3-Day Silk Road Tour from Baku: Shamakhi, Lahij & Sheki

Walk cobblestone mountain villages and meet craftsmen keeping 2,000-year traditions alive

A 3-day guided tour from Baku through Shamakhi, Lahij and Sheki follows Silk Road landmarks and mountain villages with private transport, accommodation and breakfast included. The route combines medieval architecture: Diri Baba Mausoleum (1402), Juma Mosque (743 CE), Sheki Khan's Palace, with stops where you meet copper craftsmen, walk through Lahij's ancient streets and explore the Shamakhi Astrophysical Observatory. Seasonal visits (May–August) add lavender fields and vineyard tastings in Gabala. Outside those months, extra time opens in Sheki's old town. Return to Baku airport or continue to the Georgia border at additional cost.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Baku to Shamakhi and Lahij

• Meet guide and driver at 8:00 AM
• Visit Diri Baba Mausoleum
• Visit Yeddi Gumbaz royal tombs
• Visit Juma Mosque
• Drive to Pirgulu Observatory
• Visit observatory museum and telescope
• Walk Lahij cobblestone streets and meet craftsmen
• Visit Demirchi Village and Chukhur Lake
• Overnight in Lahij

Day 2: Lahij to Gabala and Sheki

• Depart Lahij for Gabala
• Visit lavender fields (May-August only)
• Visit vineyard and winery (May-August only)
• Visit Shamakhi Astrophysical Observatory
• Arrive in Sheki and walking tour
• Visit Sheki Khan's Palace
• Explore Silk Road caravanserai
• Visit ancient Church of Kish
• Overnight in Sheki

Day 3: Sheki to Baku or Georgia border

• Free time in Sheki for shopping and relaxing
• Choose drop-off: return to Baku or Georgia border
• End of tour

The experience

Shamakhi opens the route. Your guide meets you at 8:00 AM at your Baku hotel or the airport, and the drive north takes you through mountain valleys to Diri Baba Mausoleum. A two-story structure built in 1402 on a slope, where Silk Road travelers stopped for over 600 years. From there, Yeddi Gumbaz cemetery sits on a grassy hill with views across Shamakhi. Seven large tombs belong to the last ruler of the Shirvan Khanate and his family. Juma Mosque (743 CE), the oldest in the Caucasus, stands as a symbol of the region's Islamic heritage. The Shamakhi Astrophysical Observatory, 22 km north, houses the region's largest telescope. Evening stargazing runs June through August after dark, though the entrance fee is separate.

Lahij is where the day settles. You walk its cobblestone streets and meet copper craftsmen: a 2,000-year tradition still practiced in workshops along the ancient water system (1,500 years old). A short stop at Demirchi Village shows traditional stone houses and rural life. Chukhur Lake, a mountain lake ringed by forest, offers a quiet moment for photos. You stay overnight in Lahij with breakfast included the next morning.

Day two moves toward Sheki through Gabala. From May through August, the route includes a lavender field where you walk between blooming rows and a local vineyard with wine tasting of Azerbaijani grape varieties. Outside those months, you spend the extra time in Sheki's old town instead. After lunch, the drive continues to Sheki, where you walk Silk Road streets lined with 18th-century architecture and mountain views. Sheki Khan's Palace (UNESCO candidate) stands out for its stained-glass windows (shebeke) and frescoes, built without nails. The entrance fee is separate. The Silk Road caravanserai, where merchants once rested with camels and goods, sits nearby. The Church of Kish (1st century) overlooks the valley with panoramic views. You stay overnight in Sheki with breakfast included.

The final morning leaves time to try Sheki halva (the local sweet) or sit at a café before your return. You choose at booking whether to head back to Baku city or Heydar Aliyev International Airport (5–6 hours) or transfer to the Azerbaijan-Georgia border at Balakan or Lagodekhi (1.5 hours) for onward travel. The border crossing carries an additional charge.

What’s included

• Professional English-speaking guide (Arabic, Russian and Turkish also available).
• private air-conditioned transportation for all transfers and tours.
• accommodation with daily breakfast at Lahij Guest House and Old Town Sheki Hotel (or similar, with upgrades available on request).
• bottled water during tours.
• pickup from your Baku hotel or Heydar Aliyev International Airport.
• drop-off in Baku city or at the airport (included).

Options for this experience

2 options

Year-RoundGuide in 4 languages · No fixed timeTwo nights in boutique hotels in Lahij and Shaki, with breakfast each day. Upgrades can be requested. Lasts 3 days, travelling Shamakhi, Lahij, then Sheki. Sedan or van: private, air-conditioned vehicle. Pickup is included.

Day tour of Lahij and ShekiGuide in 4 languages · No fixed timeLasts 14 hours. Full-day round trip from Baku via Shamakhi and Lahij to Sheki, covering all three. Sedan or van: private, air-conditioned vehicle with a professional driver. Pickup is included.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (12 to 75 years) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Arabic, Russian and Turkish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 252

Prices and times updated 9 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Lord Travel Azerbaijan

Is this one for you?Book this 3-day version if you want to stay overnight in mountain villages where you can linger with craftsmen and explore on foot. Choose the May–August dates for lavender fields and vineyard tastings, or other months to focus on Sheki's old town instead.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Arabic, Russian and Turkish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years); Infant (under 3).

What is Diri Baba Mausoleum and why do we stop there?

Diri Baba is a two-story mausoleum built in 1402 on a mountain slope by order of Shirvanshah Ibrahim I, a gem of Shirvan-Absheron architecture. Medieval travelers including Adam Olearius and Evliya Chelebi documented it as the home of a respected sheikh, and it served as a pilgrimage site for Silk Road travelers for over 600 years.

Can I do stargazing at the Shamakhi Observatory?

Evening stargazing at the Shamakhi Astrophysical Observatory runs June through August only, after dark, with observatory staff. The museum and telescope viewing are available year-round, though the entrance fee is not included in the tour price.

What happens in Lahij and how long do we spend there?

In Lahij you walk cobblestone streets and meet copper craftsmen practicing a 2,000-year tradition in their workshops. You also see the ancient water system (1,500 years old), stop at nearby Demirchi Village for traditional stone houses, and visit Chukhur Lake for photos. You stay overnight in Lahij with breakfast included the next morning.

What's included in the May-to-August stops in Gabala?

From May through August, the tour includes a stop at a lavender field where you walk through blooming rows, and a visit to a local vineyard with wine tasting of Azerbaijani grape varieties. Outside May through August, these stops are replaced with additional time exploring Sheki's old town.

What are my options for the final day return to Baku?

You choose at booking: return to Baku city or Heydar Aliyev International Airport (5–6 hours drive, included), or transfer to the Azerbaijan-Georgia border at Balakan or Lagodekhi (1.5 hours drive, additional charge) for onward travel to Georgia.

Is Sheki Khan's Palace entrance included in the tour price?

Sheki Khan's Palace entrance fee (approximately 15 AZN) is not included. You pay it separately when you visit. The 18th-century palace is famous for its stained-glass windows (shebeke) and frescoes and was built without nails.