1st Day Istanbul - Ganja - Imamzade Complex - Sheki
We recommend being at Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Airport by 03:15…
At 06:20, we depart for Ganja, a city celebrated for its historical and natural beauties, with the Ajet Airlines flight VF 313.
At 09:45, we arrive. After completing the necessary procedures, we begin our tour of Ganja with our private vehicle. During our tour, we will explore this beautiful city on foot in some places. Our tour includes views of Ganja's oxygen reservoir, Haydar Aliyev Park, the Bottle House built with 5,000 bottles in honor of the architect's brother and other soldiers who couldn’t return home from World War II, Atatürk Avenue, the Philharmonic Hall known for hosting numerous important events, the Cuma Mosque from the 17th century distinguished by its interesting architecture, and the Alexander Nevsky Church built with the donations of both the Christian and Muslim populations in accordance with Byzantine architecture. During our free time, you can have your lunch at one of the places serving delicious Azerbaijani dishes. Afterward, we head to the Imamzade Complex (approximately 7 km away). Surrounded by red bricks, this beautifully intricate mausoleum contains the tomb of Imam Muhammad al-Bakr, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad, along with a mosque and a caravanserai. Afterwards, we embark on a scenic route through forests, lakes, and mountains toward Sheki (approximately 145 km). Upon arrival, we explore Sheki, the oldest, most authentic, and beautiful city in Azerbaijan. Known as a classic mountain town, Sheki is famous for its gentle people with a unique culture and cuisine. You will see the Upper and Lower Sheki Caravanserais, which are currently partially used as hotels, the historic stone and wooden buildings spread across narrow, cobblestoned streets, the magnificent Khan Palace, noted as an important site on the UNESCO World Heritage List from the Persian period, the Sheki Fortress made up of the Sheki Palace, which was personally built for the Khan’s relatives and pleases visitors with its beauty, the important religious structures such as the Khan and Cuma Mosques, and many more during our tour. During free time at the bazaar, you can taste the famous Azerbaijani Tea alongside Sheki Halva and purchase numerous handcrafted art pieces, especially the world’s most beautiful silk products. After the tour, we will transfer to our hotel and check into our rooms. Accommodation at our hotel.
2nd Day Sheki - Gabala - Shamakhi - Baku
After breakfast and checking out of the rooms, we set off towards Gabala, famous for its natural beauties (approximately 120 km). You will recharge your energy at Nohur Lake, amidst the stunning landscapes of the National Park. Next, we continue our journey to Shamakhi (approximately 95 km). Shamakhi is historically known for the Shamakhi Siege, significant in the Ottoman-Safavid War, and is also one of the most important wine-making and carpet weaving regions in the Caucasus. Here we’ll observe the old town center and visit the Yeddi Gumbez Tomb, located at the foot of the Gulistan Fortress, as well as the Cuma Mosque. Following this, we continue onto our last destination of the day, Baku (approximately 125 km). Upon arrival, we will check into our hotel. Accommodation at our hotel.
3rd Day Baku (Dinner with Azerbaijani Night)
After breakfast, we leave our hotel for our Full Day Baku City Tour. Traditional and historical Baku has recently been complemented by numerous investments, resulting in a modern architectural and cultural aspect. During this comprehensive tour, you will see the most important areas of both Old and New Baku. First, we head to the Martyrs' Lane to Yayla Park, where you can enjoy panoramic views of the city and Baku Bay and take plenty of photos. Next, we visit the Old City, also known as Inner City, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will discover Baku's historical and traditional features in this section of the tour, where you will see the Maiden Tower built in the 12th century, the Cuma Mosque from the 15th century, the historically significant Siniggala Minaret, the Mohammed Mosque, the world's only Miniature Books Museum, the Shirvanshahs’ Palace, an architectural gem of Azerbaijani history, the Izzet Imami Palace, which now serves as the Academy of Sciences, the city’s heart - Istiklal Street, the Fountain Square named after the historical fountain, the Philharmonic Fountain, and the National Carpet and Kilim Museum, renowned for its valuable handicrafts. Afterward, we head to the Baku Boulevard, where we will stroll around the areas known for their futuristic architectural works, including the world-famous Flame Towers. At the end of the tour, we visit a local establishment for an Evening with Dinner and Folkloric Show featuring traditional Mugham music and local delicacies. After a delightful evening, we will transfer back to our hotel. Accommodation at our hotel.
4th Day Baku - Ateshgah - Absheron - Heydar Aliyev Cultural Center - Istanbul
After breakfast, there will be free time. After checking out of the rooms, we begin our tour with a visit to Ateshgah (Fire Temple). This is one of the three Zoroastrian temples in the world that has survived to this day, and the most important, constructed in the 3rd century AD. Known for its perpetual flames since antiquity, it gained worldwide fame during the time the Silk Road was active and was reconstructed in the 17th century by Zoroastrian pilgrims visiting the area. After our visit here, we proceed to witness the dancing flames at Fire Mountain, Abseron. After that, we continue our tour with a visit to the Heydar Aliyev Cultural Center, designed by Iraqi-born British futuristic architect Zaha Hadid, covering 101,000 square meters and making headlines worldwide. This complex represents the rise of the Caspian Sea in Azeri mythology and consists of museums, theatres and exhibition halls. (IMPORTANT NOTE: On certain days, the cultural center does not accept visitors. Because today’s hours have not been announced, our company cannot be held responsible for this situation. If it is closed, we will view the exterior, and if open, we will enter.) After the free time provided, we will transfer to the airport at the hour determined by our guide. After necessary procedures, we depart for Istanbul with Ajet Airlines flight VF 178 at 18:25.
Arrival at 20:30. We look forward to seeing you on another journey…