Azerbaijan 7-Day Tour: Baku, Gabala & Sheki

Drive south 65 km to Gobustan National Park (UNESCO World Heritage Site). Guided tour of the Petroglyphs Museum and 6,000 rock carvings dating back to 20,000 BC. A highlight is the Roman legionary graffiti carved in 84 AD — it never fails to astonish visitors.

Board Lada Niva 4×4 vehicles for an off-road excursion to the bubbling mud volcanoes. Cool, grey craters of gas and mud create a genuinely otherworldly landscape. Return to Baku for lunch.

Absheron Peninsula tour: Ateshgah Fire Temple (Surakhani) — an ancient Zoroastrian and Hindu pilgrimage site built around a natural underground gas vent worshipped for centuries. Then Yanardag — a hillside that has burned continuously for centuries (spectacular at sunset, arrive before 18:00). Return to hotel.

Comfortable private transfer from Baku to Gabala (3–4 hours) with a rest stop along the way. Check in to your accommodation on arrival.

Meet your guide and horses at the equestrian centre. A short briefing and training session for all guests — no prior experience required. Ride through beautiful mountain trails, forests, and open meadows while your guide shares stories about the region's history and the deep bond between Azerbaijani villagers and their horses. Duration: 3–4 hours.

Village Life Experience: step into the daily rhythm of an authentic Azerbaijani village. Tour a traditional village house and courtyard, meet the farm animals and help feed them. End the evening with fragrant samovar tea served with homemade jams and local sweets. Overnight in a village house — no traffic, no screens, clean mountain air and a sky full of stars.

Wake up to a village-style breakfast: local cheese, butter, mountain honey, fresh herbs, eggs, and traditional tandoor bread — served with Azerbaijani tea and mountain views.

Beekeeping Farm Excursion: suit up in a beekeeper's costume and observe the hives up close. Taste five bee products — honey, royal jelly, pollen, propolis, and beeswax. Learn about Azerbaijan's rich beekeeping traditions and the health benefits of each product. A professional photo and video package from your Gabala experience is provided digitally.

A final horseback ride along village roads and mountain trails. Then depart for Sheki (approximately 1.5 hours). En route, stop at Nohur Lake — a tranquil mountain lake surrounded by ancient forest. Check in to your caravanserai hotel in Sheki's historic centre.

Scenic drive through the Girdiman River canyon to the medieval village of Lahij. Dating to the 5th century AD, the village retains its cobblestone streets, a medieval water and sewage system, and copper workshops passed down through generations.

Browse Lahij's open workshops: copperware, jewellery, carpets, ceramics, daggers, and ironwork. Drive to Sheki (approximately 30 minutes from Lahij).

Guided tour of the 18th-century Sheki Khan's Palace — a UNESCO-recognised masterpiece assembled entirely by hand, without a single nail or drop of glue. The shebeke lattice windows are extraordinary. Dinner of Sheki's legendary piti: a slow-cooked lamb and chickpea stew served in individual clay pots and eaten in two stages.

A relaxed last morning in Sheki. Explore the old bazaar and watch artisans at work in the silk workshop. Taste Sheki halva (pakhlava) — the city's famous walnut and honey pastry.

Visit the village of Kish (12 km from Sheki) to see the 1st-century Albanian Apostolic Church — one of the oldest Christian places of worship in the world. Then begin the scenic 4.5-hour return drive to Baku.

Arrive in Baku in the evening. Transfer to hotel or directly to Heydar Aliyev International Airport for late-night flights.

Guided walking tour of Icherisheher (UNESCO World Heritage Site): the 12th-century Maiden Tower (Qız Qalası), whose original purpose remains a mystery, and the Palace of the Shirvanshahs. Explore medieval caravanserais now converted into galleries, cafes, and craft shops.

Stroll along Nizami Street (Torqovi) and Fountains Square. Visit the Miniature Book Museum. Explore the Multiculturalism Centre and souvenir markets within the Old City walls.

Farewell dinner in the Arts District, or a guided visit to the Museum of Modern Art to discover 20th-century Azerbaijani art. Transfer to Heydar Aliyev International Airport.