Individual tour / English speaking guide

Itinerary:

1 DAY Georgian-Azerbaijan border. Overnight in Sheki.
2 DAY Sheki-Ganja-Sheki
3 DAY Sheki-Qabala-Shamakhi-Lahij-Baku.
4 DAY Baku/Apsheron Peninsula excursion
5 DAY Baku City tour
6 DAY Baku/Gobustan
7 DAY Baku-Quba-Xinaliq-Qusar
8 DAY Qusar-Laza-Shahdag-Qusar
9 DAY Qusar-Baku-Novxani-Baku
10 DAY End of tour. Depart day.

Day 1

Meet Azerbaijan guide and the driver on the Lagodekhi (Georgian side) / Balakan (Azeri side). Continue driving to Qah City. Simply walk through the "Icheri Sheher" street in Gah city, the shops and cafe built in a typical northern region Azeri style. Transfer to Sheki and check in at Sheki Palace Hotel. Dinner time. Rest. Overnight in hotel. Transfer to hotel.

Day 2

Breakfast in Hotel. Sightseeing tour in Sheki. Visit "Sheki Khan Saray", Karvansaray museum, Albanian church. After excursuion in Sheki we will start the way to the second largest city of Azerbaijan - Ganja. Arrival to Ganja. Rest/lunch. After the lunch visit the smaller town of Xanlar (15 km from Ganja) that was called before Helenendorf and was founded by German settlers brought in by Tsar Alexander in the 19th century. The Germans were deported to central Asia by Stalin, but the place still reflects some of their presence, in the tree lined streets, the wooden houses and the church. After finishing tour there driving back to Ganja. Visiting Mosque, built in 1606 by the known scientist and architect Sheykh Baga-ud-din, Ganja Gates (X-XI c.), ruins of 17th centuries bath-house and Caravansaray, the Alexander Nevski church (now the puppet theatre!) and a 19th century orthodox church near the university, bottle house (a two-storey building decorated with about 50.000 glass bottles) and historic museum of Ganja. Return to Sheki. Overnight in Sheki.

Day 3 

After breakfast visit local bazaar in Sheki and then transfer all the way to Baku with several stopovers on the way. This day you will visit a very picturesque village near the town of Gabala that is called Nij where you will visit two 18th century Albanian churches. After that you will be taken to another photogenic place - Laxic village famous all over the region for its copper craftsmen. A lunch will be organised here after which you will have a chance to explore this wonderful place and reward yourself with amazing photos. You will visit craftsmen shops, local museum, two of 18th centuries Mosques, 18th century hamam (bathhouse). Then another transfer with the stopover in the ancient town of Shemakha where you will visit two-storied Deri Baba mausoleum, Seven Domes mausoleum and Friday Mosque. And final transfer to Baku and accommodation in the hotel.

Day 4 

Start the tour in the morning with visiting the major highlights of Absheron Peninsula. This day you will see  Ateshgah - the Fire Worshippers' Temple located in the village of Surakhany; well preserved ancient castle at Mardakyany village; majestic mosque in Shuvelan village called Mir Movsum Aga Mosque; and also Yanar Dagh, where a small hillside is constantly and naturally aflame. Then return to Baku, have lunch and visit Heydar Aliyev cultural center. On this day we will also show you Martyr Cemetery located on the higher slopes of the city's west-end. This is the best place for panorama viewing of the city and the Bay of Baku. Return to hotel and overnight.

Day 5 

Today you will explore central Baku and check some of its major attractions. The tour will start with the visit to Up Mountain Park where you will see Turkish Mosque, Hazi Aslanov Monument, Eternal Fire Monument. Then you will be taken for a walking tour across the historical  Old Town - 'Icheri Sheher'. See the highlights of Icheri Sheher including the Palace of the Shirvans dating to the middle of 15th century; Maiden's Tower which is according to the latest researches is the largest Zoroastrian temple in the world; visit Juma Mosque, antiques and carpets shops. Then have a lunch at national cuisine restaurant. After you will have a walk in Naberezhny park and along Baku Boulevard, the second largest one in the Europe, we'll try to arrange for you 30 minute cruise by public ship (only in good weather). Visit new Carpet Museum. 

Day 6

After breakfast we will drive to Gobustan reserve that in 2007 was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Gobustan occupies the south-eastern spur of the Great Caucasian Range and situated 60 km south of Baku. It is a monticulate semi-desert area dissected by numerous gullies and ravines and Gobustan, in translation, means "ravine land". Caves and rock outcroppings surround the region. Settled since the Stone Age the area is one of the major and most ancient museums of rock engravings (petrogliphs) in the world. After Gobustan Excursion we will drive to Bibi Heybat Mosque. A lunch can be organised in one of the local fish restaurants on the Caspian Sea shore. Free time on the beach. Transfer to Baku. Overnight in Baku.

Day 7 

Check out from the hotel and transfer to Xinalig through Quba. You will reach Guba around 11:00-12:00 and here will be shown Jewish settlement called Red Sloboda and 18th century Friday Mosque. Have a lunch here and then proceed to Xinalig settlement via a very picturesque road. Arrval to mountainous settlement around 14:00- 15:00. Explore village and surroundings and then drive back to Qusar region near Quba and check into the hotel.

Day 8 

After breakfast short drive to Laza village. Excursion to big mountains with beautiful panoramas. Visit a recently built Shahdag complex. Return to Qusar for lunch in local restaurant with national cuisine. Rest time in Qusar. Strolling in the forest. Overnigth in Qusar.

Day 9 

Return back to Baku, check into the hotel. After lunch drive to Novxani settlement to visit local wine factory (1 hour drive from Baku). This factory called "Fireland" employs 115 people and produces 22 varieties of wine. Wine tasting. Free time on the Caspian sea beach in Novxani. Return to hotel.

Day 10 

Visit local bazaar ("Teze bazar") in the morning. Return to hotel. Free time until transfer to the airport.

Package includes:

 - Accommodation as per program (double/twin basis)
 - Breakfasts in the hotels 
 - Private vehicle accompanied by an experienced English speaking guide who will look after you exclusively
 - Local driver for your vehicle, exclusively for your tour
 - Sightseeing program including all entrance fees
 - Private guided transfers to and from airport
 - Guide's and driver's expenses

Not included into the package: 

- Fees for taking photos in historical sites
- Any meals
- Any alcohol drinks during the meals;
- Fees for taking photos in historical sites
- Early check/in or late check/out charges
- Other personal expenses