This 10-day Nature of Azerbaijan Tour is designed for travellers who want to see the country beyond its capital and main cultural landmarks. The route begins in Baku, with its old city, modern architecture, Absheron fire sites, Gobustan petroglyphs, and mud volcanoes, before continuing north into the Greater Caucasus. You will visit Quba, Khinalug, Griz, Laza, Shahdag, Lagich, Gabala, and Sheki, combining mountain scenery, historic villages, waterfalls, local crafts, and short hiking routes. The journey ends with a wine tasting at ASPI Winery and a return to Baku, giving you a broad view of Azerbaijan’s landscapes, traditions, and regional character.

Tour itinerary:

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Day 1: Baku – arrival

Arrive in Baku. You will be met by our driver and transferred to the hotel. Check in after 15:00. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 2: Baku

Start your sightseeing tour of Baku with a visit to Martyrs’ Lane (called ‘Shehidler Khiyabany’ by locals) from which a beautiful view overlooking Baku’s coastline will unfold before you. Continue touring new Baku with exploration of its 19th-20th century architecture, including Nizami Street, Fountain Square, Nizami Ganjavi Monument and Rasul-Zade Street. Move to the old quarter, Icheri Sheher. Visit Maiden Tower, Shirvanshahs’ Palace, Bukhara Caravanserai and Market Square with its numerous art studios and souvenir stalls. An excellent round-up to the city tour will be visit to the iconic Heydar Aliyev center. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 3: Baku – Absheron Peninsula – Gobustan – Baku

Today, the tour will take you to Greater Baku and Absheron Peninsula. Start at Gobustan National Park with a tour of petroglyphs dating back to 10,000 BC and the Petroglyphs Museum. Continue to the mud volcanoes in Gobustan Reserve, which is home to nearly half of the world’s mud volcanoes. Drive to Ateshgah Temple in Surakhany village, to which Zoroastrians once travelled thousands of kilometers from India to worship fire burning up from the earth. Continue to Yanardag Mountain, where natural gas has been burning for thousands of years. Return to Baku. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 4: Baku – Quba

In the morning, depart Baku and drive towards Quba - one of the largest cities in Azerbaijan, located on picturesque hillsides 170 km (105 miles) to the north of Baku. In the mid-18th century, Quba was the capital of the Quba Khanate, but today, it is famous for its carpets, scenery, and delicious sweets. The city itself is home to a number of architectural and historic monuments, like Juma Mosque and a number of other mosques and mausoleums. During the tour you will have the opportunity to visit local hamam. Acquaintance with the Jewish Community “Krasnaya Sloboda” Red Village, established here in XVIII c. Quba is famous for its hand-made carpets. Visit the local carpet-weaving workshop. You will explore the Chukhur hammam (XIX c.), the bathhouse that was visited by Alexander Dumas during his trip to Caucasus, and described it in his memoirs IMPRESSIONS DE VOYAGE LE CAUCASE. Visit the Genocide Memorial of 1918. Overnight at hotel in Quba.

Day 5: Quba – Khinalug – Galakhudat – Griz – Quba

After breakfast, depart Quba and drive towards the village Khinalug, added to the UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites in 2023. The road to Khinalug lies through the range of Great Caucasus mountains. On our way we will get as high as 2,000 m above the sea level. We will have numerous opportunities for taking photos on the way enjoying breathtaking views of the landscape. Khinalug is one of the most ancient settlements in the country where people have been continuously living for more than 5,000 years. Start hiking tour from Khinalug to Galakhudat village. Distance – 8 km. Difficulty – Medium (2.5-3 hrs). Continue the hiking tour from Galakhudat to Griz (apprx. 4,5 hrs) via a steep canyon.
Griz village is located at 2000 m above the sea level, surrounded by the steep deep canyon of Gudiyalchay and by steep rocky slopes of Gizilgaya. On the way visit a small waterfall, which is frozen in winter. Distance – 12.5 km. Difficulty: Hard (4.5 hrs). Your car will be waiting for you in Griz, then will take you back to Quba. Overnight at hotel in Quba.

Day 6: Quba – Laza – Shahdag – Shamakhi

Depart to Gusar region to explore Laza village that has a fascinating landscape, and located at 1600+ meters altitude, between the Shahdag plateau and the Gizilgaya plateau, in the Gusar river valley. There are about 30 houses in this small village, it is populated by the Lezgi ethnic group. Laza waterfall is one of the most popular destinations for an easy hiking (~1 hour). Drive to Shahdag Mountain Resort. The Shahdag Mountain Resort will offer guests a seemingly endless list of thrilling sports and leisure activities all year round. You can select from an exceptional array of winter-summer activities available in the Shahdag Resort (payment on spot by guests). Drive to Shamakhi. Overnight at hotel in Shamakhi.

Day 7: Shamakhi – Lagich – Tufandag – Nohur Lake – Yeddi Gozel waterfall – Sheki

In the morning, depart Shamakhi and drive to Sheki. Make a stop at Shamakhi to visit the historical Juma Mosque, which was restored in 2013. Continue to Mausoleum of Yeddi Gumbez (“Seven Domes”), with numerous graves of Shamakhi governors. Weather permitting, a scenic drive through Girdimanchay River Canyon to visit Lagich (Lahich) will follow. Lagich, an ancient village with charming cobbled sidewalks, is famous for its medieval water supply and sewage systems, as well as its traditional jewelry, copperware, carpets, pottery, daggers, and iron tools workshops. This quaint, 5th-century corner of the Caucasus Mountains is rich in historical and architectural value. Reach Tufandag Mountain Resort to have a cable car ride. Visit Nohur Lake and Yeddi Gozel (Seven Beauties) waterfall. In the evening, reach Sheki for overnight at the hotel.

Day 8: Sheki

Start a new day visiting the colorful Sheki Bazaar. You can find virtually everything you may want to eat: local fruits and berries, spices, freshly baked bread, honey, cheeses, and Sheki sweets. Continue to Sheki Khans Palace surrounded by medieval fortress walls. Visit handicrafts workshop and Caravanserai. Explore the first Albanian church in Caucasus in the village Kish dating back to the 1st century AD. Overnight in Sheki.

Day 9: Sheki – Aspi Savalan – Goychay – Baku

In the morning, depart Sheki and drive to Baku. Visit ASPI Winery. Enjoy a guided Savalan wine tasting experience – sample locally produced wines and learn about the unique grape varieties grown in the Gabala region. Continue drive to Baku via Goychay is considered the pomegranate center of Azerbaijan as a great variety of pomegranates grows here, you will see broad pomegranate plantations. In the evening, reach Baku. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 10: Baku – departure

Check out of the hotel by noon and transfer to Baku International Airport.

Price includes:

All transfers (1-2 pax by sedan, 3-4 pax by Mercedes Vito or similar, 5-10 pax by Mercedes Sprinter passenger van);
Accommodation based on double/twin room sharing, breakfasts included;
Sightseeing tour program with a local English-speaking guide;
Entrance fees to sights as per itinerary;
Wine tasting;
E-visa to Azerbaijan;
Mineral water.