Tour Overview
| Duration | 6 Days / 5 Nights |
|---|---|
| Country | Azerbaijan — The Great Caucasus |
| Price From | $995 per person (twin share) |
| Tour Style | Private / Mountain & Culture |
| Data Source | The Cascade Travel — 2026 |
Itinerary Highlights
Day 1: Baku to Shamakhi & Lahij
Depart Baku. First stop in Shamakhi — visit the Juma Mosque (743 AD), one of the oldest in the Caucasus, rebuilt after the devastating 1902 earthquake. Continue into the Caucasus foothills to Lahij, a 2,000-year-old cobblestone village famous for copper craftsmanship. Watch artisans hammer intricate designs into copper plates using techniques unchanged for centuries. Explore the stone drainage system and the History Museum. Overnight in a restored caravanserai in Lahij.
Day 2: Lahij to Gabala
Morning hike in the surrounding hills for valley views. Drive to Gabala, Azerbaijan’s premier mountain resort. Ride the Tufandag cable car to 1,920m for Caucasus panoramas. Visit Nohur Lake for a boat ride and forest walk. Afternoon at the Gabala Shooting Club. Overnight in Gabala.
Day 3: Ilisu Canyon & Gakh
Drive to Ilisu village in the Gakh region, surrounded by the Greater Caucasus on three sides. Hike into Ilisu Canyon to the dramatic waterfall — the canyon walls glow golden in afternoon light. Visit the 17th-century Sumuq Qala fortress and the Ulu Bridge spanning the Kurmuk River. Afternoon in Gakh’s historic quarter with its Albanian church. Overnight in a mountain guesthouse in Ilisu.
Day 4: Sheki — Silk Road Crown Jewel
Journey to Sheki, Azerbaijan’s most beautiful city. Visit the magnificent Sheki Khan’s Palace (1762) — its shebeke stained glass windows are made of thousands of wooden pieces assembled without a single nail or drop of glue. Explore the Sheki Caravanserai (18th century) still operating as a hotel. Visit an artisan workshop where shebeke windows are still made. Taste Sheki’s famous halva (sweet made with rice flour, nuts, and syrup). Overnight in Sheki.
Day 5: Kish & Qabala
Visit the Albanian Church in Kish village — a 1st-century temple converted to a church in the 4th century, making it one of the world’s oldest Christian sites. Continue to the ruins of the ancient city of Qabala (Kabalaka), capital of Caucasian Albania. Afternoon free in Gabala for optional activities. Overnight in Gabala.
Day 6: Return to Baku
Scenic drive back to Baku. Last stop at the Nij village, home to the Udi people — descendants of Caucasian Albanians with their own language and traditions. Visit the Udi church. Arrive Baku. Transfer to airport.
Inclusions
- 5 nights (caravanserai, mountain guesthouse, hotels)
- Daily breakfast + 2 dinners
- Private vehicle with driver
- English-speaking guide
- Gabala cable car
- All monument entries
- Sheki halva tasting
- Copper workshop visit in Lahij
Why the Azerbaijan Highlands
- Lahij: a living copper-working tradition unchanged for 2,000 years
- Sheki Khan’s Palace: stained glass windows made without nails or glue
- Ilisu Canyon: a hidden Caucasus gorge few travelers ever see
- Kish Church: one of Christianity’s oldest sites, in a Muslim country
- Sleep in a 300-year-old Silk Road caravanserai
