cultural Core Tour - Architecture, Artisanship and Heritage
Begin the day in Sheki with an in-depth exploration of one of Azerbaijan’s most historically rich cities. Visit the UNESCO-listed Sheki Khan Palace renowned for its stained-glass shebeke windows, detailed frescoes and harmonious architectural proportions that reflect 18th-century royal artistry.
Continue to the ABAD Ceramic Arts Centre to observe contemporary artisans reviving traditional pottery techniques followed by the Sheki Art Gallery showcasing local fine art and folk traditions.
Experience the Craftsmen’s House, where masters demonstrate the intricate shebeke method using only wood and coloured glass, preserving a rare and precise craft.
Walk through the historic Caravanserai complex, once a key Silk Road stop, now restored as a cultural landmark.
Conclude with a visit to the ancient Kish Albanian Church linked to the early Christian heritage of Caucasian Albania, set against a mountain backdrop. An optional local wine tasting is available before private transfer back to Baku or drop-off at the Georgia border via Balakan, depending on onward plans. Duration: 10-12 hours.
