Day 1 | Baku

Upon our arrival in the Azerbaijani capital, we will expedite the local visa process and begin a city tour, visiting the Heydar Aliyev Center, one of the world's beautiful buildings designed by the notable Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid. We will explore the center's permanent and changing exhibitions. Following this, we will visit the Carpet Museum to learn about the development of various types of carpets, from flatweaves to double-knot Turkish carpets. We will continue to enjoy beautiful Baku, have our first dinner, and then head back to our hotel for a night's rest in this fascinating city.

Day 2 | Baku - Gobustan National Park

In the morning, we will embark on an experiential trip to Gobustan National Park (accompanied by local drivers). We will use off-road vehicles to reach the UNESCO World Heritage site, discovered among the giant rocks that characterize the landscape. We will tour the open-air museum and return in time to the prehistoric petroglyphs - rock paintings that have been preserved to this day. Continuing our tour, we will ascend to observe a unique natural phenomenon: the mud volcanoes. Gobustan has about 300 mud volcanoes out of the 700 in the world. From the top of the cliffs, welcome to Azerbaijan! In the evening, we will return to Baku for dinner and overnight accommodation.

Day 3 | Baku - Quba

This morning, we will leave the modern capital, and in the evening, we will depart north toward the city of Quba. En route, we will pass the "Chirag Gala," the nickname attached to the oil pumping facilities spread along the western coast of the Caspian Sea. We will also pass by the large freshwater reservoir that is part of the water supply and irrigation system for Baku from various water sources in the region. Along the Caspian Sea, we will notice the significant difference from the dense city center to the rural and picturesque landscapes preserving the ancient way of life. Before noon, we will arrive at Quba, situated at the foot of the Caucasus Mountains. We will visit the active urban bazaar, the characteristic Asian-style central market, and hear the story of the large and important Jewish community known as the "Mountain Jews," who lived separately from the local population in excellent neighborly relations. After the city tour, we will return to Baku for dinner.

Day 4 | Baku and its Sites

After completing our night's rest and breakfast, we will set out to explore the fascinating city. The beginning of our tour will be a visit to the Old Town Center: Icherisheher, the inner city – a special area encompassed by fortress walls that dates back to the early 17th century. We will visit the guesthouses, the Caravanserai, which served the silk road traders loaded with goods and all the goodness of the ancient Eastern world. Separating from the Old Town, we will explore the new modern city, which will impress us with the stunning buildings that characterize the peak of late 19th-century Russian Tsarist architecture. We will not miss a visit to the carpet museum, where we will be introduced to the unique types of carpets of the local residents. We will continue to visit the natural gas sources near the surface and witness the phenomenon of fire eruptions. We will dedicate a visit to the Zoroastrian fire temple, which served as an altar for those who believed and worshiped fire. We will continue to tour the city as time allows. In the evening, we will head out for dinner in Baku.

Day 5 | Baku - Shamakhi - Lahij - Sheki

Today is a day of long travel. After breakfast, we will travel to the inner parts of Azerbaijan, which are less known than the common tour routes around Baku and its surroundings. We will start our journey in the picturesque village of Quba, from where we will travel to the site of the Aliyah Footprint, meet a local resident from Derbent, hear his story, and continue to the mausoleum of the Seven Domes in the town of Shamakhi, which is the burial place of the rulers of the Shirvan dynasty. From here, we will take local taxis to get to know the village of copper-smiths, Lahij, on the way passing through a narrow and beautiful canyon. Lahij is a copper village that has preserved its original pattern to this day, built of local stone from the area. As part of our visit to the village, we will wander among the spice shops and the characteristic handcrafts of the region. We will visit the ancient church that now serves as an ethnographic museum and later travel to our accommodation and dinner in the Sheki region.

Day 6 | Sheki – Kish – Ganja

This morning, we will continue to visit one of the ancient and famous cities in the Caucasus, Sheki, located at an elevation of 700 meters above sea level. The ancient city of Sheki has served over the years during the prosperous days of the Silk Road as an important transit station for traders. As part of our visit to the city, we will explore the summer palace of the Khan, a building constructed during the 18th century, featuring a fascinating combination of frescoes and windows made of delicate Shebeke glass, a captivating local craft still taught in the local arts center that we will also visit. As befitting one of the Silk Road cities, we will stroll through the impressive Caravanserai that once hosted wealthy merchants on their way along the Silk Road, savoring the exquisite local qovurma, a dish famous throughout the country. We will be impressed by the local craftsmanship sold throughout the city. From Sheki, we will continue to the town of Kish, where we will switch from the combined bus to local taxis and ascend to the unique Albanian Caucasian church, continue to the city of Ganja, and visit its historical center, the City Hall, and Heydar Aliyev Square. Overnight accommodation and dinner will be in Ganja.

Day 7 | Ganja – GoyGol – Baku

This morning, we will embark on a tour to the "GoyGol" (Blue Lake), hidden in the heart of the nature reserve at an altitude of 2,200 meters above sea level. In the reserve, we will take a (not difficult) hiking tour that combines vegetation and charming mountain views. After the morning tour in the reserve, we will return to Ganja and proceed to the "Bottle House" to hear its unique story. After additional tours in the city, we will return to Baku for the completion of the final city tours. Before our return home.

Day 8 | Baku 

On our last day in Azerbaijan, we will be released from the vibrant colors and types of Azerbaijani carpets. After the special tours, we will transfer to the airport for the return flight.